Book Launch Eve!
We’re quickly approaching book-launch eve and those old-familiar butterflies are setting in. It’s been a pretty intense past few months of gathering stories together, working on the cover design concept, and marketing. I’ve marketed this book more than any other I’ve ever written and, very soon, we’ll discover if it was all worth it. It certainly has been fun, something I can’t say for the promotion of any other book I’ve ever written.
Gathering this collection of short stories together this summer has taught me a lot about myself and what motivates me to write. One thing I've discovered is I love to include an old-fashioned plot twist at the end.
As I've thought more about this it dawned on me that the inspiration for the plot twist was probably the old black and white Twilight Zone episodes I watched late at night as a child. Few writers mastered the art of the plot twist better than the late, great Rod Serling.
I appreciate all of you who've been following along these past few weeks. Thanks for bearing with me during this book marketing blitz—I'm sure it's gotten a tad tedious.
Tomorrow another book will be born into the world. I really hope you enjoy it! Walking With the Muse will be available on Amazon in paperback when the clock strikes twelve tonight. I’ll share the live link in the comments below tomorrow!
https://youtube.com/shorts/u1YBq1OQdcw?si=d5_j2tAxwO9q_NyN
Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire
It’s been an extremely hot and dry summer here in Minnesota. In fact, according to the meteorological experts it’s been the sixth hottest summer on record in the state. The wetlands aren’t so wet anymore.
Typically these wetlands are teeming with life—filled with birds, ducks, muskrats, cattails, lotuses, and water lillies. As August bleeds into September it's just turned into a mud-pit. It's quite concerning.
Just as it's cooling down here next week I'll be off to Washington DC where it's forecasted to be even hotter than it's been here in Minnesota.
For once in my life I can actually say I'm looking forward to fall!
End of Summer
Labor Day weekend, and the last couple of days of the Minnesota State Fair, is the unofficial end of summer in this part of the country. What a crazy summer it's been.
We enjoyed the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis Homecoming concert there a few days ago with our son and good friend Dan (the man).
The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was a great show filled with artists of our teen and young adult years. Johnny Gill, Bell Biv Devoe, Morris Day & The Time, Ruben Studdard, and Shanice Wilson.
It will be a very slippery slope after this weekend. Soon the frost will be gathering on the blades of grass in the wee hours of the morning, the trees will be showing the splendor of their colors, and the dreaded winter chill will inevitably descend. Be sure to get out there and enjoy every smidgeon of what's left of the warm sunshine.
All for now. Make this a wonderful day.
Oh wow, that is a good lineup for the concert! Best of luck to you with your book launch! I hope it goes super well!
It was an amazing show. I had no idea those two produced so many of those artists from the 1980s. Thank you Jay!
Interesting to discover where our inspiration comes from. It goes back to something we enjoyed as children.
So much of what inspires us we pick up subconsciously from everyday living.
Who doesn't love a good plot twist! Good luck with the book, Eric, and congrats 😊 looking forward to this one!
I know I do. : ) If you've never seen the original Twilight Zone episodes from the 1960s I highly recommend them. They've held up extremely well. It's so much fun to come up with plot twists and hear readers' reactions. Thank you! I hope it doesn't let you down. I'll be posting the link tomorrow morning here in the comments. I hope all is well on your end!
Looking forward to it! May it fly off the "shelves"!
Is this only available on Amazon? For some reason, I cannot order anything on amazon, I have to get someone else to do it for me.
Thank you! Yes, for now, it's available on Amazon only. After a few months other book sellers will be picking it up and it'll be available online elsewhere.
Good luck with the book! Regardless of how it goes at least you know that you have done your best with marketing it ahead of time, which is probably the most important step in the process after actually writing it.
Thanks! Yes, I'm satisfied with what I put into it. At a certain point you have to let go of expectations and see how it's received (or you drive yourself crazy.)
This is indeed an exciting night. Good luck!! I won't be up at midnight, at least not on my computer. But I will check tomorrow.
Try to get some sleeep :)
Wishing you and this new book all the best, born as all good things are: with enthusiasm and inspiration. That photo shows you enjoyed the concert: a visual and auditory experience more effective than any therapy. Hugs, my friend.