Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Press pause: An IWSG Post



Welcome to my addition of this month's IWSG post. If you're not familiar with this meme,  click here to hop over to Alex Cavanaugh's blog to find out more. I'd like to thank Alex for hosting this wonderful meme. 





Before I get to my post, have you seen Embrace's the new cover? I think my publisher didn't an amazing job on it and I just can't help wanting to show it off. 


Okay, back to IWSG. July is the mid-year mark. Time to press pause and see how I'm doing on the one goal I set for myself back in January: in 2013 I vow to use my insecurities to help me work harder. 

I've been doing pretty good with that. When insecurities set in, I found ways to make them work to my advantage. They say practice makes perfect, and while I won't go as far as to say the key note speech I gave in April was perfect, by practicing it out loud beforehand I did manage to get through it without stumbling. I've bounced ideas of my critique partners, family and friends to help me tackle revisions on my different works-in-progress. And since marketing can be daunting I teamed up with other authors and we're working together to promote each other's books.

Okay, so I did okay the first half of the year, but this is a new month and the beginning of a whole new half. Hold Tight, book two in my Embrace Series, will be released on August 20th and, well, I'm hoping readers like it. I'm hoping readers find it. So how do I take those insecurities and turn them around. I should give the book to my mom. She'll read it and say she loves it. My dad might even read it. Oh, and then I could give it to my sister. Of course, she's swamped with school. Hmm.... 

I'll have to use the next several weeks to plan some fun events and promotion, instead. That will help readers find my book. As far as readers liking it, I'm going to have to trust that with my editor's keen eye for detail and deep understanding of my characters that I've told the best story I can. Oh, and I'll stock up on chocolate. 

Just having an action plan makes me feel a little better. Although, I might need a lot of chocolate, and wine. 




And I've created a street team--a group of readers who help spread the word about my upcoming release. If you're interested in finding out more, click here.




On a side note, I do love spreading the word about good books. If you're an author and your book is family friendly (as a YA author I try to keep the content on my blog PG13) I'd love to spotlight your book. If you're interested, shoot me an email at cheriecolyerwriter (at) gmail (dot) com.

28 comments:

  1. Pre-publishing excitement are all part of the fun! Readers will find your book in the same way they found the last one, and new readers will look back to the first. But chocolate will always help!!

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    1. Pre-pub excitement is fun :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. A plan, chocolate, and wine. And coffee. Sounds like a plan to me!

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  3. OMGosh! I love your new cover! Just beautiful!! Congrats.

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    1. Thanks! I was thrilled with I first saw it. Still am :)

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  4. That's a great goal to set yourself, it's always better to use your insecurities as motivation than let them stop you from doing what you want to do.

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  5. Hey! I just bought your book :) Heading on a business trip and needed to put something on my Nook. It sounds like a fantastic read! Can't wait.

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  6. Beautiful cover! And if I ever publish (one of those days where it feels like a pipe dream) I'd love for you to highlight me. Great blog you have here :)

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  7. I love the idea of using our insecurities in a more positive way and to motivate us. And I can't believe it's the second half of the year already! Yikes!

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    1. I know! When I was thinking of what to write this month it hit me how fast the year is passing by.

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  8. You've been one busy gal, Cherie! Is it strange that I just now noticed how Madison kind of glows on the Embrace cover? I hadn't noticed that before and it makes me like the cover even more. All the best for August 20!

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  9. An excellent first half of the year - and something tells me you'll do even better in the second half.

    Oh hey! I forgot to tell you that the other day my 15 year old son walked by my laptop when I had my blog up & Hold Tight's cover caught his eye - he actually stopped to say "Cool cover." So you've got teen boy appeal too. :D

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  10. A street team sounds like fun.

    Negative can be turned around to be used as positive, just like using insecurities to become secure.

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    1. That's so true. And the street team has been fun so far.

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  11. Let me know before Hold Tight comes out and I'll be happy to announce it that day.

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  12. That cover looks great!
    And that's wonderful that you can use insecurities as motivation. :)

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  13. Hi Cherie! Congrats on you book! The cover is fabulous! :D

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  14. Chocolate always helps. It's important to keep it on hand.

    Best of luck with everything!

    Heather

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  15. The cover does capture the eye. I'm so glad I could click on it and see it enlarged. Intriguing.

    Good on you for taking each insecurity and fear and challenging it, doing battle, and conquering.

    I do have some guest spots open, so far, in August and I few left in September. Just sayin'

    Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

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