Guest Blog - Mari Barnes, Author of My Peace Place

I'm very pleased to host Mari Barnes today as part of her virtual book tour for her book, My Peace Place. Mari is participating in D'Vorah Lansky's Book Marketing Boot Camp, which is where we 'met'. Take it away Mari!

Eye on the Why

I read this recent post from a discouraged new author: My friends don't seem very excited about my new book. Does no one read anymore? I've sold 4 whole copies so far.

That did more than ring a bell—it set a gong clanging in my mind. I remember those days too well. Some friends and family weren’t even reading gift copies of my book, much less actually spending money to support me. It created a hollow feeling unlike anything I can adequately describe but despair, disappointment and betrayal all come close.

How could they not understand how important this is to me? Haven’t I bought every Girl Scout cookie--supported every sport, church and school fundraiser? When little Cindy Lou was selling crocheted key rings, who bought one in every color?

Well, Newbie Author, know that you are in good company. Most of us have been where you are. To be fair, some of my family members comprise my Tribe—steadfast supporters of all things Mari. I think my mom is single-handedly responsible for the sale of more than 200 books. My youngest sister shares and reTweets almost every post.

On the other hand, my best friend (beyond death) didn’t read my first book until four years after its publication. She was flat on her back after heart surgery and couldn’t do anything but read for several days.

Here are some hard facts:

1. We are the stars of only our own movies; we’re in everyone else’s supporting cast. People who will take a bullet for you just won’t understand this author thing. Unlike our characters (most of them, anyway) the folks who populate our lives don’t always do or care about what we think they should. My eyes glaze over when my husband waxes poetic about the carburetor he’s rebuilding. That doesn’t mean I don’t adore the man. You can’t take things personally. You’ll never survive the authorly life if you do.

2. Recognize that writing, although an important part, is only a part of your life. Don’t disown your family and friends because they can’t get behind you in one area.

3. Most of our books will sell between 50 and 250 copies, if we’re lucky. If you’re writing to get rich -- or even to pay the rent – you may want to hold onto your day job. The majority of writers work at something other than writing.

Newbie, my advice to you: keep your eye on the why. Remember why you write. If it’s to sell books, there’s a googol of book marketing experts out there to help you reach that goal. You don’t have to depend on the largess of loved ones. Using social media, you can work on building a global community of people who appreciate your words.

If you’re writing because you want to be read, you have so many options. Publish yourself one chapter at a time; post your work on your blog or website. And join groups. There are myriad online concaves of readers and writers who will enjoy meeting you.

If you write because you can’t NOT write, welcome to the fellowship! Keep your eye on the why and keep writing. 

Mari L Barnes writes for children under the pen name of Mari Lumpkin and for adults as ML Barnes. Her books, Parting River Jordan and Crossing River Jordan are proof that church can be funny. Mari’s company, Flying Turtle Publishing, specializes in books that families can share. Her latest children’s book, co- authored with Lori Bortnick, is My Peace Place.
Visit Flying Turtle Publishing’s Virtual Book Tour schedule and be entered to WIN a $10 Amazon Gift Card in our monthly drawing.