Viva Italia

The past couple of days I focused on my brochure. I have a good draft done, but I think I still want to change things a bit. I didn't do a lot of other writing, because I was busy thinking about this marketing idea.

Of course, in the middle of my job search, I get a call from the travel agency. The gift certificate I had purchased for my parents a few years back needs to be put toward a trip by the end of November or I lose the money. For various reasons, my parents cannot use it at this time, so the certificate reverts back to me. Normally, I don't mind a free trip, but being "between jobs,"I'm thinking I don't want to be planning an international trip right now.

But, I threw caution to the wind and put it all in God's hands. I've been wanting to go to Italy for 30 years and I guess now's the time. So, I called up my paisan and asked her if she was still interested in a viaggio d'Italia when school's out and she said, "Absolutely."  The verdict: we will be traveling at some point next summer for 15 days to five main Italian towns including Rome, Tuscany, Sorreno, Venezia, and Pisa. We'll also see Pompeii, Padua, and some other cool sites. Although I'll be paying a little bit more than the gift certificate, I figured it could be a once in a lifetime event and since I don't know when I'll ever get back to Italy, I want to see everything I want to see it now.

The moral is that sometimes you have to pay a little bit to get something good to happen and sometimes you have to take a chance and let God take care of everything. When you're writing you need to pay for a course now and then to keep you sharp or perhaps a private editor (a good one). Take risks in your writing and try new things. Don't typecast yourself as just a "horror" writer or just a "romance" writer. Be willing and ready to branch out into other areas. That's the way you'll gather new readers.

Of course, the final lesson is to live the Italian way and that's to live life to its fullest. Remember that as a writer you need to create an entire world for a reader. The best way to do that is to get off your butt, out of the house, and go live life. Travel, see things, try new things, then tell your readers about it. Don't just depend on what you read. Live!

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I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. You should have either gotten into costume, gone trick-or-treating with some little ones, or have been greeting the neighborhood kiddies at your doorway with a smile on your face. Remember: above all, Halloween is all about the kids. Celebrate the little ones!
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE

Advertise

'Tis that season again. My little cousin had popped over to show off his awesome Halloween costume and I knew that the season was upon us.

Well, actually, he was just the final omen. The omens begin in my neighborhood when the ghosties, jack-o-lanterns, spiders, and witches begin to adorn all my neighbors homes. Then, the Halloween house goes up at the top of my street.

Every year, one of my neighbors goes all out. They build a haunted house on their front lawn complete with spooky sounds and dry ice. Their entire family dresses up as different "scary" characters to greet the public and hand out candy to delighted kiddies. Last year, the Riddler guarded the haunted house with his Tommy-gun while Frankenstein snuck up on unsuspecting visitors. My one-year old Goddaughter (dressed as a froggie), was delighted to shake Frank's giant green hand!

My neighbors have no problem advertising the coming of seasons and holidays. Every holiday turns our street into the Las Vegas strip with blinking lights of appropriate holiday color, giant blow-up figures, and decorations of all types from hand made to custom made. My best friend always asks me, "What's wrong with your neighbors? The holiday's a month and a half away." She thinks they're competing. And, maybe they are. But, knowing my neighbors, I know they are celebrating and advertising the coming season.

You should advertise your work as well. Create a website to showcase your work or resume. When sending out queries, include your website, blog address, and any other internet address that is relevant. On my letters I include my blog address and the address for inktip, noting that my work is posted there.

If you have a work published, you should be out there hawking it as well. What markets would read your book? Contact your publisher or agent and see what they think about you contacting other markets.

If you are on a website related to what you have written, post the name of your book under comments. Someone will see it.

If you have written something new and its available to the public, you should send out a mass email to everyone on your email list, facebook, and twitter. (And whatever else you subscribe to). If you won't advertise for yourself, who will?

Peace! Watch out for Wolverine!
Please check out my novel Luke Aloysius:  Bloodline on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GD9X8BE