LOST IN A MAZE

Which way to turn? Is it to the left or keep going foward? As a new author, well not really since two and half years of my life have been dedicated to writing, I have entered the Maze of " After the writing." It seemed so simple. Write the first book and get it published. Luck actually looked down on me and introduced me to a wonderful coach and mentor who laid out a road map which led me into the Maze.Writing is the easy part; having success after one publishes is a whole other adventure. My wonderful mentor informed me my manuscript required a professional editor; $$$. I engaged a publisher for my first book and was informed I also needed a copy edit; more $$$. Oh you will need a professional cover designer. Yup you guessed it more $$$. All told before my first book,The End of Terror saw the light of a bookshelf or an E-reader this novice author had invested 2 + years of time and several four figures in dollars. After all that now I'm told I will have to do my own marketing. Tip toeing into the Maze I now find so much information and so many charlatans all promoting for $$$ the best method to sell books. Well I needed a website $$$ which is where I am writing this blog. I need a mailing list. This I am told is the golden key to success. What is not clearly explained is how to build a mailing list. Oh yes offer a free book to any one who joins your list. Standing here in the Maze I'm asking myself without readers how can I offer a free book and without a mailing list there are few readers. I think you can see my dilemma.

I did have some minimum success promoting The End of Terror with friends and family. I ordered author paperback copies and either sold them or gave them away as gifts. Actually this did garner some decent reviews! Yeah. I have a lot of contacts and their emails and blasted out news on Terror Redux, book #2. I'm also informed whilst in the Maze that I will need a Chimpanzee to manage my emails; more $$$. Oh yes another voice tells me you need to advertise on Amazon Ads and Facebook. Done that three separate times. You guessed it; more $$$. Oh, but you will get clicks and sales. Really. Show me the money please.

So here I am writing a blog to relieve my frustrations and looking at the long list of the tools I have needed to become an author.

A website, an editor, a copy editor, a graphic artist, an as yet elusive mailing list, an advertising course and above all a passion to stay the course so here I am at this point still lost in the Maze. The good news is that I haven't quit writing. ABSOLUTE TERROR Book #3 is almost ready to SELF publish and Book #4 is well on its way.

You could join my mailing list if you wish bruce@brucehowittauthor.net or visit my website Brucehowittauthor.net