Month: June 2012

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What Caught My Fancy

In this post, I would like to share a few things that caught my fancy in the week gone by:

  • For World War II buffs, and I am a great one let me admit, here’s something which sounds very interesting. A story of Jews in the Second World War, not as you would imagine in Europe but in Shanghai of all the places. A thriller by Daniel Kalla called “The Far Side Of The Sky” is reviewed here in the Huffington Post by Julie A. Carlson. I was impressed by Kalla’s ability to manage to be a writer despite his demanding schedule as the department head of two teaching hospitals in Vancouver. Second, I learnt how fascinating it can be to choose a little known topic, like the Jews of Shanghai and write a book on this!
  • James Patterson needs no introduction. He earned $84 million last year according to Forbes magazine to make him the world highest earning author.I was interested to read how he is busy spending big bucks to develop a readership for the future! This article in Bloomberg News by Patrick Cole makes some new points on how an author who already has a huge readership world-wide is doing his bit to develop the habit of reading: amongst new readers, especially kids.
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No Promotion, No Sales!

If you want your book to do well, there’s a lot you need to do. Bob Mayer has brought out some powerful points in this article. I must thank Guy for his tweet pointing out this link. The first sentence says it all. According to Mayer, ” Ninety percent of books fail, because authors fail to promote it.” The post goes on to talk of those three key elements: Platform, Product and Promotion.

I learnt this early in my career as a writer. In November 2010, when my debut novel was launched, I wrote this blog post, motivated by John Shore.

If you have published your own book, the challenge is that much harder. Here’s what best-selling author of crime thrillers, Adam Croft has to say about building your own brand as an author.

If you thought making a career as a writer was all about writing, I think this may make you think again. Yes, it’s true. No promotion, no sales!

 

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“The art and craft of writing”

“There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight.”  Did you like what you just read? I did, and how! Continue reading ““The art and craft of writing”” →