Please help me welcome the incomparable Barbara White Daille. Rumor has it that she has written a book that will find it's place into your heart and never leave you! Now stop staring at her book cover and let's join her for her blog. We can't let her sit alone.
Good morning, Barbara!
A grand tour...and a humbling truth
Hello to the Pink Fuzzies, and a big shout out to Mary for inviting me to stop in at the blog today. I’m happy to grab my comfy slippers and a cup of tea and curl up in front of the fire. Maybe even to share a story or two. It’s nice to sit and chat with you all.
You may have heard people say writers feel their books are like their babies. Some people disagree with the comparison, but I can see the point. Having recently introduced a new book into the world, I feel just the way parents do when they send their child off to preschool or kindergarten:
They want the child to do well and be liked by everyone!
My latest book from Harlequin American Romance, A RANCHER’S PRIDE (May 2010), hit bookstore shelves last week. To celebrate, I’m out and about on an Internet blog tour.
Also, as I’m writing this blog post, I’m looking forward to a booksigning. At autographings, authors sometimes become the center of a crowd. In the past, I’ve had wonderful signings attended by friends and family, coworkers, and members of my writing groups.
Sometimes, though, the authors are attending a party for one. Let me tell you, that’s daunting--especially when you’re an introvert!
Here’s a quick story about one of my earliest booksignings:
As a brand-new author with my very first book, I was asked to schedule a signing in a store in an unfamiliar city where I hadn’t a hope of seeing a familiar face. I showed up early, bearing chocolate. (There must always be chocolate at my signings.) Well, I stood alone most of the night, knees shaking, and forced myself to greet customers coming in the door.
To keep this story short, let’s jump to the end. I’d packed up everything I’d brought with me. (Not the chocolate, though. Whoever heard of leftover chocolate? J) And I hadn’t sold one book.
Was I crushed? Devastated? You’d better believe it. Don’t forget, this was my firstborn child. And no one liked him. Awful, isn’t it?
But the story explains why I’m on this blog tour and why authors go on tours and attend signings and other events. It ties in to the truth I mentioned in the title of this post, a truth that many authors before me already knew: Not everyone will like our books.
So it’s wonderful to have the chance to reach the ones who do.
Thanks for listening!
~~~
Now, I’m curious to know something from you.
What’s your favorite way to keep up with the authors you like to read? Visit their websites? Meet up on Facebook and Twitter? Stop by when they’re at booksignings and conferences? Or drop them a note in the mail?
~~~
Originally from the East Coast, award-winning author Barbara White Daille now lives with her husband in the warm, sunny Southwest, where they love the dry heat and have taken up square dancing.
From the time she was a toddler, Barbara found herself fascinated by those things her mom called "books." Once she learned the words between the covers held the magic of storytelling, she wanted to see her words in print so she could weave that spell for others.
Barbara hopes you will enjoy reading her stories and will find your own storytelling magic in them!
Her newest title from Harlequin American Romance, A RANCHER’S PRIDE, was just released and has received a 4-1/2 star Top Pick review rating from RT Book Reviews.
You can find Barbara online at her web site and blog: www.barbarawhitedaille.com where you can check out her Virtual Book Tour schedule for A RANCHER’S PRIDE!
You can also reach her via Facebook and Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille and https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille
As Barbara said early on in her post, she’s looking forward to chatting, so please feel free to take a look at her question to you and to leave comments or questions for her!
Someone will win one of her first two books - THE SHERIFF'S SON or COURT ME, COWBOY.
Barbara, welcome to the Pink Fuzzies! We're so pleased that you've stopped by to visit. I love your cover. Nothing like a handsome man to send the imagination soaring. I will be looking for this one the next time I visit the book store.
Isn't he a yummy rancher?
Hi Barbara, welcome to the PFS. You've managed to confuse me. As a Wild Rose Press author, I thought that being published by HQ spared you the agony of having to promote your books. I sympathize with your first book signing as I remember sitting at an RWA conference book signing, desperately smiling at people who never stopped by my table. Your book cover is gorgeous.
It's morning somewhere, so I'll shout good morning to the Pink Fuzzies to Mary and to Barbara. And I adore the cover and the story, so ideally, you'll have people standing in line out the bookstore, Barbara.
The social networking has me flummoxed. I mean, how do you write, promote, network and then distribute chocolate! Where is the fairness in that?
When I sign I will have chocolate under the table and if nobody shows, well then there's more for me :))))) You know I'm kidding, right?
Great blog and congrats!
Hi, Pink Fuzzies and friends!
I'm glad to be here, and I'm even ahead of the game, since Mary slipped me in early. I'll be here all day tomorrow, too.
Thanks, Mary! And thank you again for inviting me to the blog.
Off to read...
Barbara
Scarlet - thanks so much for the welcome.
And, yes, a handsome man does spur the imagination, doesn't he? I was very lucky with this one.
If you do look for the book (and not just to see Sam up front and personal LOL), I hope you enjoy it.
Barbara
Mary - yummy is a very good word. ;-)
Barbara
Hi, Mona - thanks for the welcome and comment about the cover. The word gorgeous works, too. :-)
As for the promo, I'm so new at this. With my third book just out this past October (A RANCHER'S PRIDE is my fourth) and the first two a while back, I'm thinking I need to do what I can to try to get my name out.
That's the game plan, anyhow.
Barbara
Donnell - sure, sure...I know you're kidding about the chocolate.... ;-)
As for the social networking, don't ask me! I'm still learning the ropes. Or maybe I should say, getting tangled up in them!
It's all a lot to consider.
Thank you yet again for your good thoughts and support of A RANCHER'S PRIDE.
Barbara
My ladies know I do late much better than I do early morning. Hey, Barbara, Donnell, Mona, and Scarlet!
Hey, again, Mary!
I can do late when I don't have to do early, but 4 a.m. is going to roll around quick.
So y'all have fun partying and I'll catch up with you in the morning.
Good night!
Barbara
Hi Barbara! This is a great book. You really should have told them that the reviews are through the roof!
How I keep up with my favorite authors? Twitter and facebook mostly. Reason - I don't have to scroll through a variety of sites. Everything is "collected" for me at these two places.
Sidenote to Mona - You better believe you have to promo your books for Harlequin (if you want to continue writing for them) You only have one month to do all you can do for that book, where with a single title or digital, the promo can go a lot longer.
Hello Barbara and welcome to the Fuzzies. What a warm, goodhearted woman you are, just like one of us already. :) I do love your cover and I was staring at it when MM said I must move on to the rest of this post. :) But glad I did. I enjoyed reading about your struggles with your 'babies,' something we all understand well. In this day of more and more books coming out as strictly ebooks I am seeking more ways to promote my stories online. Always looking for good ideas too.
Oh, and a big congrats with all the success you are having with this fabulous sounding book.
Morning, Barbara. Snarl. I don't do mornings for just anyone. Actually I'll do almost anything for money and I must tutor at 10 AM, our 10 AM.
Hello again, Pink Fuzzies!
Cyndi - I agree that it's nice to have information collected at Facebook and Twitter. Plus...and I hate to say this...I wonder if people are getting blogged out.
As for my reviews going through the roof--I think you did just tell them. (blush) The reviews *have* been awesome.
You're so right in your sidenote to Mona about promo. Thanks for elaborating.
And in view of the reminder to myself ;-) may I add:
I've got review clips up on the Buzz page on my website if anyone is interested.
My blog tour schedule is there, too.
Barbara
Beth - thanks--I do feel right at home here already. ;-)
Yes, it sure was a good thing Mary put in that reminder for us to move along, otherwise, we might be staring at Sam all day. (I still pinch myself to prove it's real that I got so lucky with that cover.)
Online promo is a good thing, I think, because the potential for greater exposure is out there via the Internet. It's *reaching* that potential that can be challenging.
Good luck in your search for new ways to find your readers!
Barbara
Hi, Barbara. SO glad you're a tea drinker like me. Love your slippers. WINK.
So sorry about your first signing. I held my first signing at my local library and it went great. I sold out (25 copies). A lot of locals came to see a hometown who actually wrote a book.
However, I signed at an RWA confernece later and sat with my books and chocolate and watched the authors next to me receive fan gifts. I was in between Virginia Kantra and Anne Solomon. (No pressure there) Anne is up for a RITA this year and she was so sweet to buy one of my books.
This was a great post. I'm signing at Nationals and so nervous. My first time at Nationals. Now I get prepared for the qucik eye shifting.
Beth - thanks for the additional comment and the big congrats!
I'm glad you like the sound of A RANCHER'S PRIDE.
Barbara
{{{whispering...}}}
{{{Good morning, Mary.... I'll come back after you've had your coffee....}}}
(smile)
Barbara
No coffee, just time to wake up so I can make some $$. Maybe some Coke Zero with my herbal tea mix. Don't ask. (no booze)
Autumn - your slippers are cute, too! ;-)
Glad to hear your first signing went so well. It's great to have such a positive memory to start off with.
Wow on sitting at the booksigning with Virginia and Anne. Exciting but...wow.
Good luck at National!
Barbara
Mary - no, I won't ask about the drink combination....
Good idea to be awake for a tutoring session, though!
Barbara
Thanks, Barbara. I have a feeling we meet in NJ a few years ago. RWA has opened the door to so many great relationships.
I love your hero BTW. He is yummy and definitely would make me pick up the book and read about him. YUMMY! I'll have to check my WALLYMART shelves. It's the only bookstore in our rural area. SIGH
Autumn - as RWA members, I'm sure we've met each other somewhere!
Yummy heroes on the cover sure can help attract readers, can't they?
If you look for A RANCHER'S PRIDE, I hope you enjoy it. FYI, I've had reportings of it at our local Wally World.
(And with the closing of our local Borders, I'm grateful for that.)
Barbara
I definitely will. I love cowboys. Wishing you many sales.
Autumn - thanks a bunch!
My verification word is achalati.
Sounds like one of Mary's morning brews....
Barbara
This is a tough question because I buy most of my friends' books now. Before I was involved with social media, I used to pay attention to the recommendations on Amazon, and I'd look for lists in the genres I like to read. Now I'm thrilled to have my books in a few lists. So I guess I'd say to make the lists! lol
Barbara, welcome to the Fuzzies! I'm laughing at your remarks about books being babies. I always tell people that writing for publication is a horrible business. Where else would you create a word baby so everyone can tell you how ugly it is!! Your new book sounds great!
Hi Barbara!
Congrats on the new book. It looks like a great one:)
I suppose my favorite way, right now at least, to keep up with the authors I like to read is on Twitter. I'm a big Kristen Lamb groupie (she wrote We Are Not Alone, a guide to socila media) and I'm in love with her blog, and her books. So from her I learned about getting my name and my books name out to the masses by joining Twitter and beefing up my Facebook status. I know for a fact I've sold books off of Twitter, so that's a plus. And, I've networked with alot of great people who share common interests with me.
So in answer to your question, I'll have to say Tweeting is my favorite way to keep up with great authors.
Are you on Twitter?
I'd love to follow you:) My Twitter handle is @Tamaraleblancrw
Thanks so much for sharing with us today.
Have a fabulous afternoon!
Tamara
Edie - great advice!
Now, if you've got any hints for getting on those lists, I'd love to hear them. ;-)
Barbara
Judy - you're so right. We really set ourselves and our books up, don't we?
Thanks for the compliment about A RANCHER'S PRIDE!
Barbara
Hi, Tamara - thanks for your kind words about A RANCHER'S PRIDE.
Sometimes it's hard to tell how effective our promo efforts are, so that's great to hear that you can tell you've sold books via Twitter.
Yes, I'm learning my way around social media and am on Twitter and Facebook. Would love to follow/friend--and that goes for everyone here today!
Here's my info:
www.barbarawhitedaille.com http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille
https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille
Thanks for asking!
Barbara
Well, unfortunately, duty calls, and I'm going to have to break for a while. :-(
But I'm loving the chat, so please keep those comments and questions coming!
Will be back later to catch up.
Barbara
What a handsome hero! Thanks for sharing your daunting experience at the book signing. I've only done 1 at RT, and that was okay because there were so many authors and people wandering around. In the same place, I'd be devastated too.
I cannot wait to read this Western! I am so glad to see you here at the Pink Fuzzy Slipper's Blog! Welcome and I just love the cover!!!!
Thanks for the great blog!!!
Hi Barbara,
Best of luck with your new "baby" and what a handsome hunk is he!
I hope your more recent signings are happier than your first. I have yet to make up for the cost of attending a book signing, since I rarely sell more than one or two.
A little birdie told me Barbara had a wonderful signing over the weekend!
Nightingale - I thank you, and Sam thanks you. LOL
I appreciate the empathy regarding the booksigning story, too.
Barbara
Mary - thanks for the warm welcome!
Wow. I hope you're just as enthusiastic after you've read the book and will spread the word. LOL
Barbara
Mary R, again (and I should have mentioned the R first time around) - I was so carried away on your wave of enthusiasm, I forgot to say thanks for the kind words about the blog and my cover!
Barbara
Patrice - thanks for sharing what every mama loves to hear: compliments about her baby. ;-)
And yes, some of my signings have been much better than my example. As for making up the costs...I hear you.
Barbara
Mary M - that little birdie told you true!
The signing was wonderful and we sold out, thanks in big part to some of my friends and co-workers.
However, I did have quite a few sales to complete strangers, which leads me to think y'all are right--Sam's one heck of a hero on that cover. ;-)
Barbara
Congrats on the top pick, Barbara! I find out about new books by fave authors all sorts of ways -- Facebook, Twitter, blogs, bookstores, newsletters, word of mouth... It's a daunting task for an author to cover all the bases!
I''m late to the party today - Darn I bet I missed all the wine and cheese Mary was going to bring!
Regardless, super congrats Barbara on your wonderful new release! Just think and I knew you when...
Sorry, Dale. All gone!
Sorry, Dale. All gone!
Barbara M - it's wonderful that authors have so many options for promo, but at the same time, you're right, it sure is daunting!
And I'm on a steep learning curve with Facebook and Twitter right now, which is making life crazy. LOL
Thanks so much for the Top Pick congrats. That's one of those things that help keep us going through all that craziness.
Barbara
Dale - thanks for the congrats! And back at you with your new resume book.
As for the wine and cheese, I peeked ahead at Mary's comment. Sorry.
Barbara
Mary M - we started partying early, didn't we? ;-)
And I for one had a great time!
Barbara
Thanks for coming, Barbara. You rocked the house!
Thanks, Mary M! And all the Pink Fuzzies and friends.
Your warm welcomes, comments, and questions made my day.
Best,
Barbara
Stopping by to say hello and how much A Rancher's Pride touches me. Super cover too!
Carol - thank you! I appreciate the support and your comment.
And yeah, Sam's a winner in my book. Or I should say, ON my book. LOL
Thanks for dropping in!
Barbara
Barbara,
A late welcome to the Pink Fuzzies. Your Harlequin romance sounds perfect. I love your book cover. Best wishes for your continued success.
Hi, Josie! Thanks for dropping in. I had a great time here with the Fuzzies.
Thanks for your kind words about my cover.
And good luck with your writing, too.
Barbara