Have you ever wanted to see your book for sale in a store?
When I used to daydream about my work being in a physical bookstore it was always about seeing my cover face out at Barnes and Noble or posting a video of me sneak-signing a copy at Target. I didn’t discount my local bookstores, of course, but the truth is that my first thoughts were always about the big names.
Recently, my family and I went to a coffeeshop that’s also a used bookstore. We knew they were friendly to local authors, as we’d purchased from that particular shelf before. I knew it was only a matter of asking what the requirements were. In between coffee and a game of mancala, I took photos of my husband’s short story and the proof copy of The Wingbreaker.
Eventually he pestered me into taking the leap to go back to the counter to ask. It went so well! The man gave me a phone number and said to bring a few copies, negotiate a price (they take a 20% cut), and the book would probably be on the shelf same day. Needless to say, we have some author copies of Martyr of Consequence in the mail as we speak!
The icing on the cake is that the next day on his way home from work Landon went to the game store. We’d seen exactly one book on a counter display before. After a quick conversation, the owner said they’d get a shelf for local authors and to bring a dozen copies in the next two weeks! Technically Landon asked, “If I wrote a book would you sell it here?” and the owner responded, “As long as it doesn’t suck.” Haha… ahhh… fair?
Neither of these small businesses cared that the short story wasn’t on Ingram, which is usually necessary to get into big bookstores. Those bigger names often want you to accept returns as well, which carries an amount of risk. I know the coffee shop has a no-return policy, though I’m not sure about the game store. Either way it’s got me considering what other stores might be open to carrying a book or two.
A Tiny Editing Tidbit
Today’s tibit is about *vibes*. Haha, bear with me!!!
Do you see images when you write? Do you hear the character’s voices? Can you imagine details perfectly? If you’re like me, you can feel the scene. Even when I read, I don’t see images, I don’t really have a narrator in my head giving each character different voices. To be honest guys, unless I’m actively reading the book I probably can’t pull the characters names out of the air and tell you what they are. I remember them by what they did and how they made me feel. I had a conversation about it with my coven discord girlies and while some agreed they operated solely on vibes, others had perfect imagery and distinct character voices in their minds.
But what we found was that we all valued the same thing. Rather than saying the beach was sandy, talk about the grains stuck in toes, how the sand washes over your flip flops despite your best effort to tread lightly. Instead of saying the club was dirty and crowded, talk about the way your shoes stick to the floor and the smell of bodies. I find great value in a book that draws me in and helps me feel the story. Others want to be able to perfectly visualize a scene. This is very much a sensory description thing, a showing and telling thing. But it doesn’t mean you have to wax poetic or pull a Megan G. Mossgrove and talk about a patch of flowers for an entire paragraph. It’s about grounding the characters in the scene they’re in. Remembering that they’re in an environment and using it.
Finally, The Wingbreaker Proof Copy
I have a badly-kept secret. I formatted and ordered proof copies of The Wingbreaker. I managed to stop myself from posting about it for a while, but those on lives with me have probably heard about it via my terrible impulse control. Technically, I have until the end of the month before I message the agent who requested to read it, but I’m doing everything in my power to be prepared if I pull the trigger on self-publishing. If she decides to pass on it, I’ll be announcing ARC sign-ups immediately in order to give those interested plenty of time to get The Wingbreaker into their schedule. ARCs would likely get sent out in the middle of May! As always, newsletter subscribers will get first access to ARCs and other Wingbreaker news!
The Wingbreaker is a no/low spice new adult high fantasy romance with monsters, magic, poetry, and more!
Note: This may not be the final cover. I’ve actually commissioned art for the dustjacket and may use that for the paperback as will. Either way, this will be the under-the-dustjacket-design!
Remember, there are no absolutes in writing. In the end, the story itself is what matters most. Mossgrovewrites hopes to scrutinize traditional craft wisdom and ponder its pros and cons, alongside offering one writer’s opinions and the experiences that shaped them.
Happy writing!
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