I remember the first time.
My hands shook.
Tears filled my eyes.
My heart seemed too big for my chest.
The first time. It was pure magic.
The fifth time was no less magical.
I’m talking about the arrival of books on my front porch. My books. Delivered by UPS in a brown cardboard box that barely contains the happiness within.
In the past two-and-a-half years, five of Ellison Russell’s adventures have made it into the world.
Five Country Club Murders.
Five release days.
When The Deep End released, I waited for a confetti cannon to go off, showering me with glitter, confetti, and massive sales.
I don’t wait for that cannon anymore. If I want confetti or glitter (frankly I’m not big on either—it gets in the carpets and I have to vacuum), I need to provide them myself.
This release day, I was a guest on a Kansas City morning show (much more fun than waiting for non-existent cannons) then I went out to lunch with my oldest daughter, visited with some of my favorite readers on social media, and went out for wine with a friend then dinner with my husband.
Did I leave out the part about checking my numbers on an hourly basis? Oops!
I did that too. Because sales matter.
Most cozy readers know about the discontinuation of beloved series. It’s painful. For devoted readers. For the publisher who wields the axe. And—most of all—for the writer.
Sales matter. Maybe not to the reader, but I can guarantee the publisher and the writer care. A lot.
Thank heavens, writers aren’t like used car salesmen. We don’t corner readers, put our books into their hands, and tell them they’ll regret it if they don’t buy. We might want to. We don’t. Except that one…never mind.
I am so thrilled to be with the Wicked Cozy Authors today. I have purchased and loved books by each of them. I buy their books new. From Amazon or Barnes & Noble or my local bookstore. I hope you have too.
Because sales matter.
Readers: Do you have a favorite fashion memory from the 70’s?
