Do you use social media to market your books, and if so, do
you think it’s made a difference?
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| The "public" me - currently in?? |
When this blog appears I’ll be heading from Swansea, Wales
(where I’ll have enjoyed a few days with Mum and my sister having just attended
CrimeFest in Bristol, England) to Toronto, Canada where I’ll be attending the
Crime Writers of Canada AGM, the Arthur Ellis Awards Banquet and the Bony
Blithe Awards. If it weren’t for social media, I’d have been hiding in a deep,
dark hole for a couple of weeks without having had the chance to keep up to
date with what’s going on in the world of mystery writing, reading and the
interconnectivity that has become my “norm”.
I use the digital universe to stay connected, build relationships
with fellow authors, with readers and many other different groups of people
24/7/365. It’s a part of my life. In the nicest possible way, I hope it’s not
the most important part of my life; I think reality should fill that role, and
there’s already a big chunk of my time that’s spent in the imagined worlds I
create as a fiction author, so I strive for a balance.
Do I use social media to market my books? Absolutely. Do I
think it’s made a difference? You’re
reading this in the digital universe, so you’d probably be better positioned
than I would be to tell me if my presence here impacts the possible success of
my work. I hope it does. I hope that taking the time to connect with people
around the world brings my work to their attention in such a way that they are
engaged and intrigued enough to give it a go. I’ve “met” a huge number of
people this way who I know read my books, and (thank you!) write to tell me
they have done so and have enjoyed meeting my characters. When I’m sitting at
my desk tapping away at my keyboard all alone (save the company of my lovely
Gabby and Poppy – the world’s best chocolate Labradors!) knowing there are real
people reading my work helps a great deal.
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| The "real" me, at work in the garden with my dogs |
I’m happy with my own company, and that of my fictional
characters. But it’s good to know real people in the real world are enjoying
the people and the worlds I create – even when they use digital means to tell
me so. Thanks to all those of you who connect with me out there in the ether –
you’re all part of my REAL life.
Cathy Ace writes the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries (book
#2 THE CASE OF THE MISSING MORRIS DANCER was published in hardback in February,
and book #1 THE CASE OF THE DOTTY DOWAGER was published in trade paperback on
March 1st) and the Cait Morgan Mysteries (book #7 THE CORPSE WITH THE GARNET
FACE was published in paperback in April). Find out more about Cathy and her
work, and sign up for her newsletter at http://cathyace.com/
5 comments:
Nice post, Cathy! I love the emphasis here on connections. And sounds like you've got fun travels all around and great events too. Enjoy!
Interconnectivity is the word. But having met you in person and heard you talk, moderate, and pitch, I bet your best connections are made in person. You're an amazingly positive and well-spoken force of nature, Cathy! After meeting you, I had to buy your book (The Corpse with the Diamond Hand), and it's a super good read. This fall my big plan is to start writing reviews. I know how important they are to writers. That will be my move toward better interconnectivity :)
Also have fun at the AE Awards!
That was a REAL good post! Have fun on your travels! And if you ever get lonely, you can just check in, virtually, from wherever you are.
Cathy, you present 'the real' Cathy so well in your posts that when we finally met in person (where was it - at a Bouchercon?), I recognized you instantly, and felt I knew you, at least a little. I agree that social media connections can be a genuine pleasure. I read yesterday that people spend on average almost an hour on Facebook. My shock wasn't "that MUCH?" but "Uh oh, I'm way over the average." Real, in-person connections are the best even if social media adds another layer.
Trust me when I say the irony of this is not lost on me....I posted a reply to these comments and it seems technology let me down and it didn't make it to this page! I thanked you for your comments, especially those which suggest I give of "myself" when I post. I do - but apparently not quite enough to get through the ether on this occasion!!
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