Only 13 more school days to go – 13 more quiet mornings – and my inner voice is stubbornly silent. Figures, huh? I did some research for the next little bit of my story over the weekend so now I’m just letting it…simmer.
In the meantime, I had an interesting email over the weekend from another romance author who also lives in Egypt. She’s the editor for a local expat magazine and would like to run an interview with me in their October issue – perfect timing for the release of my next book ONE CRAZY SUMMER. I’m both thrilled and excited but now comes the hard part.
Answering the questions in a way that actually makes ME sound witty and INTERESTING. I was working on it this morning and it’s not as easy as it might seem. (I know, hard to believe, isn’t it?) There’s a reason I don’t write paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi. My feet are firmly planted on the ground and even wrapped in the cloak of my alter ego, it’s still just me. I haven’t created a whole separate fully-developed super-persona – it’s just me with a different name. And it’s still difficult to find ways to sing my own praises without feeling like a jerk.
But “just” writing a great story isn’t enough – you have to find ways to connect with potential readers. Why should they read your book when there are so many others out there to choose from? How can you make yourself stand out in the proverbial crowd? Maybe they see an interview published in a magazine and think “Wow! What a (witty / intelligent / insightful / dull / moronic) person this is! I should (never ever) read their book!”
It’s a lot of pressure.
If I tell someone that I live in Cairo and write romance novels their first reaction might be “Oh! How interesting!” But really, dig a little deeper and my life is pretty average and normal. I get up in the morning and dash through making breakfast and packing lunches for the kids. I do my own grocery shopping and cooking, laundry, housework – in short all the usual dull details of regular life. Jackie Collins I am not.
Even the Cairo angle might even seem less interesting when presented to a group of people who themselves have also lived abroad for many years – and in many cases in more exotic locales yet.
I’ll have to give it some thought – it’s not every day that such an opportunity falls in my lap. Hmmm… I suppose I could lie…em…I mean accentuate the positives. I am a writer after all….
I happen to think you’re a very vivacious, witty person. I would say be yourself. It’s too hard to be someone else. I know. I sure have tried.
by anny cook June 12th, 2007 at 12:41 amThanks, Anny.
by Jenyfer Matthews June 12th, 2007 at 6:35 amI’ve never been much good at play-acting either so I guess they’ll have to take me or leave me as I am