How to Write a Bestseller

Author's Diary, Day 2: First, pick a topic that is considered to be universally sexy like, say, Kentucky.

Then, when the book is published, send an email announcement to everyone you know.

After nearly ten years of writing regular columns  for places like Time, Rosie, Lifetime, the Discovery Channel Online, the New York Times and even a now-defunct magazine called Netguide, I know a lot of people.  This week I wrote to some to tell them about my book. In response, I received many nice notes ("Congratulations," "Can't wait to read about Kentucky," etc.), but of course those are not the ones on which I dwell when I lie awake at 2 a.m.

No, what sticks in my mind are ones like "...didn't know you are a writer," "Michelle: You are an spammer" and, perhaps my favorite, "I can't  imagine where you got my mailing address," which came from a person who once had corresponded with me at some length about the time his car was hit by lightning. Clearly what we had shared ("Did you feel a jolt? -- M" "No, no jolt") meant more to me than to him.

Comments

[Mary E. Preece]

I was looking for a Ky. Cream Pull Candy recipe and came upon your site. I have made the candy before but had lost my recipe.

I found it very interesting that you are an author since I am one too or at least that is what some people call me. I call what I do writing from the heart and about what I know and leave all the real hard stuff for others who are far better equipped to handle those things.

I've been put down a little because I allowed my first book to go through without editorial input, but that was because I wanted the reader to know the real me and that my story suited the way I wrote and talked.

I know to some that will be a turn-off but I have had the most wonderful experience with the adventure. It truly was a gift from God to me to help me through some hard times.

I now have 3 books with Publish America and 5 children's book self -published and 2 other books that have been self-published.

So congratulations on your book. This is a very refreshing blog to read and enjoy along the way. So many are not that way.

Check my website out, I have a blog there as well that needs a good update, maybe yours has given me an incentive to do just that.

Have a great day. http://www.freewebs.com/megpreece