Becoming a published novelist was a long and arduous journey. Learning the craft and how to release one's creative muse turned out to be much more demanding than I ever imagined. After my first novel, Unholy Grail, became a reality and I was entrenched in creating my second novel, a bio-terrorism thriller, I learned the awful truth about being a debut author. Writing the manuscript is not the be all and end all of becoming a successful author.Once your novel nears its publication date, a debut author must focus on attracting readers. There are no huge marketing and promotional budgets provided to most debut authors. I was very fortunate to have my publisher receive a great blurb from international bestselling author Clive Cussler: "Unholy Grail is a tale rich with intrigue that grips the imagination. A must read." Even with that I still had to learn the ropes. Those ropes involve: creating a website, blogging, MySpace and Internet book-related sites, Internet interviews and reviews, print media, broadcast media, writing and reading events, and book signings only to name a few.
Even though I was late in jumping onto the self-promotional bandwagon, when Unholy Grail reached number 9 and number 8 on the Nielsen National Bookscan ratings I thought I had reached author's nirvana. That's when I realized there was a whole other world of reading groups and book clubs that could give me that all-important insight into how I was connecting with readers. Nirvana for me was developing satisfied readers. I researched a number of reading groups via the Internet, and Storie Delle Sorelle caught my attention. They had a very professional Web site, a varied reading list, and seemed to have a broad spectrum of members. I was especially intrigued by the member comments which showed they spoke their true impressions of the books they read. On a 1 to 10 rating scale (1 is poorest and 10 is best) the ratings for The Da Vinci Code ranged from 1 to 10 and James Patterson's Mary, Mary ranged from 3 to 9.
I contacted Storie Delle Sorelle's founder, Heather Johnson, and volunteered to meet with the group and discuss their impressions and answer any questions related to writing Unholy Grail. Heather polled the group, and they agreed to read my novel for their July meeting. I stressed the importance that they give me their honest opinions. That would be the only way that I could improve my writing and hopefully broaden my readership. I asked Heather to request the members to write down 3 things they liked most and 3 things they liked least. That would guarantee getting input that would assist me in improving my writing.
I found the meeting to discuss Unholy Grail to be a tremendous success. The readers lived up to their reputations, even entering into healthy discussions about factors they disagreed upon. Two members were concerned that the book may challenge some readers' Christian beliefs, but other members countered that the author did great research providing a balanced view of myth and doctrine, and you can't hide the truth. Their comments provided me with valuable insight into areas I had experimented with to develop an intriguing thriller.
One member had been initially concerned about the short chapters, but very quickly became hooked on the style. Another area of experimentation was developing sub plots in alternating chapters that eventually culminated as critical elements of the primary plot. The members agreed that this structure maintained their interest and resulted in a fast-paced, great read. The group also discussed characterization, dialogue, and content, which provided me with constructive suggestions to attract a broader readership beyond the suspense/thriller genre.
The bottom line was a wonderful discussion with fascinating readers that gave me great insight into areas I can focus on to improve my writing craft and creativity. I certainly intend to connect with more reading groups and book clubs to help me raise the bar for my upcoming suspense/thrillers. I will be delighted to discuss Unholy Grail in person with reading groups in my area or participate in teleconferences. After all, becoming a successful author is based upon providing a satisfying experience for readers.
I can be reached through my Web site at: dlwilsonbooks.com or through e-mail via a literary service at: [email protected].
---D. L. Wilson
