Believe me, it's not all about the writing.
Of course, the story/information needs to be good, edited, correctly laid out and formatted etc. The book itself needs more than all that, however.
Last night, we were invited to a book launch and just like a rocket launch, preparations months in advance all culminated in the success of last night.
In December last year, I was contacted by a lovely lady who desperately needed help with her first fiction novel. She was recommended to me by a long-standing friend and I connected with her immediately. She's really up-beat, knowledgeable and intelligent and she knows her stuff on the subject of marketing - four-times-best-seller on the subject.
I promised I could help and I set to work. I sent over a couple of paragraphs of editing to show her how I work, and she and her husband agreed I was up to the task.
Then disaster struck!
I sent off the first part and she phoned me to tell me she didn't like what I'd done. She was upset (rightly so) and said she'd pay the money we'd agreed, but it wasn't what she wanted.
I told her that's not how I work and I'd take it all back to the beginning and start again.
From there, it went like a dream. I edited each short story with the minimum of fuss and stress and she began to feel confident in our working relationship.
The book was already to a higher standard than a lot of the novels I've read/started to read. It helps if you have a good idea of how to construct and deliver a story and of course, a grasp of English (or the language in which you're publishing) is a huge bonus.
The problem we had at the beginning of the relationship was that I misunderstood the brief and got a little heavy-handed. The Author wanted the lightest of touches, a mere polish to make her diamond shine. I started over and delivered exactly what she wanted and that effort has paid out on both sides.
I now know what a great client looks like. She was wonderful to work with, she knew exactly what she wanted and was able to communicate everything to me without fuss, stress or crisis. For my part, she received a great editing service that elevated her novel beyond the excellence she had already achieved.
We have become good friends and she invited me to her exclusive book launch.
Like a graceful swan, she's been gliding along the surface of a tranquil lake, making everything look so easy. Under the waterline, however, her efforts have been enormous! From planning the exact wording for her book on Amazon, to emailing contacts left, right and centre - making new contacts, reaffirming old contacts and working it!
She has divulged many secrets to her success and I'm determined to make the most of that valuable asset - knowledge.
I helped Dee get her book finished and polished and in turn (though she doesn't know it), she's boosted my confidence and got me writing again. I'm determined to publish anther book by the end of this year and there's more to come too.
Here's the start - two days in a row of writing on Hive.Blog. I think I may be on my way back 'home' - to where I love writing again.
Watch this space, there's a Dee Blick Rocket about to take off - Public Launch is tomorrow!