Last week, my debut novel, SECRETS OF THE BLUE MOON, hit the shelves, and I had my first book signing. (Thank you, Switzer Library in Marietta, Georgia. What a lovely event!)
Like many writers, I’d rather be writing than talking about writing. In fact, selling is one of my least favorite things in the world to do.
Off the bat, I scared potential customers away at the signing with what I thought was a simple, well-crafted question:
“Do you like ghost stories?”
My roadie and publicist sat nearby. For the sake of disclosure, please note that I’m sleeping with him. Not that that earns me the right to throw shade on his suggestion, which was to pose alternative questions, like:
“Do you enjoy mysteries?” or “What kind of books do you like to read?”
Okay. I hate to admit it, but he was right. The fact that he’s also my husband makes that extra tough. But the thing is, when I took his advice, people did stick around a wee bit longer.
So let me say it again. He was right. My book is not just a ghost story. It’s contemporary book club fiction about a woman who grapples to overcome fears, deal with past regrets, and regain a sense of purpose and faith. Set in a small town with quaint shops and quirky characters, it is a mystery, but it also provides a few laughs and raises questions about the world around us and how we fit in.
That said, the book is a ghost story. So in honor of Friday the 13th, I’d like to point out thirteen reasons why ghost stories are da bomb. In fact, they’re good for the heart, and here’s why:
1. Ghost stories tap into our fears, and a healthy dose of fear historically kept us physically safe.
2. Ghostlore provides a fun adrenaline rush of terror and dread, yet we can walk away when we feel the need to regain a sense of control.
3. Ghost stories help us develop empathy, providing a way for us to experience loss and sorrow (and horror and more) in a safe way.
4. Ghostly tales serve as a metaphor to help us learn more about life. They can help us examine our thoughts and feelings on social conditions like loneliness and isolation.
5. Stories of things that go bump in the night allow us to escape the everyday.
6. Ghost stories distract us from all sorts of universal fears such as war, financial woes, climate change, social injustice, health problems, betrayals…and so much more.
7. Ghostlore allows us to explore our fear of the unknown (like the supernatural and the afterlife) in a cathartic way.
8. Ghost stories allow us to engage with our inner child, to reconnect with the thrill of a quickened heartbeat and heightened senses.
9. Stories of ghosts can help us to build emotional resilience.
10. Because most civilizations share ghost stories, these tales provide cultural connections.
11. Ghostly tales can move us closer to one another, like when we grasp for someone else’s hand under the spell of a ghostly tale shared by a crackling fire.
12. Ghostlore provides a way to help us explain the unexplainable.
13. Ghost stories represent storytelling at its very best. And that, my friend, is about as good as it gets.
So…here’s an idea. Why not tuck a ghost story at the top of your books-to-read pile for fall?
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Secrets of the Blue Moon celebrates family, friendship, and small-town Southern living. It’s sprinkled with gentle humor and mystery and ghosts that don’t want to let the past go. At times a bit grisly, it deals with topics including loss, self-harm, and death. Yet at its core, it is an uplifting story of hope, resilience, and redemption. Please order it through your favorite book store or by going to my website. Or get a signed copy on the spot at one of my events.
Not every book is for every reader. And you know what? That’s okay.
But can we hone down on the topic of book reviews?
As an introvert, I enjoy writing a whole lot more than talking about my writing. Even more awkward is asking for reviews. That’s about as pleasant as learning I need a root canal.
Yet with millions of new books coming out each year, writers need reviews. Algorithms, baby. Algorithms. But readers benefit from thoughtful reviews, too. Some things to consider:
What do readers get from book reviews?
Book reviews can help link like-minded readers to books they’re more likely to enjoy.
Writing reviews gives readers a voice. (Fingers crossed for a thoughtful, not hate-filled voice.)
Reading reviews can save readers time in making an informed decision on what to read next. (Why pick up a rom-com if you prefer literary historical fiction?)
Writing a review provides a way for a reader to support a writer without spending a dime. Sometimes I write reviews on books I got on loan from the library or as gifts. It’s my way of being a good literary citizen and saying “thank you” to the writer.
What do authors get from book reviews?
Book reviews (yikes! – even the negative ones) can help an author get noticed. Of course, positive reviews can boost a writer’s self-confidence and creativity.
Reviews can help a writer know what resonates about their work with readers.
Reviews lend to an author’s credibility.
Authors are businesspeople. Whether just starting out or having already achieved bestseller status, they need reviews to drive sales. This applies to traditionally and self-published authors in hardback, paperback, audiobook, and/or eBook. In this digital world, reviews drive sales.
So…what exactly is a book review?
A review is not a master’s thesis or a synopsis. It can be short, as in one sentence. I loved this book! Of course, a little more depth can make a review more meaningful to others.
I came across a three-sentence review formula and tested it out with the delightful NEENA LEE IS SEEING THINGS by Sheila Athens. (I shared a longer review of this in my April 2024 newsletter.)
Sentence One: Recap of story and genre.
Meet Neena Lee, a travel writer who’s approached for help by the ghost of JFK Jr. in this blend of contemporary fiction sprinkled with history and magical realism…and a pinch of romance.
Sentence Two: Share three to five things you liked about the book.
I enjoyed (1) how fifty-something Neena Lee overcomes grief and anxiety and agism by pushing beyond her comfort zones, (2) the charming ghost story, (3) the lush descriptions of Cumberland Island, (4) reliving parts of history through a fictional character’s eyes.
Sentence Three: Tell who else might like the book (in general terms) or perhaps share a comparable title.
If you enjoy fiction about characters confronting personal demons, rising above difficult times, and learning the art of self-forgiveness, this one’s for you.
Bonus: Add an optional headline; it may be all the reader stops long enough to read.
Enchanting ghost story…and so much more.
Some thoughts on star ratings:
Maybe you’ve heard it said that no one should earn a five of five star-rating (the BEST) unless they walk on water. That’s one viewpoint.
Another comes from a writer friend of mine, who points out that writers love their five-star ratings, so why not? (The write-up itself carries more weight than the number of stars, in her mind.)
Yet another writer friend never gives five-star ratings to writers she knows lest Amazon (or other review sites) think she’s playing favorites.
I can see points to each of the above. Personally, I used to practice a tough-love approach to reviewing, but these days I work more from a mindset of abundance. I rarely post books I’d rate three. Books I’d rate two or one are pretty much moot as I rarely finish them. Life is too short to read books that aren’t my jam. Same goes for sharing on-line snits over books I don’t like. Life. Is. Short.
But that’s me. You need to do you.
A final note:
If you’re ready to share a review, please remember to post to all the places that might help a reader find a book to enjoy. Consider Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, or wherever you purchased the book. Cutting and pasting the same review to multiple sites is not just acceptable, it’s thoughtful.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering what to do if a friend writes a book you don’t care for...
Be honest but kind with your words. Smile. Maybe say, “Congratulations; I’m happy for you.” (Note: If you’re famous for your snarky tone, maybe find a Plan B?)
Just a thought here—okay, make that several thoughts—from a debut novelist.
Here’s wishing you many happy (or scary or sweet or poignant or whatever-you’re-looking-for) pages to come! Thanks for reading.
Note 1: Halloween in July? Kinda, sorta. I asked for folks to share their personal ghost stories as I prepare for my debut novel / ghost story to launch this fall. It only seems apt that I should share some of my favorites, right as they come in. This one’s a sweet tale from sister writer and book coach Monica Cox, who “helps communications professionals honor their creative dreams, apply their skills to fiction, and finish their novels.” You can find out more about her by clicking the green button here:
YUP, SOUNDS LIKE GRANDPA ~ A Ghostly Tale by Monica Cox
One summer when my kids were little (think 5 and 2), we went to visit extended family in Rhode Island. One of my aunts lived in my grandparents’ old house (my grandparents long since passed), and so we stayed with her there. They lived on a lake, and my sister and I often went to stay with them for a few weeks every summer when we were growing up.
One night during our visit, my aunt and the kids went to bed early. My husband and I settled into the same furniture my grandparents had since I was probably my kids' ages to relax and watch a little TV before bed. The only TV still had a turn dial on it. We clicked through the sparse offering of channels and settled on the Olympic opening ceremonies that were on that night.
About a half hour in, we heard some noises from the kids' room--someone needed to go to the bathroom or required a glass of water or simply turned over and didn't recognize their surroundings. My husband volunteered to check on them. As soon as he left the room, the television changed channels to the Red Sox game. I instinctively looked around for a remote and actually did find one. On the other side of the room on a table.
I figured maybe the dial was sensitive, and my husband walking by the television had caused it to "jiggle" over to the next option. But when I got up to return to what we were watching, I realized that the game and the ceremonies were several channels away from each other on the dial.
Weird, but whatever.
My husband returned. When I told him what had happened, we shrugged it off to ancient technology.
Then it happened again.
I told my husband how when we were kids and staying with Grandma and Grandpa during the summers, the only way we could stay up late was if we were watching the Red Sox play. I became a lifelong fan as a result. (Hard to do growing up in the south!).
My husband got up and clicked the dial over to the station we had originally been watching. (The game was a blow out one way or the other and not super interesting.)
“But,” he told me, “if the TV acts up again, I’m out.”
Sure enough, two minutes later, the television returned to the Sox game.
"Grandpa insisted we could only stay up to watch the Sox," I reminded him. "His house, his rules."
My husband went to bed. I watched the end of the game. The television never changed channels again.
The next morning, I told my cousin who lived a few doors down about our evening.
For a beat or two, he just looked at me with no words.
Then he laughed. “Yup,” he said. “Sounds like Grandpa."
Note 2: Hope you enjoyed Monica’s story. Look for more personal ghost stories to come (shared with permission and anonymously upon request). I’m finding it fun to collect and share others’ tales as I prepare for the September 6th launch of my debut novel, SECRETS OF THE BLUE MOON! It, too, features a ghost story.
Don’t be scared, though. Ghosts aren’t real. (Or are they…?)
Cheers ~ J
