Help Please!

Livia Sipping Pool

As I muse over my muse, Livia, sipping pool water, I note how dipping her little tongue in the water makes ripples that span much of the pool. This is a metaphor for my own, reaching out to find information on how to bring readers to my novels. Ripples! So many ideas, plans, giveaways, classes. So many generous people giving their time to share knowledge with the rest of us.

One nugget of information I mentioned earlier was how to make an audiobook through Amazon’s company, ACX. Since I love to listen to audiobooks myself while I walk, it seemed like a great idea.

ACX allows you to pitch your book to available narrators who may contact you with an audition. The least expensive option is Royalty Sharing. You both split royalties 50/50. I started there, but the world went quiet. So, I raised my offer to the next level, Royalty Share Plus. When I received an audition, I was excited. The narrator had the perfect voice for my protagonist! And it was amazing to hear MY words put into action. Wow…

The price. Expensive! Yet an audiobook could attract readers, who could turn into buyers, who could turn into reviewers, who could bring in more readers . . . If so, I would make my other two books audible. I could release an ebook, a paperback, and an audible book of The French Revelation, all at one time.

Meanwhile, another ripple: the cover of A Marriage to Die For—which I love—doesn’t conform to other romantic suspense novel covers. Fiverr.com has a group of designers who would show me new cover suggestions, more appropriate for suspense. A woman running away? Escaping?

And what if the title is not capturing the spirit of the book? A marriage to die for could mean a couple wonderfully in love with each other. He brings her breakfast in bed every morning. She cooks him gourmet meals every evening. Should I change the title while I’m at it?

My current cover

I would LOVE your opinions!

Should I grab the great narrator and take a chance I’d sell more books?

Should I consider changing my cover to look more like other suspense novels?

Does the title give you the impression of scary marriage or happy marriage?

Help!

Writer’s Causes

Lilacs painted by Donna Green for Missing Emily

Writers of fiction, I believe, write mainly to entertain others with their stories. In my own experience, my novels also reflect my nursing background. Some things I’ve seen will always be pictures in my mind. The most heartbreaking are sick children.
In Missing Emily, I write about a child whose mother is so devastated by her daughter’s illness, that she takes a path she would never think possible to save her child’s life. Her actions cause another mother to suffer. I write about the heartache, pain, devastation, but others actively do amazing things to help these children and their families. Charities like the Jimmy Fund and Make a Wish.
I blogged a long time back about Magical Moon Farm, my dear friend’s foundation for children with cancer. Her name is Donna Green, she is a well-loved, well-collected artist who has also published many illustrated books. She was my guide to self-publish my own book. In her spare time (she has none!), she painted the beautiful lilacs on the cover of my book.
I recently was on a forum where the discussion was whether or not a reader would buy a book that states: a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a certain charity. As my book does. I was surprised how many said they would not buy a book with that stipulation. They see it as a scam to sell books. I have only seen this statement here and there, and I always think it’s great. It gives me the feeling that my book purchase will not only entertain, but will also help someone in need. For me, seeing Donna’s wonderful kids at the farm, all of whom are knighted and have a project, all of whom are learning skills to help them stay healthy during treatments and after, to find peace through meditation, and to support each other, make me want to support them. Marvelous things are done at this sacred place. When I decided to donate funds from my own book sales, it gave me a stronger purpose to write a good book and to market the heck out of it.
I’d love to know how you feel about this. Would you put a book back down if that little phrase is on it? A portion of the proceeds . . .