Friday, July 6, 2007

Will all the hard work pay off?

With help from friends such as Chris Stevenson and Bob Andelman, I have been doing my best to create online interest for my fantasy series. This involves spending a lot of time doing interviews, posting on writers sites such as AW, blogging, and otherwise spreading the word as many ways as humanly (or maybe I should say, computer-ly) possible. Any of you who has done the same knows what I'm talking about. For the most part it's fun and you meet a lot of intelligent people, but it is very time consuming -- as in, the more you do it, the less you write.

Unless you've signed with a major publisher that has its own built-in mega-marketing machine, self-promoting is an integral part of the game. But the writer walks a fine line between building interest and becoming annoying. I'm doing my best to stay away from the annoying part, but I doubt I've been entirely successful. If I've already turned anyone off, I apologize.

What will be the end result of all this? I'll begin to find out in September when Book One makes its debut. Until then, I can only hope for the best -- and continue to work my ass off.

4 comments:

Crabby McSlacker said...

Good luck!

I am quite a believer in shameless self-promotion myself. Hope the hard work indeed pays off!

Jim Melvin said...

For you too!

For all of us!

Allie Boniface said...

Oh, gosh, I don't think one can do enough self-promoting. And for what it's worth, as far as I've seen, you aren't in the least bit annoying :)

Jim Melvin said...

That's very nice of you to say. Thanks so much!

Synopsis

The Death Wizard Chronicles is a sexy, action-packed six-book epic fantasy series: Book One (Forged by Death), Book Two (Chained by Fear), Book Three (Eve of War), Book Four (World on Fire), Book Five (Sun God), Book Six (Death-Know).

The DW Chronicles is not for children and teenagers -- or the faint of heart. But if you like graphic fantasy that is bursting with excitement yet still has a lot going on between the lines, I think you'll love my series.

In a groundbreaking paradox, the Death Wizard, a champion of good, derives his power from a source traditionally seen as negative -- death. His nemesis, an evil sorcerer, derives his power from the sun, the benevolent source of all life. Their struggle to control the fate of the planet Triken will take your breath away.

In an original twist never before seen in this genre, the Death Wizard is able to enter the realm of death during a "temporary suicide." Through intense concentration, he stops his heartbeat and feeds on death energy, which provides him with an array of magical powers.

The series also is a love triangle involving two desperate characters attempting to come together despite the machinations of an all-powerful psychopath with incestuous cravings.

Graphic and action-packed, spanning a millennium of turmoil, The DW Chronicles carries readers on a journey they will never forget.

Do you fear death? The Death Wizard does not. Find out why.

-- Please go to www.jim-melvin.com for more details.

About Me

My photo
Clemson, SC, United States
I was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but grew up in St. Petersburg, Fla. I graduated from the University of South Florida (Tampa) in 1979 with a B.A. in Journalism. I now live in South Carolina near the Blue Ridge Mountains, a pleasant setting for writing, to say the least. I was an award-winning journalist at the St. Petersburg Times for twenty-five years and I currently work at the Charlotte Observer. I am married with five daughters.

The author

The author
Jim Melvin, a veteran journalist, debuts as novelist.