How Many Kind Words Does it Take to Cancel a Negative Word?

Well, this has been a WEEK.

On Tuesday my latest novel, I WILL TELL THE NIGHT, released. This was met with little fanfare, which is exactly what I was expecting. Having gone through the process of having an EXCELLENT publisher behind a title, I knew my two previous releases were executed amazingly well. There was a team of promoters behind them. They soared into the atmosphere. Especially The Camino Club. Book of Dreams did not do as well. I realize why this is. It was a mixed genre title that was hard to place…like a square peg in a round hole. But it still did well. It had a team behind it.

This week, I self-published a title. The only person behind it is ME. I am not good at self-promotion. I love this book, but I’m only one person. It’s not going to get out there into the public eye the way my previous two titles did. That’s okay with me. It is what it is (I hate that saying and yet I keep using it). I just needed to get this book out of my system. Now I can move on to the 3 works in progress I’ve been struggling with knowing this book was sitting in a drawer.

I expected silence. I expected a few core supporters to congratulate me and, possibly even share the news. This happened. I had a lot of support from friends and family. It sold quite a few copies for a book that was advertised exactly nowhere outside of my own social media presence. I want to thank each and every one of you who bought a copy and/or shared the news of the publication. I appreciate you SO MUCH! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

What I did not expect was an email from a “FRIEND” who wrote me to specifically tell me they wouldn’t be buying a copy of I WILL TELL THE NIGHT.

Let me suggest something here.

If you decide–FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER–to NOT support a friend and the release of their new novel, please for the love of the universe (I won’t say the G word here, because I don’t believe), DO NOT EMAIL THAT FRIEND AND TELL THEM YOU WON’T BE SUPPORTING THEM. Your silence in this matter is by far the best decision. Crickets from you is better than vitriol.

I promise you, I will remember this slight far longer than I will remember the kindnesses I experienced from all the others who reached out to congratulate and celebrate the release. There is no mathematical equation for figuring out how many kind words will cancel out a negative one, but I can tell you that ALL the support I received from family and friends fell out from under me when I received this email.

Don’t be that person. If you have a grudge against a fellow writer/friend…there is no need in the world to reach out to them at such a time simply to rain on their parade. Silence, in these cases, goes a hell of a long way. DON’T BE THAT PERSON.

 

If you’re still here, still reading…it’s STILL JUST ME PUSHING THIS NEW TITLE. Feel free to share its existence with your contacts. Feel free to pick up a copy. If you have a problem with me or with the book…keep it to yourself. No need to reach out and let me know.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME WITH THIS OR ANY OF MY CREATIVE ENDEAVORS. I love that you believe in me and my writing. I appreciate you. Thank you!

I WILL TELL THE NIGHT is available in all Amazon countries.

I WILL TELL THE NIGHT AMAZON USA

I WILL TELL THE NIGHT AMAZON CANADA

Please…don’t email me to let me know you won’t be purchasing a copy. I’ve already experienced that phenomenon and it ain’t pretty.

I thought about not posting this, but I had to.