Xlibris Publishing returns with Tracey Lee, author of What Remains.
One Message for Readers
I hope that readers of my book will come to understand that our pasts, the best and messiest bits, are a part of what shapes us. We don’t have to be crushed or diminished by whatever we discover about our recent or distant histories. The past provides the contours and structures that form the possibilities of our lives. The tragedies strengthen us, surviving the worse can make us more hopeful, the survival shows us how to be compassionate and forgiving; and the small joys allow us to register that we are a part of something larger than ourselves.
Working on a Sequel
The second book in the Lily O’Hara series is well on the way. The twenty-four chapters are mapped and the opening ones written. And the last chapter completed (this is just how I do it!) I had initially planned to write a trilogy but something triggered a re-think and now there will be four. What was initially planned to be the second book will now be the third. When I first started writing What Remains I thought it would probably be a one off but I really like my protagonist and wanted to tell the readers so much more about Lily.
Events Marketing Promotions
This is the difficult bit! You would think writing the novel was enough! But no, you have to get out there and market it! I had a wonderful launch in the town of Bungendore, NSW, which was where the story was set. A landscape photographer, Paul Kowalski, has a wonderful gallery and generously allowed us to launch the book there. Local bookstores in Canberra, Bungendore, Batemans Bay and Moruya are carrying copies of the book. I’ve had three newspaper articles that reviewed and promoted the book and quite a bit of Facebook publicity. I’m also hoping to have a launch at the Canberra Writer’s Festival in August. I’ve also used ‘Tweet my book” as my first foray into using Twitter to promote it.
To maximise every possibility I’ve also signed on with Bohlsen Group who are advising me on traditional and social media publicity strategies.
Favourite part of publishing with Xlibris
Writing is a very solitary pursuit. For first time authors it is also a confusing one. That is why having a publishing team from Xlibris has been so beneficial. There have been so many supportive and enthusiastic members of the group that no matter what the question there was always someone available to answer it. From the first conversation about the book as an idea, through to its arrival on my doorstep, I’ve had great advice and felt like I was really in control of the creative content of my book.
Advice to Aspiring Writers
My advice to aspiring writers is simply….WRITE! It doesn’t matter how good or how inadequate the words might seem, write them anyway. They just get better the more we work them. If they never get on the page, you don’t have anything to mould into shape. If you can write a masterpiece first time at the computer I congratulate you. You probably could run a marathon without ever having done any exercise too! But for we mere mortals, who have a story to tell, just start telling it. Write it in point form, draw pictures or flowcharts and lists. Fill books with words, and sit at your computer and write out your frustrations about not being able to write. Eventually the story will make itself known and the words will occur to you. Every day, write. Every hour, plan. Every minute, imagine.
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