Into the Fire

Self-promotion, also known as marketing. For me it would be so much easier to do self-loathing. Now that I can get behind and support.

The key to selling yourself—er, I mean your novels—is to make it not seem like you are. Three excellent marketing Christian authors who accomplish this are Karen Kingsbury, Trisha Goyer, and Mary De Muth. They make marketing seem like fun—they have giveaways, colorful and informative websites and/or blogs, newsletters, and they’re invited places to speak about their books, the craft of writing, and other things.

The only way I can promote my work at this point is to tell you about the characters in the books, a little history about the individual novel, how much I like the story. It’s difficult to write a story you don’t like. I mean I’m sure it’s doable and there’s probably a reason to do it, although I can’t think of one right now.

It’s more like sharing an experience and getting excited about what happens between those pages. When you recall a meaningful scene, a particularly clever piece of dialogue, or the drama of a heart-rending act or occurrence . . . well, it’s like you’re livin’ it all over again.

A few days ago I gave you a little history about my first novel Hope Of Glory. That long novel is about one race meet which lasts from February when the racetrack opens for training to the third week in September. It covers the preparation for racing and chronicles the daily grind and challenges in the lives of the multiple characters from the Racing Secretary and his office staff, jockeys, trainers, exercise riders, grooms, those who worked in the racetrack kitchen, the owners of the track, and off track people, showing the intersection of their lives centered around equine athletes. It was designed to demonstrate to the reader how tedious and tiring it can be to live the life of a racetracker while also communicating the commitment required, the endurance needed to sustain such a career, and the difficulty in resisting the various vices common to man in an environment where restraint is generally not practiced.

The story is filled with composites of myself and other people I’ve known in the many years I spent in the sport. They’re as real as your co-worker, next door neighbor, or someone you’d rather not know. And there are too many to count because the racetrack truly is a tapestry of personalities. There are crises, successes, love stories, accidents, failures, tragedies, and triumphs in the book. And through it all, individuals issue a response to the gospel from within their various circumstances.

Is it alright to say I love the book? No, it’s not perfect. I’m a better writer now for having written it and also for having six more sizably shorter novels notched to my writer’s belt. But I do love it because it’s the most comprehensive adult novel written about American horse racing that I know of, and those who’ve persevered through its 744 pages have truly loved it—but then they’d have to like it to even get through it! And the fun part is many of them had zero knowledge about horse racing before they read it.

But like any other novel it’s not for everyone. And that’s where my self-promotion comes to a screeching halt. I have to say it’s not for everyone. Some people will be offended by its realism. And because of that, I don’t want them to read it. So I’m always specific in my warnings to potential readers because there is no good reason to promote a book to someone who won’t like it.

Anyway, I’m just not the best at self-promotion. It’s hard for me. I love my novels but not because of who I am or any skills I might have. I love them because the Lord helped me create them—I truly can’t take the credit for them because I’m limited in my imagination. He’s the mastermind behind them. However, if I fail to “impress” you with my stories, it’s my fault. If you don’t like my voice, that’s the way it goes. To each his own. I’m just grateful I got to write them.

Thank you, Father, for your direction and inspiration. Without you there would be no stories. Please, Lord, use them for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*PLEASE PRAY FOR KRISTY DYKES*