Into the Fire

As a reader it probably doesn't occur to you why certain authors' books aren't selling. If you like their novels, you buy them. If you don't, you don't. 

But as an author, I do wonder. A very talented author friend of mine and I were talking about this very thing. My author friends are like me: avid readers. Most of them primarily read in the genre(s) they write. Unlike me, who rarely reads in the genre I write (i.e. love stories/romance), I mostly read thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. You'd think – or maybe you wouldn't – I'd write in one of those genres since they're what I read.

I wrote the one mystery/police procedural Race and it was the hardest book I've ever written. Not because of the characters or the plot which I had in the back of my head for years before I realized I needed to write it, but because of the fear of getting the process/investigation wrong. Even with the Detective who helped and encouraged me, I was afraid most of the way through it. Fortunately, it got done and received some good feedback/reviews.

But back to my intended topic here. Believe it or not, there are some truly good writers who don't get the attention they deserve. Their stories are interesting, entertaining, thought provoking, and very well written, but for whatever reason, some of their novels don't get not only the praise they deserve but the attention they should have. Some professionals will throw out that it's all about marketing, finding your audience, email lists, newsletters, blogs, etcetera. Well, it's not always about all that. 

As a Christian in the Christian Fiction market, as in the General Market, there are millions of novels from which to choose. Sometimes, the ones that are trendy and maybe not that well-written wind up getting the wide audiences and accolades. No professional has been able to absolutely pinpoint how to get those audiences. And the publishers' line has always been, "Write the best book, and you'll get published." Well, that's simply not true judging from the hundreds of novels I've read. But then of course, one reader's favorite is another reader's throwaway. 

Conundrum for this Monday's Musing . . . 

Father, I'm not complaining. Only you know the reasons for these questions and answers. Only you. Thank you for all that you've done for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.