Gratitude for Feedback

A few months of serious effort is all it takes for new writers to understand the importance of getting feedback from fellow writers. Imagine, then, the gratitude long-time writers feel toward fellow colleagues who take the time from their own busy writing careers to offer professional advice.

To model such appreciation, I'd like to also thank those who are offering advice on materials I'll need to market my book, The Wind Thief. A special thanks goes to Tony Cartledge, author of the forthcoming Planetary Types: the Science of Celestial Influence, who offered a critique of my back cover blurb, as did Daphne Olivier, author of The Peacock Throne by Wild Child Publishing.

Happy writing!

The Art of Back Cover Blurbs

I'm writing the back cover blurb for my novel, The Wind Thief. Though I've written blurbs before, and have helped other writers do the same, I decided to check my work for whatever facet I may be missing.

I happened upon Marilynn Byerly's article, in which she reminds writers of a blurb's primary function: to help sell your book. Other than the book cover, the blurb is the most important part of marketing literature.

Besides putting forth her formula for the back cover summary, she also offers this sage advice, that authors should know what their readers want to know about the book. If you're unsure, look at the blurbs on those books that resemble yours.

Having considered her advice, here's my working blurb for The Wind Thief, which is a literary book best suited to those who like Oprah Book Club books and belong to book clubs. Does the blurb make you want to read the book?

The Wind Thief

AJAY, a young thief from India, is on his way to a better life when he's forced to flee Algiers and subsequently gets lost in the Saharan Desert. He's saved by a strange woman who believes she can talk to the winds, a gift that will save mankind from an imminent apocalypse only she can stop. Ajay has no choice but to follow her out of the barren wasteland. Yet when he gets the chance to escape her, he realizes he no longer can. He follows, and continues to follow, even when the risks grow grave. A tale of obsession and redemption, The Wind Thief is the story of two souls swept from country to country, one in search of a home, the other in search of a war and both ever a step behind the peace they seek.

Happy writing!

At Last Has Come

As you can see above, The Wind Thief, my literary novel, will be published by Alondra Press in October 2009.

If you're following along, I'd like to chronicle the path of this book in the days ahead, both for the fascination factor and so you can learn the publication process if you don't already. You can also follow my Daily Countdown Till Publication (102 days as of today) via Twitter.

Let me start by saying this book took 11 years to come to fruition, and that I don't think the story would have been ready a day sooner.

Happy writing!