Have Books, Will Travel

When a writer completes a book, she heaves a great sigh of relief. Something like 60,000 words are written, re-written, read, re-read, edited and re-edited. It’s finished. Right? Wrong! As the song by The Carpenters goes, “We’ve Only Just Begun”. Because, dear readers, next comes marketing. Once, I was a shy, bashful, blushing young gal who would rather sit in a mud puddle as speak to a group of people. That type of person should do well as a writer because writers sit in dusty garrets and are known as gifted recluses. Right? Wrong again! If a writer is shy, she might as well get over it, because public speaking is part of the next phase after writing. It is involved in the process called marketing. Funny thing is, where once I dreaded to speak in public, now I enjoy it! I think my attitude changed when groups began to ask me to speak about the two Etta Bend books I had written. I wanted others to know about my mother’s childhood. I was eager to tell everybody what a neat place Etta Bend was in the early 1900s.

And, I’m eager to tell everybody who will listen about the Darcy and Flora Cozy Mysteries Barbara and I wrote. So, yesterday at Fran’s luncheon, she generously gave me my first opportunity. This was entirely impromptu. I hadn’t known she would ask me to share the good news about the soon publication of The Cemetery Club, Grave Shift, and Best Left Buried. But my friend Peg had confided that I might have something to say on those subjects. So, thirty-six listening ears tuned my direction.

The three cozy mysteries, re-edited, re-formatted, new cover pictures, and published by Pen-L Publishing will make their appearance the last of this month or the first of next. We are already talking about cover pictures and the artist is whipping up some beautiful samples. In other words, I can hardly wait to actually hold them in my hands and tell everybody about these wonderful books, coming out at the perfect time: fall. Can you imagine a crackling fireplace, a cup of hot chocolate, a comfy chair and a stack of books by Blanche Day Manos and Barbara Burgess? Sounds pretty good to me!

The reason I was at Fran’s yesterday was for her monthly luncheon. As usual, it was a welcoming, refreshing break, a get-together with friends around Fran’s bountiful table. Salads, soups, and an array of desserts mixed with the chatter of friendly people is a wonderful way to spend a few hours. I look forward to those luncheons. Fran is gifted with hospitality and generosity and she inspires others to be the same. So, thank you, Fran, for a special time of sharing and an opportunity to tell others the exciting news about my books!