Today I am excited to have author Alexander Watson who is sharing his experience with publishing. His book “River Queens” will be available to my guest readers in my upcoming newsletter starting April 1st. Be a guest reader by visiting this link here. Find out more about RIVER QUEENS by visiting GoodReads.com.
“Who’s your audience,” that smug evasion of well-intentioned readers too timid or ignorant to offer real critique becomes the touchstone of any successful marketing plan because, regardless of how a book gets published, the onus of sales falls squarely and immutably upon the author. If I am doing all the work, I deserve all the rewards, and, for that, I must assume all the risk.
Risk can be mitigated to next to nothing in today’s market for those who simply want to get their stuff “out there”. But the bane of us indie authors is looking self-pubbed. Raw text poured into funnels and templates chosen A, B, or C has forced outlets to stipulate “professionally edited only” if not to disqualify our work altogether. Consequently, I hired a professional editor for River Queens, chose a vanity press, and spent money I very well might have saved if I had done everything myself—except that the industry is fraught with unscrupulous vendors who prey upon the gullible and ill-informed like me. So, “Who is my audience?”
My audience is the discretionary reader desirous of fantasy, an #ownvoices memoir about a trip across the Heartland in a mid-century motor yacht. Therefore, River Queens must present itself well, feel good in hand, and read effortlessly—qualities which only come from professionals who have practiced their craft over time.
Finally, River Queens is a reflection of me, the author, unavailable through any other means than by publishing self.
Alexander Watson is an entrepreneur, an adventurer, and author. He has salvaged his family’s business from bankruptcy, renovated derelict rental properties into Class A apartments; and restored a vintage motor yacht to its factory-new shine. In 2008, he sold it all to pursue a chance at life on the river.
Watson’s book, River Queens: Saucy boat, stout mates, spotted dog, America tells of the extraordinary people found only on our nation’s rivers.
Watson now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with Dale Harris and a black standard poodle named Kohl.
Find out more about him by visiting his website: https://www.riverqueens.us/
Thanks for sharing!