Speaking Up, Joining In, Making Connections

Another chapter in my series: Book Marketing on a Shoestring

The best part of Substack, for me, is the community, the exchange of thoughts. Some ‘stacks, like Spark from author Elizabeth Marro have a great circle of commenters that always seem to throw out great comments or questions that will “spark” an ongoing conversation about life. Betsy Marro’s Spark was the first ‘stack I followed, back in 2020, and here I am. Amazement Seeker by Rona Maynard is another ‘stack where I always try to stick around and read the comments. I read, loved and reviewed Rona’s book, Starter Dog, on my ‘stack. Not to get any “brownie points” but because I loved it!

Nan Tepper hosts Wham! Bam! Thank You! Slam! another must-follow and you-must-read the comments—the contributors are laugh-out-loud funny or insightful or both. I only had to hear Nan talk about WBTYS (and her dream of doing a story slam live on Zoom) to know I wanted to be a part of it, and soon I was. The most recent WBTYS story slam was last Saturday and now you can watch it all right here. Funny enough, two of my fellow writer-performers were Betsy Marro and Rona Maynard. Full circle!

Another comments section I always read is for Memoir Land and Oldster Magazine from the brilliant Sari Botton. I sent Sari a note asking about Oldster Magazine way back when my book was coming out in 2023 and got to be part of it through the Oldster Questionnaire, which was a huge thrill. In May, I will be featured as part of the Memoir Land Author Questionnaire, an even bigger thrill. I’ve also been featured in Memoir Land’s “Goodbye to All That,” in essays written about 1980s NYC.

When I discovered In a Flash Lit Mag, which publishes great flash nonfiction, I was inspired by their theme of “Home” to write a piece of short flash memoir. It was accepted by the In A Flash editors and published later that year, and is still one of my favorite essays I’ve written. The whole process was a joy, especially working with my editor Nina B. Lichtenstein whose memoir, Body: My Life In Parts I reviewed here.

Since I said this post was about book marketing, am I suggesting that you go onto the comments section of your favorite ‘stack and start spamming everyone about you and your book? Of course not. That’s no more imaginative that constantly posting “Buy my book” on any social media platform. No one wants to see that kind of thing.

What I’m talking about is becoming part of a community by truly participating in it. Substack can be a virtual town square, a creative commons, a fun and exhilarating place for people to air their ideas and opinions, refer great books and podcasts, and to share your best finds with other ‘stackers and friends. When you discover a publication you love, you can support it, comment on posts, and restack them.

I loved Womancake Magazine so I jumped on the comments and became a part of the conversation. That led to EIC Alicia Dara and I connecting, which led to me writing some essays for her, and then a long series of travel columns for Womancake. The travel columns are still on Womancake but have also been picked up to run again (with credit to Womancake) on Tom Shess’ popular, long-running Pillar to Post blog.

I’ve been lucky enough to have a few old friends join Substack, like Jeanine Kitchel, an author whose last two books I edited, who writes about the Maya, the Yucatan, and all things that speak to and from the Mexican Soul (her ‘stack). Other author friends include Mikel K Miller whose intimate To Hell and Back: Surviving Colorectal Cancer is so important, and David W. Reed whose lovely writing always makes me smile.

The latest addition to Substack by an old friend of mine is Still Here by Helen Landalf. Those of you who’ve read my memoir will know Helen as my teenage theater friend though two productions at San Diego’s Old Globe Theater; she was there when I met Russel Redmond. Helen is an author, actress, a teacher (of Pilates and dance), and so much more, including a cancer survivor—and that’s the focus of her ‘stack.

When I met Helen, she was in treatment for—living under the threat of death from—Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Being teens, we didn’t discuss that much; we talked about boys, plays, auditions, and our families. Helen actually met my brothers before I met her. Soon after, Helen met my mom, who cast Helen as my mother in “The Diary of Anne Frank.” In spite of her youth, Helen played the part so believably and beautifully, and I know she’ll wow us here, as well. If you or someone you love has survived or is living with cancer, share this first post by Helen Landalf with them.

I’ll bet you’re beginning to see how this all works, at least in my life. Even before Substack, in fact ever since I started working as an editor, I’ve thought of myself as a sort of literary matchmaker. Once a book I’ve edited is ready to publish, I love to help the author find the right home for it. Sometimes that might take the form of sharing the name of an agent friend, sometimes, it means matching them with a publisher. Of course, this doesn’t always work out—many clients find their own way in the world— but it isn’t from lack of trying…

I think of presenting to groups in exactly the same way. Not solely as an opportunity to market myself, but as an opportunity to share something I value with like-minded, or curious and open-minded people. Tonight I’ll be sharing a sea story on She Sailor Sea Story, a storytelling venue created and hosted by the National Womens Sailing Association. I have been wanting to do one of these SSSS talks for years, and all it took was asking nicely again and again. (“Still she persisted!”)

On Monday night, I’ll be doing a presentation for one of my hometown literary groups, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. I’ll explain what a good book pitch consists of, listen to their pitches, and try to help the authors hone and polish them. In June, I’ll be teaching two different classes for San Diego Writers, Ink.

All of this is good marketing for me and my book, if you think of it that way, but it is also good for me—good to connect, exchange ideas, listen to other people’s stories, and just be a productive part of the incredible writing communities that surround me.

I hope to see you at one of these events one day (perhaps you are already planning to be in San Diego in January, to attend SCWC). Or maybe I’ll see you here—in the comments section below, or on one of my favorite ‘stacks!

hasta pronto!