So Broken Things was finally released…and now, the REAL work begins. You know, the part where I try everything I can think of to connect my book child with readers, also known as MARKETING. I’m less into this part, although I’m very willing to engage in it because I 100% believe it’s a great story and that people will like it if they read it.

First up, I went to Stokercon in Connecticut about a week prior to release with a bunch of copies for advance sales. Stokercon is the Horror Writers Association’s (HWA) annual writer’s convention, with tons of panels, readings and vendors of all things dark and spooky. I went as a vendor but also a writer, and I had a BLAST. It culminated with the Bram Stoker Awards banquet and ceremony, and I ALMOST chickened out of going. It was soooo tempting after an exhausting day to order a pizza and camp out on my bed, watching old episodes of MST3K on my laptop. In fact, I did that the night before, for my Friday the 13th viewing party (it was the 13th):

I didn’t really know anyone there that well and had no friend group expecting me. But someone told me I should take a quick disco nap and see if I felt like coming down at 6 for cocktails.

I did. And I went, and met some very nice people and had a blast. I felt a bit lost without my table buddies afterwards, so the after-party lost me pretty quick. Still, there’s a lot to be said for jumping into strange situations with both feet. Especially situations involving a room full of horror writers, because THEY ARE THE NICEST GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU WILL EVER MEET. It might be different if we’re talking about very well-established writers, but this group of people is possibly the most accepting, encouraging and inclusive group of writers I’ve ever had the pleasure to mingle with. There is no “Oh, you write GENRE FICTION,” from them. In fact, I probably could have said I write historical vampire fiction set on a unicorn planet being invaded by aliens, and they still would have smiled and asked to hear more. I mean, they might be thinking I was insane, but their eyes wouldn’t let me know that.

Anyway, it was tough to come home off the high of talking horror and getting actual physical copies of my beloved book in hand (and having to find a way to ship them back to my house from a strange town) to my daily work world, but this is the writer’s life. The trick is to balance that with learning my least favorite thing….SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING.

I mean, where do I even start? Bookstagram, takeovers, street teams….I DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE WORDS MEAN. Yet. I mean, I’ve heard them and smiled and nodded as if I understood what was being discussed, but really? I don’t. But I’m going to try my best to learn.

I’m starting small, with email lists and flows and automations. I’m currently at odds with myself: blog or mail list? Or both?

Not gonna lie – I kinda love this blog and I feel like it’s a good way to net new readers and let them know a thing or two about me pre-book. So I’m keeping it for now, but throwing you all a big ask: join my e-mail list? It’s a way for me to build a relationship with readers and reward them – YOU – for sticking with me. I’ve got reader surveys, PDFs of side-stories, and of course, loads of MST3K gifs. So, with that said…

JOIN DIANE’S EMAIL LIST AND STOP MAKING HER BEG, ALREADY!