I entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest today.
For those of you who don’t know, a few years ago, I wrote a novel.
(You can read the synopsis and about the book at my novel blog here.)
I’ve sent a few queries in, but haven’t really marketed and searched for an agent or publisher like I should.
The truth is, trying to sell your novel is a full-time job.
I’ve already got a full-time job.
And a part-time job.
And three children to raise.
So, it’s been tough.
I’ve sent all of my e-mail queries in, but to be honest, I’ve been lax with sending in snail mail queries.
However, I feel pretty strongly that I need to start seriously marketing this novel if I really want something to happen.
Yesterday, a friend of mine, Matt, shared with me the Amazon contest. He suggested I enter, so I checked it out and felt like it would be a good match for me, so today, I submitted all of my information, including my full manuscript.
That’s the scary part. Turning my work over to someone else.
Some of my closest friends have read the novel, but other than that, I play it pretty close to the vest with the novel.
Stupid strategy.
You want someone to publish the book?
You need to let someone read it.
So, today was a step in that direction, and it reminds me that it’s a good novel and it deserves to be read.
Nothing may come of it, with regards to the contest.
However, I’ve been re-inspired to pursue this dream, and to me, that’s better than winning.
Well, maybe not better than winning, but it’s important. 🙂
