As my novel’s first birthday (11.01.24) approached, I considered different ways to mark the milestone. Would a blog post on my website, noting the highs and lows of the past 365 days, be appropriate? Or would updating social media platforms be sufficient?
Ultimately, I uploaded promotional videos on Instagram and TikTok and left for a beach vacation. Sandy excursions are a default destination for my family at this time of year, thanks to my October birthday. One evening, as the sun dipped into the horizon, I reached for my phone after packing up our gear and found an exciting e-mail: “We are proud to present you with the Literary Titan Book award—your book deserves extraordinary praise …”
How can this be? A Southern Enchantress received an outstanding book review from LT only a month ago. Now, this? I am thrilled and honored and nearly at a loss for words.
Literary book rewards are worth their weight in 24-karat gold. Why? High praise for a recommended novel will spread quickly. Posted book reviews appear on websites where readers, librarians, educators, bookshop owners, reporters, and agents search for good vibes about new releases; it’s a match made in heaven.
I deal with magic daily, placing characters in challenging positions without solutions – until a paranormal shift or a magic touch appears. But no magic spell can conjure such a valuable treasure as a coveted book award.
Set in New Orleans and along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, A Southern Enchantress tells the story of a reluctant spellcaster forced to face her destiny. The eternal peace of generational ghosts, trapped for decades, remains unsettled as Suzanne struggles to accept her fate. Now recognized as a solid and engaging read, my novel is packaged for success.
What’s stopping her now?
Time and exposure. To borrow a phrase from my English teaching days, it truly takes a village to publish and market a debut novel. When an independent publisher releases a new book on several sales platforms, they complete their role of introducing an author to the publishing scene. But that’s just the beginning! It becomes the author’s job to mount a publicity campaign that will stand the test of time.
Sales within the first few months of a book’s release are critical to its success, and the competition is fierce, particularly in fantasy novels. Despite targeting efforts, it takes time for readers to discover books in a niche genre like mystical realism. Time is a precious commodity most authors are jealous of sharing. To keep fresh eyes on their release, they must step back from creating a new Story to market their current Story. A book won’t be capturing new readers’ attention forever.
From its inception, I always viewed my enchantress as ‘the little engine that could’ and trusted that Suzanne would find her people who craved encouragement and affirmation. A Southern Enchantress is for those who struggle to acknowledge their proper pathway, fearing harsh judgment or condemnation. There’s an undeniable cost for choosing the life route we innately suspect is wrong—one we may spend a lifetime unraveling. It’s never too late to be true to oneself. While magic and paranormal tropes are within its pages, the story’s heartbeat is the heroine’s journey.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my MC, Suzanne Lafountain, for inspiring me. Yes, I wrote and published an award-winning novel and achieved a lifelong dream.
For these reasons, I’m forever changed.
