I enjoy writing stories and that’s what I do whenever I have free time. I relish making up new worlds, thinking about scenarios for characters and considering different elements of life to see what can happen through the lives of others. That said, when it comes to editing my stories, I am not so good at sticking to a schedule – most times I force myself to do the work. Then there is the layout and cover – I’m okay with the latter as I enjoy art, but it still distracts from my passion of actually writing. And that’s where my current issue comes in – being forced to consider marketing, something I really know nothing about and have no interest in. Today I took the time to read the marketing copy for similar books to mine and to see what I need to do to attract readers to my book – I don’t think I’m any closer to writing successful marketing copy. I sometimes wish I could just do all the writing and leave it to someone else to do the marketing and promo (Bailey refuses to help! She enjoys other pursuits). I still have no idea how I am going to get around the marketing problem. All I’ve achieved today is to revise my blurb for my book ‘Fame Ate My Girlfriend‘. I’m still not 100% with it but here it is:
“Delve into dark, satirical, and intense narratives that focus on fame, ambition, and the entertainment industry in this new collection of short stories by O S King.
This book is perfect for fans of Bret Easton Ellis’s Glamorama with its critique of celebrity culture and for those who enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid with its deep dive into fame and the sacrifices made for success.
From the opening story about a man who has a single purpose to rise through the ranks of the movie industry and will do anything to get there, this collection draws you into a world of fame, ambition, and power. In ‘Losing the Light’, Oscar, once a beloved actor, finds his life unraveling after a scandalous past is exposed. He must confront the harsh realities of fame and ask himself: Does public shaming truly serve a purpose, or is it merely a distraction? In ‘Fame Ate My Girlfriend’, a woman in a long-distance relationship must win her partner back in a city full of hidden stories, lies, and excessive celebrity culture. ‘Disintegration Game’ is one of the more disturbing stories in the collection—Marlow, unsatisfied with himself, undergoes a physical transformation that has sinister repercussions. In ‘Breaking Point’ a gay couple race against time to solve a series of mysterious disappearances while exploring the depths of their relationship.
King’s eclectic and diverse mix of characters spans a wide range of ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations, inhabiting worlds where their voices are often unheard, distorting the choices they make for ambition, fame, love, and power.
Compassionate, satirical, and unsettling, Fame Ate My Girlfriend is a collection for readers who love character-driven stories with emotional depth and a touch of social commentary.”
Who knows, it may resonate with those who enjoy these types of stories!!
If anyone has suggestions on marketing for self-published authors, I would welcome pointers and guidance. How do you market your book? Is there anything that works better than other methods?
Love, Olivia and Bailey
O. S. King 