Not letting an audience know what's in a novel.

[Dale Day]

 

Okay, I have a question for my fellow writers.

In my novel, Blood in the Meadows, I created a character to enhance a subplot of the story. She is not a full she. And, the primary antagonist, a Macho Latin male, meets and falls in lust/love with “her.”

This was not an attempt to make the story exotic or exciting. In fact, it came from my days in driving a taxi where one of our regular and routine pickups was a club frequented by such “shes.” I did my best to portray this as difficulties in relationships and was told by a couple of reviewers that it is tastefully presented.

As I look now, it appears there might be a larger audience out there for the novel that I have failed to reach. Can anyone suggest what I might do or where I might go to let that audience know of the story content? I've already added “tags” to the Amazon site to include that area for the novel. What more is there?

Thanks.

[Larissa Hinton]

Why don't you do a giveaway? A lot of readers will pick up your book just to check it out and might even be interested about that sort of lifestyle. 

 

Another way I can think of on the top of my head, is to get other people who are interested in your genre to review it. I know there are a lot of book reviewers out there that are interested in reviewing unique books like yours, so try that.

 

One more way, then I'll be out of your hair, lol, um, I would think changing the blurb to include what "she" entails. Is "she" transgendered or what? Like there are all sorts of types of theoritical "she's" that it's kinda hard to pin down what type you are talking about. So I think that would help a lot! 

 

 http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com

[Robert Lee Beers]

There is a huge TG community, especially on the west coast. I would suggest checking into some of those forums and offering a sample first chapter along with a blurb to whet the palate.

 

In my Fantasy/mystery series one of the protagonists is a Michael Clark Duncan-sized cross dresser named Frankie complete with all the diva mannerisms, but he is put forth as a comic hero and so passes muster.

[Dale Day]

Thanks for both replies.

I think I'll find some forums and offer a couple of people the book to read in return for a review.

[Jeff Mariotte]

FYI, today is the global Transgender Day of Remembrance, to commemorate those who have been killed because of hate/prejudice. Not exactly a good day to push the book in the TG community, I would guess--but possibly a good day to take note of TG communities online and in the real world where people might find your book intriguing.

 

There's a website about TGOR here: http://www.transgenderdor.org/

[Stormi Johnson]

I am going to take it that this would be in the genre of GLBT (gays,les, bi and trans), and there are a lot of people willing to read these types of books, so don't be afraid to say this type of thing is in it. It won't be everyones cup of tea but I know in looking for bloggers to host blog tours for my promotional website I have come across a lot who do not mind reviewing this type of book.

[Robert Lee Beers]

Another way to promote is this, I created a group that should help with promotions, especially if my fellow bookbloggers get involved, http://bookblogs.ning.com/group/sample-chapters. It is set up for authors to post their cover and a sample chapter, but since this site is so massive I'm doing a bit of promotion.

[Nell Gavin]

You might consider bringing it up in your blurb. When I first published "Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn," it was just "Threads" because I wasn't sure how anyone would take the reincarnation aspect. The Tudors have a very virulent fan base, and they can be cranky. Then I found that reincarnation was its primary selling point, so I changed the title.

I ran into another author on the boards who was very shy about mentioning that her book was a reincarnation novel - almost afraid. I told her to put it out there, and her sales immediately went up. Reincarnation is a "thing." Transgender is a "thing." You use what you got - transgender is a potential gold mine - and you flaunt it! 

Also, see if there are any GLBT sites where you can buy an ad.

[Dale Day]

This is an excerpt from Blood in The Meadows.

 

To set up the scene: Hernando Diaz is head of security for a major cocaine producer in Colombia. He was a a colonel in Colombia's armed forces until his patrons were ousted from power and took his current position in order to maintain his social position, his wife and daughter, and his mistress. He is in las Vegas to carry out a directive by his employer to terrorize visitors to Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. He has just completed a meeting with a group of Nicaraguans willing to carry out the bombings and is relaxing in the posh resort, The Four Seasons, adjacent to The Mandalay Bay.

* * *

 

Diaz was not ready to retire to his room. He followed the signs to The Verandah, finding it a well-appointed bar collocated with the restaurant he had eaten in earlier. A familiar shape and label on a bottle sitting on a shelf behind the bar pleased him. “I will take a glass of that Santafe Ron Anejo Rum, if you please."

The bartender smiled and showed him the bottle was still sealed before carefully opening it. “With or without ice?” he asked.

“Without, please,” Diaz replied and watched as the smoky liquor poured smoothly into the glass. He tipped the glass and savored the zesty tang, swirling it in his mouth before letting it slide down his throat.

The Four Seasons, the restaurants and their bars were isolated from The Mandalay Bay and, although the public had access, such access was difficult. The clientèle was almost exclusively guests of the Four Seasons, making it a pseudo private club. If one could afford the hotel, one certainly could afford the bar. A nearby steakhouse tempted him to visit it in a while.

A large high definition television hung in the corner showing one of the cable news networks. One story reported the tribulations of some celebrity and another told of some fanatic shooting up a courthouse somewhere.

These Americans are the most puzzling people in the world. They can be warm and friendly. Yet, they have untold lunatics. In spite of their great achievements, they have millions who spend untold amounts of money on all sorts of vices, and, to my own benefit, lots and lots of drugs.

How parochial they are. Unless it has to do with disasters or wars, they care nothing about the rest of the world. Their news services almost totally ignore what is going on to their north. If it were not for the growing Hispanic community, what goes on to their south would be completely ignored.

He was not alone in the bar. Two couples sat in the area overlooking the pool and a group of six occupied a large booth in a corner.

The cocktail waitress, reasonably young, wore an outfit leaving nothing to the imagination - a standard of Las Vegas establishments.

Diaz then turned his attention to the lone female at the end of the bar. He had noted her arrival as he had spent years learning to be observant - an absolute lifesaver in his line of business. Well-built, she wore a tight skirt that hid nothing ... or at least very little. Diaz’ eyes narrowed when he realized that “she” did not have an Adam’s apple. A moment passed before he determined his reaction. He did not feel disgust. In fact, he felt a surprising sense of interest. Even arousal?

The deepest secret in his life was something he had done everything possible to block from his consciousness. He once had a forbidden relationship with a fellow student while attending a Catholic school before entering the military academy. It had been quite passionate and he became deeply depressed when his friend left school and moved away. He felt and showed displeasure and even disgust of such relationships ever since.

Now, he found himself having thoughts he had never dreamed of having. Diaz was certainly no fool. He had arrived at the bar alone and, within a few minutes, the other had entered and sat down at the far end of the bar. She appeared not to notice him. In fact, she seemed far more interested in the news.

At last, he made a decision - and not a very easy one. He called over the bartender. “Perhaps the lady at the end of the bar would care for a drink?”

The bartender knew exactly who and what the lady was and, not wanting to offend one of the A-List guests, started to explain.

Diaz lifted a hand to stop him.

“May I give her a glass of what you’re drinking?”

When Diaz nodded, the bartender poured some of the smoky liquid into a glass and took the drink to her. She smiled and lifted her glass in a salute. When Diaz returned the salute with his glass, she rose from her stool and moved sinuously to the one beside him.

The mulatta’s voice was soft and throaty. “My name is Tomasa.

“Cubana?” he asked.

She said “Yes” and asked, “South America?

He nodded and they proceeded with small talk. She wore an interesting perfume and, if one did not know what to look for, passed for an extremely attractive young woman seeking companionship for the evening.

Diaz felt a grumbling in his stomach and asked Tomasa if she cared to dine.

“As a matter of fact, I am hungry.” She then explained that The Verandah had an extremely good dining facility, adding that Charlie Parker’s Steakhouse was even better. “They are the only places in Las Vegas I know of that serve Argentinean beef cooked over an open fire.”

They agreed upon the steakhouse and Diaz enjoyed the meal more than he had expected - and not just due to the food. The beef was prepared to perfection with a taste found nowhere else in the world but from the pampas to the south. The waiter prepared a Caesar’s Salad exactly as it had originated in Tijuana, Mexico. The wine list was impressive. Most amazing of all, his companion proved to be quite intelligent, world-wise, and even amusing.

This might not turn out to be not a bad evening after all.

A bar adjacent to the steakhouse with a small dance floor and a three-piece combo playing soft music provided an ideal after-meal diversion. Tomasa proved to be a smooth dancer and her body pressed against his aroused him, creating a near-frenzy he had never felt. After a little less than an hour, they went to his suite, not a single word passed about what was to come as being in any way business.

[Robert Lee Beers]

Well done Dale.

[Dale Day]

Thanks.

But, I still haven't figured out how to bring it to the attention of the GLBT sector.

[Robert Lee Beers]

This link came off of a short Google search, http://www.sfcenter.org/ it is for a GLBT community site in San Francisco. I'm sure some of the addresses there could help.