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Jeff Hilimire's avatar

Wonderful post, and also, your writing makes me think and laugh, which I think is not an easy thing to pull off. As a new subscriber, and I could probably find the answer to this in your profile but I'm in the comment section now and can't access it 😜, so I'll ask here: are you also an author? If not...why not? I'd read your book.

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Jeff! You win comment that made my week! I have an MFA in creative nonfiction and a (dead on arrival) thesis, lots of essays published, but no book as of yet. I don't know if this is actually true, but it feels true. I wrote pretty depressing lyric essays (though I do love them) and then I started having kids and the whole world glowed. I haven't figured out how to write happy essays just yet. I might try this year! but thank you so much for your kind words here, I really appreciate it.

Jeff Hilimire's avatar

Thanks for sharing! Question: Why does it have to be happy? :)

My favorite book of all time is A Man Called Ove. Powerful, emotional, heartfelt, and I couldn't put it down...But I wouldn't say it was 'happy', at least not until (spoiler alert) the end.

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

So true about A Man Called Ove! Doesn’t have to be happy, but I think I need a break from sad and my life isnt sad (thank goodness!). It’s maybe the transition, I have NO idea how to write a novel, ha. Plot is not my thing. How about you? What do you write?

Jeff Hilimire's avatar

I've written six books; the first five were business and leadership oriented, but told in a fable style (with characters and a basic plot). The sixth (Dream Small), which was published earlier this year, is more of a novella and is meant to help people find more purpose in their work. I'd be happy to send you a copy if you like!

For advice on writing a novel, I'd consider reading Stephen King's book, On Writing. It's one part autobiography and one part writing advice.

Doug Seibold's avatar

This is great. Sorry to just now be catching up to it, but very glad I did.

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Thanks so much, Doug! No such thing as late here.

Megan Nichols's avatar

Another great post! Would LOVE to hear your thoughts on children's book marketing

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Ah! Appreciate you, Megan! I will definitely work on that one!

Erica Stern's avatar

💙💙💙💙

Erin Granat's avatar

Sending this to all my writer friends, we can escape “hot girl bummer”!

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Sometimes you just want SOMETHING else, right?

Joyce Reynolds-Ward's avatar

BN has been my best-selling ebook option for literally YEARS.

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Oh I love to hear that, Joyce!

Joyce Reynolds-Ward's avatar

I'm glad to hear your news. Oh, I get some action from Kobo, and a couple of purchases from Apple, but BN has been my best sales platform ever since 2011. Kindle sales have never been close to it.

Joyce Reynolds-Ward's avatar

That said, I'm figuring out a new platform called Itch.io. It has primarily been a games platform but is now a big deal in indie ebook--part of its value is the ability to combine books into some pretty good-sized bundles for bulk sales. I need to promote more because I created a series bundle with just my stuff...and then haven't been talking about it. Itch is also a good place for stuff that might appeal to the gaming community, and has attracted a lot of attention from the LGBTQIA community.

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Ou curious! I’ll look into it!

Rebecca Gummere's avatar

Thank you, Cassie, this is marvelous. So appreciate you. xo

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Aw, appreciate you saying so Rebecca!

Stuart Pennebaker's avatar

you're so spot on—i had not heard of the book until this week and so far my grandmother has mentioned theo of golden thrice (and has probably sold more copies of my own novel than any other single person, haha). can't wait to get a peek into your note-taking process!

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Stuart I just requested your book at my library! I can’t wait to read. I just saw it mentioned in Reading Life as one of her “weirdest reads of the year” and I was like wait a minute! Excited to read!

Stuart Pennebaker's avatar

oh this made my day—i'm so glad it's available at the library!! petya is the absolute best ❤️

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Yes! I searched after seeing it and it was already there AND on hold!

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

Grandmas are out there doing it!

Pressley Baird Frevert's avatar

#7 ❤️

Jeanna Kadlec's avatar

you are so wise and generous and i can't wait to read the essay on what adult-focused authors need to learn from children's book marketing

Cassie Mannes Murray's avatar

You’re the best thank you. I only just realized writing this how different they are!