If you’ve been following my writing journey, you know that my first full-length novel, a contemporary western romance entitled, On Common Ground, will be released next month. I’ve been posting some blogs about my characters, hoping to build some interest and pique your curiosity. So far you’ve been introduced to my heroine, Ketra Weston, and my hero, Trevor Donaldson. Today you’ll meet Rocky Dillinger, owner of the Diamond D Ranch.
Rocky is a well-respected old-school cowboy. He runs a tight ship but has recently had a run of bad luck. When his foreman gets injured he’s in need of a strong hand to oversee the day-to-day operations of his cattle ranch. Plus, he’s lost a bunch of untrustworthy cowpokes, and is just days away from the biggest cattle round-up of the season.
Here’s a short video that sums up what Rocky’s life is about. I hope you enjoy this glimpse of the true American cowboy.
While the video takes place in Montana, much of the terrain in Northern Arizona, where my book is set, is similar to what you saw in the video. That is how Rocky conducts his cattle round-ups, how he replies on roping, and still uses fire branding. He truly is a dying breed.
What say you readers: ever wanted to be a cowboy? Ever been to a working cattle ranch? Do you appreciate beef more now knowing how hard cowboys work to keep their beeves fed?
Word of the day: Dorhawk
Fun fact about me: I’ve become quite the internet research guru trying to find out how to market my books. There’s so much I don’t know.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, September 2018. Photos courtesy Google Images. Video courtesy YouTube (skr.com)
That video so reminds me of the movie City Slickers. 🙂 Even though I spent many a year riding horses, it was all for pleasure. Being a cowboy looks like hard work! Although, learning how to lasso might come in handy on occasion… I hope you’re enjoying all the marketing research. I’ve learned it’s a lot of trial and error and more try outs. And more tanks – I’m still learning!
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Coleen, I’m just amazed at how many places there are to “market,” “promote,” “sell,” “advertise,” your book. I am truly amazed. I’m leery of signing up for too many places, yet I want as much as exposure as possible. It takes a lot of time researching every place on every list to see if they are legit or not. I’m compiling quite a list. If I ever get my final product (my book) I can start uploading the cover and blurb and setting up my accounts. So far every place I visit wants me to link a book. I’m going to have a lot of work to do when the book is finally ready.
As far as being a cowboy, yes, it’s a ton of work. Hard work. Outside in the blazing heat, pouring rain, or freezing cold. But, it’s still glamorous to a lot of folks. That’s why there are so many cowboy heroes in the romance genre.
Thanks for visiting. You and I will have to take some roping lessons some day.
Patricia
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Shoot me an email sometime – I have a list of the most effective marketing sites, shared by the indie community. Are you a member of Marie Force’s self-publishing group? TONS of information shared there.
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For most of us, book marketing is a crapshoot. Most of what I read/hear is that with just one book or a few books out, do the basics (tell your social media followers, start a newsletter), and focus on writing more books.
I have to admit I have never thought about cowboys when sitting down to eat a steak or hamburger – next time I will!
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I’m compiling a marketing list and my plan is to chip away at it by adding a site or two once a month. I’d like to see which sites give me a boost in sales and which ones don’t. Yes I know, keep writing.
Enjoy a steak? Thank a cowboy.
Thanks for visiting. Have a great week.
Patricia
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My husband and I are actually talking about doing a vacation week on a working ranch next year. That would be so cool…as long as they had a shower for me at the end of the day (lol!).
And for marketing, I’ve been listening to Chris Syme’s podcasts, following her on FB, and taking her courses. She has her own marketing advice, which is great, but she also keeps up with a lot of the other marketers too, so summarizes and shares what she thinks is important from them.
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Thanks Sheila, I’ll check her out. Anything free is best. I’ve been watching a lot of on-line videos and gathering information. I hope it some day pays off.
I would also love to take a vacation at a working horse ranch. I hear they treat you well and feed you good at those places. Let me know if you decide to go. I’d love to hear about your experience.
Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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I admire your tenacity in your research. At 75, I just don’t have the energy to do a lot of marketing, so my books just sit there. Out of 10 books on the market, I probably sell 6 or 8 copies a year. Pitiful, I know, but I just don’t have what it takes to promote them.
By the way, I’ve never seen a Dorhawk flying around our neighborhood.
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I meant to ask you whether or not you book is available. If it is – or when it is – available on Nooks, I want to buy a copy.
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Yes, it should be available in a lot of e-book formats. You’ll be able to get it.
Patricia
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Marketing takes twice as long as editing, which takes 5 times longer than writing. So it can be overwhelming. I’m hoping to do a bunch of work now, so later, when more books are out, I won’t have too. I’ll have my list compiled and just – BAM – shoot the book out. Good plan. We’ll see how well it plays out.
And, beware of flying Dorhawks.
My projected launch date is October 24th. Stay tuned for updates.
Thanks for stopping by and being a loyal follower. I appreciate the support.
Patricia
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How exciting – a published book! When I was in kindergarten I wanted to be a cowboy and have cowboy boots. We lived southwest of Houston and had a neighbor who owned a ranch and raised his oldest daughter as a barrel-racer. For me things changed, but I still have my cowboy roots, sort of. I ran onto Becca a few years back when I was visiting my mom and she was still barrel racing and ranching… me I’d move north to the midwest and now I wrangle with 8th graders. Thanks for the video, it was fun to watch and good luck with the book.
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You see – a little cowboy in all of us. Did you ever get the boots?
And wrangling 8th graders is probably harder than herding cattle so hats off to you my friend.
The book should be out on October 24th but the pre-order should be available pretty soon. I’ll certainly let everyone know about it.
Thanks for visiting today. Have a great week!
Patricia
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How exciting that your book is coming out next month, Patricia! You’re right about how everything is overwhelming. Each step of the way has its unique challenges. One step at a time and you’ll get to where you need to be. Cool video. I never wanted to be a cowgirl, but I enjoy rodeos, though I haven’t been to one in more than ten years. Hope everything goes smoothly for you getting your book finished and marketed in all the right places!
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Thanks Lynn. I look at it this way: never stop learning. It seems I learn something new every day with this marketing crap.
Aren’t rodeos fun? Something sexy and mysterious about cowboys I think.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great rest of the week.
Patricia
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Congrats, on the new release! Here’s wishing you many sales!
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Thanks Lisa. And thanks for paying a visit today. Always nice to see new faces.
Patricia
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Absolutely! 🙂
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