CENTURY OLD HORROR STORY

In April…

I participated in the A-Z Challenge…

My theme was Pulp fiction.

One of the authors I highlighted…

Was H.P. Lovecraft…

Who now is regarded…

As the most significant…

20^th century author in the horror genre.

Success should have happened in his lifetime…

But it didn’t...

He was virtually unknown…

And only published in Pulp magazines.

Never able to support himself…

From earnings as author and editor…
Lovecraft saw commercial success increasingly elude him…

Because he lacked the confidence and drive to...
PROMOTE HIMSELF! (source: Wikipedia)
And that in a nutshell is my insecurity. 

But when I think about it…

I'm surprised that way back then…

Authors had to promote.

I always thought…

They had an agent and a publisher…

Who would do all the promotions…

So authors could just write, write, write, write. Right?

Guess even back then…

If an author wanted sales…

It was all about promotion.

And what about you?

Is the process of promotion…

Easy, hard, or not even a concern for you?

Got any tips?

Always,

Em-Musing

S OK

The alphabet is a journey of 26 letters...
Each letter begins a new story. 
And so I entered…
The cabin up in Michigan…
For the MVRWA writer retreat.
Inside, a circle of women chanted…
“Stiffcock! Stiffcock! Stiffcock!”
"No Stiffcock until tonight!" the author of erotica yelled back…
“Don’t mind her,” another writer said...
She needs a little wine before she performs.” 
Performs? Oh, boy...
What kind of weirdo wackos did I get myself mixed up with?
Just as I was about to bolt…
The roomful of women shouted…
“Hi Leigh! Glad you made it. Come join us.”
And before I knew it, I followed my feet in.
After putting my things in a bedroom,
I came back out, joined the group...
And sat down next to a very normal looking women.
Curious, I asked,  “So, do you write erotica too?” 
“Oh, no. I write paranormal.” 
Lord!. What next? Seances?
“And I write sweet inspiration romances," yet another said. 
“Oh, I get it...
You all write different genres?”
“Categories, the woman said.
“We all write different category romance.”
I learned a lot that weekend,..
Not the least that the Stiffcock performance…
Was anything but erotic. 
Actually it was an hysterically funny fantasy..
Based on a story the erotica author had written.
And so…
I submitted my senses to totally enjoy…
That weekend in a cabin up in Michigan…
Amidst the company of women writers.
And the best thing that happened was…
Ta, ta, ta...tomorrow ”T” will tell you more.

Always, Em-Musing