I just spent 16 delightful hours with Carol Sue Gershman, a 72-year old Miami-based writer who recently published her first book: The Jewish Lady, The Black Man, & The Road Trip.
As you probably already realize, Carol Sue is not your average septuagenarian. (Her head shot is an accurate likeness.) She's in amazing shape--notice that I didn't add "for her age"--and fearless when it comes to reaching out to others.
She called me out of the blue a few months ago to ask my advice on how to promote her book. Then she joined Facebook, immediately becoming my oldest Facebook "friend." A few days ago she messaged me again to tell me that she was going to be visiting NYC this week and would like to get together. I suggested she come to Connecticut and spend the night.
After I picked her up at the train station, we shared a wonderful meal at a local restaurant. Then we came back to my house and got down to business. Eager to learn anything I could teach her, she took copious notes as I showed her a few tricks to jazz up her blog and increase traffic.
You know the old saying, "Age is just a number"? In this case, the phrase rings true.
Prill and Carol Sue: I too am a late-blooming writer. Though I started very early, I gave it up to return about retirement age. Once a true writer, always a writer, I guess. At any rate, I wanted you to know that I used that aspect of my writing career to get lots of publicity. Many newspapers, senior journals, websites for seniors, etc. were interested. And, of course, I talk about some of that in The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't. It's a matter of finding aspects of your journey (other than "just" publishing a book!).
ReplyDeleteCarol, it looks as if you are already well on that path. You found our late-blooming Prill. (-:
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers
www.howtodoitfrugally.com
How cool. Thank you Prill and I love being added to one of your late blooming authors.. Never thought of it that way but how true it is...Alex Espriella is the photographer..
ReplyDeleteCarol Sue, I am envious of you! When I did the same thing you did (sought out Prill's advice before publishing my first book), we did it by telephone.
ReplyDeleteAnd Carol Sue, Prill knows what's she talking about!
Allyn
WOW! WOW! WOW! I want to look like Carol Sue when I am 72 years young... absolutely stunning!!
ReplyDeleteBarbara
www.joyfulpaws.com
Thanks, Allyn. I'm thinking about going into the book project consulting business. I do at least two a week. I bet there's some money in this. Anyway, I love doing it. And, Carolyn, I just recommended your "Frugal Book Promoter" to Carol Sue. I think she'll find it extremely helpful. Right up her alley.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Allyn, you're a late-blooming author as well, aren't you? (Wasn't "Grab the Queen Power: Live Your Best Life" your first book?)
Yes Grab the Queen Power was! And it is mostly about why it took me so long to do what I always wanted to do. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd like Barbara, I want to look just like Carol Sue too! Heck, I want to look like her NOW.
My thoughts exactly, Allyn! :-)
ReplyDelete