Deeanne Gist spoke about A Bride Most Begrudging and the publishing process on Wednesday, and the writing of it yesterday. Today, we finish with marketing, some advice to writers, and Dee's upcoming plans.
TL Hines: On your web site, you have a preview trailer for your book, which is a marketing tool we're seeing used more and more in the publishing industry. How has this been received, and where did the idea come from?
Deeanne Gist: I'm very big on marketing and had several objectives for my website. One was I wanted it to be "over the top" because the subliminal message is: If her website's this good, her book must be awesome. Second, I wanted it to create "buzz." I wanted people to be standing in line at their corner coffee shop and say, "Have you seen Deeanne Gist's website? It has games and a scrapbook and this trailer-thing, just like the movies do." Third, I wanted a place my readers could go and find me. Whether through email or a newsletter or blog discussions, I wanted to connect with them. Lastly, I wanted it to sell books. My objective with the trailer was the same objective the movie-makers have when they produce trailers. Entertain, spark some interest and sell, sell, sell. I have heard nothing but positive feedback in regards to the trailer. It was a lot of fun to make and I appreciate all who helped make it happen.
TL Hines: Maybe you'd do it differently, maybe you wouldn't. What have you learned from going through the whole publishing process for the first time? What can you offer as advice to others?
Deeanne Gist: I have learned that it is so much better to wait on the Lord, then to try and run things yourself. If I had published back in the 90s when I first finished Bride, I would have missed out on so many things the Lord had planned for me. I also would have missed out on working for Bethany House. They are incredible. You know how the Lord says He'll give you back tenfold what you give to Him? Well, that's how I feel about Bethany House. Never in all my imaginings would I have dreamed to receive such support, encouragement and blessings from my publisher. So, my main advice is: give what you are doing to the Lord because whatever He has planned for you is worth the wait.
TL Hines: Other books in the works? Followups to ABMB? Do tell.
Deeanne Gist: No sequels to Bride are in the works at the moment. But I will continue to have historical romances coming out every summer through 2008 and, Lord willing, beyond. Next year's title is Sunbonnet Woman and is set in 1849 San Francisco. In the early days of the gold rush there were no women--at least not of the "respectable" sort. And much like a classroom of children without a teacher, the forty-niners did just about everything they wanted and then some. So, when our character shows up in her calico and sunbonnet, and decides to tame these rowdies, she's in for the fight of her life.
Many thanks to Dee for taking the time to answer my questions. On a personal note, I thought A Bride Most Begrudging was A Book Most Entertaining. Do I typically read historical romances? No, I do not. (I'm pretty sure Stephen King, F. Paul Wilson and Neil Gaiman wouldn't fall into the "historical romance" genre.) However, reading fiction is supposed to be all about stretching your boundaries, isn't it? Bride was well-plotted, moved along at a brisk pace, and set up some tense, well-described climactic scenes.
While reading it, I thought Dee had brought the main characters together too early, but by the end she'd pulled it off and made final act enjoyable precisely because it wasn't what I expected. If you enjoy historical romances, or even if you don't, it's a fun read.
