Sunday, March 10, 2013

"Best Of" Mystery/Suspense Novels by Small Press Authors



        Every time I see another commercial on TV advertising a new book by James Patterson, I can't help thinking: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if authors published by small presses (including myself) could afford that kind of publicity?  But, the sad truth is, we can’t and neither can our publishers.  
        I realize that we can’t all achieve the fame and fortune of James Patterson. But I think we deserve a shot, a chance for readers to discover our books. That’s why I created my “Best Of” list on Shelfari. It’s my humble attempt to draw attention to the many, many wonderful mystery novels I’ve read by small press authors. But I need your help.
Before I write another word, I want to clarify something. My “Best Of” list is in no way complete. At this point, it’s a sample of some of the best mystery/suspense novels (published by small presses) that I’ve read in the past year or so. I’ll be adding new books to my list as time permits. I hope you’ll check the list periodically to discover new treasures.
So, how can you help to promote small press authors? The most obvious way, of course, is to buy our books. You can also join Shelfari, if you’re not already a member, and click the “recommend” button on my list. Then, spread the word to your friends about the list and the wonderful books you've discovered there. After all, word of mouth is the most powerful advertising there is!

http://www.shelfari.com/Best-Of/10560/Best-of-Mystery-Suspense-novels-published-by-small-presses
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15 comments:

  1. Marilyn LevinsonMarch 10, 2013 at 10:47 AM

    I love your "Best of Mystery/Suspense Novels" list, and not just because one of my books is on it. This is a wonderful way to get readers familiar with books put out by small presses.

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    1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMarch 10, 2013 at 11:17 AM

      I hope so, Marilyn. That's why I'm asking everyone to spread the word. Small press authors deserve some publicity too!

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  2. john M. DanielMarch 10, 2013 at 10:57 AM

    thanks for including me on your list. I'm proud to be in such good company!

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    1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMarch 10, 2013 at 11:19 AM

      You know me, John. I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Your book definitely belongs on the list!

      Delete
  3. Lesley DiehlMarch 10, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    Your list is a great promotional tool for small press suthors. Thank you.

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    1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMarch 10, 2013 at 12:05 PM

      Thank you, Lesley. I hope people will share this post and my posts on FaceBook to help get the word out.

      Delete
  4. MarjaMarch 10, 2013 at 1:54 PM

    You're absolutely right about word-of-mouth being the best advertising. As I look at your list, I'm amazed at how many of these authors I've already read, and pleased to see recommendations for those I haven't read. This is a terrific list, and I'm honored to be among a list which contains so many small publisher Big Author names. I have a feeling these authors are going places!
    Marja McGraw

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    1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMarch 10, 2013 at 2:54 PM

      That's my fervent hope, Marja. I would love to see the list draw the attention so richly deserved by these authors and their outstanding novels.

      Delete
  5. UnknownMarch 10, 2013 at 2:10 PM

    This is cool stuff Patricia! I checked out Shelfari and your "Best of" list. Really nice to see someone take the time and effort to do this. I've read almost all the books on the list, and I have a few more to order from Amazon. I hope everyone on the list achieves happiness and feels good about their work. "THE BIG TIME" isn't always fun and worth all the headaches. If our peers support us and enjoy our work, we should be honored and humbled by such wonderful friends, families, and fans!

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    1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMarch 10, 2013 at 3:00 PM

      Thanks, Chris.
      It all started with an email I received from Shelfari telling me about their "Best Of" lists. The wheels started turning and I knew I needed to create a list to promote small press authors.
      I'm very grateful for all my writer friends and their support (I wouldn't trade them for the world) but, as to THE BIG TIME, come on now. Wouldn't you take it given the chance? Can you imagine a movie based on your book? Or sales that top the charts? I sure can. After all, a girl's gotta have dreams.

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  6. Evelyn CulletMarch 11, 2013 at 12:16 AM

    That's a great sentiment, Patricia, "A girl's gotta have dreams". And we all dream about THE BIG TIME, when our novel's on the best seller's list.(Sigh!)

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  7. Evelyn CulletMarch 11, 2013 at 12:17 AM

    I almost forgot to say, Thank You. At least you're doing your part to help get us there.

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    1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMarch 11, 2013 at 9:02 AM

      Evelyn,
      I think our dreams are what keep us going. One of my favorite quotes is, "If you can dream it, you can do it."

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  8. Sally CarpenterMarch 12, 2013 at 12:45 PM

    Thanks for the shoutout! With all the news books coming out each day, it's hard for an author to be heard above the noise. Thanks for taking the time to give these books a nudge!

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    1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMarch 12, 2013 at 12:51 PM

      Sally,
      You're very welcome. At first, I wasn't going to add my own books to the list but some writer friends encouraged me to do so and, let's face it, my books need attention too!

      Delete

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