One year ago, I threw an online launch party for Beyond All Price, my first real novel.Several other writers were nice enough to write columns for the occasion, a device that drew new readers to my website. So to say thank you once again, I've offered them the opportunity to come back and tell us what they've been doing during the past year. I hope you enjoy catching up with them, as I have.  The first one comes from Elizabeth Egerton Wilder, with whom I feel a special kinship, since we were a couple of 72-year old kids finally publishing our first novels. Here's what she has to report. "First and most important, congratulations on the anniversary of your
launch of Beyond All Price. Your book has
had an amazing start and I know it is going a lot further. This proves that an independent author can
succeed but it takes perseverance. It is
in my kindle library just waiting for that illusive quiet time. 
It has also been a year since my debut novel, http://www.SpruceGumBox.com was launched .
The writing was joy but I am still finding my way through the marketing maze. Progress may be slow but it is forward. It was nominated and received very good
reviews in Historical Fiction for this season’s IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards and
The Reader’s Favorite Awards. This may
sound funny but what thrills me is that it can be found in the stacks of
several libraries. I have devoted seven
years of my life to The Spruce Gum Box including research and writing and I am certainly
not going to let down on its promotion .
My sequel, Granite Hearts is progressing at a steady pace only
impeded by retirement being a full time job.
It is scheduled for release in 2012, one hundred and fifty years after
three of my young characters prepared to go off with the 20 Maine
to do battle in the Civil War. Here
again, research of this period between 1844 and 1864 on the Penobscot River in
Maine takes a lot of time but I enjoy taking these facts and weaving them with
characters born in my imagination.
My social network has grown to include followers that have become
friends and their support is more than appreciated. I am an active member of The Independent
Author Network http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/elizabeth-wilder.html and manage the IAN Amazon Bookstore http://astore.amazon.com/ian1-20 for our 213 members to date. We have 473 listings in 28 genres. This is a great platform for indie authors to
find support through members and programs.
There are times when I wish I had not waited until I was in my
seventies to seriously start following
my dream of writing but then realize
I wasn’t ready. And having several
decades of experience and ‘useless’ information at my fingertips does help move
the story.
Enjoy your re-launch party for Beyond All Price, Carolyn. You’ve done a terrific job!
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