In 2002, long before The Pride of Central was even a thought in my mind, I became a volunteer/advocate for Compassion International, a Christian child sponsorship organization. I already sponsored a child named Amanda, and had been to Brazil with Compassion to visit her and see their work firsthand.
Once I saw just how well Compassion ministered to “the least of these,” I felt I had to join their volunteer network. I set up speaking events at churches and other organizations to tell people how bad global poverty is, but also how effective Compassion is at “releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name.” I felt it was my goal to get children sponsored.
Sometimes, I'd see several children get sponsored after one of my talks. Other times, it would be just one or two. And sometimes, no children would be sponsored.
It was those meager times that taught me something. My goal should not be to get children sponsored, even if that was the best result of my talks. I could not get children sponsored, no matter what I did.
My goal should be to give as many other people as possible the opportunity to sponsor children.
My duty was to present the truth of global poverty and Compassion's work in way that was so honest, clear and convincing that anyone who heard me would have reason to sponsor a child. But whether or not those people actually sponsored was not my responsibility. It was theirs.
The Pride of Central is just a book, not a child. But what I did as a Compassion volunteer taught me something about promoting my own novel.
I can't sell my book. I can only give as many people as possible the opportunity to buy it.
When the time comes to promote your story, don't be ashamed to reach out to as many people and organizations as possible. Put links to your website on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and whatever the latest social media craze is. Call local organizations who might be looking for a speaker. Send emails to newspapers and radio stations. Meet with coffee house managers. Don't spam people, but be outgoing in letting others know your book is available.
This is your story. If you want it to sell, if you want it to be read, it is your responsibility to let people know that it is there.
But it is not your responsibility to sell it. It is the reader's decision whether or not to buy it.
And once an author realizes that, every sale becomes more rewarding, and every “no” becomes less disappointing.
Next week: Rejection...and acceptance
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