The other day I was at the supermarket and I saw a woman with some seriously crazy hair. It was white and looked like cotton balls stuck all over her head. I wondered if she knew her hair was looking a little off, and then she took it off. It was a hat! She’d tucked her hair into the hat, and to a stranger, the hat looked like her (weird) hair. She KNEW it wasn’t her hair, so when she looked in a mirror, it would never occur to her to think her hair looked weird, because her subconscious knew it was only a hat.

Do we do something similar as writers. When I hand off my manuscript to my beta readers, there are so many parts of the story I have in my head, do I remember to put them all down explicitly for the reader? Every so often a readers will ask a question, and I’ll wonder why they would ask such a thing. Isn’t it OBVIOUS?

Perhaps not.  We run into this danger, especially in a series. I’m working on Book 5 of my Coded for Love Series, and I just assume readers of the book have read the other 4 and know every minute detail the way I do. Bad assumption.

So what to do?

Get a fresh pair of eyes. Have a stranger read the book and put question marks in the margins where they have questions. Have you ever experienced this in real life or while reading a book.

Having grown up in Miami, I am a big Heat Basketball fan, but I’m not actually referring to the basketball teacm with my title. I’m referring to the fact that Heated Match is getting some great buzz!

Mama Mia from Mama Kitty reviews says “This book draws you in: begs you to devour it, relax with the characters–stay awhile. These characters, Loren and Adam are, on top of being nuclear hot, sweet and loving. Moreover, this novel speaks of real issues—physical disability and the ever-changing world of science.”

*Swoon*

Heather from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews says “A good writer knows how to suck a reader into their story within the first chapter of a book, but with Ms. Silver’s writing style, I was literally engrossed after reading only two pages of Heated Match.”

With all the chatter in the blogospher about sock puppet reviews, it feels great to get real (good) reviews from real reviewers (AKA book lovers)

So this leads me to wonder…how do you find your next read? Is it Amazon reviews? NYT lists? Word of Mouth?  I’m starting marketing budget and plan for 2013 and I want to know where to put my dollars? Should I blow it on attending a reader focused conference such as Authors after Dark or Romantic Times? Should I do banner ads? Swag (do keyrings and bookmarks sell books?)

Authors want to know! Help us find you.

Last summer I went to the RWA National conference, and during the Saturday night RITA/Golden Heart ceremony, I mentally composed what I would say if I were up on the stage. And now I want to encourage you: WRITE YOUR RITA SPEECH NOW.

Why?

Because it’s motivating. It assumes success. Don’t write your Golden Heart acceptance speech. Though GH is an amazing award, it’s a stepping stone. It means your book is not yet in the hands of readers. Go for the gold. Go for the Rita.

If you live as if you are a successful author, writing and selling the books of your heart, even if it’s not quite yet reality, it WILL happen. It has to. You already wrote your Rita speech. In my Rita speech I thanked my agent. At the time I didn’t have one. Now I do.

I thanked the Washington Romance Writers, the best, most supportive chapter in the country. This June I will become Secretary on the board of the chapter to help steer the chapter to continue its amazing mission.

I challenge you, in whatever career or goal you set for youself, assume success and it will surely come. Good luck! (Though you won’t need it. You already have your winning speech ready)