I’ve worn quite a few hats, careerwise, over the years. Some of them fitted perfectly, others not so well.
Hat #1: Scientist
If you’ve read some of my previous blogs, you’ll probably be aware that my first career was as a scientist, researching environmental change. I loved wearing this hat!
Hat #2: Writer
Shortly after moving to Canada, I exchanged my scientist’s hat for that of a fiction writer, when I began my Jaspa’s Journey series. I love wearing this hat, too.
In all honesty, I’ve never actually thrown away my scientist’s hat, and on some level, I still consider myself a scientist. In fact, I continue to introduce as much environmental, geographical and historical information into my books as I can, as a way of staying true to my former vocation.
Hat #3: Marketer
The original publisher of Jaspa’s Journey was DreamCatcher, a small independent Canadian company. When DreamCatcher sadly closed, I was lucky enough to find a new home for Jaspa at Speaking Volumes, a similarly independent publishing firm, this time based in New Mexico, USA.
It should go without saying that neither DreamCatcher nor Speaking Volumes had/have the promotional budget of a major household-name publisher. As a result, most marketing of Jaspa’s Journey has always primarily fallen on my shoulders.
I have to confess that of these three hats, the one I find most uncomfortable remains that of Marketer. It’s been almost 15 years since Jaspa’s Journey: The Great Migration was first published, and I feel I don’t understand marketing any better today than I did back then. So, if anyone has any suggestions!…
The above post is taken from this month’s Fiction Meets Fact Newsletter. To receive future newsletters in their entirety (together with a Free Jaspa’s Journey Booklet including the short story Freefall over London and Jaspa’s Journey images to colour), click on the image below.
Upper middle grade readers can now travel the World with Jaspa’s Journey adventure novels! The first four – The Great Migration, The Pride of London, Jaspa’s Waterloo, and The Hermit of Kennecott – are now available in both paperback and ebook formats. Click here for more information.
Jaspa's Journal 