Renee Reid says lay your marketing groundwork early

I’m interviewing author Renee Reid today. Her debut book, The Courageous Woman’s Guide to Recovering Life’s Joy: Using Your Spiritual Weapons to Reach out to God, releases September 25.

No doubt, Renee is very excited and I’m glad to have her here today to help launch her book. Her mission is to help courageous, purpose-driven women to recognize and implement their godly callings.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

When I am not writing, I love to work out. I am currently training for my first triathlon next year. This has been a goal of mine for a long time and now I’m determined to do it.

A triathlon? Kudos to you! That takes a lot of determination and motivation that I’m sure spills over into other areas of your life. How do you keep yourself motivated to write?

I love writing. It is the one area in my life that I feel the most control over. I was/am a bit of a loner. Reading and writing allows me to visit another place and say the words in print that sometimes I find difficult saying out loud.

Where did the idea for your book come from?

I went through a very dark period in my life. I lost my mom, dad, younger brother, grandmother, and a very dear aunt within a matter of a few years. On top of that, my marriage ended, and I entered the world of single parenting.

I remember sitting on my sofa thinking I can’t be this unhappy for the rest of my life. My grandmother would tell the women of our church to use our weapons. To be honest, I didn’t think they would work. But slowly I began to fast and pray. The loud roar of grief became a dull ache. I found the fog clearing and I could smile again.

What do you want your readers to take away from your book?

I want readers to know that whatever life throws our way we have the capacity to handle it, with love and courage. There is no reason to live your life feeling hopeless and alone. God has given us the weapons we need to do better, live better, and love harder.

I have been in church and in the mental health field for a long time. The one thing that I find in both arenas is that as humans we tend to suffer in silence and alone. My favorite scripture in the Bible is John 14:18 NIV. In it, Jesus said “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” So, no matter what we are going through we are not alone.

Do you have any writing blogs or books you recommend to other writers?

LOL, I really like your blog, the writing tips have been very valuable to me. As a self-published author, I was drawn to Authority Self-Publishing blog and podcast written by Steve Scott and Barrie Davenport. They really break down the self-publishing process and gave me hope that I could do this for a living.

I’m not familiar with that blog, but that’s the wonderful part about the web. There’s so much out there to help us. What do you do when you get discouraged with the process?

When I get discouraged, I remember I am not doing this for myself. Before I became a wife and mother, I wanted to become a nun. We were not Catholic. But I thought how awesome it would be to work for God. My writing is one way I serve God and his people. The Lord listens as I cry and whine that this is too hard. Then he says, get back to work, and I do just that.

What did you know going into the publishing process that helped you the most?

I didn’t know anything about publishing. But having earned a master’s in history, I knew how to research. My advice is to do your research, read reviews, and reach out to other writers. Don’t get stuck with those self-publishing companies that try to sell you expensive packages that sound great, but don’t produce any sales in the end. I have a friend who spent $8,000 on one of these packages and has yet to sell a book. It also helped that I was involved in a writing group I found at my local library. I was able to bounce ideas off them and get support.

What did you learn—good and bad—through the publication of your book that you’ll apply to the next time?

I am learning not to second guess myself. This book is number one in a five-part series, and because I kept pushing the publication date back, the other books are still waiting to be revised, polished, and published. I am beginning to realize that when you are a creative, self-doubt will creep in. We have to be ready to combat it with positive self-talk, good friends, and accountability partners that keep us on track.

What advice do you have for writers concerning marketing their books?

Do not wait until you’re done writing the book. Start laying the groundwork during your writing process. Start a Facebook group, invite your family and friends, ask them to share. Have a title contest, and let them help you pick a title. Share a chapter with them and ask for feedback.

Get your marketing mechanism in place before you publish and your launch will go so much smoother. I think the more you get people involved before the book is published will allow you to really enjoy your accomplishment.

ABOUT RENEE REID

Renee Reid is a wife, mother, and nana. Her mission is to help courageous purpose-driven women to recognize and implement their godly callings. To break the chains of spiritual, emotional, and mental bondage, and to embrace their true selves—freeing them to have a powerful impact on their lives, their families, and their communities. Renee is a graduate of Cleveland State University where she earned a master’s degree in History and Education.

ABOUT THE BOOK

You can win the battle. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
Without the courage to maintain your joy you become a poor witness to the wondrous love of Christ. Our joy is the spiritual bumper sticker other women see when they look at us.
In this book, you’ll learn how to use your spiritual weapons to break the bonds of unhappiness and live a courageous life that is filled with love and joy.
Available soon on Amazon.