When my Figure Skating Mystery novels were released as paperback original by Berkley Prime Crime at the turn of this century, I, naturally, promoted them to skating fans. I did the same when I re-released them over a decade ago as enhanced ebooks with videos by Ice Theatre of NY as part of the story. (I wrote at length about my results using nonfiction hooks to sell my fiction, here.)
So when I made the pivot to writing historical fiction (I pivot a lot; everyone tells me that’s no way to build a brand, but I have way too many interests to stick to one thing for long; yes, like so many other of my character traits, this has also earned me helpful diagnoses of ADHD from strangers on the internet — as has my tendency to write long sentences with parentheses inside of parentheses… but I digress)… when I made the pivot to writing historical fiction, I, naturally, promoted “The Nesting Dolls” and “My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region” to ex-Soviets. And most of those ex-Soviets turned out to be ex-Soviet Jews.
Now that it’s time to promote my May 2025 release, “Go On Pretending,” I am continuing to market to Soviet Jews. And, as it has now been over thirty years since the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I have found myself marketing more and more to Jews in general, especially the children and grandchildren of those who left the Soviet Union, either upon its founding in 1918, during the brief period of immigration during the late 1970s, or at the end, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As the agent who sold “The Nesting Dolls” said to me, “Jews buy books.”
To that end, my most recent appearance was with the Jewish Woman’s Archive, where, as per my earlier post, I like to think I got a terrific turn out. Some 65 people came to listen to me live and, since then, over 70 more have streamed the recording.
But “Go On Pretending” isn’t just a book about the Soviet Union. It’s also a book about interracial marriage, revolution, communes, cults… and soap operas.
Yes, soap operas. The first section of “Go On Pretending” is set during the 1950s transition of radio soaps to television, and it features Irna Phillips, the woman who invented the genre, as a supporting character.
We talked about Irna Phillips during the Jewish Woman’s Archive broadcast above. She is, in fact, one of the Jewish women featured in their archives.
When it comes to promoting “Go On Pretending,” I am not limiting myself to Soviets. I am also promoting it in the world of soaps.
For the first three episodes of the “Soap Hub Says” podcast, I was a bit shy about blatantly promoting my book. (Me? Shy? I know, it sounds impossible to believe. But, to quote Bette Midler, “I do have standards. They’re very low, but I do have them.”) I only mentioned “Go On Pretending” in passing.
But by the fourth episode, which came out yesterday, I dropped my hesitation and flat out held up the book for the camera. Both in the opening segment, and in the closing. Watch me get blatant at:
So now, it’s a fascinating race: Soaps v. Soviets. Who will find “Go On Pretending” more appealing?
Or am I barking up the wrong tree with both? Do people choose their books based on specific settings and characters, or are they more interested in themes and plots?
Outside of soap operas, outside of the Soviet Union and outside of the various ways people pursue war… and peace, “Go On Pretending” is the story of mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, familial strife and acceptance.
Does it even matter where a story is set, what milieu it takes place in, or any of those external trappings? Do readers choose the tale they decide to immerse themselves in because it features something they’re already familiar with, something they want to learn more about, or something completely foreign to them?
Or does none of that matter at all? Would love to hear your thoughts, please reply in the comments!
The variety of readers and readers' interests is even broader than the variety among writers. That's what makes acquiring skill at market targeting so important. Even if your book is about cheeseburgers, if it's a good tale, I guarantee you that there are thousands of cheeseburger aficionadoes who -- IF alerted to the existence of your book -- will (pardon the phrase) gobble it up!
Hi Alina, yes I will subscribe, I love your Substack. The suspense for the new book is alluring, and I will finish reading it as soon as can. Congratulations! Sheila