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I’m not famous. I’ve never been on the front page of any newspaper, unless I can count my president’s notes years ago on a District 20 newsletter of the Illinois Nursing Association. And I’ve not had a traumatic history to relate. So how do I promote my book? My promo literature includes something about an ordinary suburban sandbox mom who eventually got a PhD and enjoyed a lengthy career teaching psychiatric nursing. But noteworthy? Not really in the everyday world of sensationalist-type memoirs.
And that’s my point. I believe every person, regardless of fame or trauma, has a worthwhile story to tell. The most mundane things can be made interesting. And maybe humorous. Think about what you did this morning. Put a humorous slant on it, and you have a story that others can relate to.
I was prompted to write this post this morning by an email from my friend Carol Rottman who responded to my bike tour post of a few days ago. I featured her latest book awhile back–All Nature Sings: A Spiritual Journey of Place. She asked about my promotion ideas. I promised an answer here.
With the arrival of Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor’s Journey of Faith and Self imminent, I made a list yesterday of all the people I’d like to notify. Here goes a sampling:
Former classmates at every school I attended ( notices in alumni magazines)
Former students and colleagues (notices to the deans of those schools of nursing)
Nursing organizations that I once belonged to
Area deans of schools of nursing
Churches where I’ve had memberships
Family members on both sides
Friends (and friends of friends)
Neighbors over time
Fellow students from writing workshops
SheWrites (an online group of writers)
LinkedIn groups I’ve joined
(No Facebook or Twitter. Yet…)
Appropriate people on my email list
My husband’s work colleagues
There are many names under each of the above categories–contact people, etc. And I will ask each of them to invite their friends and family to visit this blog to see if they’d be interested either for themselves, a nurse friend, a harried mom trying to balance career and motherhood, or a person experiencing mental illness herself or in her family. (For information about mental illness, see the site for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.)
Some of these people have connections to larger venues. I have been networking to see how that might help with book promotion. I’m very thankful for many folks who are supporting me in this new journey. Until then, I’m waiting for the Chicago Tribune to call. Or maybe the President. Nurses need a voice!
Write Along with Me 
Hi, Lois–
Congratulations on the publication of your book on your life in Nursing! Were I not just now trying to survive our move from the Chicago area to Chula Vista, California this week, I’d give more attention to ordering your book. Be sure that I will do so in a few weeks.
My wife and I have moved to Chula Vista, California to be near our daughter Amy and her husband. The movers arrived on Wednesday, and we are in the midst of finding places for our belingis. Things are still kind of blurry, after the stress of moving–
I have not been back to the University of Iowa Summer Workshop since I turned 80, but have cintinued writing, with several local (Chicago) groups, at least until we moved. I plan to continue writing essays, short stories, and some poems, but haven’t published anything since my novel several years ago. Hope to find an active writing group here.
Both my wife and I are well, with our only concern being our ages (81 and 83), so we hope to enjoy our tour here, closer to family in California until the candles burn out.
Thanks for keeping me on your e-mail list; it is great to learn of your writing accomplishment, and I look forward to reading it.
Again, my congratulations.
John W. Grover, MD
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Hi John,
It really is good hearing from you. I wasn’t sure what happened because I haven’t seen you at the September Off Campus Writing Workshop the last few years either.
I’m happy to hear about your move. Sounds like a good place while the candles are still burning!
I wish you well in your continued writing–you have insightful talent to share. I’ll never forget your “pre-eclampsia” explanation to me by Whitey’s Ice Cream in Iowa City, finally giving me the explanation for my mother’s problem during her pregnancy for me. I am indeed grateful.
Lois
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