bombarded

since PROMISE IN THE DESERT was released

My publisher bought an ad in the “new releases” newsletter that went to “millions” of BookBub subscribers. (If you are one, did you see the listing?) Afterwards, I noticed a few new followers in my BookBub account, but there were no significant gains in sales. Something else happened, though: over the course of two weeks, I received 13 flattering emails from various book-related people offering to introduce my novel to the public. They all used highly complimentary language and suggested they could reach thousands of eager readers ready to consume stories just like mine. Here is an example:

Sheila, Promise in the Desert does what so few novels manage — it makes the Sonoran desert not just a backdrop but a living character. Bee and Sydelle’s bond feels timeless, like the land itself, and the way you weave legacy, grit, and modern ambition into one story is why it earned praise from voices as high as Phoenix’s own mayor.

But here’s the catch. A book this strong, with themes this relevant — land, legacy, the clash between old roots and new dreams — deserves far more than nine reviews. Nine. For a story that should be sparking bigger conversations about community, heritage, and resilience under the desert sun.

That’s where I can help. I work with readers who write reviews that go beyond stars and blurbs. Reviews that illuminate the heart of a book, spark curiosity, and create momentum. With the right push, Promise in the Desert could reach many more readers who will feel its truth and carry it forward.

Did the author of this missive actually read PROMISE IN THE DESERT to find out what it’s about? No. All the book-specific language in the above quotation comes from the 50 Instagram/Facebook posts my Manila-based assistant created during the run-up to the launch. Someone somewhere must have used AI to scour the posts and spit out this pitch. The other 12 offers also included slightly different swathes of publicly-available language, most likely AI-generated as well.

bad business

None of the pitches mentioned money, but when I wrote back to a couple of them that I was interested in the service, they asked for a “registration fee,” which was from $159 to $249. Of course I declined. But if this is a growing trend in book marketing, other authors must be paying to play. I wonder who they are and why they’re so desperate for recognition that they’ll buy in to a shady deal.

Notice that the pitch above refers to “readers who write reviews that go beyond stars and blurbs.” This person knows we authors depend on amassing dozens of excellent reviews to attract the attention of book sellers and sales algorithms. So he or she is offering to game the system. The 12 other pitches I received also offered a variation on the theme of increasing exposure through (questionable) proprietary channels. None was foolish enough to promise that sales would increase as a result.

There’s been lots of talk about the use of AI in creating literature. Last year, for example, the New York Times hosted a related experiment. Using a list of items generated by readers (e.g. a toaster), author Curtis Sittenfeld and an AI program were each asked to write a 1,000 word story. The newspaper published both stories, unattributed, and let you guess which was which. I could tell which had been human generated from the title alone. AI produced an average tale; Sittenfeld produced something original to chew on.

I’m not aware of talk about AI in the marketing of literature, but clearly, it’s here. If you have read PROMISE IN THE DESERT, please write an honest review and post on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I will be grateful, honestly.

good launch

The launch celebration on Sept. 13 at the Anticus gallery was a smash. Around 50 people came, and many bought books for me to autograph. Mary Jo West and I interviewed each other about our past careers in fields that were male-dominated at the time, and then we talked about our current activities. Mary Jo was the first female TV news anchor in the Phoenix market, and I believe you know that I was the founding CEO of the Arizona Science Center. Mary Jo now volunteers with a children’s mission and I write; we are both still bringing a female perspective to our work.

The image below was prepared by my Manila assistant and her design team. (FYI our engagement has come to an end.)

Here’s an unimproved view from the audience. (Thanks, Susan.)

If you followed the posts my social media assistant produced, please tell me what you think of the campaign. Some people have said they were impressed by the quantity and quality of the posts. Others found the “breathless” sales lingo off-putting. Not having spent much time on social media myself, I had deferred to the experts and approved all of it. I’m not sure what I’ll do about social media next time I have a book to launch. I hope you’ll still be reading this newsletter to find out.