Not letting an audience know what's in a novel.

Sargentodiaz · Nov 16, 2011

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay, I have a question for my fellow writers.[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In my novel, Blood in the Meadows, I created a character to enhance a subplot of the story. She is not a full she. And, the primary antagonist, a Macho Latin male, meets and falls in lust/love with “her.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This was not an attempt to make the story exotic or exciting. In fact, it came from my days in driving a taxi where one of our regular and routine pickups was a club frequented by such “shes.” I did my best to portray this as difficulties in relationships and was told by a couple of reviewers that it is tastefully presented.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As I look now, it appears there might be a larger audience out there for the novel that I have failed to reach. Can anyone suggest what I might do or where I might go to let that audience know of the story content? I've already added “tags” to the Amazon site to include that area for the novel. What more is there?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Thanks.[/FONT]

Polenth · Nov 16, 2011

If by a wider audience you mean the transsexual and transgender communities... not like this. Someone who wants to be called by female pronouns is a she. There are no quotes around it. There's no judgement of not being a 'full she' for not having surgery.

People are used to trans characters being portrayed badly, so you need to be extra careful that your language doesn't come across as buying in to all the assumptions and misconceptions. Your characters may have them, but as the author, you don't want to come across that way.

EndlessDestiny · Nov 16, 2011

Also agreeing with the above poster about pronouns.

You could contact websites/blogs to review it and get the word out. I frequent AfterEllen and Diversity in YA and that's how I learn about some really good books that would have slipped past me.

merrihiatt · Nov 16, 2011

You might also consider adding a bit more about this person to your book's description. A review that mentions the person would help, too, but you can't really tell someone what to put in a review.

Old Hack · Nov 16, 2011

Also, why have you titled this thread " Not letting an audience know what's in a novel"? What is it you want to hide, and why, exactly?

Sargentodiaz · Nov 17, 2011

Thanks for the input.

I put the title quickly without really thinking about it. I wrote something into the novel that I did not clearly mention in either the blurb or the book description.

I did my best to deal with the character in an aboveboard and sensitive manner. She has led a very difficult life and, by pure chance, met a man who not only cares about her but has the funds to take care of her. That he happens to be the mastermind behind a plot to set off bombs on The Strip plays - obviously - a big role in the novel.

I'm just having difficulties in trying to put this forward without seeming to be pandering to anybody.

PeteDutcher · Nov 18, 2011

lvcabbie said:
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay, I have a question for my fellow writers.[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In my novel, Blood in the Meadows, I created a character to enhance a subplot of the story. She is not a full she. And, the primary antagonist, a Macho Latin male, meets and falls in lust/love with “her.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This was not an attempt to make the story exotic or exciting. In fact, it came from my days in driving a taxi where one of our regular and routine pickups was a club frequented by such “shes.” I did my best to portray this as difficulties in relationships and was told by a couple of reviewers that it is tastefully presented.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As I look now, it appears there might be a larger audience out there for the novel that I have failed to reach. Can anyone suggest what I might do or where I might go to let that audience know of the story content? I've already added “tags” to the Amazon site to include that area for the novel. What more is there?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Thanks.[/FONT]

This brings to mind a rather bad experience I once had. I was single and I decided to go see a movie. walked to the theater down the road and saw an exciting movie poster with a women holding a gun much like Bond would. So I got my ticket, being a guy who likes action flicks, and went in to see the movie.

As the scenes played through, it turned out that woman was a "she".

The movie was "The Crying Game" and I have to say, that movie gives me nightmares to this day. Not my thing be a long shot, lol.

PeteDutcher · Nov 18, 2011

lvcabbie said:
Thanks for the input.

I put the title quickly without really thinking about it. I wrote something into the novel that I did not clearly mention in either the blurb or the book description.

I did my best to deal with the character in an aboveboard and sensitive manner. She has led a very difficult life and, by pure chance, met a man who not only cares about her but has the funds to take care of her. That he happens to be the mastermind behind a plot to set off bombs on The Strip plays - obviously - a big role in the novel.

I'm just having difficulties in trying to put this forward without seeming to be pandering to anybody.

My advice is to just write the story. Let the story determine how open it should be. As much as I hated The Crying Game, the storytelling technique was sound.

Instead of worrying about offending a group of people, worry more about telling the story in the most surprisingly gripping way.

Sargentodiaz · Nov 19, 2011

PeteDutcher said:
My advice is to just write the story. Let the story determine how open it should be. As much as I hated The Crying Game, the storytelling technique was sound.

Instead of worrying about offending a group of people, worry more about telling the story in the most surprisingly gripping way.

I finished the story some time ago and self-published it on Kindle and Nook. The problem is in how I am marketing it. It is, first and foremost, a story of how a vet driving a cab becomes aware of a plot to set off bombs on The Strip and downtown Las Vegas. He knows Tomasa who has become involved in the mastermind behind the plot. The ex-Colombian soldier has a wife and mistress but still becomes involved in her - presenting a great danger to himself. That's who I haven't clearly presented.

SummerSurf57 · Nov 22, 2011

Leave it for the audience to decide

uscgbyron · Nov 25, 2011

Leave it for the audience to decide

+1

The readers will figure it out. Write another one to keep them busy when you are done.

stray · Nov 26, 2011

There is an emerging market for she characters in fiction. Perhaps you could write a new novella using this charcter and promote the story towards the right market, using appropiate blurb and title. Inlcude at the end of the ebook an excerpt or link to your original novel. Just an idea.

Not letting an audience know what's in a novel.

Sargentodiaz

Polenth

Mushroom

EndlessDestiny

merrihiatt

Writing! Writing! Writing!

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Sargentodiaz

PeteDutcher

Twitter: @petedutcherjr

PeteDutcher

Twitter: @petedutcherjr

Sargentodiaz

SummerSurf57

uscgbyron

figuring it all out

stray