22 West Express

 

Volume III, Edition 4   

   January 2009   

 

 

The Proctor Mansion Inn
November 8, 2008

Hello Readers,

Happy New Year!

It's been unusually snowy in the Northeast this year and very icy this morning. What a great time to build a fire and relax with a good book. If you haven't started A Demon Awaits, now's the time. It helps to read Sin & Vengeance first and if it's been a while, read the prologue of A Demon Awaits carefully.

I've finished my book signings and appearances for 2008 and won't be out again until spring so I can focus on my next Randy Black book. I finished the outline yesterday and I hope it will be the first of many books that follow Randy on his mission to redeem himself. My goal is to have the manuscript to pre-readers in July and the finished book released in October.

This past year has been the best for me as a writer. It's brought lots of new experiences and surprises and for this newsletter I thought I would count them down for you. You can find my top ten list in the opposite column.

I have set a number of goals for 2009. One of them is to make this a profit-making enterprise. I know some of you are surprised by this statement because you know I've been writing fulltime for over two years. The truth is that over 1,000 books are published each day. That means lots of good books go unnoticed. Most likely, your friends and colleagues have never heard of me. If you really enjoy my work, help me reach out. Here's a top 10 list to give you some ideas:

1. Forward one of my YouTube videos to your friends and coworkers. The entire Internet would be fine, too.

2. Write an honest Amazon review.

3. Suggest one of my books to your book group.

4. Give signed books as birthday, Mother's Day or Father's Day gifts; any occasion that you'd send a gift.

5. Forward this newsletter to your friends.

6. Randomly hand out bookmarks. I'll send them to you for free if you ask.

7. Talk to friends about Sin & Vengeance and the movie option. It's a great topic if you've been to the winery or if you live in New England!

8. Share your copies of my work with your friends.

9. Come to a book signing.

10. Talk about me in your blog, on the train, in a packed football stadium, anywhere.

Thanks for your help!

 

Gary Merliss Blood Drive

The 5th Annual Gary Merliss Blood and Bone Marrow Drive is this Saturday, January 10th at King Phillip Middle School in Norfolk, Massachusetts at 9:30 am. There is a raffle and all blood or bone marrow donors are automatically entered.

22 West Books has donated a set of signed CJ West novels. The winner of the books will contribute to a character in the next Randy Black book due this October. The character dies in Act I, so this could be your chance for literary revenge...

 

 

 

 

 

CJ's Highlights from 2008

10. Randy Black Series
This year I launched a series based on a villain, which is a choice that I was concerned about. Many of you loved to read about Randy, but he was something of a guilty pleasure and deep down you wanted to see him punished. The feedback so far has been great. Many of you are thinking differently about Randy and I'm excited to be working on the next Randy Black book.

9. Bev Loves Books
Bev and I partnered this year to offer signed books year round. This has been great to support Bev. She's sold more of my books this year than the past two years combined and it's given people all over the world an easy way to get signed books. You can call Bev any time of year at (508) 763-5503.

Of course, if you live locally, I'm always glad to sign books wherever you can find me... I'm usually at the dining room table.

8. Borders Book Signing
A Borders store contacted me this year and INVITED me to come and sign books. When I arrived with my pen, they had more CJ West books than I've ever seen in one store (40 copies), not to mention water, an organized table and donuts!

For those of you unfamiliar with the struggles of a new author, this is definitely not the norm. Often when I arrive at a small bookstore, the people in the store don't know I'm coming. Getting into bigger stores like Borders or Barnes & Noble is very difficult for someone in my position. For the store managers to extend an invitation was bucking policy and I was really grateful for such a warm welcome.

7. YouTube
This fall I created a YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/22westbooks. I've had fun creating a virtual tour of Westport Rivers Winery. I also created my first book trailer for A Demon Awaits. If you haven't seen them, click over and please share them with your friends!

6. 14,000 Online Friends
In 2008 I connected with many readers online. I crossed the 14,000 friend barrier recently and have made friends all over the world. If you want to reach me with a question or comment, all of my online profiles are linked directly to www.22wb.com and you can always send email.

5. Winery Tour
In November Rob Russell and I gave a tour of Westport Rivers Winery together. Rob talked about winemaking, grape growing and the history of the farm and I gave an overview of the Marston property and added a few details from the story. Based on the fantastic response, we're going to make this an annual event. I hope you'll join us next fall.

4. Proctor Mansion Launch Party
The A Demon Awaits Launch Party was the best ever. Eighty people turned out and we had some great food, wine and conversation. The mansion made a fantastic backdrop and the Fitzgerald's gave informative and entertaining tours all night long.

3.  234 - 20 = 214 (pounds)
Fruits, vegetables and even salad are my new friends. I'm feeling great to start the New Year and hoping to shed a few holiday pounds and then get down to 209 in 2009!

2 Creatively Speaking
My most interesting invitation this year was from Darlene Arden. She offered me my first television interview. We got the half-hour show filmed in one take!  Darlene assures me that I was a good guest. I must admit I was pretty nervous. You can judge for yourself on YouTube.

1. Film Rights Option
Not only has optioning the Sin & Vengeance film rights been a great professional opportunity, I've become good friends with Marla Cukor, the genius behind the screenplay. She took the time to listen to your input and that has made the screenplay even better. Hopefully 2009 will bring news of a sale and a movie that we can all go to the theater and see! Stay tuned.


I hope your New Year is filled with joy and adventure.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

CJ

 

  © 22 West Books 2008.

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