Getting Serious about Writing and YOU

Okay, it’s time to get serious about this writing gig. No more lolligogging about reading books about how to be a better writer. The excrement is about to hit the fan. I have a new book coming out June 6, 2017! We are now in the three-month countdown and I need YOU. (Yes, I’m serious. I’m tired of trying to do this all by myself.)

What? You don’t think there’s any way you can help? I beg to differ.

My first two novels, I’m Not Her and Girl’s Weekend have done well. There were plenty of lovely reviews from lovely people who took the time to read and then write about what they read. A bunch of other awesome people picked my book for their book club and then invited me to come to the meeting! That was super fun and luckily most everyone liked the book (there was this one grumpy lady….but even that was fun).

Still other amazing people recommended my books or gave them as gifts. So all in all, both books did okay, even cracking the bestselling list on Barnes & Noble’s Nook and gracing the New & Notable section of Apple ibooks (right next to Hamilton!!).

But this next book? I want it to do more than okay! Here’s what one famous writer (and you’ll have to either subscribe to my newsletter or buy the book to find out who!) said about Practicing Normal:

“Practicing Normal takes a deep dive into the dysfunctional dynamics of a “picture perfect family”. A compelling story about the beautiful humanity in the most ordinary of lives: from first love to a marriage on the downward slide to an unexpected family tragedy. Achterberg handles each thread with tender care and we can’t help but root for every member of the Turner family.”

Now you want to read it, right?? If you knew who said that, you’d want to read it even more! I’m tremendously proud of this book and can’t wait to get it into readers’ hands. I want it to do WAY better than okay.

Here’s where you come in.

In my newsletter, which is hopefully coming out this week, I’m going to announce the formation of my very own Street Team and invite YOU to join. I’m still trying out a few names for these marvelous people – Cara’s Cronies, Cara’s Crew, Achterberg’s A-List. If you’ve got a great name or a strong feeling about any of these, please pass it along.

But wait! What is a Street Team, you ask? So glad you did.

A Street Team is made up of people who are willing to help me get the word out about my books. There are lots of ways for this to happen – writing reviews, obviously, but also word of mouth, requesting the book at libraries, naming it to lists, posting or tweeting about it, suggesting it for book clubs, helping me come up with other brilliant ways to promote it, and generally being my team on the streets spreading the word about my new book.

And why, you ask, would you do this for me, a complete stranger?

Well, I’m hoping it’s because you love my books and are a super, generous person who understands how crazy-difficult it is to sell books in this day of willy-nilly self-publishing, undervalued books that are easily pirated, and publishers who only promote a sure thing. But just in case that’s not you, I’m also offering awesome goodies like-

Free advance copy of my book

Membership to a private Facebook group where we can dish about anything – book related or not, plus where I’ll have giveaways of not just books, but other fun stuff!

Cool swag and other freebies

Opportunity to beta-read for me on upcoming books

My absolute, and unwavering gratitude

And more awesome things I’m dreaming up to thank you for your help.

If you want to learn more about this opportunity and about Practicing Normal, see the awesome new cover (with an awesome quote from a writer WAY more famous than any of us), get a killer-recipe (and I mean beyond yum), and of course, view too many pictures of puppies, then SIGN UP HERE to receive the newsletter that is definitely coming out this week now that I’ve promised you it will.

Thanks for reading. Keep being the youiest you you can be (mangling Dr Suess, I know) and have a great week!

Blessings,

Cara

p.s. If you’d like to learn more about me and my books, blogs, puppies, and appearances, check out CaraWrites.com.

p.s.s. If you already know you want to be on my yet-to-be-named Street Team, shoot me an email at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.