Category Archive » Author's Hustle
This page contains 11 entries posted under the "Author's Hustle" category.
When I was asked to write a brief essay on the subject of renewal as a first-time author, I drew a blank. Why? Because I soon realized that the necessary action of renewal takes place before someone gets to be labeled a "first-time author."
Mid-Year Crisis
See I've been becoming way too complacent. Comfortable. And this crisis kicked me into gear. Granted, I could have achieved this jumpstart in more productive ways--such as an inspirational day spent with creative mentors, focused meditation, or an honest evaluation of what I've done this year so that I know what I need to do for the rest of it.
To Blog or Not To Blog?
So for some time now (years actually), I've neglected my blog. See I used to blog all the time when I had the humble little blog I started in 2005 over at Blogger. Granted, I was never daily with it.
I've never been an expert at knowing when it's time to move on. A quick review of past romances shows that I have remained on relationship trains to nowhere for far longer than I should. Now, I'm at a crossroads in another relationship--the one with my first book, The Message: 100 Life Lessons From Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs...
An Author's Hustle: Renewal
It's been way too long since I've written an installment for an author's hustle. But what can I say? I've been hustling. Traveling. Doing any and every event/radio show/other opportunity that will allow me to promote THE MESSAGE. 'Cause right now, that's the name of the game. Excuse the pun, but it's all about getting the name out there. The Message. Felicia Pride. Trying to embed it in people's heads. It's also called exposure. And that's the part of this author journey that I'm currently in...
So according to Allhiphop.com, Bill Cosby is working on a hip-hop album called STATE OF EMERGENCY that will address the issues that he's been attacking in public lately including "proper parenting, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, Black-on-Black crime and the dropout rate in America's high schools."
I was on NPR's Talk of the Nation today, which in my book promotion journey is quite a big deal for me. And the interview went great. Save for the babble that clumsily fell out of my mouth in the first few minutes. After the nerves passed, I became more comfortable and hopefully represented for hip-hop.
There have been times when I think the New Year is a way that we fake ourselves out to think that we have a new beginning, when really it's just another day. But this year, I needed to believe.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my sleep. I'm a daytime napper and one who happily submits to tiredness whenever the mood hits. But this affinity for sleep doesn't align well with the book promotion grind. This was a big week for THE MESSAGE. Thus, a sister is craving sleep like a pregnant woman for pickles. Right now, I'm running off of excitement, continued anxiety, and a need to keep the momentum machine turning.
I purchased my own book today. I was a little nervous that the book wouldn't be available in the local Barnes & Noble that I went into. Did the chain buy copies of it? I thought about searching various sections (Self-help, African-American, music) for it, but in order to cut through my own angst, I went straight to customer service.
An Author's Hustle: The Series
AAH (like the acronym?) will be the place where I'll chronicle the ups and downs of being a debut author--you know the nervousness, anxiety, the booksignings where no one shows up, the pressure to get celebrity co-signs and other "major publicity," dealing with your publisher, dealing with haters, etc.
Felicia Pride on ReNEWal
BackList Shop
Resources to inspire your inner creative (that includes you too, educators!)... (read more)
Creative Entreprenuers! Spark Your Fire
THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS is: an e-book meets video transmission of acumen and love. You: are likely sitting on an empir... (read more)
THE MESSAGE Hip-Hop & Literarcy Enrichment Program
Order Your Signed Copy of THE MESSAGE today! Educational institutions around the country--including high schools, out-of... (read more)
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