Me, Navigating Marketing and the Power of Reviews

Being an indie publisher, I do it all. I work hard to write the book and make it as perfect as I am able. I scour book cover sites trying to find the perfect cover. Then I work on the marketing of my book. I'll be honest, I'm lost. I am terrible at self promotion. I think the hardest thing for me is to ask people to buy my book. I mean, I do, but I'm terrible at it. The other trouble for me is that part of that marketing, is sharing parts of myself. What people don't know about me is that my just sharing my novels is a huge share. I want people to read my books, but I dread what they think. I see sales, but I don't get a lot of reviews and that makes me nervous. I have gotten some good reviews, mostly on Goodreads, but I have also gotten a couple of bad reviews and they kept me up for nights. I felt slapped in the face. Maybe they didn't mean it that way, but that's how I felt. I'm tempermental, shy and quiet. I take things too personally, I always have. It's a failing. However, most of these parts of me are what make me write in the first place. I'm not just sharing stories, I'm sharing parts of me. Each character has something of me. Lyssa and Lexa from the Stone Sisters have the most of me, mixed with visions of what I'd like to be instead of what I am.

So here I am, trying to talk people into reading my book. I want them to read it and I'm afraid of them doing so. I'm trying different marketing techniques, but I don't know if any of them are working. I sell some books here and there, but I don't know if most of the people like them. What I really need is people reviewing the books and if that doesn't scare me, I don't know what will. Even if I get some good reviews, will they even help? I don't know. I do know that I need them on Amazon, Goodreads isn't helping. But, then there is the whole review in general. I've read reviews on books and they have swayed me to buy a book. And I've read the reviews and even though the book had a good rating, something held me back. So am I alone in this? I don't know. I'm rambling a little bit. But that is partially because I'm trying to give my readers insight into my crazy brain.

I should point out that when I get a good review, I cry from happiness. Each person who has given me a good review is DEAR to me. Heck, even three stars make me happy. So, am I nuts? I'd love to hear your thoughts on my comment page. If you have something you'd like to ask me personally, please use the contact us page, it's the best way to get an answer.