Chain: Black-winged Angel

This chain's topic was brought to us by H.L. Dyer.


Heather asked us: What plans do YOU have to market your novel? How will you make sure the public finds your work?

Well, funny you should ask.

I have two true loves in my life (aside from my husband): writing and music. So, imagine my euphoria when a guitar-playing friend of mine read the rough draft of my manuscript and said: "Hey, since your book is about a musician, you should do a soundtrack to go along with your book."

Hearing this, I tented my fingers and muttered: "Reee-heh-heh-heally?"

Unfortunately, the more I considered the logistics of such a feat, the scarier it became. I pushed the thought aside until one afternoon as I was listening to my husband play guitar.

Lyrics just popped into my head and flowed from my mouth: "Momma, I'm goin' away. God forgot to send his angels my way, and I can't stay. . . Brother, won't you help me run? I don't want to be here in the mornin' sun. I'll be gone. Help me hide this crime. I'm alone and I've been hurt for the last time."

Dana looked at me. I looked at him. It fit.

Words for the next song -- a dark and violent tune -- emerged in the same (almost shocking) way.

About two weeks later, I approached Dana about the idea for a full-length soundtrack. Even though he's not really a fan of my MC (they're too much alike, he admits it), he jumped at the opportunity.

Lyrics to some of the songs have even found a way into the book.

So far, we have seven songs written: Gone (watch the video), Run (Break these Chains) (read the scene/hear the song), Building Me, Hard to Move, Black-winged Angel, Other gods and Long Road Home. The first two songs are complete. (Although, I'd like Dana to remaster Run because the digital distortion sounds terrible.) The rest are near completion or in some way, shape or form in the process of being recorded.

This video we put together last week helps explain it better. (Plus, there are clips of currently unavailable songs!) :-)




So, how will this work to promote my novel? Well, there are several radio stations in the area of the country where I live that regularly feature "homegrown" music, and myspace and music sharing sites on the internet have done a lot to level the playing field for musicians that want to be heard.

Hey, what can I say? I'm a child of the real MTV generation. I couldn't escape the heavy influence of rock 'n' roll, and I want my book to be a VH-1 "Novel That Rocks."

Read what Sandra posted about her marketing plans before me, and then head on over to Christine's place to see what she's thinking about marketing.