K. Marvin Bruce

Unless you’re sexy, or already well-connected, the internet feels like high school all over again.  You want to be noticed, but you’re insecure, a bit shy, and lacking self-confidence.  You try putting yourself out there only to be rejected, and you crawl back into your book, where you feel safe. You’d think that the trauma, after all these years, might diminish a little.  Maybe it does for some people.  My career has turned into a train wreck and my efforts as a fiction writer haven’t exactly been welcomed with open arms.  But, I understand, one must build a platform. I have another life on the internet.  One where I don’t use a pen name.  In that internet world, where I’ve actually published two non-fiction books, nobody pays me much mind.  I’ve got a blog, a Twitter account, and a Goodreads account.  I tried to grow my Twitter following, and it has been very slow going. As K. Marvin Bruce, I also have this blog and a Twi...

Free samples attract customers.  Amazon offers way for authors to give away copies of their books, and although it is counterintuitive, it is, I’m told, a great way to gain attention.  If I ever get published, I hope to try it out. Meanwhile, authors sometimes send me their books to mention on my blog.  That’s a nice freebie.  I love books and I’ll read just about anything.  But there’s a price to this free material. You have to write a review.  I can say this with the protection of a pseudonym: I’ve been disappointed in just about every free book I’ve been sent.  It’s usually pretty obvious why they’re being given away.  And yet, the author has given it to me.  Don’t I owe a positive review in return? I am a softie.  I don’t like to hurt the feelings of others.  It probably comes from growing up in an emotionally abusive situation.  I want to say something nice.  Sometimes it’s very difficult. Especially ...