MACKENZIE CROWNE -- Romance Author

Lucky me, I've got Mackenzie Crowne, my fellow Rose sistah, visiting today. And folks, she is a dearheart. Truly. You can't spend much time around her, even if it's online, and stay down. She's got a buoyant personality -- like a butterfly floating on the breeze. Give her some love today, because she's a debut author who's been on a whirlwind virtual book tour.

Will the real Mackenzie Crowne please stand up!

Since I first read the words, We think Gift of the Realm would be a perfect addition to our line, I’ve been plunged into chaos.

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together…mass hysteria!

Okay, not quite, but that line from Ghostbusters has crossed my mind a number of times since signing that first contract. Here I was, realizing my dream, floating on a high drug dealers would kill to bottle and sell. The spoiler? Promotion. I was shocked to discover how much there was to learn and do.

 I’m not sure what I thought exactly. Maybe that my story would magically find it’s way into the hands and hearts of readers. In my ignorance of the publishing game, that made perfect sense. I’m a reader, after all, and I pick up books all the time without any conscious thought of what the author or publisher went through to get the book in front of me.

  ~ Now I do. ~

Promotion is the key. Though it’s the most important, writing a good story isn’t going to do the job. The cover must pop, and make the correct first impression. And the blurb, that synopsis on the back of the book? If it sucks, so do your chances of seeing your book in the hands of readers. In my humble opinion, I have both of those issues covered. So, what’s left? Social media hell!

I’ve joined the groups, read the blogs, tweeted my little heart out. I planned the blog tour, answered the interview questions, and tweeted some more. Basically, I’ve run myself ragged for months, getting my name out there in every way I could think of. I’ve given it my best shot. Now my efforts will have to stand on their own, because today I’m letting my promo hair down. Thank you, Vonnie, for suggesting I speak on the joy and excitement of realizing my dream,

So, here you have it. The real Mackenzie Crowne.

Four years ago I was facing a diagnosis of stage three breast cancer. Today, I’m a published author. I find that reality frigging awesome! Like a great big ‘screw you’ to the demon cancer. What’s more, I achieved that reality by doing something I love.

I’m a pantser by nature and thoroughly enjoy letting the characters do most of the heavy lifting. I love learning about their dreams and goals, discovering their weaknesses and fears. Like a voyeur in my own manuscripts, I crouch over my keyboard, gleefully watching my characters meet, struggle to find their footing, and ultimately fall in love. I laugh and cry with them, cringe when they are hurt…and make faces in the mirror in order to describe their reactions to one thing or another.

I’m here to tell you, writing is a pure joy. Okay, sometimes I want to rip my hair out when the characters take me off in a direction I didn’t expect, but for the most part…Wow, what a ride. And writing Gift of the Realm was a blast! Fairies, gorgeous hunks, curses, a mystical ring of stones, magical gifts, and did I mention gorgeous hunks?  Oh, yeah. I’ve got the best job in the world!

To see a story I love succeed, and find it’s way into the hearts of others, I’ll do the promo thing. I’ll answer the interview questions, and race from blog to blog. I’ll host a virtual scavenger hunt (Details @ mackenziecrowne.com ). I’ll tweet until I can’t tweet no more! I’ll run myself ragged, shouting from virtual mountain tops, but at the heart of it all, I really am living my dream. I’ll continue to write, and have a ball doing it.

My friends call me Mac, I hope you will too.   

Buy links: The Wild Rose Press & Amazon

Website: mackenziecrowne.com