FIFTH ESTATE: WHAT'S YOUR STORY-UPDATE

FIFTH ESTATE

WHAT'S YOUR STORY-UPDATE

Sci-Fi Novelist Tosin Coker, one of my friends on Facebook's LeadStory business page is in the middle of Holiday selling. I saw one of her advertisements but I didn't see anything that would compel me to buy her books.

Ok, that's not quite true since, I've already read the first book in her trilogy and I loved it. After reading "the Mouth of Babes" I started looking at my own children with a side-eye.

In her novel, Tosin Coker gives a whole new meaning to children with old-souls. I like to think I'm a great parent but I don't even think even I could handle the babygirl in her novel. In fact not too many parents are equipped to handle such children.

Below is a snapshot of my conversation trying to get Tosin Coker to communicate the old-soul message in her advert.

the LeadStory: So Nth Degree, if you read my last post "What's Your Story" What's your story that we are going to make more viral than the flu?

Ninth Degree: Yes I read it, just haven't got a clue on how to apply it to me. I guess I'm too close to see it. I'm always full of suggestions for other peeps,
but go blank when the focus is my own work.

the LeadStory: Ninth Degree, lol this is why I love 'be'-ing around you! I thought the same about my own book! I'm so protective of my own story, I kept crossing out ideas so I wouldn't have to share it. I recognize for me it's hubris.

I was thinking, really how can I possibly reduce my story to a mere sentence. Well it is do-able. I'll suggest a few ways to get you thinking about "the story" of your trilogy.

the LeadStory: Guess what I found out? I've been pitching and promoting my novel the wrong way AND have been since publication.

Yes, I confess I was also too close to my own novel to promote it. Remember the adage "a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client? Same could be said for the novelist who attempts to promote his/her own novel without initial promotional guidance. If you write the novel, it may be difficult to see the story.

Therefore, here's my tip for all you Novelist/Publishers wearing one too many publishing hats. Think of your novel as the "car" and the story as its "engine".

The story makes the novel move. Unfortunately that tidbit of wisdom eluded me initially. When I first promoted my novel, it was as if I was telling people about my nice car, the Bugatti-Veyron.

"A high school senior traumatized by the loss of her murdered father vows to rebuild her family by any means necessary."

Nice design (ho hum)..May I look under the hood.

However, if you know anything about the million dollar super car, you know the Bugatti-Veyron is built around its 1000-horse power engine.

Pop the hood please...

"Teen Obeah Priestess loses her high school sweetheart to the new rich girl on campus; goes rogue and conjures up the seven deadliest demons to bring her lover back."
Sleeping with a D-Man

Vrrrooommm...0 -to 100 in less than 60 seconds... that is the engine that makes the story fly.

Continuing the update, I challenged writers to find what would make their story go viral? To do that it is necessary to find out what's controversial about story and what would upsets the status quo?
Here's my 'truth'

Quite a few parents find my subject matter offensive. Many Christians took offense with the subject matter although I pull the history from Old Testament scriptures, Hebrew mid-rash ; British slave records and West, and East African antiquities.

My Obeah priestess is an 18 year old beautiful young woman who hails from Jamaica by way of West Africa. She knows her "roots' and she uses them to perform deadly spells - she makes no apologies for her power - and she uses it to *dead* anyone in her way.

I enjoyed writing my Obeah priestess and by the time I was finished I wished I was her. No kidding.

But here's the truth of my story - and the truth of why I don't promote it like I should.

I'm scared of it.

If you know anything about 'voudoun' as the word was spelled (incorrectly) when the slaves were brought to America - you know there are two types of Obeah" (or Wanga) and "Voodoo" (or T'changa)-

Not every slave was treated badly because frankly their masters were terrified of Obeah priests and priestesses. And from some of the documents I read rightfully so - those Africans could shape-shift.

My Obeah priestess was initiated in both. -But I guess she needed to go over to darkside to get her man. To illustrate her power I researched and found some real incantations for her to perform.

Some of the (fallen angel/demonic) names I used are not supposed to be spoken aloud - unless you know the Archangel that controls the demon.. So while I was writing the book and even re-reading I never said the names aloud but I did keep my list handy just in case. If you need the list -send me an e-mail~MH
And as Paul Harvey used to say - and that my friends is the rest of the story.

UK's 1st black authored sci-fi trilogy will be discounted by a whopping 30% using code 'BEREMARKABLE305' Offer only available via Tosin Coker's official bookstore (lulu.com/n9neformation) until Dec. 31st 2010. Don't miss out!!