Dorothea L Gordon's Blog

When I decided to use more of the Goodreads tools to promote my book, I chanced upon the Giveaway feature.

I'm delighted that 381 people in the US competed for the 100 free copies. But the surprising aspect is that 360 people have put my book in their Want To Read List.

Considering that most of my physical books are floating around only on Vancouver Island in book stores and gift shops, having fans in the US is a satisfying thought.

Since I wrote and marketed my book during covid restrictions, there weren't any opportunities for author readings and presentations. I tried the conventional way of marketing but found little success. One of my readers suggested the book was of such quality it should be made available at Costco. I wrote to them but of course received no answer.

I must confess that I have been on a steep learning curve and acquired a lot of knowledge about marketing. It'll come in handy when I start offering my next book.: 'Late Love Online'.

In order to find more time for writing I'll try one new marketing tool a month. But I can say that compared to Amazon, Goodreads Giveaway has been the most productive so far.
I highly recommend it to other authors looking for book exposure.

How a true story can have an affect on individuals who resonate with it.

Even though it feels like I’m on the bottom rung of the ladder as new author, I’m starting to see a number of promising places where my book is showing up.

The other day I opened the door to my local Union Bay library and a copy of “When Life Has Other Plans…” was staring at me from the front shelf. Next time I went there the book was gone; it had been borrowed. Then I heard from my friends in Costa Rica, who are featured in chapter 20, that they had ordered a copy and the daughters were translating it for their parents. I received many compliments such as that they felt honoured to have met me and that the book was brilliant. I also know that my book made it to the UK, South Africa, and the USA.

It humbles me to think that my life story is having a positive effect on others and that those readers are passing the book on to family and friends. One gentleman wrote that he had to wait for his wife and sister-in-law to read the book before he got a chance. It apparently inspired him to go deeper into his soul and make some changes. He’s also going to send a copy to his brother-in-law in Edmonton because that gentleman’s family needs to find some comfort after losing a young son. I know of other readers who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses and who are trying to make sense out of their tragedies.

Therein lies the forte of my story. It speaks to people’s experiences of loss, illness, mental health issues, spiritual questions, and they resonate on a heart level. I noticed that the most enthusiastic testimonials came from readers whose lives had been turned upside down and who were grateful to realize that I had to go through similar events and came out ahead.

In closing I a very happy to know that my book does not only soothe readers’ hearts but also keeps them spellbound with the variety of experiences I relate. Go ahead and check it out for yourself or for a gift you’d like to give to someone who is open to a paradigm shift.

While I was living in Victoria, I constantly made use of their excellent library system. There were different book selections in different branches and I was never without books of my favourite authors or subjects.

Now that I have moved to a smaller community, there is less selection. So I've kept the librarians busy with requests from the catalogue. But the worst thing was when Covid19 hit and all the libraries were closed. I was desperate for reading material and had to resort to the little library at our bus stop. I'd go home with half a dozen books and maybe find one or two that met my requirements for an enjoyable read. Most of what claimed to be NY Times bestseller material was surprisingly full of hot air. I learned a lot about what people like to read and decided to use these insights to my advantage.

So while I was writing my own book, I made sure that it would be easy to read and understand as well as entertaining and educating at the same time. From the feedback I have received so far, I have achieved my goals. I'm delighted that the local library system has acquired two of my books and is putting them into circulation. I've come full circle in that I have gone from literary consumer to literary contributor.

When the idea to write my book came to me last winter, I had no idea that I had been living a story that was worth putting into a book. Mind you, not a fairy tale kind but a transformational story similar to a caterpillar destined to go through a metamorphosis. A process where the end result is completely different from the start-out material.

For years I had known there was something inside me that wanted to come forward and I kept hearing the book's opening sentence in my mind: " I'm calling about your ad in the paper..." Then, within a short time, the urge to write became irresistible. Little did I know that the timing was perfect: All my courses and workshop were being cancelled due to the corona virus and I had uninterrupted to time to type away on my computer.

I was surprised about how many areas my memoir was touching: self-empowerment, mental health, career challenges, divorce, a child with physical disabilities, culture shock, conscious awakening, communication with the spiritual side, and much more.

If you want to read something that tugs at your heart strings but at the same time uplifts you, when you see how resilient the human spirit is, read: #When Life Has Other Plans...Discover the Hidden Gifts".
https://www.amazon.ca/When-Life-Has-O...

OR
https://dtlc.ca/when-life-has-other-p...

Thanks to those who inspired me @Eckharttolle @Brianweiss @Peterlevine @Mikedooley @Marymorrissey @Jamesvanpraagh @Nealedonaldwalsch