A quick look at the copyright dates proved that these were NOT new books getting preferential treatment, but that the bookstore was trotting out seasonal backlists to satisfy its readers' desire to get in the holiday spirit with a little touch of murder.
Some bigger-name authors get their holiday books re-released everyyear with "new-improved" editions, with extras like recipes and holidayessays. (Can you think of a better thing? New editions--somethingevery collector will want and NEED!) Ka-ching, ka-ching!
I told an author friend of mine that we needed to write holiday books that we could trot out every year. Unfortunately, it's usually the publisher--not the author--who decides these things.
Still, I do have a holiday story I can trot out every year. Okay, it's available year-round on Amazon Shorts, and I rarely trot. Add to that, the title gives no clue that the story is set during the holiday season. It's called "We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert," and it's so forlorn (i.e. lack of sales) it isn't even ranked any more. I wanted to explore the relationship between the have and have-nots within a family unit. What would it take to goad family members to even consider bumping off a “loved one?” And what are the possibilities of getting away with such a crime? And why not set it during the holiday season?
And at only 49 cents, it's a heck of a deal!
Will I ever write a novel set at Christmas? Well . . . maybe. I do have one in the closet that takes place around Thanksgiving -- and the epilogue takes place on Christmas Eve. And my first Victoria Square Mystery takes place Halloween week and ends--you got it--at Christmastime!
Neither of them are truly holiday oriented, so it looks like it'll be a while (if ever) before any of my backlist gets trotted out for the holidays.
(But one never knows.)
What's your favorite holiday book/story?
A Christmas Carol, hands down. And audible just offered a free download of the book narrated by Tim Curry, I snapped it up immediately. My second favorite is The Night Before Christmas. Which is really a poem. but heck, I still love it.
ReplyDeleteI've already listened to Patrick Stewart read A Christmas Carol--twice! He could read the phone book and make it exciting.
ReplyDeleteWell, I might as well stay with the crowd. LOL. I'm off to get a new copy of A Christmas Carol this afternoon to put on my coffee table. (I learned that from Leeann.)
ReplyDeleteI downloaded your short story and can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday book is "A Christmas Carol" and "The Night Before Christmas".