|
Author: Damian McNicholl
Date: 11-06-03 14:08
Hello, my name's Damian and I'm new to the site so a big hello to everyone.
I'm in the midst of contract negotiations with an independent publisher here in the US who\'ve agreed to allocate a good budget to my novel A SON CALLED GABRIEL. Basically, I\'ve got a meeting next week with them to discuss publicity and marketing and I want to be prepared to give them ideas for pushing my novel as I believe it\'s really important for authors to be involved in the process in today\'s competitive market; so far they seem very willing to listen.
The novel is a coming of age set in late-sixties to early-seventies Ireland and involves a protagonist (who is 6 when the novel begins and 18 at its conclusion) struggling to make sense of an increasingly intrusive world of bullies, religious rigidity, secterianism and sex. He has a very difficult relationship with his father which deteriorates as he grows. As he develops into a teenager, he finds himself attracted to men and fights to overcome these desires which his mother has always considered a mortal, mortal sin, futilely dating girls yet obsessing about their expectations when he gets close to them. Finally, he does find a girlfriend (at 17) but avoids sexual contact and, in a climactic scene, finds himself highly attracted to an older man at a dance and unbeknownst to his girlfriend (also in attendance) sneaks of and has a furtive, speedy encounter. Months later, his mother learns of his proclivities, spirits him to a priest and
doctor for curing, and they later have a visceral argument during which she reveals a terribel secret involving his Uncle Brendan which causes Gabriel to question the concept of family and his very existence. Through the novel, I bring up Irish politics (Catholics v Protestants), Irish working-class Catholic culture, and his relationship with siblings.
My question is, does anyone have any marketing ideas other than the usual (e.g.) literay fiction readers, gay market, etc.
What segment of the market do you think this would appeal to? If women, what type, etc. Any feedback or suggestions would be very much appreciated from a published author.
Thanks in advance, Damian.
|
