Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maggie Hill. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Maggie, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?
When I was just about to publish this first, long-awaited, dearly-fought-for, dream-of-a-lifetime novel, I didn’t realize how much I would need to rely on the kindness of my friends. From bolstering my confidence to showing up at book launches, to buying the book, and possibly posting a review about it — I have been blessed with supportive, enthusiastic, lets-do-this friends. Still, I needed to let them know how they could help get the word out.
It’s not like people in general know how to pragmatically help an author. It’s also not like I was a marketing executive, who knew what’s what and could lay out a plan. Sure, there were online lists espousing how to help, but I wasn’t about to send my friends checklists. There are lines that I realize I won’t cross; lines that I didn’t even know existed. For instance, let’s say I casually mentioned that I was trying to rack up some reviews on Goodreads or Amazon. If that wasn’t enough to get a reluctant friend to write a review — hey, not everyone likes to write! — then I cringed over whether or not to ‘remind’ them that this would be helpful.
Almost embarrassingly, I emailed a few friends with language they could use to write the review, such as: I liked this book!, or A good read! (Of course, that’s because I already knew they liked it as they’d told me.) Some took me up on it; some didn’t. I wasn’t hung up on it, though. I know that I have good friends. I am also a good friend, who knows that people are well-meaning but busy. I put on my big girl pants and let it go.
Book clubs were another moment of truth. Right off the bat, two friends sponsored my book at their respective book clubs. I was and am so grateful to them for that experience. Another friend from New Jersey asked if I would be willing to meet with her club when they finished. Of course! Not having heard back about that since the Spring (and it’s now almost October), I am wondering if I should mention it. Uh, nope.
It doesn’t help that I am, by nature, independent and (probably) that crazy kind of proud that hates asking favors. Ugh. Obviously, this is a character flaw worth losing. I understand and appreciate that humility is a higher-ground state of being; however, I am not always willing or able to master that refined mental or emotional position.
On the other hand, writing letters to bookstores, libraries, schools, famous people doesn’t deter me at all. I figure, if I send a concise, informative, interesting capture about the book (like what I imagine public relations professonals do?), then I’m merely laying out information for potential buyers. I can “talk” to a stranger about that end of the business with no sweat.
Finally, my family — both near and far — represents another level of either entitlement (they should write reviews, right? and promote the book to all their friends, no?), or low-self-worth (they must hate it, they must hate me, why aren’t they even mentioning it to me?). Wow. There’s a tightrope to walk if there ever was one. The bad news is, these feelings are not EVER worthy of my ideal ‘me’; the good news is, I laugh at myself much more than I take it seriously.
It helps enormously that I have a husband and two grown sons who not only support and cheer me on, but who stand by me through the new landscape of publishing my first novel. No matter that it’s fiction, there is a core of my being in that story that took some courage to reveal. It felt dangerous to be so ‘out there.’ I had moments of feeling abashed about how some elements of the novel expressed my soul in an intimate, revelatory way. In those moments, I knew my immediate family stood in front of, beside, and behind me, backing me all the way.
Maggie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Maggie Hill’s essays and non-fiction pieces have been published in The New York Times, The New York Daily News, and Scholastic professional magazines. Current publications include Lakeshore Literary Review, Cleaver Lit Mag, Embark Literary, and Persimmon Tree. She has been the recipient of several artist fellowships and residences, including Yaddo and Ragdale. Sunday Money is her first novel
www.MaggieHill.com
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Obviously, the number one reward is hearing how someone felt affected by my book. This is always surprising, humbling, warming. You couldn’t have prepared me for how incredible this feeling is — it’s always unexpected. I can’t say exactly how it feels, and I can’t say enough about it.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I’ve been writing forever. This is my first published novel. I’m a grown-ass woman. Resilience? Yuuuup.
From the business side: rejections up the wazoo, editing from scratch a hundred times, working with other professionals on craft, Writers’ groups, MFAs, writing institutions offering hands-on mentoring, teaching college composition courses and introductory creative writing.
From the personal side: willingness to fail, then failing again. Keeping my attention on the tides, not the waves. Struggling with self-doubt. Reminding myself there’s room for all the stories. Stopping all comparisons with other writers.
Big chunk of spiritual side: believing in myself; knowing this is my path, however slow or winding; putting myself in the chair no matter what.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.MaggieHill.com
- Instagram: @maghill
- Facebook: Maggie Hill
