One thing that came up when I was sending out queries last year, and came up with my interview with Nicholas Croce this past Saturday, was the idea of how marketable Toe the Line is. I wonder if marketability trumps voice and writing style or the other way around. No matter how good the writing, if there aint no audience, there won't be much selling.
As I sat across from Mr. Croce I could almost see his brain firing away on whether or not my book was marketable. I mentioned to him that in the past two decades the focus on health and fitness has intensified in our society. This industry has gained a foothold in non-fiction books, periodicals, television media and other materials. That Toe the Line, and other manuscripts I have outlined, developed and written weave this aspect into a mystery in order to bring a more compelling and fresh look at this type of lifestyle. Not just for fitness enthusiasts to read but also for their wives, husbands, parents and others to help them relate to the sport. To provide a glimpse into this world for those not commonly associated with it. My only data to back this rise in interest was the fact that when I raced in triathlons in college or the Army, they weren't as packed as they are now. Now it is common for the organizers to have to limit the number of entries. I doubt that was as true in the 90's. At one point Mr. Croce mentioned that many of the people who would do this type of racing would be wealthier with more disposable income for buying books. Like I said, it was fun to see him start marketing off the cuff.
What's the take away? I need to do some research. It would behoove me to find out more about the marketing potential behind every book I write. It just might be as important as or more important than the writing itself.
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