Welcome to Help From My Friends Friday. Where does my book belong? Hard enough to write a compelling novel but then to determine its reach? Fortunately, my next guest has done both. She’s written a nationally recognized historical mystery and dissected her target audience beautifully. Please welcome Author Patricia Raybon and read on. ~ Donnell
From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle about a young Black theologian – and Sherlock fan – trying to solve her father’s cold-case murder in a city ruled by the KKK.
A Parade Magazine Fall 2021 “Mysteries We Love selection.
Knowing my Audience and Liking it Too
By: Patricia Raybon
Author Patricia Raybon
The question stumped me for years. Who’s your audience? I wrestled to answer, settling on various reader avatars, as we authors say—depending on a particular book—but often never feeling I was precisely on target.
I write at the intersection of faith and race. So, to be honest, I always seemed to be guessing who would be willing, ready, or interested in anything I had to say.
I receive hate mail, that is, when I step on the wrong toes. Since my first book, My First White Friend—about my struggle as a Black woman to make peace and find it on American soil—I’ve stirred up hornet’s nests. A little timid by nature, except on paper, I tiptoed around my topics, praying I’d get to the heart of a message without firing up the trolls.
But this time? For my debut fiction? For, yes, my historical mystery novel, All That Is Secret, released a few weeks ago (in the middle of a supply-chain crisis)? For it, I wanted to land in the right place. No second guessing. No crossing my fingers. No hoping beyond hope that I’d zeroed in on the right people—or person, as John Steinbeck said—waiting and eager to read and enjoy my story.
Sure, I’d heard bits and pieces about audience wisdom. There’s the simple: “Know yourself—and know your audience,” as Tennessee Ernie Ford, the popular Country and Western singer and TV host, said in the Fifties and Sixties.
Then, there’s the strategic: “You’ve got to keep your finger on the pulse of what your audience is thinking and know what they’ll accept from you.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the former professional wrestler, whose films have grossed $3.5 billion in North America and $10.5 billion worldwide.
There’s the somber: “Getting an audience is hard. Sustaining an audience is hard. It demands a consistency of thought, of purpose, and of action over a long period of time.” – Bruce Springsteen.
From authors, meantime, we hear the subtle and sublime: “Your audience is one single reader,” wrote Steinbeck. “I have found that sometimes it helps to pick out a person—one person—a real person you know, or an imagined person—and write to that one.”
British poet Robert Graves warned: “Never use the word ‘audience.’ The very idea of a public, unless the poet is writing for money, seems wrong to me. Poets don’t have an ‘audience.’ They’re talking to a single person all the time.”
But Alice Walker said this: “I never have an intended audience. I just write, you know.”
My own answer came together in halting and slow steps, first because of rejection. For the first time in my 25-year, book-writing career, not one trade resource reviewed by new mystery novel. So, no Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, or Booklist.
I felt like a literary pariah. In fact, when I contacted my hometown newspaper—requesting a review—I was told the paper doesn’t review Christian or faith-based fiction.
I didn’t see my book then as “Christian,” not in the current politicized manner. Sure, my publisher, Tyndale House, is a Christian fiction juggernaut—known, for example, for releasing the Left Behind series whose Colorado co-author Jerry B. Jenkins told me the franchise has grossed Tyndale a billion dollars. The book’s audience? People compelled by the “Rapture.”
For my mystery novel for Tyndale, however, my proposed audience was a jumbled profile—die-hard, mystery-reading, female fans of historical mysteries and romantic-suspense fiction who are impassioned followers of detective series on Masterpiece Mysteries as well as “readers hungry to learn about the African American experience” who also are “churchgoers.”
That’s not an audience. That’s a sub sandwich.
In truth, I was reluctant to commit to one narrow audience. Faith based? I was fighting any association with “Christian” politicized groups, feeling affinity with literature’s more beloved authors of faith, including the late Flannery O’Connor, a Roman Catholic whose Prayer Journal is a collection of tender, God-seeking prayers. Dear God please help me to be an artist, please let it lead to You.
But finally, I had to choose. How? I was forced by Facebook. (Of all things.)
I’d budgeted to buy targeted Facebook ads to excite my novel’s’ pre-orders. Not wanting to throw money at a blank wall, I forced myself to finally identify my readers. They are:
- Women ages 45+
- Fans of historical mystery fiction
- Churchgoers
- Followers of Oprah’s Book Club
- Lovers of the Bible
- Readers of Sherlock Holmes
- Excited by Black history
Essentially, my reader loves Jesus and a good mystery, too. Not too shabby in my world. But couldn’t she be more sophisticated? More Flannery O’Connor-ish?
Or was my reader just a lot like me? A no-longer young, church-going woman who loves a good mystery.
Nothing fancy about her. After a busy day of working, caring for aging parents, helping with grandkids, or encouraging grown kids, she wants to curl into a comfy chair and read a twisty, page-turning, but clean detective story. A series would be even better.
So, I stepped up with All That Is Secret: An Annalee Spain Mystery—from a Christian publisher.
Nope, no review yet by the New York Times. But Parade Magazine picked it as a Fall 2021 “Mysteries We Love” selection. Woman’s World—the grocery-store magazine that’s stored by checkout counters all over America—picked it as one of four “Best Books of the Week” on Oct. 18 (along with the newest Danielle Steele offering). CrimeReads, as well, named it to three of its lists, including one of five “October’s Best Debut Novels.”
My reader, meantime, had coalesced in my mind and heart as a real person—and I liked her. A lot. Designing my Facebook ads, I choose a feminine vibe she’d notice, with some ads introducing my Annalee as “the praying sister Sherlock Holmes always needed.”
To my delight, my targeted ads struck the right chord—and my reader answered. Despite a release week with supply-chain horrors, my reader is still finding my book—and I’m still finding her.
I’m humbled to know her, in fact. So, Steinbeck was right. My audience of one has a face, name, and reading preference. My job? To never forget how much she matters.
About the Book:
In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain―a clever but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college―receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.
For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee’s heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.
With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver’s powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim too.
About the Author: Patricia Raybon in an award-winning Colorado author and novelist who writes stories of faith and mystery. Her debut 1920s mystery novel, All That is Secret, is a Parade Magazine Fall 2021 “Mysteries We Love selection.
Patricia, I am delighted to be in your target audience. I have purchased the audio book for my next road trip. This book sounds (forgive me) divine!
Congratulations on being highlighted in Parade. That’s some accomplishment.
So wonderful to get to know you!
Thank you, Donnell! I found it freeing, indeed, to make peace with my book’s core audience. Any spillover to crossover readers has been a bonus, too. Thanks for this opportunity to share my journey to audience clarity. I pray my reflection inspires! P.S. Enjoy the audio book!
Thank you, C.F.! A couple of other highlights: All That Is Secret was named by CrimeReads as one of five “Best Debut Novels of October 2021,” selected by BookBub as one of “16 Best Historical Mysteries” and–as icing on the cake–named by Masterpiece on PBS as one of seven “Best Mystery Books of 2021: Recommended by Bestselling Authors.” I’m so grateful for such kind mentions!
Whoa, this is so fantastic. I love PBS. Maybe we’ll be seeing you on Masterpiece Theater?? 🙂
Patricia, this is such a delightful post! Thank you so much for the varied quotes on identifying your reader. Congratulations on the very successful release of your book. Sounds absolutely fascinating! It’s on my TBR list.
Thanks for hosting, Donnell. Love your blog!
Thank you so much, Vicki! It’s wonderful to connect with you, too. Thanks for reading my post! Warmest regards, Patricia
Thank you so much, Margaret! I’m so grateful you enjoyed the post. I love Donnell’s blog and hoped to post something helpful and practical. Meantime, my kindest thanks for your warm welcome to Colorado’s mystery-writing community. You’ve made me feel like one of the gang! Best regards, Patricia
Hi Patricia! I loved reading this post and learning about finder your ideal reader. I have also gotten your novel on audio and look forward to listening to it on my commute. 🙂
Great blog post. Can’t wait to read the book.
Great blog post. Can’t wait to read the book.
Francelia, thank you so much! I love reading about author backstories (including yours!) on Donnell’s blog. So, I wanted to share something that might be helpful. Thanks for your feedback, your friendship, your great leadership of SincCO and also getting All That Is Secret on audio. That makes me so happy! Warmest regards and many thanks! Gratefully, Patricia
Thank you so much, Sue! I loved writing my Colorado mystery. I’m excited for you to read it! With warmest thanks! Patricia
Donnell, that would be a dream come true! So, let’s believe it could happen. Thanks so much for this wonderful forum today! Warmest regards and many thanks, Patricia
Patricia, I’d been drawn to Donnell’s blog by something else and found this. And I just wanted to say, first, Congratulations both on the books and the success it’s garnered so far. Good luck for more to come. Secondly, how fascinating your book sounds and I hope to get to read it soon. Finally? The information in your post is inspiring – thank you. I suspect I may be one of your target readers – so thanks for writing for me!
Kaz, thank you so much! I just happened to circle back to Donnell’s blog to show my post to a friend and I saw your message. I’m delighted to know you’re in my core audience. I’d love for you to read my Colorado mystery and I hope you enjoy it. Thanks, meantime, for cheering me on the fiction journey. It’s teaching me amazing things and introducing me to wonderful people. Thanks for being in that circle!