Danielle Trussoni's Newsletter - May 2023

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Hello friends! This is an exciting month for me– it’s the final countdown for the launch of my new novel The Puzzle Master. I’ve been busy getting ready for a book tour. If you’re in the New York City area, please come to one of my events next month (more about that next month, as well).

Please join me!

I’ll be in NYC on June 13th at The Mysterious Bookshop in conversation with the amazing Chris Pavone.

The next day, I’ll be opening the Bryant Park Reading series in Manhattan with AJ Jacobs, yes, the author of the book The Puzzler at 12:30pm.

Then on to the Nantucket Book Festival!!

And in Beacon, NY on Saturday June 17th at the Beacon Lit fest in conversation with NYT Puzzle Master Will Shortz.

If you’ve been getting my newsletter, you’ve heard all about my book by now. You might even be sick of hearing about it. But what you may not know is that I have a very special promotion going on and you, as a member of my inner circle, are the first to learn about it.

To thank readers who show support for the book, I am offering a free zoom tarot reading to one person who preorders my novel.

While you’ve probably seen my posts about tarot cards, did you know that I’ve been studying the tarot since I was 17 years old? A good friend mentored me in the history and art of reading tarot, and when she died, she left me her tarot deck. Since then, I have given readings for close friends. This is the only time that I’ve ever opened this up to other people. I hope you’ll enter, as I’d love to sit down with you via zoom and tell you what the cards say.

Just preorder my novel and send a screenshot of your order to me at dtrussoniassistant@gmail.com.

Here is the link to order from your favorite bookstore.

This is the LAST month to enter my Monthly Giveaways, as I’ll be taking a break over the summer.

Some of you entered last month, but there are more prizes to be had as we countdown to the release of The Puzzle Master. Every month, I’ll be offering new prizes such as exclusive fiction, personalized editorial feedback, a custom crossword puzzle, signed first editions of my previous books and advanced copies of The Puzzle Master.

With that, I am pleased to continue our giveaways with these exciting prize opportunities!

Do you want a free copy of The Puzzle Master?

Post about my novel on social media, send a screenshot of the post to dtrussoniassistant@gmail.com, and I’ll enter you into a drawing to win a copy of my new novel. I’ll send it to you as soon as it comes out!

Are you on Goodreads?

Add The Puzzle Master to your Want-to-Read shelf and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a first edition hardcover copy of Angelology.

Are you in a book club?

Invite 5 members of your book club or 5 bookish friends to subscribe to this newsletter and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of The Puzzle Master. I will also visit your book club via Zoom the month my novel publishes (that’s not part of the contest: that’s just because I love book clubs) 

This is an ongoing contest, and the winner will be announced in an upcoming newsletter. 

Are you a writer?

Pre-order The Puzzle Master and you’ll be entered to win an editorial evaluation by yours truly. The winner will receive editorial advice on any piece of writing (up to 15 pages). This is an ongoing contest, and the winner will be announced in June 2023.

How to enter:

You can show me which prize(s) you’re entering by emailing me screenshot proof that you qualify (a screenshot of your Goodreads shelf, proof of pre-order, and/or your 5 friends’ names) to dtrussoniassistant@gmail.com by May 31^st at 11:59:59pm ET.

Winners will be announced in the June newsletter. US only.

I’ll be announcing new and continuing opportunities with each newsletter, so be sure to check back next month to find out what else you can win!

Q&A

Finally, I opened the floor to my friends on social media again this month to take any questions about my new books or the writing/reading/publishing world at large.

Q) What advice would you give to a writer today? How has publishing changed since your first book came out?

A lot has changed in the 15 years that I’ve been publishing my work. Perhaps the biggest change is that the internet has changed publishing– online promotion, social media, online reviews, digital books, audio books– basically, the world has moved online, and book publishing has to adapt.

The other big change is that book reviewing outlets– newspapers, magazines, etc.-- have folded. There used to be so many local newspapers that ran reviews. That’s not the case now.

My advice to writers who are starting out is to make decisions about your ‘writer identity’: what genre do you write in, who is your audience, what are your publication goals. Knowing the answer to who you are as a writer will help you find the audience that is looking for your work.

But one thing that I believe to be true is that storytelling is a human endeavor, and that we need stories as much now as we always have.

As always, a big thank you to everyone for spending your time with me, on my website, and across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. My books wouldn’t be possible without your support! Please stay in touch and let me know how you’re doing.

Yours,

Danielle