Not letting an audience know what's in a novel.

[longknife]

Okay, I have a question for my fellow writers.
In my novel, Blood in the Meadows, I created a character to enhance a subplot of the story. She is not a full she. And, the primary antagonist, a Macho Latin male, meets and falls in lust/love with “her.”
This was not an attempt to make the story exotic or exciting. In fact, it came from my days in driving a taxi where one of our regular and routine pickups was a club frequented by such “shes.” I did my best to portray this as difficulties in relationships and was told by a couple of reviewers that it is tastefully presented.
As I look now, it appears there might be a larger audience out there for the novel that I have failed to reach. Can anyone suggest what I might do or where I might go to let that audience know of the story content? I've already added “tags” to the Amazon site to include that area for the novel. What more is there?
Thanks.

[Sleeping Beauty]

Wow. First of all, maybe you could check your privilege while writing about transgendered characters.

And who precisely do you mean by "that audience"? I hope you don't mean the LBGTQ community, because putting quotation marks around a character's gender would certainly be offensive. I'm not trying to be nasty, and I'm glad your readers found the content "tastefully presented" and I haven't read the novel in question, but you failed, in my mind, to do so with this post.

[Aimée]

Like Sleeping Beauty said, but in a bit different words, approaching this issue you should be careful not to offend anyone. By the description you gave, and the readers saying it was "tastefully presented," I think you should not focus too much on the audience, except mentioning in tags on Amazon, like you said. If you use the relationship in the description of the book, it should be worded in a way not to offend anyone.

Have you read Ursula K. le Quin's The Left Hand of Darkness? I think that may help you out a bit. Even if your novel is not sci-fi. Plus it's a good book.

[polymath]

Business revenue stream depends on consumer interest. Letting consumers know about a product relies on four information areas: marketing, advertising, publicity, and promotion. Yet no amount of any proportion of those four corners will sell a product to a disinterested and savvy consumer. Word-of-mouth buzz is the controlling influence. If potential consumers become aware of a new product through word of mouth, they are far more likely to develop interest in the product than from any other information source.

In this instance, if several potential new niche markets arise, consumers will find their way to the product if they have personal interest. Word of mouth buzz cannot be jump started by a producer. Avoid the temptation to fiddle with the product and its marketing package. It's already what it is; out in the cruel world to sink or swim on its merits or frailties.

[Ryan]

Word of mouth buzz cannot be jump started by a producer.

Nicely said Polymath. It's hard to find the line sometimes. As we try to get the word out on our books, we have to remind ourselves to be patient and not do anything that will offend, seem tacky, or fall into the "trying too hard" category. I've definitely tried too hard at times. It took years to write our books and it will probably take years to get the word out.

With social media on turbo nowadays, everyone is a reviewer and broadcaster.

[longknife]

Wow. First of all, maybe you could check your privilege while writing about transgendered characters.

And who precisely do you mean by "that audience"? I hope you don't mean the LBGTQ community, because putting quotation marks around a character's gender would certainly be offensive. I'm not trying to be nasty, and I'm glad your readers found the content "tastefully presented" and I haven't read the novel in question, but you failed, in my mind, to do so with this post.

You're right. I did it on the fly and really did not fully pay attention or clearly state my objective in posting it.
I would guess "LBGTQ" is the audience I am aiming at - although I have no idea what it means.
And, what does "check your privilege" mean?

[longknife]

Business revenue stream depends on consumer interest. Letting consumers know about a product relies on four information areas: marketing, advertising, publicity, and promotion. Yet no amount of any proportion of those four corners will sell a product to a disinterested and savvy consumer. Word-of-mouth buzz is the controlling influence. If potential consumers become aware of a new product through word of mouth, they are far more likely to develop interest in the product than from any other information source.

In this instance, if several potential new niche markets arise, consumers will find their way to the product if they have personal interest. Word of mouth buzz cannot be jump started by a producer. Avoid the temptation to fiddle with the product and its marketing package. It's already what it is; out in the cruel world to sink or swim on its merits or frailties.

Oh wow!
In other words - let it be and don't try to fiddle with it?

[polymath]

Oh wow!
In other words - let it be and don't try to fiddle with it?

I'd say yes. Audiences will find their own meanings and either approve or disapprove, either of which can contribute to or detract from the word-of-mouth conversation and drive or stifle sales.