I think I might have written a great book—it reads well, I've landed the plot points with precision., the editor to whom I sent the almost completed copy started her opening comments with: "My goodness, what a gorgeous, complex, compelling and ultimately, satisfying project!"

My cover artist designed an absolutely fabulous cover.

I created a compelling blurb for my Amazon page.

I'm ticking all the correct boxes.

But—

The world of social media? Understanding my marketplace—essentially: who is most likely to pick up my book and read it?

Following a test I did yesterday with a book teaser ad, I might have to rethink my strategy.

I thought I was writing for women. I'm female. I love a lot of the same books—Sarah J Maas (TOG and ACOTAR), Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles, and Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing. 

But I love espionage thrillers. I devoured Mark Greaney's Gray Man series, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series, and Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X last year.

So that's what I wrote with a pinch of Sara J Maas's wonderful plotting and strong female leads, and Patrick's intricate worldbuilding, stealing all the best tropes and setting them in a modern contemporary world.

I suspect men will love my book even more for the following reasons.

Antony Meyer—Edwards (MMC)—he's a strong, morally gray protagonist with a dark past, conflicting loyalties and a dark, dangerous edge.

Themes—espionage and covert operations, power struggles and betrayal, action and survival.

Stay tuned—the ad is still running and so far, the data is compelling.