Happy New Year!
And a most happy and healthy New Year to all. 2011 was a very interesting and exciting year; I expect 2012 to be the same. A little calmer would be fine, but I'm not complaining. Not only did I get to travel last year (Idaho, central Oregon, San Diego), but I also had a book published (The Magic of A.C. Gilbert) in both print and electronic (my first) formats. 2012 is looking quite good, with two more books scheduled or release, and shortly, too.
Despite being highly focused on house-building matters, the writing life continues. Currently, I'm creating a display for the Eugene Public Library that will highlight the A.C. book. Hope to have it set up sometime this week. A Ferris wheel made from a 1960 Erector Set will be part of the display. If you live in the area, drop by the children's section of the library and check it out.
And Life Goes On
The priorities of life ebb and flow, and writing is certainly a part of that. After reviewing the last several months of work (see previous calender post in which I keep track of my daily writing and writing-related activities), it is very clear that most of my work has been revolved around writing-related work (esp. marketing). While this is inevitable (if you want to sell books) it is quite frustrating.
The fear, of course, is that you will somehow "lose" the composing skill if you are not actually composing regularly. Since most of my efforts right now involve selling books as well as doing the final prep work for getting books published, I have not started a new book. To keep composing, though, I have been working on anecdotal narrative about growing up. While I have no plans for these "shorts" there's nothing to say that they won't become something, sometime. In the meantime, doing this work helps to keep me practicing and helping to improve my skills.
A high priority lately has been the construction of a new home. This began in September, and while I am not actually building it myself, I am helping attend to the many, many details that involve such an undertaking. There are many stories involved in this process and, who knows, there's book possibilities as well.
Bottom line: Everything has book possibilities.
Walls on the rise
Independent Bookstores
There are fewer and fewer of them. Independent bookstores, that is. If your town still has one, consider it a blessing. These stores tend to be small and quirky. You're greeted by friendly people and the distinctive scent of books. Heaven.
I visited one - Tsunami Books - in my hometown of Eugene, OR yesterday as I continued my marketing swing to local businesses I thought would be interested in carrying my book. I had been to Tsunami before, attending events and buying books, but never as an author pedaling my own work. I thought this might be quite a different experience, but it really wasn't. I was still greeted amiably, and the proprietor - Scott Landfield - took a genuine interest in the work I had done. Despite not discussing it directly, he seemed to know the rigor involved in producing a book. When it was decision-time, it wasn't about "if" he would buy any books but rather "how many?" He didn't hedge his bets with consignment, either. He went for it.
I left Tsunami feeling hopeful, not only for my book but for other local authors who struggle to find an outlet for their work. I am also hopeful for readers who want the personalized experience of shopping at a place where people know your name and are more than willing to help satisfy your reading proclivities.
The number of bookstores like Tsunami is steadily decreasing, but you can stop that by finding the independent bookstore where you live and patronize it. It's not too late.
Road Trip
Writing a book is one thing. Selling it is another. Authors write books because we love to write. Being a sales person doesn't have quite the same appeal. But sale persons we are - all of us (even non-writers) in one way of the other. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as we believe in what we're selling.
With that firmly in mind, I took off yesterday for a road trip in order to...you got it...sell my A.C. Gilbert book. My aim was to find book and gift stores that would carry the book. Believe me, this is not my favorite way to spend time -"Good day, I'd like to share with you my latest book for children..." - but I have to admit it was a lot better than I anticipated.
Writers (at least the ones I know) have to steel themselves for rejection because the simple fact is that most things that are written never even get published. So, coming from a rejection mindset, it's a challenge not to carry that into the stores you enter. What a pleasant surprise, however, when booksellers greet you amicably, make positive comments about your work, and then order on the spot. Cool! I'm not saying this happened in every store I went, but it did in most. What this did was reinvigorate me about the work I've done.
If you live in or around Corvallis and Salem, Oregon, here are some great places to find The Magic of A.C. Gilbert:
Corvallis - OSU Bookstore, Grassroots Bookstore
Kaiser - Booksmart
Salem - A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village, Mission Mill Museum
Carrying books and inflated confidence, I will continue on.
p.s. I'll keep writing, too.
I Love to Write Day
Oh, no, not another holiday. But wait, this one is different. No gifts to buy, dinners to prepare, or relatives to endure. Just fun. Writing fun!
November 15 is national I Love to Write Day. Founded in 2002 by Delaware author John Riddle, this is a special day to celebrate writing and remember its importance (ed. note: this can also be done every day of the year). Of course there is a website to visit - http://www.ilovetowriteday.org/ - where you can find activities for kids as well as parents. Enjoy!
And, if you miss this day, make I Love to Write Day the next day. And the next. And the next...
Vacation
Hiking with llamas
Of course, "mental vacations" are another matter for some writers, including me. So, during the week I proofread a middle-grade novel I am planning to submit. I also spent time jotting down ideas for other projects and planning marketing strategies for current books. It was a great time.
Welcome Amazon
And here's a warm welcome to blog readers from the Amazon Author Page site. I have recently set up this page to share the work I have done, and the work I am doing. The latest is a picture book biography of America's most famous toymaker: A.C. Gilbert. The book is titled The Magic of A.C. Gilbert and is an e-book version, my very first ever. This version comes as a result of my association with eReadia, a very cool company that's offering e-books as well as innovative tech support for both teachers and writers. Check out their site at www.eReadia.com. Thanks, Will (the Prez), for your vision and your support.
Another e-book will soon be available on the Amazon site, too. Stay tuned...
First days
First days of school are mystical. A few are memorable. The most memorable one for me was not my own but my son’s. Tyler’s first day of kindergarten was a landmark: our first child going off to public school for the first time. Excitement, anxiety, and hope for the future filled the air at our house.
After the obligatory photos that would become a family tradition (Tyler with Mom, Tyler with Dad, Tyler with the dog), I drove Tyler the two miles to school. We talked easily on the drive, about the fun he would have and about the games we would play when school was over.
The school was buzzing with cars and busses and parents and kids. Tyler and I walked hand-in-hand to his classroom. He looked around, wide-eyed at the activity. As we neared his classroom our pace slowed. When we were about 10 feet away from the door, Tyler dropped to his knees on the ground and pulled me with him.
“Whatsa’ matter, Tyler?” I whispered in his ear.
“I’m a little scared,” a small voice replied.
I let that sink in.
“Me, too,” I told him.
We stayed frozen a while then Tyler turned to face me. His blue eyes glistened as he wrapped his arms around me. Then he stood up straight, walked past the parents that hovered outside the classroom door, and into into his new world.
What "First Day" stands out for you?
Publishing #4
Producing a book with a publisher has advantages...and disadvantages.
The major advantage that I see is that the publisher takes the financial risk of producing the book. They are responsible (and pay) for everything: the artwork, design, editing, printing, and marketing. That's quite huge, and there's more. They pay for your words, too. They may pay you a flat fee or a royalty, a percentage of the sale of the book. My preference is a royalty and, if possible, a royalty on the retail cost of the book rather than the "net" (what they sell it for, which is usually less than retail). I feel much more a part of the "team" when getting a royalty, and I operate on the hopes on many different printings, which will yield more money. Reality check-in: This does not always happen.
Finding a publisher willing to take on your book in this highly competitive market is very challenging. If you are fortunate to get one, I see two main disadvantages. The first is that, since the publisher has the main responsibility for producing the book, they also are going to make most of the decisions about the book (size, what it looks like, number of copies, hard or soft cover). My experience has been that most are open to feedback from the author, but the ultimate decisions will be theirs. It makes sense, though, given they are the ones taking the risk.
However, the decisions publishers make can cause repercussions for authors. Case in point: I wrote a beginning bio of Christopher Columbus. In it, the editor had cut out some of the text about when Columbus and his crew landed in the "New World." The deleted text had to do with the people (Tainos) who were already living. In addition, the illustrator did not show any of those people in his artwork. Result: I was criticized for the oversight. Was it my fault that this happened? No. But people assume that the person whose name is on the book is responsible for all its contents. Lesson learned for me.
The other main disadvantage of working with a publisher is that the author only makes a small percentage of the price of each book. With self-publishing, all the money goes to the author. However, much of that money will be going to pay the costs of producing the book.
My personal preference has been to work with a publisher in producing books, but to keep an open mind and be willing to "put your money where your mouth is" when appropriate. I am grateful to have had positive experiences in both realms, and I am very pleased that the stigma of self-published books (low quality, unprofessional) has improved over time. Some highly successful authors are now choosing to self-publish despite lucrative contracts offered by publishers. The popularity of e-books is making a huge impact on the publishing industry and I would suggest exploring that avenue as you consider options for your work.
In the end, as in the beginning, anyone can get a book published. It's all about how you want to do it. And I hope you will. Good luck!
Hard at work on the next book.
Publishing #3
Self-publishing may be for you if:
You have a book that HAS to be published, no matter what.
You want total control of the final product.
Your book will have a clearly defined market that can easily be reached.
Self-publishing in not for you if:
You don't have the financial resources to pay for the project (i.e. illustrations, design/layout, editing, printing).
You are not detail-oriented (since you will be responsible for overseeing the project).
You do not want to take the time and energy to market your book.
Believe me, self-publishing is risky. You put up all the money to complete the book, then spend the next few years trying to make your money back, and maybe even a profit, by selling the books. If money is not an issue, you can just give the books away and all is well. Your ideas, stories, and/or information is out there. If, on the other hand, you need or want to make money on the book, you can do it if you work hard and have a bit of luck.You can also have someone else distribute your books (although that takes away a chunk of the money that would otherwise be going to you).
An example: A few years back, I wrote a children's book about the Lewis & Clark expedition. It was an interactive book in that kids completed drawings and colored in the book as well as wrote the answers to questions. Publishers did not show much interest due to the interactive nature of the book. I had a defined market (8 to 11 year olds) and the topic was timely since it was during the lead-up to the bicentennial. So, I self-published. I worked really hard, driving the Lewis & Clark Trail, stopping at bookstores and museums along the way. Those places ordered, two or three, maybe five at one time, but it was slow going. And then I got lucky. The state's National Guard decided to develop a Lewis & Clark program and present it to schools. They wanted to hand out my books to their student audiences. Bingo! They ordered 2,000 books, which required another print run which I was more than happy to do since the books were presold.
There are many other self-publishing stories, both inspiring and frightening. The key is to have an awareness of what you're getting into...before you get into it.
Next time...working with a publisher.