This is a lazy post--this was actually an email reply to someone who suggested I should send my book to Ellen Degeneres. While I would greatly enjoy meeting Ellen in person because unlike Oprah she seems to have maintained her "realness," I don't think appearing on a television show would work for me. I'd have to wear some lame disguise because I don't want people to know what I look like. Paranoia aside, here is material that is a bit more logical and does in fact apply to promotion.
Hello,
I'll have the book on its way tomorrow. You're so right about being patient--heh, me patient! I was even born early because I couldn't wait! And in the middle of a blizzard, yet. Nothing like starting a stormy life in the middle of a blizzard.
I don't think that any of the major talk shows would even take notice of something that anyone who wasn't an agent sent them. I suppose I need to think about trying to get an agent. I've been reluctant because the instant you have agents involved, you lose a huge portion of your autonomy. I have an editor (actually my ex husband--we're amicably divorced) who, while helping me make the book more readable, did not try to curtail what I wanted to say because he knew it was important to me. I also discovered that there are actually at least two authors to every book--the writer(s) and the editor. But a good editor will never try to make you sacrifice your message. Sometimes agents and publishers sacrifice the message to create a commercially appealing product.
I've been looking to advertise in horror and heavy metal publications and should start looking into new age publications too. The amount of time one has to spend on promotion is light years beyond what I ever imagined! I now feel the need to get the message out to warn future writers--you must also become a promoter.
I suppose it's like anything else. The great Henry Rollins (Black Flag and the Rollins Band) has his own small publishing company as well as touring with his band and doing spoken word shows, and he acts on the side for fun. He said of acting that he'd have his ego deflated a lot if he was trying to do it as a profession because there is a huge potential for rejection--in fact you get rejected most of the time. I guess its the same thing with writing.
I should approach book stores in person, but the fact is that I'm so shy that I'm almost crippled by it when it comes to talking to people on that level. Pathetic, I know. If I could afford counseling I would get it.
Anyway, the book will be on its way tomorrow and I hope you enjoy it.
Lily
Hello,
I'll have the book on its way tomorrow. You're so right about being patient--heh, me patient! I was even born early because I couldn't wait! And in the middle of a blizzard, yet. Nothing like starting a stormy life in the middle of a blizzard.
I don't think that any of the major talk shows would even take notice of something that anyone who wasn't an agent sent them. I suppose I need to think about trying to get an agent. I've been reluctant because the instant you have agents involved, you lose a huge portion of your autonomy. I have an editor (actually my ex husband--we're amicably divorced) who, while helping me make the book more readable, did not try to curtail what I wanted to say because he knew it was important to me. I also discovered that there are actually at least two authors to every book--the writer(s) and the editor. But a good editor will never try to make you sacrifice your message. Sometimes agents and publishers sacrifice the message to create a commercially appealing product.
I've been looking to advertise in horror and heavy metal publications and should start looking into new age publications too. The amount of time one has to spend on promotion is light years beyond what I ever imagined! I now feel the need to get the message out to warn future writers--you must also become a promoter.
I suppose it's like anything else. The great Henry Rollins (Black Flag and the Rollins Band) has his own small publishing company as well as touring with his band and doing spoken word shows, and he acts on the side for fun. He said of acting that he'd have his ego deflated a lot if he was trying to do it as a profession because there is a huge potential for rejection--in fact you get rejected most of the time. I guess its the same thing with writing.
I should approach book stores in person, but the fact is that I'm so shy that I'm almost crippled by it when it comes to talking to people on that level. Pathetic, I know. If I could afford counseling I would get it.
Anyway, the book will be on its way tomorrow and I hope you enjoy it.
Lily
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