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Discord In Harmony
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A tale of love, duplicity, duty, deceit, and yes, discord and harmony
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Some Authors who have self-published:
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Mark Twain, "Huckleberry Finn"
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John Grisham, "A Time to Kill"
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Irma Rombauer, "The Joy of Cooking"
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James Redfield, "The Celestine Prophecy"
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Edgar Allen Poe
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T.S. Eliot
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Henry David Thoreau
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Ernest Hemingway
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Carl Sandberg
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Not all famous authors got their start by being published by the traditional publishing houses. Some got tired of rejections and took their careers into their own hands by self-publishing. So don't think because a book is self-published it must not be a good book as the above list will testify. The publishing industry is a hard nut to crack without connections or if you're not already famous or a celebrity. But every author, regardless of how they publish their work, needs the support of their readers because in the long run it is the readers who will decide whether a book has the lasting quality of a classic, not the publishing houses. So with that thought in mind, here are ten ways that you, the reader, can help the struggling author:
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Books make great gifts. Buy another copy as a gift and help spread the word about it by sharing it with new readers.
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Drop a line or email to your local newspaper. Tell them and their readers that you've discovered a great new writer that they don't dare to miss.
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Go to Amazon.com and give a review of "Discord In Harmony." And, yes, be honest. If there's something you don't like about it, feel free to say so. I think I'm a good writer but I'm smart enough to know I'm not perfect and can't please everyone all of the time.
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Does your club or organization look for speakers? I'll be very happy to do a reading, signing or just speak at your organization if you're in the Los Angeles area.
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Buy an additional "Discord In Harmony" and donate it to your public library. You'll be providing the library with a great book and introducing new readers to a great new author. I'm not sure, but donations of new books to the library might even be tax deductible.
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While you're online, go to your address book and tell everyone you know that they've just got to read this great new book by a fantastic new author! Tell them to go to www.xlibris.com, Amazon.com or any of the other book sites to order "Discord In Harmony."
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If you live in the Los Angeles area, host your very own Book Reading/Signing Party. Invite 10 or more of your good friends for an evening of fun. I'll bring the books. You provide the wine and cheese or whatever you'd like. Oh heck, I'll even bring a bottle of wine. Then you pick the section you'd like me to read. Afterwards, I'll be happy to answer questions about the book and the research I've done or even about writing in general. And, of course, I'll sign books.
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My daughter tells me everyone has to write Oprah about how good "Discord In Harmony" is and how hard it is for good writers without celebrity status or connections to get noticed by the big publishing houses. Well, why not? If anyone can give a book bestseller status, it's Oprah. And I'm not the least bit snooty - I'd be thrilled if Oprah liked my book!
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Are you a blogger? Heck, I didn't even know what that was until recently. But if you have your own web log or visit other web logs, add your thoughts about the great new writer you've discovered. And let people know how they can get their hands on a terrific new book.
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And if you have connections to the entertainment world, please pass the word about this great new author and book you've discovered. More than one reader has told me that "Discord In Harmony" would make a fantastic movie (and I heartily agree!)
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Signing books at the "Sisters In Crime/LA" Booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2005.
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