I just got my semi-annual royalty check from Paladin Press this morning. It was … not good.
To say that sales of the newest book are abysmal would be charitable. I feel horrible because the book was done at (Paladin boss) Peder Lund’s special request and I hate the thought of letting him or anybody at Paladin down. Maybe it’s that the book is political and Paladin is fundamentally an action-oriented publisher. Maybe it’s timing. But then, too, the book hasn’t gotten much, if any, promotion aside from a few radio appearances and some kind comments on Amazon.com. So perhaps there’s new opportunity to give it a boost as the 2012 political season rushes (OMG) upon us.
Do you like what I write? I guess you do or you wouldn’t be here. If so, I’m asking you to do two of these three things. Okay, any one will be helpful, but two is better:
Buy a copy of The Bad Attitude Guide to Good Citizenship if you haven’t already. Or, if you have a copy and like it, buy one for somebody else.
Suggest a writer or media person with a good following who might like to review it. Use the comments section. Paladin will send a review copy to bloggers, magazine writers, whoever. Also, other marketing or PR ideas much appreciated. Comment away. Provide contact information if you can.
Donate. Keep me going and keep the dogs in kibble. You great people who gave last month when I briefly had a book offer online are very specifically and gratefully exempted from this. You’ve been more than generous — as have many others in the past. I know times are tough for just about everybody. But if my writing brings value to your life and you can send even a little monetary courage my way right now, that would be wonderful.
Here’s a PayPal donation button, just below this paragraph. I tried to include a GPal.net button for those who object to PayPal, but it appears that GPal is currently in depressing condition — using an expired security certificate and not accepting credit card payments. So it’s either PayPal or contact me (special e-ddress for this: cheermeup @ hermit dot cotse dot net) for a snailing address.
Seems like pretty much all books mentioned in the LRC blog become a huge success. It might be a good idea to reach out to someone there. Just my 2 cents
Excellent idea, Art. Thank you. I know every time LRC links to something here, hits go sky high. Getting a review copy to an LRC poster might do wonders if they’d give it a mention.
Daily Paul would be a good reading audience.
http://www.dailypaul.com/
Daily Paul is an interesting thought, Water Lily. I haven’t visited there in a long time. I’ll take a look around and see who’d be a good contact person.
Might want to correct your email address as you said “hermit-dot-cotse-dot-net” and I’m thinking you meant hermit@cotse-dot-net
Northidaho, thank you for your concern. Actually, both my version and yours will work. The cotse-dot-net service lets me do some amazing things with email addresses — and the one I gave (cheermeup at hermit-dot-cotse-dot-net) is a one-time address that I can use for a special purpose then delete. In general, I’d rather people didn’t use your variant. It will reach me, but it’s not the best.
I just gave what I can now. I’m sorry I’m not able to purchase more of your books. The people in my life and I have very different “perspectives”. In other words, they think I’m nuts!
Trust me, if you knew my history and my family, you would probably die of shock that I’m even reading your works.
I’ll see what I can do next month. I’ve got too many pots on the burners right now.
“Bad Attitude” is a damn fine book. If you buy it, you will enjoy it more than you expect. There are too few feisty, principled books out there.
Posted on RRND . Posted on Facebook. Bought a copy.
Jim B. and Jim Bovard and Mary Lou … I don’t know how to thank you. Or to thank the several other people who’ve responded via email or PayPal.
I always feel ridiculous asking for money. But I feel even more ridiculous promoting my wares, which is part of the reason I’m in this position. (Had I had any clue sales were this awful I’d have started looking for promotional opportunities months ago. In the future, I’ll be much more in touch with Paladin’s PR guy to see what’s going on.)
Jim B. — that was generous. Tell the people in your life I said you’re not nuts. 🙂
Jim Bovard — I suspect most of the copies sold have already gone to blog readers. But any good word from you is good word indeed.
Mary Lou — That was awfully nice of you — especially to buy a book when Paladin would most likely have sent you a review copy. Well, especially to have spread the word, too. Guess I may have to become less skeptical about Facebook …
I don’t have any suggestions for pr places, but I can help otherwise….I hope you keep that email addy for a couple of days, cuz I will be emailing 🙂
Here’s a little something to perk you up.
—————————————-
Recently finished the kids book “The Girl who owned a City”.
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Owned-Young-Adult-Fiction/dp/0822596709/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308646906&sr=8-1
I know this is a kid’s book, but I was curious about how the topics of freedom, personal property rights, and earning your way would be “translated” so kids would understand them. I think the book does the job very well.
If you have kids or are an Uncle or Aunts of kids, then get them this book. Since most book are written for the targeted age of the protagonist in books, this book must be targeted for the pre-teens.
Now the thing is, I think that not only should kids read this, it could be a good primer for some adults as well.
Recommendation: Get this book. Have it in your library ready for kids and adults to read.
Claire, maybe you could get BHM to stock for their book offerings, I think it would be right up their alley. And it’ll spread the word about this book, like everyone should do with yours. : )
I’m sorry, Claire! I loved the book, but never got around to writing a review for my site. Not that I have that much traffic there, but I’ll certainly put that at the top of the page for the next issue.
Hang in there, lady. We love you.
I just printed out the order form from Paladin Press, and I’ll order a couple this weekend(one for me, one as a gift),and a genuine cheer me up item if you want one(would you like a nightlight that’s good for a couple centuries-ish? I build lamps as one of my too-many hobbies. Some are illustrated,some use temporary tattoos made permanent. The fun is in the building not in the having). I probably could donate a little..depends. Insurance time approaches..
Ordered myself a copy (How did I miss this?) and tossed it up on my Facebook feed for those who know my real name to see. I’ll do a plug on my blog (for my oh-so-huge readership to see) in a bit.
Hi, Claire … I recently started working here at Paladin as the new graphic designer in April. As I slowly try to take in all the titles we have here, your books of “The Bad Attitude Guide to Good Citizenship” and “The Freedom Outlaw’s Handbook” were two that quickly made it to my short list of new reading material. I’m also getting married soon and both of these titles will be purchased as part of my groomsman gift packages. Thank you for your time and effort!
Oh you guys — AND you guys who’ve emailed — the world would be flat without you.
I’ll try to think of some better way to put it later. Right now, just … thank you.
Sort of related-how do you decide who you help out? Me?,well, mostly it’s are they trying to help themselves? A friend of mine here locally was going through some rough times a while back(no fault of his own-he had more trouble in two years than most have in two decades),and I bought him a new computer-a storm got the old one. Odd bits here and there over the years. Another friend is unemployed in California(a baaad place to be without work)-I send him gas money every now and again. I can’t say I’ve ever given a huge amount of money(the most? $400, for a friend’s security deposit-she had to move-right after being laid off,and she had a lot of medical expenses). I don’t mind helping someone who I feel is trying to help themselves. I’ve never met Claire. Or seen a photo. Or talked to her on the phone. I don’t know where she lives. All I know about her is from this blog,and what I can gather from the books of hers I have.(Hardyville Tales,and Outlaw’s Handbook). Claire, to me, you are trying..so I don’t mind a bit.
I refuse to help those who continually create their own messes,and insist someone else clean them up(lotta family grief over this-too many of my family drink their way into oblivion,and want someone else to clean up the mess,and subsidize their habits). I’ll put the soapbox away now..
Scott, damn good criteria, if I do say so myself. 🙂
I think you’ve defined the difference between helping and enabling.
I’m grateful you think I’m trying. When it comes to promoting my own books, some would say I don’t try enough, though this week I’ve seen my only unmitigated failure. Yesterday … huge reality check. Today, huge boost.
Not sure if my email made it thru, but it’s sent 🙂
naturegirl, your email was waiting for me tonight after company left. I’m too tired right now to do anymore than say I’m honored by your confidence and kindness and will read more and respond tomorrow.
You have an email!
Have you considered ebooks? Since I bought my Kindle almost everything I buy now is in ebook form. These days I have a hard time paying more than $9.99 for a well recommended book. But at $2.99 I’ll snap up anything that looks interesting. As I’m sure you know the publishing industry is experiencing a major shift and people just don’t want to pay $20 for a book anymore.
Check out J.A. Konrath’s blog for more info on independent publishing – http://www.jakonrath.com/
LibertyNews — I’ve considered ebooks many, many, many times. Problem is, my publishers don’t consider them. Or more accurately, they consider them a problem.
If I ever self-publish a book, it will be available, I promise you, in every format you could ever desire, from print-on-demand dead tree to whatever the latest edevices demand. I’ve also just sent a request to Paladin to consider that. They’ve gotten as far as plans to put out-of-print titles into e-versions, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for ebook editions of recent titles. I hope they change their minds, but it’s not in my control.
And thanks for the link to Konrath. Somebody else emailed me about him (and a couple of other book marketing sites) this week. Got ’em bookmarked.
Thanks a billion (inflation, you know) for the link to Konrath. I downloaded the pdf of the publishing book http://www.bfnsoftware.com/cgi-bin/home/Members/DLTrack/DLTrack.cgi?User=14915&ID=5399&Code=RYlrfM — and I can’t seem to quit!
Since I just finished my first full novel (at least I thought I had), now is the ideal time to read this and benefit from the incredible wealth of advice here.
Seems I’ve already managed to achieve the primary goal of entertaining my readers, as all of my “beta” advisors say they love it. But I’m bound and determined to make it as good as I possibly can.
So, back to the keyboard!
Cool….take your time with the other part, at least you got the important point 😉
You should have my reply by now, naturegirl. I sent it this morning. If you didn’t get it, maybe check your spam filter? Not that I’d send you spam, you know …