As an independent publisher we must publish, period, full
stop. If not, you are just a writer with another job. The past year has been
just that, a lot of writing, maybe 400,000 words, three books, two major
rewrites, over a hundred blogs – and not one book published. And I feel pretty
good about it.
The indie publishing world is like the universe, expanding
in every direction without any control or governor (ancient term for a mechanical
regulator). It's a country without boundaries, rules, managers, and police.
It's the classic example of a business model under the absolute and total
control of the marketplace. Sure there are those who bitch about Amazon's rules
and/or it's processes or Mark Coker's Smashwords, or those few others who try
to be some type of a gatekeeper, but the reality is more complicated and
bizarre. There is no one throwing life preservers to those who have jumped ship
and are waving for help. It is every man and or woman for him or her selves.
But sometime its necessary to pull back and reassess the
process and what are the expected results. And that's what the next year will
be all about, better management of the product and its exposure. There are some
very bright people out there writing some very good things about how to get it
done, I'll try to put some of them before you in this blog over the next year –
we can attack this problem together.
My goal is simple; sell 10,000 books from the list of nine
titles I will have listed by March 31st. (six available now – 3
under final editing and development). Pretty heavy goal but that's why there's
a fence in a ballpark, something to swing for.
Reading List:
The past year hasn't been just writing, there has been a
serious amount of reading as well. In no particular order here's a partial
list:
Daniel Silva, The
English Girl – great read and story, one of Silva's better works.
Sheldon Siegel, The
Terrorist Next Door – fast paced contemporary cop story in Chicago, I
recommend Sheldon's books every chance I get
J.K. Rowling (Robert
Gailbraith), The Cuckoo's Calling – loved it, but much too long and with
much Elmore Leonard would have suggested leaving out, since no one wanted to
read those parts anyway.
Dan Brown , Inferno
– Brown needs to punch his way out of the box he's built for himself, all and
all a less than satisfying read and story. He could take lessons from Ms.
Rowling on shifting career paths.
Amanda Coplin, The
Orchardist – highly recommend this writer's wonderful story of Washington State
in the late 1800s, in the Willa Cather vein.
Brad Thor, Full Black
and Hidden Order – as always Thor tells a great story with his usual cast
of tough guys and girls – all battling the evil empires of government (ours and
theirs).
James Mallahan Cain,
The Postman Always Rings Twice – a classic from 1934, as scary today as
when it was banned in Boston.
George V. Higgins,
The Friends of Eddie Coyle – another classic from 1970 – no one can write
dialog like Higgins – no one.
Stephen Coonts,
Pirate Alley – Always have loved Stephen's books, good to great characters
and stories.
Leon Uris, Battle Cry
– this is the first novel I read when I was in grade school, just had to reread
– Mr. Uris was an exceptional storyteller, he also wrote Exodus.
Vince Flynn, The Last
Man – we lost a great writer this year, The
Last Man is just a great read, Rapp will be missed.
Dashiell Hammett, The
Thin Man, The Maltese Falcon, The Glass Key – It's good to reimmerse
yourself in the classics, language, style, pacing. Hammett was very, very good.
Jacqueline Winspear,
Leaving Everything Most Loved – as always Ms. Winspear tells a tale of
people, events, and the inter-war period of England. You can taste the tea.
John Hersey's, A Bell
for Adano – one of the finest books on World War II and its after affects
on a small Sicilian village. Great writing and characters.
And a good bit of non-fiction for research for the books I'm
writing.
Have a great New Years and I look forward to hearing from
you.
More later . . . . . . .
