I’m a little late getting the blog up this morning because I’ve been on the air. Yes, I recorded a podcast for Philip Harris over at the author promotion site, Author’s On the Net http://www.authorsonthenet.com
I’ll let you know when it goes live. How does this work? I just chatted with Philip and answered some questions by phone—in my robe and slippers.
Being interviewed is quite an interesting process. My goal, in doing these things, is to teach and inform the listener, but I always end up learning something along the way. Some of what I learn comes from what I say or what thoughts occur to me during the process of speaking. I think this is something we all experience. That’s why talking your concerns, worries, fears out with someone else or writing them down can be so valuable. When you hear those words or see them in black and white (or purple and yellow, if you choose), you are more apt to own them and you can see the situation in a slightly different light.
So what did I learn from my interview today? I learned that Puss and Boots (Sophie and Max) will actually respect a closed door, although they are no longer speaking to me since I locked them out of my office. I think they have a little nose-bent-out-of-shape-itis. I learned that people who drive loud trucks know when a neighbor (me) is on a business call. I discovered that the finches at the feeder outside my office window do the cutest things when I’m trying to concentrate.
But I also learned that I have truly gathered a treasure-trove of information and perspective that can greatly help hopeful and struggling authors over these 35 years. Yes, there, I said it—I have been writing for publication, not for “over 30 years,†but for exactly 35 years. You read articles and books on writing and publishing by authors who claim they’ve been writing for 10 years or 4 years. You visit websites where the hosts say they’ve been involved in publishing for 6 years or even 15 years. I guess this makes me a relic. But I can tell you, I am a working relic in this world and I have been writing/publishing consecutively for a whopping 35 years—since I was a uh-hem…a teenager… Yeah, right!
Sometimes it amazes me to realize how much I have experienced within the writing/publishing realm over the years. One question Philip asked me was, “How do you find the time to write so many books?†I responded, “It’s what I do.†My life is and always has been about writing and publishing. It’s how I earn my living. It’s my passion. And an aspect of that passion is to help others enter into and manage the world of publishing and to succeed unscathed.
How do I help others? Through my books, articles, online courses and lectures. If you know someone who is thinking about entering into the world of publishing—they writing a book or talking about writing a book—tell them about my book. I wrote it specifically for them: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Do you know someone with a book that isn’t selling very well. Point them in my direction. Tell them about this blog. And certainly suggest that they order my newest ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit. http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html
I thank you and he or she will thank you.
In the meantime, here’s a blog you might find interesting. J.T. Ellison wrote this eye-opening (for some) blog entry this morning called, How to Avoid Scams. It’s directed to the author. http://murderati.typepad.com April 25, 2008 entry.
I will not post a blog for the next two days as I’ll be in Los Angeles. Yup, this is the weekend we’ve all been waiting for: The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. I’ll be in SPAWN booth both Saturday and Sunday talking to authors and hopeful authors. If you’re in the neighborhood of UCLA, stop by our booth: #142.