Hi Roger,
Having
initiated this with my original letter to you, I must take this opportunity to
bring my intention to the discussion once again. The exasperation I have felt just trying to get the book
read by unbiased reviewers was the springboard. Over the four months since releasing the book (old news
already, eh?) I have been entering competitions (I'm out of luck with your
"golden ticket" timeline, and was 2 weeks too late for entering
this/next year's HB awards), not qualifying for reviews within exclusionary
submission guidelines; writing letters to the likes of you, urging readers to
review on amazon, blogging and
tweeting and twiddling and facebooking, and spending so much of my creative
energy on these things, I'm jaded and weary—but I still believe in my book.
That
said, I can see how those in the industry see a single-handed
writer/illustrator/publisher/publicist as way too close to the work to be
objective, but we are not all like that.
As you said, self-publishing authors are now employing editors and
collaborating with others to get those much-needed objective eyes to move the
work into the best form possible.
I am lucky to have such sharp-eyed friends and the willingness to
utilize criticism.
Based on
the input of readers, I believe in my work now more than ever. I’ve sold a few
hundred, and have had nothing but positive feedback. It is being considered for
a few One Book One School programs, a professor of science education has made
it required reading for his science ed majors, and no matter how long it takes,
it will find its way into schools, because yes, it’s that important, timeless,
and good. But I am only one
person, now engaging as many people as possible to read Nelson Telson – The
Story of a True Blue Blood.
During our
initial exchanges, since your parameters excluded my book from any possibility
of review, I offered to send you a copy, no strings, just for your
enjoyment. You ask, "How can
we make them part of the family?”
My offer still stands.
Sheesh, I feel like such a kid.
