It seems odd that fifteen years to the day of "the accident" I was mailing the RoadKill Manuscript to be published. Its path to production began December 08, when Beth lost her job to a layoff. We decided to start a business, but we needed a product. My manuscript had been collecting dust for a year, and we decided that maybe it was time to work on getting it published. Six months later production was complete. The project seemed to be propelling itself.
I self published through a company I'd rather not plug, but the book is available and in circulation, so they were a means to my end. If Beth had not lost her job and if we hadn't needed a "product line" for our fallback business, RoadKill would still be collecting dust.
I look back on what was learned from the process from start to finish and realize it was better to fall back on what was already started rather than to relentlessly pursue something new destined to be, or not to be the next great achievement for my portfolio. Of course, I now realize it will never be "finished." I'm finding it's as much of a full time job as I want to make it, publicizing, marketing, putting it out there. It's my understanding that publishing companies often pull from self published titles when they have generated enough interest in the market. That's my only plan for the book at the moment, eliminate the risk for potential investors. Until I do that I'm just hoping I can recover my own investment.
I attended my first book signing today at
ToadStool Bookstore in Milford NH. I told myself that if I signed just one book it would be worth the effort. I sat there at a table in a seemingly huge chair looking out at 10 empty chairs. I doodled and free wrote on a scrap piece of paper. A man with two little girls in tow approached me, and we spoke about the book for a moment, and I autographed a copy for him, and Suddenly the entire day was a success! I moved one book which was all I wanted to accomplish, success! I figure that even if I sell only one, I never know who that person might be and where my book will travel!
So now I begin to ponder the places my books will travel and to where they may scatter, but I will save that rant for another day.
Thank you again Tammy (ToadStool Bookstore's event coordinator) for a memorable day!
through the open yard
Once upon a time I lived and worked in Brockton, MA, but it has been five years since my last visit. I was there when my daughter was issued her drivers license at the same place I got mine. Before that I hadn't spent any significant time in the city for another five years, when I spent several months in moving transition staying at my brother's place on Hovendon Ave. I owned a house on marion St. back in the late 80's/early 90's. So here I am years later on August 1st Standing inside a stadium I was unaware existed.
professionally, the crowd maintained a friendly atmosphere, and I was glad to see the fighting tradition was alive and well in Brockton MA. There was a strong sense of camaraderie in the air, and after having no idea what to expect of the night, it was an honor to be invited to this event for an up close look inside the ring! Thank You Mark Chauppetta of On the Mark for an inspiring night!
To see the entire photo gallery from this event click on the slide show (upper right)
