An email looking for my book

Today I got an email looking for my book. The only place he could have found it was on my website.

"Hi Carol,
I was a proud member of VMF-122 . . . I'd like to read your speech for the VMF-122 Officers Reunion in Pensacola but can't seem to locate it. I am also interested in reading your book, "When My Husband Went to War in 1962". I'll look on Amazon but if I can't locate it, I'm hoping you can steer me to a copy.
Your bio seems very interesting and I appreciate your love of writing.
Best wishes to you"

I have got to get that book published.

Carol

How exciting! That should have given you a real boost. It made my toes curl!

Carol,

I want it too. Tell your prospective publisher to get with it-- you have guaranteed sales, if they con't take it you will self'publish and make a killing.

My toes are curled as well. My husband is trying to figure out who this is as he did not recognize the name. The writer must have found the info on my website. One publisher turned me down because of concerns over marketability. Ha!!

Carol

We ought to email you publisher and tell them to get with it.

What a boost to the ego, Carol. That's great!

How wonderful, Carol. You should be walking on air. How do we light a fire under the publisher?

Carol,

YOU KNOW I WANT TO READ IT and WHY!!!!!

See Carol,
you've already created a demand. Make sure a prospective publisher knows that.

Sometimes the most exciting news is deliverd by a complete stranger. Congratulations, it sounds like your reader base is growing before the book is complete.

This man had googled on the squadron he and my husband had belonged to in the 1960s and found my book. The days in the military, even long ago, are important to people, and I'm hoping both the military, their spouses and children will find the book interesting and meaningful. I've been working on changes the most recent publisher suggested by leaving out facts that interfere with the story, but with reservations, as this man wanted info on the squadron and planes, but was also reminiscing about his life in the military, which included the story that is in the book.

In fact, of interest, was in a subsequent email, he mentioned "Sidewinders, Zuni Rockets and 20mm cannons, arming and de-arming aircraft throughout the Caribbean, Japan, Okinawa, The Philippines, and on several carriers like The Constellation and Ticonderoga." I had taken out the info about the Sidewinders, etc. and think that would be a mistake, so I'm putting it back in.

Carol

Carol,

Let's rename your book-- add to the name.

Call it The Perfected, Verifiable, Much Demanded Encyclopedia of How I went to War with the Cubans--that way you won't need to leave anything out.

Carol, how about:

On the brink of annihilation as witnessed and related by those who were there.

Carol,

Have we driven you to scream yet--has a thought of profanity entered your mind?

Please tell us who your prospective publisher is so that we may direct, coerce and threaten said publisher and give you a rest.

We will all take different aspects to investigate.
We will vet your publisher for you.

That's what friends are for!

Keep at it, Carol.

Carol, why not write it the way you want and go through Lulu. Keep record of your sales, and if it's good, then perhaps other publishers might be more interested.

Brenda,

I saw your publisher now is Vanilla Heart Publishing--are you happy with them?

I also see your book is their leading seller on Amazon.

I'm very happy with them, but not every publisher is right for every writer.

Are you planning to query?

I see they are in Everett, WA-not far from me--merrihat lives there too.



No, I stay far away from publishers and writing. Too much animosity for me.

Why would Carol want to go with Lu lu?
It sounds as though they keep track of zero sales and are an expensive nightmare.

Shelagh and Carol have turned me against them.

I did not have a good experience with Lulu. I don't think they still have put my book on amazon, etc. I wanted to make some changes in paper quality and drop the distribution package, but they said I couldn't do that. They were also expensive and I'd have to save my money to have them print my book.

The anthology as well as my fairy tale book are quite well done, however, in spite of other difficulties. I also think my fairy tale book is too expensive.

I gave many out for Christmas presents.

Carol

Carol Troestler wrote:

I did not have a good experience with Lulu. I don't think they still have put my book on amazon, etc. I wanted to make some changes in paper quality and drop the distribution package, but they said I couldn't do that. They were also expensive and I'd have to save my money to have them print my book.

The anthology as well as my fairy tale book are quite well done, however, in spite of other difficulties. I also think my fairy tale book is too expensive.

I gave many out for Christmas presents.

Carol

Carol,

I did not mind at all paying the price for your book. Your books are worth the cash outlay to me.
Shelagh's book was far too low-priced and I have no idea how they will ever sort out that fiasco.

Hi Alice,

There is some good news about the pricing on Amazon.com. Some sales figures have shown up on my Lulu account (I posted about it on DK's thread about The World Outside the Window). The royalties from the sales are small but they are based on the Lulu price of $17.22.

This is quite a relief and means that we might actually show a profit and will be able to decide how to use it. I didn't want to get drawn into arguments about how any profit would be spent until the book had generated a profit -- no matter how small.

Most of the production costs have been paid (we can't afford to pay anything for editorial work) and there should be some money that can be used in a way yet to be decided.

I was concerned and felt the project might be a failure but things are looking much brighter now and the project has already proved to be a success.

As I said on DK's thread, well done everyone! You have made a difference and made this whole project worthwhile!

Carol, I just read this thread, I'm very happy for you. It is nice knowing people are looking for your books. Keep up the good work.

Vickie

Shelagh,

Thanks--that is good news and a relief!