Greatest and Worst Moments as an Author

Ok people! This thread is for ALL the Authors Here…..Care to share???

What are your greatest and worst moments as authors?

Me, greatest was simply publishing my book. Woohoo!

Worst…after publishing the book, ordering 30 printed copies and realizing the page numbers were screwed up!!!! Unfreakenbelieveable! Of course I edited and made a revision and reprinted all over again!

Well? How about it? You all say you want threads of interest and something different..so here it is! More to come!

Lee

Dear Lee,

I have always felt like an accidental author. Mostly, I just blurt and blab out stories.

Just to have my book in print that I did not have to pay someone to do, was one great moment.

I was welcomed to this message board and others. Not that I deserved the title of author, but just because my book was in print and on Amazon and B&N and other places and the people who read my posts liked me.

For people, authors, who are the bonified thing, writers ... to talk to me made me feel so nice. It was no shabby feeling to be included in the conversations.

Love,

Betty

I don't know that I have a best and worst moment. but I do I have some fond memories. One is the first time I saw my book in a store, 21 years ago. There were three copies, all face-out on the shelf. My husband took a picture of me and my then-9 month old in front of it. I still like looking at that pic.

Betty,

I know that's right! Hey, some of the best moments happened by accident! Haven't written a novel or a love story but still earned the title of "author"...and so have you! My book is also on amazon....so for now we will accept the title and keep up the good work.

Lee

LC,

Wow....wanna be like you when I grow up! Beautiful....planning to have a book signing in May 2012 and will definitely take pictures of that moment!

Lee

Dear LC,

If I never told you before, I think that you are a lovely person. I think your brain is lovely, too.

Love,

Betty

Aw, thanks, Lee and Betty. Back 'atcha.

I think the best moment for me was just holding the thing in my hand.

We may not be doing that as much in the future, but I had a similar experience more recently when I downloaded my Kindle stories to my iphone.

The feeling was a little different, but in its own way, as exciting. Think of that process: You write it, edit, proof, do all that stuff, find a cover, tweak it, get it just right, then upload it into a computer program. You get a few emails over the next day or so, and then it's ready, "Available" in the Kindle or Nook store, so just click on a little box with your mouse, and voila - it's loading into your reading device, instantaneously - right in front of your eyes.

That's fun, too.

Worst moment? Not that many, but reading several very lovely and complimentary rejection letters which ended by saying that although they liked the book a lot, and I should definitely keep trying, it just didn't fit their list.

Ann

And, LC, I concur with what Lee and Betty said.

Ann

For me it was going to see patients head off for brain surgery. They had read my book and were sold on the surgery.

Also, providing support for Lane.

The worst moments were being on authors forums and I know how to rectify that.

A thrill I had occurred just a year ago when my grandson was reported to be walking through the house carrying my book and muttering, "Opa is famous."

I think the title of "Author" is something to be proud of. We are the author of everything we write, however a book is something special.
As someone once said, "What we say disappears. What we write, stays."

Our published work is special. It is therefore important to give special care to what we say and how we say it. A permanent record of poor grammar is not something to be proud of and editing cannot be a shortcut. Editing is one reason that I want my first book re-published. It was not publisher-edited and contains mis-spelled words.
One of my worst moments were the glaring errors.

Worst moment: Learning that my editor, who had nurtured me through many projects, and is my daughter's age, had breast cancer.

Best moment: Learning that she had successfully beaten the cancer. So far. Fingers crossed.

Good to hear that, Al. Just been through that with my wife and can understand the concerns.

Two of the highs:

Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine was serialised on Preston FM community radio: forty-eight daily episodes and weekly, Sunday omnibus editions during May-July, 2009.

My short story collection, Four Short Stories, was #1 for ten days in free downloads for Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Short Stories


Two of the lows:

The arguments that occured when I put together the anthology, Forever Friends, and the silly dispute that stopped the Forever Christmas anthology going ahead. (members who know about all the arguments, please do not offer explanations about how it all happened. It happened. Full stop. I just wish it hadn't).

Ann, I too remember that feeling when I held my book in my hand for the first time....I still get a good feeling about that! Thanks.

Abe, how right you are on all accounts! We are all authors of our life story. I am proud to be an author! Thanks for the confirmation!

Al, thanks for sharing a true testimony with us! Surely something to write about...

Shelagh, great moments for you nonetheless...as everything is a learning experience. Thanks.

Lee

Best: first copy of published books in my hands; mother helping me sell my books at book signings; great press; display on "Florida Reading" table at Barnes & Noble; successful book signings; working with L & L Dreamspell staff to publish Ghost Orchid

Worst: realizing that Publish America publishing Arirang did not mean that it had quality or reader appeal - that I was just another chance for them to sell books to the authors; friends telling me they would buy my books when I was famous or to please not mention I was an author at a social gathering

The best of all is knowing that a significant number of people have read and enjoyed the books I have published and to which I have contributed short stories. I have learned a lot, met grand people, and given myself a purpose that has no end.

DKChristi,

Nice! Hoping to host a book-signing in May 2012....nervous and excited at the same time. Any suggestions from you and those before me is appreciated!

How sad that mentioning we are authors could be unwelcomed! Well, guess what? I am a proud Professor and Author! i wear both titles well everywhere I go!

Thanks! Lee

10/4/2011


Proud of all four of my books, we all will live
on for eternity.....

Cheers...Joe

My most important tips for a booksigning:

Take lots of books so it looks like you expect to sell them.

Give away something useful to everyone - book marks, tokens, whatever

Have a display that draws people to your table. My favorite was an author that had a gigantic book cover on a pull up display (from the ground to higher than a person) like an upside down movie screen. It was a knight era book and she had sabers and things on the table and gave away cardboard swords that the kids loved.

Have individually packaged mints or chocolates.

Have a partner to help if you are also selling the books so you can keep signing.

Regard the event like a party - and prepare accordingly.

Most importantly - have fun

Be sure and provide a gift to the host unless it's a book store - and then a great hand-written thank you.

DKChristi,

THANKS!!! Okay then I am on the right track! Got a nice banner, got magnets, pens and will have 3 door prizes to give away! Setting is a nice restaurant that I will rent for 3 hours that will serve chicken fingers, fruit, veggies and dipping sauces, veggie egg rolls, pizza (2 different kinds) and non-alcoholic beverages. Full open bar available with happy hour prices. Jazz playing in the background.

Will have a program that includes testimonies from those who have already purchased and read the book! Some already posted reviews to the publishing site. Since I am a nut by nature...plan to have lots of fun!

Thanks again....Lee

South Carolina is too far - I want to go! You need to sell more than lots of books to pay your restaurant but what a great launch! Hope you had lots of pre press so enough people show to sell enough books to pay your expenses plus.

If I was within driving distance I'd go......have fun!

Best: Holding my first book in my hand (about a month ago)

Worst: My publisher defines "light edit" to me (about a week ago)

Mel,

Now I am curious --what will that entail?

For the public forum, let's just say: if I didn't catch it, it wasn't corrected. My major is engineering not english.

I guess I figured as an author, it was my job to write the story and that is why the publisher and editor makes the big bucks while I get 10%... my mistake.

I am still thrilled to see my book in print and I just hope readers will enjoy the story either way. So far, so good.

Thanks DKChristi!!! Will keep you updated!

Lee