Having made it halfway through the marathon nightmare that is the Dunwich Autumnal Zombie-fest I’m beginning to believe I may survive this horror again. And today was a respite. I was off-duty and lounging around complaining about my fate. But at 2pm I had a teleconference with the marketing professional that provided me with a proposal for launching my book, “The Sniper.”
I had gone through the proposal earlier and put together questions about schedule and ancillary activities (e.g., getting a book cover, coming up with my pen name) and I selected the services that I wanted to include in the contract and also, I wanted to specify the date when most of the activities would start. The meeting went very smoothly and all of my questions were answered and all of my provisos were accepted.
And so now it’s a go.
Sometime before the end of the year there will be a release date and word will go out to all of the non-left-wing science fiction readers that a new classic story has appeared on the literary horizon and everyone who is anyone will be demanding the fastest delivery possible to start reading this splendiferous story as soon as humanly possible. And the critics will fall over each other praising its qualities to the skies. And all the Big Five publishers will be fist-fighting each other at my front door trying to buy the rights to my next novel in the series with ingots of rhodium stacked up in a wheelbarrow behind them. And Joe Rogan will beg me to come on his show and talk about the inspiration I had for the story and about putting him in my next book as a minor character. And then Donald Trump will mention me in his press conference as an example of someone whose mere existence is making America great again.
And of course, I will be incredibly humble and dignified during all this hoopla. After all dignified humility is something, I’m well known for. And I’ve got the whole thing completely covered because my dignity is humble and my humility is quite dignified. So, there’s that.
When I told Camera Girl the cost, I wasn’t sure at first whether she was going to hit me. But she just shook her head and walked away. I told her that a good wife encourages her husband and supports his decisions. She nodded and said, “Sure, support. There you go.” I thought it was weak but as I said she didn’t take a swing at me so a win’s a win.
And honestly, I’m pretty excited about the whole thing. I’m completely aware that the odds are way, way stacked against me. 99.9999% of books don’t sell more than a few copies. It’s one in a million that hits a home run. But I’ve always, since I was a kid, wanted to write a science fiction story. And now, for better or worse, I have and for once in my life I’m gonna do something crazy. I want to do what I can to make sure that as many people as possible read it. I’m putting all the chips on double-zero and spinning the wheel. And round and round it goes.
I will gladly purchase the first Kindle copy! (I have been warned by several authorities, including Spousal Unit, that my library is approaching geological, volumetric, and gravitational critical mass. As a result, I have had to change my literary purchases to electronic or audio versions. I must admit that having my library on a 6×10-inch tablet is convenient, I just miss the thrill of riffling pages and the smell of wood pulp paper.) However, if these are not available, I will gladly shoe-horn a copy between my Known Space collection and well-worn copies of Rim Worlds stories.
Ed, I very much appreciate the support. I think the way the Amazon thing works hardback, paperback and electronic versions are available without too much effort from me. Right now I’m trying to decide what to put on the cover. Rather unimaginatively, I’m thinking of a sniper set up on a rooftop with an Antifa street riot going on below.
How about a simple graphic of just the rifle, black, with scope and sling, barrel upwards, against an abstract background of shattered masonry and broken timbers.
Interesting.
Why do you need a pen name?
I hope that, at some time in the future, you will share the cost of marketing and the ROI for those of us considering this path.
Best of luck and let us know when we can buy it.
(And what autographed copies will cost.)
For the pen name, two reasons. I live in the heart of Blue America and if someone decided to make my life miserable this book could be the excuse. Also a really cool nom de plume might augment the brand of my writing.
Yes, Chemist, I will share the details of this experiment with those who are interested. And chances are the ROI may be very, very poor. But, “dare greatly” they say.
Thanks for the update. Sounds very exciting and adventuresome. Do you have any guesstimate about the cost of a signed hardback?
Neil, I’ll have to figure out how to do that. But for the regulars on this site it will be nominally the same as the cost of the hardcover itself. I can’t take advantage of old friends. As soon as I talk to my “marketer” again in about ten days I’ll have more information on how all this will happen. But thank you for your interest in my humble literary efforts. It’s much appreciated.