Slightly Off the Mark

You can read a slightly different version of this blog on the newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/0baf142adc82/our-new-book-is-out?e=2b1e842057

 Or, you may gotten the newsletter three days ago, in which case ... never mind. But don't forget our author appearance this coming Saturday at the Art and Author Fair, which you can read all about here:

https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2022/04/were-coming-to-kendallvilles-art-and.html 

And now, back to our regularly scheduled blog. 

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Okay, this might get complicated.

As all fourteen of my regular readers know, my first published novel was Storm Chaser. When my publisher, Whiskey Creek Press, heard I was writing some short stories to promote the book, they offered to print them as a separate collection. That was the unfortunately titled Storm Chaser Shorts. I'm explaining that because chances are you haven't read it.

Storm Chaser sold so well Whiskey Creek Press published a sequel, The Notorious Ian Grant, which I personally think is even better. Later we self published The No-Campground Girls, which is set in the same universe and includes some of the same characters.

Then Whiskey Creek Press was bought out by a larger publisher. They continued to offer the books for sale, but otherwise forgot them and never reduced the prices even years later--prices I thought were too high for an unknown author to begin with.

In addition, Storm Chaser Shorts suffered from being too short for my publisher to do a print version, and many of my readers prefer print. Sales were poor, like me.

Eventually I got the rights back for all three works, which is why you can no longer find the e-book versions for sale. The new publisher still offers the print versions, despite the signed paperwork reverting the rights to me.

I told you it was complicated.

Our plan: to reissue all three books independently, with new covers and a lower price. We got delayed by COVID and other issues, but ....

Wait for it ....

This is also going to take some explaining.

The original title for the short story collection was no good, and I now refer to it as "The short story collection title that must not be named". I can see some browsing customer now:

"Wait ... Storm Chaser Shorts? Is that, like, padded underwear for storm chasers? Is it for protection, or scared bladders? Do they make them in boxers?"

So for our reissue we changed the name, and Emily designed a new cover, but wait--there's more!

We wanted a print version, and, if the original was too short for that ... let's make it longer! So we did. And now you can order either the print or electronic versions on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YGJ1XR6

In fact, the new version, Storm Squalls, is almost twice as long as the Shorts. Of the sixteen stories, six are original to this new edition (they tend to run longer than the originals, too).  Seven of the stories take place before the events of the original Storm Chaser, while three aren't set in the timeline, so if you haven't read any of the Storm Chaser books you can still check those out. Sadly, it looks like we won't have the books available in time for the April 30 author appearance, but we'll have a pre-order sheet for anyone who stops by.

This is getting lengthy, so I'll talk more about it in a later blog. But just so you know, later this year we'll reissue Storm Chaser and The Notorious Ian Grant, also at a lower price. Hope you'll check them out!

You can read a somewhat more embellished version of this announcement on the newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/c66094d4e0c6/were-headed-for-the-kendallville-art-and-author-fair

 Looks like we're set up for our first author appearance since December of 2019!

We took a short COVID break, don't you know ... which stretched into two years. The Art and Author Fair in Kendallville also took a COVID break, as did just about everyone, but it's back on April 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Art and Author Fair will be at the Kendallville Community Learning Center this year, and will feature art ... and authors. Hey, I just figured out where they got the name. If you're an artist or author and want to be a vendor, go here:

https://www.kendallvillelibrary.org/art-and-author-fair-10323

 Now, that's vendor, not bender--contrary to tradition, a good artist does not have to go on benders.

Um ... just a sec.

As I was saying, it's at 401 E. Diamond Street in Kendallville, of course. You can't miss it, unless you're on a different street. The CLC supports a bunch of good work for the area, including the Kendallville Public Library, which remains the host of the fair. Speaking of which, the Facebook page for the Art and Author Fair is here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7037120029694075

 I don't know yet if Emily can make it due to work commitments, but I'll be there with bells on. (Not really--that didn't go over well last time, in the library.) More info to come!

Don't mind this, it's just a list. I don't do author appearances often, so I want to make sure we have everything we need. So, what does every good author, and most of the bad ones, need to make sure they have with them?

1. Books. This is kinda important. If you're going to do a book signing, you should have something to sign.

2. Change. When one goes somewhere to sell books, one has to assume some books will be sold. Thus: change for those high rollers who walk around with hundred dollar bills. I don't know any of them, either.

3. A calculator. After all, the whole reason I became a writer is because I can't do math in my head.

4. Tylenol. You'd be surprised. No, probably you wouldn't.

5. A camera. Some years ago my wife took a photo of me signing a book for an Indiana State Senator who, apparently not having read my columns about politicians, was very nice. You never know what you might get a picture of when you're out in the public.

6. Paper and pens. The pens are to, duh, sign books. The paper is because, even though I'll have both an iPhone and an iPad with me, I don't trust technology.

7. A tarp and an umbrella, if the venue is outside. There's a reason why books aren't usually sold outdoors, but I laugh in the face of danger. Well, I cringe, which looks a little like laughing, if you squint.

8. Business cards. Emily designed me my very own business card! Sometimes, when it's slow at events, I sneak around the crowds and pull the opposite of pick pocketing, leaving my calling card behind. Yeah, that was me.

9. A table and chairs. The basics, right? We bought a folding chair that's so comfortable I'm thinking of throwing away our couch.

10. Liquid refreshments. I'm thinking water. Hey, I don't need any help from alcohol to look foolish.

11. Displays and signs. To display stuff ... like signs.

12. Scotch Tape. It's the author's duct tape.

A lot of that stuff will fit nicely into the two totes we bought for just that purpose, although, man, books can get heavy when you're carrying them a long way. How about you other authors? What's on your "to-bring" list? And what would you potential readers like to see an author supplied with?

The blog that details the upcoming appearance, as I'm sure you're tired of hearing, is here:

https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2019/11/author-appearance-december-6th-during.html

On our Author appearance, December 6th during Albion's Christmas In the Village

I’ve corrected the original post, after getting the time wrong by an hour—the event is actually from 5-8 p.m., with the vendors setting up from 4-5. The rest of the info is here:

https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2019/11/author-appearance-december-6th-during.html

During the Avilla Freedom Festival my family and I heard two good bands, met a lot of people including a new writer, toured a car show, and ate some really, really good food (for which I paid in another way later).

What I didn't do was sell a lot of books.

I still got 'em.

It would have been nice to at least break even ... but on the other hand I did sell some books. I've been to a few author appearances in which not a single copy was bought.

The important thing is to learn from experience, something some people are better at than others. Personally, I kind of suck at it. Still, here are a few conclusions:

Just because you tell people where you'll be doesn't mean they'll show up. Partially it's about the busy world we live in; partially it's a lesson in promotion. I hit the promotion hard, with social media, a press release, invites sent through Facebook and Goodreads event posts,  a newsletter entry, and enough related blog posts (five!) that I was worried about driving people away.

When I say driving away, I don't mean the car show.

I can confirm, as a result of all the work I put into publicity, exactly two sales. Not only that, but we had no new sales of my newest book, Coming Attractions.

Part of the problem might be the time of the year, when people are outside doing summer stuff instead of being online and/or looking for books. A few weeks ago I also heavily publicized a TV interview I did, which showed not only all of our books, but also blurbed our http://markrhunter.com/ website. The increased website visits? Barely a blip, and sales remain flat.

Okay, so, 'nuff complaining. What can we take away from this experience? That writing is a horrible way to make money? That the art of writing had better be its own reward, because nothing else is guaranteed? That you can't reach people through social media as much as you used to? That people walking around at a summer festival will give you odd looks when they realize you're selling books?

All true.

My sister-in-law Cathy, on the right, had a bit more luck with her jewelry. That's Emily on the left, and my camera-shy brother Jeff took the photo.

I'm going to explore other promotion options in the future, and I'll continue trying to get the word out where I can, because you don't just give up when you have a few bad turns. In my mind, two rules remain as true today as when I first started writing:

1. You must deliver a good product. Yes, sometimes bad books become best sellers, but usually quality tells. There's no shortcut: Put the work in, from the moment you fire up your laptop through revision, editing, and polishing. People might not buy my books because they don't care for the genre, but I never want someone to walk away because of the quality.

2. You must love writing. Again, occasionally we see "overnight sensations", people who get a hit with their first swing. Most authors--by a huge margin--never earn enough to make a living at it. If you're looking for a way to supplement your income, there are a vast number of easier and healthier occupations. Complain all you want about submitting or promoting, but if you don't love the writing, don't bother.

If I'm going to keep doing it--and I am--last week won't be my last setback. But I'll keep going, because nobody ever bought a book that wasn't published.

Besides, that fair food was really, really good.

Bacon, lettuce, and fried green tomato. Yum.

I sent out a press release about the Avilla Freedom Festival appearance; it may seem silly, but silly is what I do best:

            A local author will make his second trip to the Avilla Freedom Festival this year, along with some of his family.

A couple of years ago Emily and I set up a book signing booth at the Avilla Freedom Festival. We didn't get around to doing any author appearances last year, so when my sister-in-law suggested sharing a booth at this year's Festival, I jumped at it.

As book signings go, it might be close to a record--after all, a typical book signing is only for part of one day, not to mention being indoors. It'll be shorter for me this year, because although Cathy Hunter plans to be there the whole time (and my brother much of it, too), I'll be working during that period, so I'll only be able to be there part-time--and I don't know about Emily's schedule yet, either. But I want to be there at least a few hours Thursday and Friday, and all afternoon Saturday. We'll leave signed books behind for any buyers when we aren't there.

So look for us on June 20,21, and 22 at the Avilla Freedom Festival, and you'd better believe that will be in Avilla, Indiana. Cathy sells jewelry such as necklaces, and bracelets, good quality homemade stuff. Artists run in the family! There will be plenty of other vendors of many different things there. More about the whole thing later, when we're back from vacation.

Oh, and the overall times for the vending books are 4-10 p.m Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m.-- 6 p.m. Saturday.

We've put out two new books since our last author appearance, so we hope to see you there!

It should look something like this ...

It's this whole big thing, held in conjunction with the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce "Showcase Kendallville and Job Fair", and it's all going to be at the library Friday, September 15, from 2-7 p.m. We've already been to a group book signing with some of the other authors! It'll be like coming home again. Actually, it'll be like writing home again. The library's page for the event is here:

http://kendallvillelibrary.org/about-us/library-news/art-and-author-fair/

And you can let everyone know you're going on the facebook page, here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/261574904246629

Is that cool, or what? Yes. Yes, it is.

Oh, and we have books. It's very important, when trying to sell books, that you have books to sell.

But I always feel nervous and unprepared before these things. Mind you, we've done at least a few every year, since that first one in the summer of 2011. Well over a dozen at this point.

One of my favorite places to have an author appearance was the Noble Art Gallery (which, come to think of it, is half a block from where we set up for the first one). It's inside, has all that art, there's a sense of history, and a big window with a view of the Noble County Courthouse. But I've been there three times now, and the most recent time last year was poorly attended; I suppose I went to the well too often. Still, they're the only brick and mortar location with copies of our books for sale when I'm not there.

You could say my easiest author appearance was earlier this month, at the Albion Fire Department's annual fish fry. They sold three copies of Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights, even though I wasn't even there! But it wasn't really an author appearance, as I didn't appear, and it wasn't a book signing, since I didn't sign them. It's possible at this point that there are more signed books out there then there are unsigned ones, so maybe the latter are worth more.

Adding to my nervousness is that most of our appearances have been in Albion, although we've also shown up in Kendallville, Auburn, and Cromwell. Our trip to the Avilla Freedom Festival will be my first time in that town, so there's an air of uncertainty. Does anyone in Avilla know me, besides some emergency services people and the crew at the 4 County Mall? We'll see.

Meanwhile there's always worry about the weather, and getting set up properly, and finding the nearest bathroom. (Hey, I'm no spring chicken. And even spring chickens have to pee from time to time.)

Will our new awning get blown away in a windstorm? Will people laugh at me for taking books to a street fair? Will I sell zero books, and end up taking a loss? (It's happened before.) Will they have elephant ears? Will I get powdered sugar all over my inventory?

Stay tuned.