Marketing A Métis Man's Dream has been a learning experience! Of course, selling a self-published book is difficult, and per force, involves cold calling. For me, an almost overwhelming sense of inadequacy hits me as I arrive at the front door of a bookstore or as I see a call or email come in from someone who might reject this labour of mine.
Those are stressful moments. It is an easy time to rationalize that you are wasting your time, that yours is a book more suited to some other bookstore. I have been blessed by special people who have pushed me to, yes, actually go into the store, mention my book, see if they are interested in carrying it on their shelves. For lo and behold, usually they are! What has been so truly fascinating and encouraging is that those same cold call approaches to book sellers have, like miracles, led to wonderful, interesting, deep and connecting conversations. Those conversations, the information I have been blessed with, and the stories, some joyful, some sorrowful, which have been shared with me on this journey have been one of the highlights of the Gill project. There are so many good stories out there. Thank you book sellers, for your support and your encouragement, and for sharing your own stories! You will likely know and understand that putting yourself "out there", ready to be rejected, is quite personaI, and scary. And one difficulty is that, as I told a friend the other day, my book sales seem to be tied directly to my efforts. They go up when I am up and they go down when I am "down", inactive, tired, or distracted. So again, thank you book sellers and those friends who have suggested I contact this one or connect me with that one. It has been a marvelous ride! There is another thing....perhaps it is worse just being ignored. I understand of course that no one has to take an interest in MY book. But I do find it strange and disappointing that CBC Edmonton, the Royal Alberta Museum (the Provincial Government is its purchasing arm), and the Fort Edmonton Park Indigenous Peoples Venue didn't even acknowledge receipt of information about a local, positive story of a successful Métis Edmontonian Gordon Gill. Especially a true story with much information about Alberta and NWT issues, and history, by an Edmonton author, sold in Edmonton bookstores. I am very appreciative of the great interview aired on CBC North about Gordon and his life, and the full page articles about A Métis Man's Dream in various northern Alberta and NWT newspapers. Comments are closed.
|
Details
AuthorNeil Gower is a writer living in Edmonton, AB. Archives
November 2024
Categories |