I hope you’re patient.
Writing is a privilege—and a responsibility. We owe our readers our best. We also are indebted to our fellow writers; in fact, anyone involved in putting a book in your hands. They are helped, or hurt, by how I conduct this work.I published “Fifth-Three Weeks” through the corporate giant that dominates publishing by being a one-stop shop from manuscript to delivering the finished book to your door. That’s attractive to a rookie writer; without Amazon, you’d not have known of my book yet—if ever.
But I bypassed traditional publishers and bookstores who are under immense pressure to survive. Border’s is gone; Barnes & Noble has closed some stores; “indie” bookstores disappear every day.Our free market economy rewards predatory consolidation until a very few overwhelm independent providers. This may seem like a not-my-problem issue, but this is disastrous for all of us.
Traditional publishing is slower; more people in more places must make their contribution. “Fifty-Three Weeks” bypassed most of them—like the way we drive by the ma-and pa-local businesses displaced by the Interstate. That benefits some of us—especially those big enough to dominate what’s available to us. I would rather support people who love books, readers, and creativity enough to take the time necessary.
Such “inefficiency” will likely cost me, especially in time. I don’t (yet) have a publisher—a huge challenge. If I finished a sequel today, and I’m far from that, it will easily be a year or more before you read it.
Don’t worry: “Fifty-Three Weeks” is still just a click away on Amazon. More is coming—hopefully within months, not years—I’m not getting any younger, you know. And I hope you agree: it will be worth the wait.
