Running the remuda*
Unless an author sells tens of thousands of copies, writing a book is not going to pay the bills. Breakthrough books from unknown authors happen, but my US89 book, with its admittedly niche subject, was never intended to hit the NY Times best-seller list. Rather than just numbers of units sold, I envisioned my own definition of success for the project, one that focused on production quality and ultimately the enjoyment of my readers.
My vision was this: that somewhere on the highway, someone would buy my book, and it would be successful if it inspired my reader to visit a Highway 89 destination that I had photographed. On Monday, I met a wonderful woman and Twitter follower, who told me that she bought the book at the King's English Bookshopas a Christmas gift for her father. Dad, who lives in California, enjoyed it so much he is planning an extended family vacation somewhere on Highway 89. I'm calling that a victory. What's your definition of success today?
*Wranglers at the Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Arizona run the horses through a corridor down the ranch property each morning to corrals where the dude ranching patrons saddle up. Maria Langer took me over to see the spectacle when I visited last week on a book-selling trip to Arizona.
Comments (2)
You're right about selling books. Folks think of bestselling authors and think all authors can rake it in like that. It just doesn't happen.
I think that just doing what you did -- photographing, writing, laying out, and overseeing publishing of a book -- is a measure of success all in itself. You've put together a magnificent piece of work on your first try. You started AND FINISHED the project. That's an incredible success in itself.
Thanks for the link. Your horse picture turned out better than ANY of mine. But I do think one of those horses is looking at me.
Posted by Maria | February 1, 2010 5:08 PM
Posted on February 1, 2010 17:08
I'm a mom, a blogger, and a Ph.D. student, and I need your help. I'm doing a study about why women blog, and you have been selected at random to participate in a short survey about what motivates you to blog and what you get out of blogging.
I hope you will take it by clicking this link. Please do not forward the link. http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/231228/women-bloggers
Thanks in advance for your help. Feel free to contact me at gmmasull@syr.edu if you have any questions.
Gina Chen
Ph.D. student
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Syracuse University
Posted by Gina Chen | February 2, 2010 11:22 AM
Posted on February 2, 2010 11:22