| Author |
Message |
    
Kevin R. Paglia
Awareness Member
Post Number:
40
Registered: 07-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:30 am: |   |
 I've been wondering this a little lately. We write a variety of story genre's here and are always lookng for a publisher, agent, advertising, and links to push our books a little farther. So my question is, are you a do anything, appear anywhere to sell a book kind of person? Or are you worried that someone might associate your books with that of the ones you use to advertise/publish your books?
Case in point (and I am aware some of you might think I am just judgemental, but it is a choice I am allowed to make): Since I write Christian Fiction, I am very aware (now) of who my books appear with when I join lists and such. I am even willing to submit to just a fraction of publishers if they are publishing material I think is offensive because I don't want people to look for my book and find (what I consider) offensive material listed right next to it. Hypothetically, I would not go on a shock jock's radio show (I would be in shock if they ever called me for that), I wouldn't go on Jerry Springer to promote and I haven't joined lists with people who I find offensive (mostly in their behavior).
So how about y'all? Am I just overly sensitive or do others of you consider who you would be next to and weigh you works integrity vs. a few extra sales?
Kevin |
Perry Comer
Unity Member
Post Number:
1356
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:47 am: | |
I'm with you Kevin.
http://www.pacwriter.netfirms.com/ |
Gary Midge
Awareness Member
Post Number:
9
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:54 am: | |
Kevin,
At first, when I read your post, I agreed. Upon reading it a second time, my question is: Who do you want to read the book and why?
If you and your book never appear in anything other than Christian-friendly or family-friendly venues, people who may have otherwise benefited from your writing will never get the chance. I assume your fiction carries a strong message about morals and values; if you do not put it in front of the folks who need that message the most, isn't it a bit like preaching to the choir? Very interesting.
Gary |
Kevin Yarbrough
Wandering Member
Post Number:
106
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 03:09 pm: | |
I'm with Gary on this one Kevin. You can't worry about who published your story because if you did and it didn't get published then your message you were trying to convey wouldn't get out to the people.
I wouldn't worry about who published your story. Most people don't read books based on who the publisher is anyway.
Kevin |
Trina Green
Awareness Member
Post Number:
46
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 03:19 pm: | |
I think the main objection for authors is that their work is read. So then if you monitor who gets the information, aren't you essentially stopping most people from reading it. When I write I stay away from earthly constraints, the story usually takes on a life of it's own. If I worry about what should be or not, I'm in essence restraining my creativity. I write the book and when it's finished, will then determine the targeted audience and genre. |
Kevin R. Paglia
Awareness Member
Post Number:
41
Registered: 07-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 06:06 pm: | |
I understand the arguements against. The question becomes how far are you willing to go to sell a book? If I had written a book about family values I wouldn't go to the Clintons to get an endorsment it (for that matter most polititions. If I wrote a book about Hollywood teaching our kids to be disrespectful I wouldn't go Andrew Dice Clay or Chris Rock to get an endorsment. (Last one) If I wrote a book about being a good sportsman I would avoid connections with Mike Tyson.
Are there limits to who you would seek out (and even those you would turn down if the call came) to sell your books?
Kevin |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
3000
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 06:38 pm: | |
Well this is an interesting thread. I have some personal viewpoints to add to this mix.
I would not publish with just any publisher to get my work "out there." I'm too old and burnt out to put up with publishers who do not treat me with respect. I do not care what other genres they publish - other than I would not go to a PORN publisher and ask them to publish my work. Publishing is a business and most of them don't care what I think.
My first book was Christian non-fiction. My second book secular fiction. My third book poetry. My first book was sent to PA by an agent. For books number two and three I chose publishers who are reputable and treat me with respect.
I am a Christian and do consider how my work may appear to others, but not in the way you do, Kevin P. If Jesus had worried about what people thought of the crowds he hung out with, he would not have accomplished what he did.
The short answer is: I have scruples and morals and my books and publishers reflect that if I have a choice in the matter. What other books mine appear with mean nothing to me. |
Kevin Yarbrough
Wandering Member
Post Number:
109
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 07:40 pm: | |
Thank you Laurel for saying what I was trying to convey. You hit the nail on the head.
If you want endorsments I would get a big name author to help you. It doesn't really matter, at least in my eyes, what genre the other author rights in. The name will help you get your book out there. The famous authors fans might even pick it up just for that reason, I know I have.
Look at this--the Harry Potter craze is huge and in Stephen King's "On Writing" he mentions the books and says that they are a really good read and you couldn't go wrong with them. Now the two genres are different but do you think since King endoresed the book it hurt sales? No. If anything some of his fans went and picked up the books just because he said they were good.
So, no, I don't think you should avoid any big name. The name recognition will get your book out there and read, your meaning will come through in the story on its own and the name recognition will not hurt you any. Your message will show and your fans will come back for that reason.
Kevin |
Kevin R. Paglia
Awareness Member
Post Number:
46
Registered: 07-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 01:16 pm: | |
I understand your points, and I know am playing devils advicate here. It is an excercise in understandning limits for me. I would have no problem having Steven King endorse my books, but I would if Howard Stern wanted to endorse it. There may be a handful of people, lists and publisher genres in the world I would not want to be associated with. It is not that I think my message is to good for anyone (or that I am) and withhold it from them, as I say on my posters, "Christian fiction for everyone". But I guess it comes down to the endorsements I get, I want it from people I respect. They don't have to believe in everything I do, or live the way I do, but for me to respect them they should treat others with respect.
"If Jesus had worried about what people thought of the crowds he hung out with, he would not have accomplished what he did." The difference is in the wording I think. I agree that the message should be available to everyone, but do you think that Jesus would have been as respected and accepted by the lowly if he had sought the endorsement of the Pharises? I'm willing to listen to anyone who has read my books, or has an opinion abot what I write about. E-mail, in person, even over the phone if the kids will let me. But going to the modern Pharises would hurt the message more than help, or so I believe (and I was wrong once before).
The example of this I used earlier is politics. If there is a politition you think you like and they are endorsed by a celeb. that has spoken out in favor of issues you disagree with, wouldn't that make you doubt what your polition stands for? (I'll pick on the Clintons again) If there was a governer running on a platform of returning values to marriage and family, then they were endorsed by Bill or even the Gay and Lesbian Society, couldn't the endorsement hurt?
A real life example I just thought of is Rosie O'donnel. A few years back she started an anti-gun campaign ( I believe I remember her telling all the wives watching to thrown their husbands gund in the fire as well as verbally attacking Tom Selick on her show for being a member of the NRA). At the same time she was a spokesman for Kmart, one of the largest seller of guns in America. The public reaction was quick and fierce, people went elsewhere to shop. I stopped shopping at Kmart completely and I don't even own a gun (or want to).
Would you boycott a product, service or restraunt it they had a spokesman/policy that you found morally offensive? If it is true for these why wouldn't it be true for selling books as well?
Again I'm just interested in the discussion, to get the points out and have both sides justify their positions (though I'm afraid I may be to far to one side to have someone come to my aid). I find the art of debate an excellent way to hone writing skills as long as it is kept on a respectful level (i.e. not what you find when disagreements happen on the 'other' board).
Kevin |
Kevin Yarbrough
Wandering Member
Post Number:
112
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 02:25 pm: | |
Well, then, in some ways yes, i think you are right. You wouldn't want a satanic priest endorsing your book. But when it comes to authors, go with it.
Kevin |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
3004
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 02:48 pm: | |
OK!! I get it now!! I did not get the gist of it before and thought you meant what publisher or books yours was associated with.
This is easy for me. Endorsements by famous people mean nothing to me. best selling authors endorsing my books mean even less to me. I won't be seeking out such endorsements.
When I want a back cover blurb or a foreword, I ask someone I respect as a person and a writer. My feeling is - and this is strictly my feeling - nothing Stephen King, George Bush, Bill Clinton, or any other famous name says about my book will add to its message one way or another.
Was I on the right track this time Kevin P?? |
Harry Simenon
Wandering Member
Post Number:
134
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 03:47 pm: | |
Kevin, (you sure do look young in that picture)
I’m an atheist, would you like somebody like me to read your book?
|
Kevin R. Paglia
Awareness Member
Post Number:
49
Registered: 07-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 10:09 am: | |
Harry, I have no problem with someone like you reading the books. I think the difference in what I write vs. the left behind series is that I have Christian themes in my stories but you don't have to be one to enjoy them. It is like Clive Clusser and his Dirk pitt stories, you don't have to be an archeologist to enjoy the stories, but those are the themes of the stories. There is a lot of Christian fiction out there that you have to be at least a little versed in Bible teaching to understand what they mean.
Now the gangs starting to understand my points a little. Here's a little twist on the debate: If you could have one person endorse your next book who would you want to endorse it? Mine is Mike Warnke, no one here probably knows who that is.
Kevin |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
3010
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 10:58 am: | |
Yes I know who Mike Warnke is.
Hmmmm. If I could have one person endorse my next book, who would it be? Since my next book is poetry, maybe Maya Angelou.
For my next book of fiction - if there ever is another one - I think Michael Cunningham or Richard russo, maybe Ian McEwan. |
Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1741
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 01:37 pm: | |
I'd pick Frank Perreti. Supernatural mystery/suspense. He does it so well.
Nancy |
Harry Simenon
Wandering Member
Post Number:
141
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 02:00 pm: | |
I would not know who should endorse my book. I hardly read anything else but science, (not even science fiction).
Isn't that weird? |
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