David Cranmer's Blog, page 100
March 15, 2012
If You Could Look Into A Crystal Ball
We made a trek to my in-laws yesterday and had a wonderful visit. Ava loves (as we all do) to visit Grandma and Grandpa, and I appreciate their quiet little haven in New York. Not only relaxing but the food is good, and a hack writer like me can get some work done. On the way, I brought the nearly-finished BEAT to a PULP: ROUND TWO to continue polishing it into a fine gem. We've probably worked harder on this project than any other, and while going through the manuscript during the drive, it brought me back to a question a grizzled writer once asked me in the south of France* ...
So for the struggling writers out there: If you could look into a crystal ball and see that you would never become a financial success as a writer, would you still do it? Feel free to say no as many folks have when I've asked them this question.
*The French writer was created for dramatic purposes. The one and only time I was in France, I got into a fight with some Hungarian acrobats. But that's a story for another day.
Sonny, if you could look into a crystal ball and see that you would never become a financial success as a writer, would you still do it?"And over the past few months as I have juggled the day job, a mother with dementia, fatherhood, and a number of other responsibilities, I've still reached for the ROUND TWO manuscript, working hard toward that ultimate goal even if for only a few stolen moments after work or while on a trip to visit relatives. It would be nice if ROUND TWO becomes a runaway smash and the darling of the critics, but, honest to Betsy, it doesn't matter how much it sells because the honor of publishing the legends among its pages has already made me a wealthy man in a way that other idealists will surely understand.
The young David muttered, "Yes," to which he quickly replied, "Then you're already a success, kid."
So for the struggling writers out there: If you could look into a crystal ball and see that you would never become a financial success as a writer, would you still do it? Feel free to say no as many folks have when I've asked them this question.
*The French writer was created for dramatic purposes. The one and only time I was in France, I got into a fight with some Hungarian acrobats. But that's a story for another day.
March 12, 2012
Waiting For The Birds
Ava first noticed birds in books. She'd point to them and her mom would flap her arms and say, "bird," which must have amused Ava thoroughly because she continued to point to birds everywhere else, from videos to patches on a homemade quilt. In the last few weeks when we leave the house, she looks to the sky and absolutely beams every time she sees a bird. Well, we decided a bird feeder is a must, so we got one today. This spot for the feeder is about six feet off the ground, hanging from the garden lattice.
It's a temporary location because I want to move it near the living room window where Ava can get a closer look from the comfort of the couch. Also, it's not in the most ideal place for keeping away squirrels and other like-minded bandits.Next, we need to get a bird book so we can identify who we're looking at.Any other amateur bird-watchers out there? Have some tips?
It's a temporary location because I want to move it near the living room window where Ava can get a closer look from the comfort of the couch. Also, it's not in the most ideal place for keeping away squirrels and other like-minded bandits.Next, we need to get a bird book so we can identify who we're looking at.Any other amateur bird-watchers out there? Have some tips?
March 11, 2012
March 10, 2012
This Made My Day
This evening, we had a wonderful visit with family. My nineteen-year-old niece prefaced a story she wanted to tell me with the line, "I don't want to blowup your ego or anything, but ..." She's taking a creative writing class in college and is working on an assignment, creating a short story. She mentioned to her professor that her uncle writes short stories, and he apparently asked my name. She told him and then said that I also write under the pen name Edward A. Grainger, to which he immediately replied, "He writes westerns." Well, I managed to keep my ego in check but I'm certainly flattered!
March 9, 2012
Pox
My friend Patti has a sharp little gem called "Pox" at Fires On The Plain. Please check it out when you get a chance.
March 8, 2012
U.S. Warns Apple, Publishers
Justice Department Threatens Lawsuits, Alleging Collusion Over E-Book Pricing. Full article at The Wall Street Journal.Hat tip: Qwill
March 7, 2012
Give It Away, Give It Away
I've read many thoughts about giving away books for free and there are a whole host of opinions. It seems it comes down to whether it was successful or not for that particular author. Here are a few quick thoughts on my experiences.
Both volumes of my Cash & Miles Adventures have been offered for free at different times. I began with Vol. II because Vol. I was doing well and I wanted to boost sales of the second collection. During the freebie offer, there was an unexpected increase in sales of the first volume, but that makes sense, right? If you have the second installment of a series, you probably want to know how it started. After the offer closed, Vol. II entered the Top 100 sales charts. I had several readers on Twitter thank me for the free book and mention they bought my other title.
Kinda, sorta the same for MANHUNTER'S MOUNTAIN written by Wayne D. Dundee--a Cash Laramie story with a new author taking the reins. To introduce this first novel (in what I hope will be an ongoing series), I gave it away free for a few days. A couple thousand folks downloaded the book, which helped to expand its horizons through the Amazon charts and recommendations panel "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought." Both these things brought my eBook to the attention of folks who might not otherwise see it. MOUNTAIN has re-entered the best sellers charts several times, and I feel the success goes back to that free giveaway in January.
So I'm going to try again with our latest release, BULLETS FOR A BALLOT written by Nik Morton. We'll see how it works out this time but, so far, giving away books for free has been a good move for me. What has been your experience?
Both volumes of my Cash & Miles Adventures have been offered for free at different times. I began with Vol. II because Vol. I was doing well and I wanted to boost sales of the second collection. During the freebie offer, there was an unexpected increase in sales of the first volume, but that makes sense, right? If you have the second installment of a series, you probably want to know how it started. After the offer closed, Vol. II entered the Top 100 sales charts. I had several readers on Twitter thank me for the free book and mention they bought my other title.
Kinda, sorta the same for MANHUNTER'S MOUNTAIN written by Wayne D. Dundee--a Cash Laramie story with a new author taking the reins. To introduce this first novel (in what I hope will be an ongoing series), I gave it away free for a few days. A couple thousand folks downloaded the book, which helped to expand its horizons through the Amazon charts and recommendations panel "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought." Both these things brought my eBook to the attention of folks who might not otherwise see it. MOUNTAIN has re-entered the best sellers charts several times, and I feel the success goes back to that free giveaway in January.
So I'm going to try again with our latest release, BULLETS FOR A BALLOT written by Nik Morton. We'll see how it works out this time but, so far, giving away books for free has been a good move for me. What has been your experience?
March 5, 2012
A Visit to the Bookstore
We made our first trip with Ava to the bookstore today, and it was a lot of fun. We had taken her before when she was much younger and books didn't pack the power they now have in her world. We headed directly for the kids section and her eyes lit up at the thousands of titles. Ava even made a friend when she offered her headband to another little girl of about the same age. The girl readily accepted and was none-too-happy after her mom took it away and gave it back Ava. Our little coconut wasn't bothered in the slightest by any of it.
I slipped away for a few minutes to check out the mystery section. The high prices shocked me a bit, but I found Robert B. Parker's THE PROFESSIONAL on sale, so I grabbed a copy. I've been putting off reading the last of the Spenser novels because, well, it will bring to an end one of my favorite series.
I returned to the kids section to find Ava had settled on three books from the Sesame Street gang with the help of her mom. Ava said bye to her new friend and to the store. I hope this first visit is the beginning of an everlasting love for books.
I slipped away for a few minutes to check out the mystery section. The high prices shocked me a bit, but I found Robert B. Parker's THE PROFESSIONAL on sale, so I grabbed a copy. I've been putting off reading the last of the Spenser novels because, well, it will bring to an end one of my favorite series.
I returned to the kids section to find Ava had settled on three books from the Sesame Street gang with the help of her mom. Ava said bye to her new friend and to the store. I hope this first visit is the beginning of an everlasting love for books.
More Talk, Less Hock: Wild West Bunch Special Edition
"Why write about the Old West?" Steve Hockensmith asked me and a few other western writers. My pithy answer can be found at More Talk, Less Hock: Wild West Bunch Special Edition. Please stop by when you get a chance.
