Neil D. Ostroff's Blog, page 13
September 11, 2013
Enjoying life!
If you follow my blog you know I've recently acquired a rescue dog, part beagle, part ?. He is a good dog, friendly, gentle, and quiet; as I've mentioned before, a good writers dog. However, I have notice my writing productivity has nosedived since this animal entered my life.
Is that a good thing?
The past twenty years I’ve spend nearly half my day, almost every day in front of my computer. I’ve published nine books and have sold thousands of copies. I’ve missed out on beautiful sunny afternoons and long hikes in the woods. I’ve spent hours marketing and promoting my books while my friends headed out for evenings of fun. I’ve missed out on quite a bit trying to achieve this dream of writing for a living.
But has it all been worth it?
This new dog of mine is showing me that there is more to life than writing (I know, sounds crazy). By needing my attention he has forced me to leave my solitude and actually go for walks and car rides. This dog won’t allow me to spend the beautiful days holed up inside. In just two short weeks this dog has shown me what may be more important than writing.
Enjoying life!
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
Is that a good thing?
The past twenty years I’ve spend nearly half my day, almost every day in front of my computer. I’ve published nine books and have sold thousands of copies. I’ve missed out on beautiful sunny afternoons and long hikes in the woods. I’ve spent hours marketing and promoting my books while my friends headed out for evenings of fun. I’ve missed out on quite a bit trying to achieve this dream of writing for a living.
But has it all been worth it?
This new dog of mine is showing me that there is more to life than writing (I know, sounds crazy). By needing my attention he has forced me to leave my solitude and actually go for walks and car rides. This dog won’t allow me to spend the beautiful days holed up inside. In just two short weeks this dog has shown me what may be more important than writing.
Enjoying life!
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
September 10, 2013
Twelve years later!
So, here it is the day before the twelfth anniversary of the worse terrorist attack on American soil ever and the second year since my novel DROP OUT was published. DROP OUT ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U ) examines the tragedy left behind for the survivors and how one man copes with his incredible loss. In honorarium, I do not market or promote this book on that date.
People deal with loss in all kinds of ways. Some may blame themselves for not doing enough to help the person in need. Some get depressed and angry over the situation. And some give up on life completely and hide themselves away in isolation.
That is the predicament of the main character in this powerful novel. It is who this character meets and how she helps him overcome his tragic loss and debilitating depression and anger that makes this book so special and why it has garnered nearly two dozen five star reviews from all over the world on Amazon. Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo have many more five star reviews.
What makes this book so special is how life affirming it is. I received more than a dozen emails a day (on average) every day from readers who have been affected by the story. I’m not looking to get rich (if I was I’d price it a lot higher than $1.99) I just want readers to understand how precious our mortal time on this planet is. Feedback I’ve gotten is worth more than any amount of money (though money is always nice).
Please take a look at the sample chapters and check out the reviews, one of which was placed just yesterday. If you think the book can help you please read it. It may just change your life.
***
5.0 out of 5 stars Humbling Tale, September 9, 2013
By
Bea - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase (What's this?)
This review is from: Drop Out (Kindle Edition)
This is a quick read, but there's a lot in this powerful story. The setup to the story requires reliving the horrible events of 9/11, but this is a tale of initial despair and subsequent rebirth.
Time, love, loss, afterlife, hope......all are skillfully woven into the story. Nathan's selfless support of Miriam, Mariam's young words of wisdom for Nathan; touching and moving (not sappy and cheesy), this story will make you think and feel. It reinforces my personal beliefs but despite your worldview, the book is humble and thoughtful.
Rewarding read.
***
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
People deal with loss in all kinds of ways. Some may blame themselves for not doing enough to help the person in need. Some get depressed and angry over the situation. And some give up on life completely and hide themselves away in isolation.
That is the predicament of the main character in this powerful novel. It is who this character meets and how she helps him overcome his tragic loss and debilitating depression and anger that makes this book so special and why it has garnered nearly two dozen five star reviews from all over the world on Amazon. Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo have many more five star reviews.
What makes this book so special is how life affirming it is. I received more than a dozen emails a day (on average) every day from readers who have been affected by the story. I’m not looking to get rich (if I was I’d price it a lot higher than $1.99) I just want readers to understand how precious our mortal time on this planet is. Feedback I’ve gotten is worth more than any amount of money (though money is always nice).
Please take a look at the sample chapters and check out the reviews, one of which was placed just yesterday. If you think the book can help you please read it. It may just change your life.
***
5.0 out of 5 stars Humbling Tale, September 9, 2013
By
Bea - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase (What's this?)
This review is from: Drop Out (Kindle Edition)
This is a quick read, but there's a lot in this powerful story. The setup to the story requires reliving the horrible events of 9/11, but this is a tale of initial despair and subsequent rebirth.
Time, love, loss, afterlife, hope......all are skillfully woven into the story. Nathan's selfless support of Miriam, Mariam's young words of wisdom for Nathan; touching and moving (not sappy and cheesy), this story will make you think and feel. It reinforces my personal beliefs but despite your worldview, the book is humble and thoughtful.
Rewarding read.
***
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
September 3, 2013
Reviews speak for themselves
DROP OUT http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U continues to pull in five star reviews from all over the world and I’m still getting an average of ten to fifteen emails a day from readers telling me how much the story has affected them. It took a powerful experience such as watching my friend die quickly from cancer to have forged such an intense and emotional story. Though the actual plot of the story is fiction, I’m continually getting notes from people asking if I really went through what happens in the story.
Like all good fiction the story is based on actual events but the details are imaginary. As a writer, I try and capture the human experience with words and when I’ve done it properly (as I believe in the case of this book) the reward is beyond material.
As I finish my latest book (a dystopian sci-fi) I’m gearing up to start another literary fiction. Unlike DROP OUT, this new novel will deal with what happens right after you die, not the emotions prior, as is the case with DROP OUT. We are all curious about what happens when we pass away. Though I do have a brief outline written I’m excited to see where this concept will lead and what plots will develop. I’m planning on the novel taking nine months to write.
Until then, here is another five star review for DROP OUT recently placed on Amazon. Please read the book. It will affect you. To learn more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
*******
5.0 out of 5 stars Drop Out, August 31, 2013
By
E M Bahnsen - See all my reviews
This review is from: Drop Out (Kindle Edition)
This was an interesting and unique story, fast paced, heart pounding, with realistic and well-rounded characters that hit home.
The hero Nathan Cruz, a Philadelphia Phillies fan, survived that horrific day on 09/11/2001 in New York City. He is able to save other's lives, except those that mean the most to him: his pregnant fiancé and both parents in Tower Two. He is badly scarred - physically and emotionally - and lost...so he drops out of society.
Ten years' later, Nathan lives a solitary life on an old boat, growing his own herbs, and fishing for his own meals in the Florida Keys. His only companion is a chicken who lives on the boat with him.
Nathan doesn't seek shelter when a Hurricane is approaching. He has nothing to live for anyway. Despite his boat being destroyed and losing what few possessions he owned, he survives. He meets the only other human being brave enough to stay behind.
Miriam has her own heart-wrenching story and only days to share it with Nathan. She enables Nathan to embrace his physical scars, to care again, to feel again, to love again. For ten years, Nathan lived in the darkness of his survival guilt. Within two days, Miriam helps Nathan to see the lightness of life.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U
Like all good fiction the story is based on actual events but the details are imaginary. As a writer, I try and capture the human experience with words and when I’ve done it properly (as I believe in the case of this book) the reward is beyond material.
As I finish my latest book (a dystopian sci-fi) I’m gearing up to start another literary fiction. Unlike DROP OUT, this new novel will deal with what happens right after you die, not the emotions prior, as is the case with DROP OUT. We are all curious about what happens when we pass away. Though I do have a brief outline written I’m excited to see where this concept will lead and what plots will develop. I’m planning on the novel taking nine months to write.
Until then, here is another five star review for DROP OUT recently placed on Amazon. Please read the book. It will affect you. To learn more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
*******
5.0 out of 5 stars Drop Out, August 31, 2013
By
E M Bahnsen - See all my reviews
This review is from: Drop Out (Kindle Edition)
This was an interesting and unique story, fast paced, heart pounding, with realistic and well-rounded characters that hit home.
The hero Nathan Cruz, a Philadelphia Phillies fan, survived that horrific day on 09/11/2001 in New York City. He is able to save other's lives, except those that mean the most to him: his pregnant fiancé and both parents in Tower Two. He is badly scarred - physically and emotionally - and lost...so he drops out of society.
Ten years' later, Nathan lives a solitary life on an old boat, growing his own herbs, and fishing for his own meals in the Florida Keys. His only companion is a chicken who lives on the boat with him.
Nathan doesn't seek shelter when a Hurricane is approaching. He has nothing to live for anyway. Despite his boat being destroyed and losing what few possessions he owned, he survives. He meets the only other human being brave enough to stay behind.
Miriam has her own heart-wrenching story and only days to share it with Nathan. She enables Nathan to embrace his physical scars, to care again, to feel again, to love again. For ten years, Nathan lived in the darkness of his survival guilt. Within two days, Miriam helps Nathan to see the lightness of life.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U
August 21, 2013
Yes, marketing works!
I’ve been reading a lot of threads and forums lately dealing with the topic of marketing your book. It seems there are a lot of “newbies” out there in this relatively virgin explosion of indie publishing and many can’t understand why their book isn’t selling. When asked if they market and promote their books most say yes, but complain that they have limited time, maybe a few hours a week.
These authors wonder why they have little or no sales. Well, here’s a hard truth. To be a successful indie author you have to market your books as much if not more than you spend time writing them. It takes a lot of work to get noticed in a publishing sea that now includes a million new published books yearly. Competition to get readers’ attention is ten times harder than it was just three years ago. But it is not impossible.
With the internet, the exhaustive task of promoting is now accessible to even the most introverted writer. No longer must writers sit in nearly empty bookstores peddling their signed wares or go out on long book tours just to get a little recognition, that recognition can now be achieved at home. It can be done. You can get noticed. But it ain’t easy.
Internet marketing does sell books. I’m living proof. A complete unknown two years ago, since then I’ve sold thousands of books to absolute strangers. I also spend an average of two hours a day marketing. It’s tough to find the time, believe me, but I do it. I used to pay for sponsorships with mediocre results and placed samples of my books on all those hundreds of author sites that promise tons of exposure. They worked to some degree, but not worth the hours of drudgery downloading in comparison to sales. Then I discovered the secret to gaining an audience.
Blindly spamming and pushing your book over and over on social media only turns readers off. You come off seeming desperate for anyone to buy your book. The proper way to promote is to build a readership through online book discussions and joining groups. Respond when a reader emails you. Get involved in discussions other than about your own work. Get people interested in you by being interesting online. Your audience will grow in time. It will! Yes, marketing on the internet will sell your book, but you have to do it properly. And have patience, if you can tell a great story the readers will find out about you.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
These authors wonder why they have little or no sales. Well, here’s a hard truth. To be a successful indie author you have to market your books as much if not more than you spend time writing them. It takes a lot of work to get noticed in a publishing sea that now includes a million new published books yearly. Competition to get readers’ attention is ten times harder than it was just three years ago. But it is not impossible.
With the internet, the exhaustive task of promoting is now accessible to even the most introverted writer. No longer must writers sit in nearly empty bookstores peddling their signed wares or go out on long book tours just to get a little recognition, that recognition can now be achieved at home. It can be done. You can get noticed. But it ain’t easy.
Internet marketing does sell books. I’m living proof. A complete unknown two years ago, since then I’ve sold thousands of books to absolute strangers. I also spend an average of two hours a day marketing. It’s tough to find the time, believe me, but I do it. I used to pay for sponsorships with mediocre results and placed samples of my books on all those hundreds of author sites that promise tons of exposure. They worked to some degree, but not worth the hours of drudgery downloading in comparison to sales. Then I discovered the secret to gaining an audience.
Blindly spamming and pushing your book over and over on social media only turns readers off. You come off seeming desperate for anyone to buy your book. The proper way to promote is to build a readership through online book discussions and joining groups. Respond when a reader emails you. Get involved in discussions other than about your own work. Get people interested in you by being interesting online. Your audience will grow in time. It will! Yes, marketing on the internet will sell your book, but you have to do it properly. And have patience, if you can tell a great story the readers will find out about you.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
August 20, 2013
Another 5-star!
DROP OUT’s revised second edition is really having an affect. Here’s another 5-star review on Amazon. This review is also on Goodreads. Check it out!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U
5.0 out of 5 stars Finished it yesterday and still reeling... August 19, 2013
By
Elly Michaels - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Drop Out (Kindle Edition)
Wow! My literature professors always said that a novel is praiseworthy if it inspires in the reader strong emotions, and Neil Ostroff's Drop Out certainly does that. I was, in turn, scared, horrified, revolted, depressed and warmed by this graphically depicted novel of disaster, tragedy, death and rebirth. Drop Out opens with haunting, pictorial scenes from the World Trade Center bombing where our hero barely escapes the horrors of inexpressible gore and death, loses all his friends and family, and is left not only jaded and guilt-ridden but unrecognizably disfigured to resume his lonely life. He subsequently battles a vividly and realistically portrayed hurricane off the coast of Key West to meet a dying woman, whose innovating love and spirit reminds him that happiness isn't only for the beautiful or carefree, and ultimately cures his irremediable depression. In this alarming novel, I confronted fear, revulsion, depression, loneliness, and mortality right along with the hero.
Elly Michaels
Author: For Love of a Cause
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DX6IV0E
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U
5.0 out of 5 stars Finished it yesterday and still reeling... August 19, 2013
By
Elly Michaels - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Drop Out (Kindle Edition)
Wow! My literature professors always said that a novel is praiseworthy if it inspires in the reader strong emotions, and Neil Ostroff's Drop Out certainly does that. I was, in turn, scared, horrified, revolted, depressed and warmed by this graphically depicted novel of disaster, tragedy, death and rebirth. Drop Out opens with haunting, pictorial scenes from the World Trade Center bombing where our hero barely escapes the horrors of inexpressible gore and death, loses all his friends and family, and is left not only jaded and guilt-ridden but unrecognizably disfigured to resume his lonely life. He subsequently battles a vividly and realistically portrayed hurricane off the coast of Key West to meet a dying woman, whose innovating love and spirit reminds him that happiness isn't only for the beautiful or carefree, and ultimately cures his irremediable depression. In this alarming novel, I confronted fear, revulsion, depression, loneliness, and mortality right along with the hero.
Elly Michaels
Author: For Love of a Cause
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DX6IV0E
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
August 18, 2013
Even more powerful read
To date, DROP OUT http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U has sold more than 3,500 copies. The book has gotten thirteen 5-star reviews and was Indie Book of the Day last summer. Kindle Nation Daily called it “the sleeper hit of the year” and Kindle Fire Department called it, “riveting, touching, and deeply heartwarming, a book that will stay with you forever”.
I’ve received hundreds of emails from readers telling me how the book has affected them and changed their lives. I’ve also received emails telling me some of the book’s details of the 9/11 tragedy are a little off. Emails from readers that were actually in the buildings have written giving me pointers on what it was really. I’ve collected these notes and have incorporated them into the second edition of DROP OUT, due to be released in a few days.
These changes have strengthened the story and give an even clearer and more horrific picture of the aftermath of 9/11 and I believe takes the book to a new level of powerful, emotional action. I think readers will agree.
I could not have made the second edition possible without the support of Chris O’Byrne of Jetlaunch http://www.jetlaunch.net/ I highly recommend Chris and his services to any writer wishing to have their book professionally published. Chris has worked on all nine of my available books and done a fantastic job publishing each one to all the major retailers. He has continually provided excellent service and support long after I’ve paid him. He goes above and beyond for his clients and has made changes for me at no extra cost, time and time again. I get no referral fees for recommending him, I only want other writers to know who I have found to be the best in the business at indie publishing books.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
I’ve received hundreds of emails from readers telling me how the book has affected them and changed their lives. I’ve also received emails telling me some of the book’s details of the 9/11 tragedy are a little off. Emails from readers that were actually in the buildings have written giving me pointers on what it was really. I’ve collected these notes and have incorporated them into the second edition of DROP OUT, due to be released in a few days.
These changes have strengthened the story and give an even clearer and more horrific picture of the aftermath of 9/11 and I believe takes the book to a new level of powerful, emotional action. I think readers will agree.
I could not have made the second edition possible without the support of Chris O’Byrne of Jetlaunch http://www.jetlaunch.net/ I highly recommend Chris and his services to any writer wishing to have their book professionally published. Chris has worked on all nine of my available books and done a fantastic job publishing each one to all the major retailers. He has continually provided excellent service and support long after I’ve paid him. He goes above and beyond for his clients and has made changes for me at no extra cost, time and time again. I get no referral fees for recommending him, I only want other writers to know who I have found to be the best in the business at indie publishing books.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
August 9, 2013
Making it happen
Ever since Ereader news today sponsored DROP OUT and it went to #22 in romantic suspense, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U sales have remained steady in a good way. As I’ve always said, it takes a lot of extra hard work to keep the sales momentum going, but thanks to all the great reviews and word-of-mouth the book is getting the journey to the bestseller list is going easier. I had a feature written about me in my local hometown magazine and I’ve been doing a lot of blog interviews to add to my exposure. Here’s a link to my latest.
http://richlikesbooks.blogspot.com/20...
I’ve also been getting a lot of personal emails from people telling me how the book has affected them and literally change their outlooks on life. Nearly all my reviews from all over the world are five-star and my blog posts have been re-posted by others thousands of times. Here’s my latest review from Amazon U.K.
* * *
5.0 out of 5 stars I wasn't sure I'd like this book
6 Aug 2013
By Mrs. C. I. Campbell
Format: Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thought the subject matter would be too gruelling and too sad to bear...and, in many ways it was. But it was handled in such a way that I didn't feel voyeuristic, as I expected. Instead, it felt like a story that ought to be told, and, in the end, I felt uplifted. The action scenes were so well written, it seemed incredible they could have been written by someone who had not lived through these things. There was intense pain and passion in this book as well as great compassion and understanding. Masterfully written.
* * *
Other indie writers have written me telling me that I am wasting valuable writing time with all this marketing and promoting. They say my time would be better spent writing new books than doing all the things I do so small pockets of readers can get to know me. They say volume of material will get me my readers. I disagree.
It may take a thousand blog interviews and reviews before the mainstream gets to know my material, but they will get to know it. I’d rather have a huge, loyal fan base that took time (years) to build over nine books than a hundred published books that no one has read.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
http://richlikesbooks.blogspot.com/20...
I’ve also been getting a lot of personal emails from people telling me how the book has affected them and literally change their outlooks on life. Nearly all my reviews from all over the world are five-star and my blog posts have been re-posted by others thousands of times. Here’s my latest review from Amazon U.K.
* * *
5.0 out of 5 stars I wasn't sure I'd like this book
6 Aug 2013
By Mrs. C. I. Campbell
Format: Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thought the subject matter would be too gruelling and too sad to bear...and, in many ways it was. But it was handled in such a way that I didn't feel voyeuristic, as I expected. Instead, it felt like a story that ought to be told, and, in the end, I felt uplifted. The action scenes were so well written, it seemed incredible they could have been written by someone who had not lived through these things. There was intense pain and passion in this book as well as great compassion and understanding. Masterfully written.
* * *
Other indie writers have written me telling me that I am wasting valuable writing time with all this marketing and promoting. They say my time would be better spent writing new books than doing all the things I do so small pockets of readers can get to know me. They say volume of material will get me my readers. I disagree.
It may take a thousand blog interviews and reviews before the mainstream gets to know my material, but they will get to know it. I’d rather have a huge, loyal fan base that took time (years) to build over nine books than a hundred published books that no one has read.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
August 8, 2013
Just a little advice
It never fails to amaze me how we have become such an instant society. Now, what exactly do I mean by that? We have become a society in which entertainment, whether television, movies, or books can be had at the press of a button almost anywhere in the world and at any time. As a writer, that means you must have a constant presence in order to stand out among all the clutter.
I have been on vacation for the last few days and have not written any new posts or made my presence known on the internet by promoting. Now, you would think that such a short span of time away from marketing and promoting my books wouldn’t have an effect on sales. But it has. In just three days of internet silence my daily sales have dropped about thirty percent. And I do believe that if a week had gone by my sales would have dropped even further.
I wrote an article about this phenomenon a few years back when I went on a longer vacation and saw my sales drop dramatically. In order to sell books you must maintain a web presence on the big writer’s sites and writer’s and reader’s threads and communities at all times. People are constantly bombarded with ads and have learned to ignore them like an over-fed frog ignores a bothersome fly. The only way to get noticed is to keep involved.
Though I know we all need a vacation from the stresses and absurdities of life, the work of a writer is never done; whether it’s creating new characters and stories or marketing existing works to get read. To make it big in the publishing world you must put forth the effort to get noticed. Sales do not happen just because a book is a great read they happen because people find out that it is a great read. And that is achieved by marketing.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
I have been on vacation for the last few days and have not written any new posts or made my presence known on the internet by promoting. Now, you would think that such a short span of time away from marketing and promoting my books wouldn’t have an effect on sales. But it has. In just three days of internet silence my daily sales have dropped about thirty percent. And I do believe that if a week had gone by my sales would have dropped even further.
I wrote an article about this phenomenon a few years back when I went on a longer vacation and saw my sales drop dramatically. In order to sell books you must maintain a web presence on the big writer’s sites and writer’s and reader’s threads and communities at all times. People are constantly bombarded with ads and have learned to ignore them like an over-fed frog ignores a bothersome fly. The only way to get noticed is to keep involved.
Though I know we all need a vacation from the stresses and absurdities of life, the work of a writer is never done; whether it’s creating new characters and stories or marketing existing works to get read. To make it big in the publishing world you must put forth the effort to get noticed. Sales do not happen just because a book is a great read they happen because people find out that it is a great read. And that is achieved by marketing.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
August 3, 2013
My own reward
I’ve been doing the interview thing again and recently I was asked something that I hadn’t been asked before. The questioned posed to me was, “what do you hope to achieve with your writing?”
I had to think about that one for a bit before I could give an adequate response. For you see, I’m actually not looking to achieve anything with my writing except to provide people with entertainment. I’m not looking to win any big awards (though I’m not opposed). I don’t think I’m going to get rich from this (though that would be nice, too). And I’m not looking at my writing as a way to meet women (I’m married). So why exactly do I do it?
I describe my books as quick, exciting reads, without mind-numbingly boring character details, but deeply memorable ones, with plots that are both absolutely unique and jarring at the same time. I don’t think my books will ever hit the mainstream market, but I could get a viral following of readers who want to experience a different kind of story. As one reader put it in an email to me, “I love your novels because I can read them in a few hours, which is good, because I can never put them down once I start one.”
Such high praise makes me blush. But seriously, the freedom of writer’s these days is crazy. I will NEVER again have a publisher or agent tell me to rewrite a novel to suit the general public! In my early author days, I had a powerful NY agent who made the rounds with my books. Several publishers did show interest, but told me to take out what I thought were the best parts of my novels because they felt these cutting-edge scenes wouldn’t sell to the mainstream. Well, guess what? I don’t want to sell to the mainstream. I want to sell to people who are crazy about books, and stories, and are interested in reading something that will take them to places they’ve never been before. No boring, conventional, formulaic, mainstream stories here. Check them out.
To read more about me and to buy my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
I had to think about that one for a bit before I could give an adequate response. For you see, I’m actually not looking to achieve anything with my writing except to provide people with entertainment. I’m not looking to win any big awards (though I’m not opposed). I don’t think I’m going to get rich from this (though that would be nice, too). And I’m not looking at my writing as a way to meet women (I’m married). So why exactly do I do it?
I describe my books as quick, exciting reads, without mind-numbingly boring character details, but deeply memorable ones, with plots that are both absolutely unique and jarring at the same time. I don’t think my books will ever hit the mainstream market, but I could get a viral following of readers who want to experience a different kind of story. As one reader put it in an email to me, “I love your novels because I can read them in a few hours, which is good, because I can never put them down once I start one.”
Such high praise makes me blush. But seriously, the freedom of writer’s these days is crazy. I will NEVER again have a publisher or agent tell me to rewrite a novel to suit the general public! In my early author days, I had a powerful NY agent who made the rounds with my books. Several publishers did show interest, but told me to take out what I thought were the best parts of my novels because they felt these cutting-edge scenes wouldn’t sell to the mainstream. Well, guess what? I don’t want to sell to the mainstream. I want to sell to people who are crazy about books, and stories, and are interested in reading something that will take them to places they’ve never been before. No boring, conventional, formulaic, mainstream stories here. Check them out.
To read more about me and to buy my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING
Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
August 1, 2013
Never compromise or give up!
Thank you to everyone who has recently purchased DROP OUT, the book continues to sell well and affect reader’s lives. For those who don’t know the story’s origins and its powerful message, I thought I’d share a post from a few weeks ago.
I’ve been a thriller sci-fi writer for more than twenty years now and over that span of time my books have gotten the attention of numerous literary agents and publishers. In 2005, I signed with a major literary agent from a major NY literary agency. This agency had sold hundreds of books and film rights, some for as much as seven figures. I was very excited.
My agent loved all six (at the time) of my books and like all good agents edited them and provided insight to help make the stories more saleable, all without asking for a dime in advance. We had several exciting close-call deals and a few heart-racing moments while waiting to see what kind of money was going to be offered. My agent encouraged me to keep writing more books and truly believed that one day I’d hit it big.
Then something happened that turned my world around; a close friend was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. But here’s the kicker… he was given just two weeks to live. He went from his nine-to-five life, to knowing he had a very limited amount of time left. Having no close family and no money for a good hospital, he was left with little option except to die alone. It is then that my wife and I decided to hospice him.
It was an incredibly powerful experience watching as his life slipped away and how he dealt with it psychologically. When the day finally came that he passed on, I was there to shut off the ventilator and pull the sheet over his head. I’ve never been the same since.
As a writer, I wanted to capture something of the moment and relay what I learned from watching someone’s life end. Having never written a literary fiction novel before, I suddenly found myself in the throes of a powerful statement about the meaning of life. DROP OUT was written in a fanatic ten day period.
When I sent the completed manuscript off to my agent, he was extremely disappointed that I had gone this literary route and had no intentions of ever trying to sell the book. I had no intentions of letting the book sit in a drawer, so after a few emails and telephone calls we decided to end our nearly four year partnership. I was devastated to be back among the ranks of agent-less authors. I indie published DROP OUT a little over a year and a half ago not expecting much to come of it considering the opposition my agent had to represent the book. Then an amazing thing happened.
Since then sales have grown steadily each month cumulating in a surge of sales this week. At this point, nearly ten thousand copies of the book have been downloaded and at one point the book had gotten below #1,000 on Amazon’s paid sales ranking. But what is most heart-warming and gives me the most satisfaction is the emails and reviews that I’ve gotten telling me how the book has changed people’s lives. Almost every review is a five star and what the reader’s are saying… well, check them out yourself.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U
I’d like to thank my former agent for dropping me (no pun intended) and giving me the freedom to publish my books on my own. Especially, for giving DROP OUT a chance to change people’s lives. When it comes to the world of big publishing, deadlines, competition, and profit, it’s good to know that by avoiding all that nonsense, a little story with a powerful message can make such a difference in how people view their mortal time on this planet.
Click here to read my blog ALWAYS WRITING.
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
I’ve been a thriller sci-fi writer for more than twenty years now and over that span of time my books have gotten the attention of numerous literary agents and publishers. In 2005, I signed with a major literary agent from a major NY literary agency. This agency had sold hundreds of books and film rights, some for as much as seven figures. I was very excited.
My agent loved all six (at the time) of my books and like all good agents edited them and provided insight to help make the stories more saleable, all without asking for a dime in advance. We had several exciting close-call deals and a few heart-racing moments while waiting to see what kind of money was going to be offered. My agent encouraged me to keep writing more books and truly believed that one day I’d hit it big.
Then something happened that turned my world around; a close friend was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. But here’s the kicker… he was given just two weeks to live. He went from his nine-to-five life, to knowing he had a very limited amount of time left. Having no close family and no money for a good hospital, he was left with little option except to die alone. It is then that my wife and I decided to hospice him.
It was an incredibly powerful experience watching as his life slipped away and how he dealt with it psychologically. When the day finally came that he passed on, I was there to shut off the ventilator and pull the sheet over his head. I’ve never been the same since.
As a writer, I wanted to capture something of the moment and relay what I learned from watching someone’s life end. Having never written a literary fiction novel before, I suddenly found myself in the throes of a powerful statement about the meaning of life. DROP OUT was written in a fanatic ten day period.
When I sent the completed manuscript off to my agent, he was extremely disappointed that I had gone this literary route and had no intentions of ever trying to sell the book. I had no intentions of letting the book sit in a drawer, so after a few emails and telephone calls we decided to end our nearly four year partnership. I was devastated to be back among the ranks of agent-less authors. I indie published DROP OUT a little over a year and a half ago not expecting much to come of it considering the opposition my agent had to represent the book. Then an amazing thing happened.
Since then sales have grown steadily each month cumulating in a surge of sales this week. At this point, nearly ten thousand copies of the book have been downloaded and at one point the book had gotten below #1,000 on Amazon’s paid sales ranking. But what is most heart-warming and gives me the most satisfaction is the emails and reviews that I’ve gotten telling me how the book has changed people’s lives. Almost every review is a five star and what the reader’s are saying… well, check them out yourself.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FX0K7U
I’d like to thank my former agent for dropping me (no pun intended) and giving me the freedom to publish my books on my own. Especially, for giving DROP OUT a chance to change people’s lives. When it comes to the world of big publishing, deadlines, competition, and profit, it’s good to know that by avoiding all that nonsense, a little story with a powerful message can make such a difference in how people view their mortal time on this planet.
Click here to read my blog ALWAYS WRITING.
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com
