THE SECOND PASSOVER
OKAY now, everyone has heard of the Passover, right? Passover marks the exodus of the Children of Israel from slavery, when God “passed over” their houses during the last and deadliest of the ten plagues. By second passover (notedly uncapitalized), I mean the exodus of readers, passing over reading for something else. This second passover may be equally or even more pervasive than the first.
Please forgive me if I’ve offended anyone with my of-beat humor. However, the fact, or issue, is a real one, at least to authors, who, like me, are wondering where all the readers are these days. At several times in his (or her)story, books were banned and those recalcitrant individuals that held they would read them anyway were likewise vilified. In FAHRENHEIT 451, books were burned outright, and readers had to flee for their lives. But these days, books aren’t being banned or burnt (in general at least) so where are all the avid readers of yesteryear?
I’ve visited numerous social media sites, some of which claim to have “millions” of dedicated readers, but when I’ve participated — like checking to see how many reader comments resulted from a particularly cogent post — I’m surprised to often see not one. More than often, actually. My sensitivity surrounding this issue began when ebooks first appeared. I noticed with chagrin that people who bought my ebooks, unlike those who purchased a printed copy, hardly ever posted a review. Hardly ever mentioned the work anywhere even. It made me inquire of some of my younger friends enamored with ebooks, only to find some, maybe the majority, “collecting” works found at bargain prices “for future reading.” Interesting. So at least some of the elusive “readers” exist in the future rather than present…
Okay, so I have to admit that it might just be that my works aren’t for everyone. Toddlers wouldn’t likely find THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor very interesting, except to maybe chew a page. And readers with a penchant for the “good old days” might find this and some of my other Sci-Fu (science-based futuring) works a bit too “out there.” Still, there must be some readers, somewhere who would appreciate an “enduring literary work ‘with a twist’ that expands one’s point-of-view.” Actually, many ‘twists’ rather than one. But who, I keep wondering hasn’t ever wanted to peek into the not-just-probable, but fully plausible future?
So what am I saying? Where are all those perported readers? Hey, I just recalled: I’M A READER! So where am I? Certainly not searching the advertisement-saturated internet for the next great promotional read. I’m here, hunkered down, re-reading my favorite books already in hand, hoping the plague won’t get past my lintel.
Sincerely, Raymond Gaynor — Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020); Co-author with A. G. Hayes of QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) and with William Maltese of TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009).
Author website at https://garymartine.yolasite.com/raym...
Author Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/raymond.gayn...
Author Twitter site at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Amazon Author page at https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Gaynor...
Amazon Goodreads author page at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Savant Books and Publications | Aignos Publishing author page at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
Please forgive me if I’ve offended anyone with my of-beat humor. However, the fact, or issue, is a real one, at least to authors, who, like me, are wondering where all the readers are these days. At several times in his (or her)story, books were banned and those recalcitrant individuals that held they would read them anyway were likewise vilified. In FAHRENHEIT 451, books were burned outright, and readers had to flee for their lives. But these days, books aren’t being banned or burnt (in general at least) so where are all the avid readers of yesteryear?
I’ve visited numerous social media sites, some of which claim to have “millions” of dedicated readers, but when I’ve participated — like checking to see how many reader comments resulted from a particularly cogent post — I’m surprised to often see not one. More than often, actually. My sensitivity surrounding this issue began when ebooks first appeared. I noticed with chagrin that people who bought my ebooks, unlike those who purchased a printed copy, hardly ever posted a review. Hardly ever mentioned the work anywhere even. It made me inquire of some of my younger friends enamored with ebooks, only to find some, maybe the majority, “collecting” works found at bargain prices “for future reading.” Interesting. So at least some of the elusive “readers” exist in the future rather than present…
Okay, so I have to admit that it might just be that my works aren’t for everyone. Toddlers wouldn’t likely find THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor very interesting, except to maybe chew a page. And readers with a penchant for the “good old days” might find this and some of my other Sci-Fu (science-based futuring) works a bit too “out there.” Still, there must be some readers, somewhere who would appreciate an “enduring literary work ‘with a twist’ that expands one’s point-of-view.” Actually, many ‘twists’ rather than one. But who, I keep wondering hasn’t ever wanted to peek into the not-just-probable, but fully plausible future?
So what am I saying? Where are all those perported readers? Hey, I just recalled: I’M A READER! So where am I? Certainly not searching the advertisement-saturated internet for the next great promotional read. I’m here, hunkered down, re-reading my favorite books already in hand, hoping the plague won’t get past my lintel.
Sincerely, Raymond Gaynor — Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020); Co-author with A. G. Hayes of QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) and with William Maltese of TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009).
Author website at https://garymartine.yolasite.com/raym...
Author Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/raymond.gayn...
Author Twitter site at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Amazon Author page at https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Gaynor...
Amazon Goodreads author page at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Savant Books and Publications | Aignos Publishing author page at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
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