Support for Indie Authors discussion
Fun
>
Can I have a hug please?
@Marie-Anne. They shine up your shoes because they make you feel better from the toes up. Well that's my story anyway...
Hugs hugs all around. I can use one today too. I'm exhausted and either I have miserable allergies or a cold brewing. : (
Jane wrote: "@Marie-Anne. They shine up your shoes because they make you feel better from the toes up. Well that's my story anyway..."Thank you Jane for the explanation - now I understand the phrase "to make your toes curl with pleasure" - happy weekend to you.
I am giving you a huge Italian hug. Do you feel it? Okay, I'm letting go so you can breath. Get ready. I'm hugging again.Don't stress. It doesn't matter. Just write. Keep writing!
I've stopped looking at the flat line on my dashboard and am focusing on craft.
Keep writing stories. Good engaging stories and the downloads and sales will creep up.
We lost one of our dogs to congestive heart failure last night. We rescue abused, old, sick, and unwanted dogs hoping to give them a good life before they pass on. Of course, I never think they've had enough time to just be a happy-go-lucky dog. Sad. Please hug your pet, if you have one, for me. Thank you. Hugs
I am so sorry for your loss Sam!!! The nightmare of all dog owners. At least, he had you for his last days. He wasn't alone. He knew he was finally loved. *Hugs*
Oh Suam. I know how that feels. Love and double hugs from me and Dog. He says you gave your friend love and you should be proud
G.G. wrote: "I am so sorry for your loss Sam!!! The nightmare of all dog owners. At least, he had you for his last days. He wasn't alone. He knew he was finally loved. *Hugs*"Thank you, G.G. Hugs to your dogs and a chin scratch for your cat.
Jane wrote: "Oh Suam. I know how that feels. Love and double hugs from me and Dog. He says you gave your friend love and you should be proud"Thank you and Dog, Jane. Hugs back to you both.
I don't mean to be a hog, but... may I please have another hug today? Suffered a devastating blow yesterday... changes my future... ouch. : (
Oh babes. Have many many hugs and a Dog smooch.
Oh, thank you and hugs and dog smooches to you and Dog.
Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "I don't mean to be a hog, but... may I please have another hug today? Suffered a devastating blow yesterday... changes my future... ouch. : ("I am so sorry to hear that Sam!! I am afraid to ask what happened, but I will give you all the hugs you want and need. It's no hog!!!
Thank you so much, G.G. Hugs
Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "We lost one of our dogs to congestive heart failure last night. We rescue abused, old, sick, and unwanted dogs hoping to give them a good life before they pass on. Of course, I never think they've ..."Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this. Dogs are part of the family - I know mine is - it's devastating loss.
Sending lots of hugs.
Just read your next post, Sam. Hugs sent. :-*
Thank you for your understanding and hugs, Cathy. Hugs
Leaving a Bunch of Comforting and Warm Hugs for anyone who needs them... today and every day. Thank you to those who have left hugs here, too. Hugs
Aww, thanks Frances. Italian hugs are wonderful too. <3 Sorry I've only just seen this, but a good day to receive it as I'm trying to work on my book after a long weekend :-)
Oh Sam; I'm so sorry you lost a dog. I'm sure it was just really happy and relieved to spend any time at all in your loving care <3
Sorry they're late, but have some extra big shmushy TL hugs....
So sorry, Sam! That's terrible pain. Dogs are such sweethearts. My old gal, Zoey, is my best pal and I was just thinking yesterday how I can't believe she's almost 12 years old.
T.L. Thank you for the shmushy hugs! HugsJ. Thanks for the huge hugs! Hugs
Amie, Thank you for your understanding. Please hug Zoey for me. Hugs
Today there seems to be a lot of depressed people on my own private feed. The energy feels really intense. I'm actually not editing as intended today; I've been nudged to rest and reflect. Just thought I'd drop off a basket full of hugs just in case any of you need them...
*places a large blanket filled with hugs beside T.L's basket and near everyone else's generous hug offering*I agree with you, T.L. Intensely emotional... Hugs
Sending you a big giant hug from New York. I truly understand your pain in this and it can be so disheartening. Be happy for those hard earned 7 sales because when you earn 70 or 700 you will look back on this day and where it with pride. It is a slow climb with sales. I've gone for 6 months without a single sale and that was with me paying for promotion! Concentrate on your craft and try not to worry too much about this because little by little you will get there.
XOXO
Welcome Autumn. Thank you for your kind words and the NY hug. Yes, we need to do what we do best; write. :-)
Please feel free to visit the post to offer and/or receive hugs whenever you need xx
V.M. wrote: "*Gladly takes a hug from TL's basket and deposits one puppy in return*It's a chocolate Lab, if anyone wants a snuggle."
*Snuggles up to chocolate Lab... drifts off to peaceful sleep* Hugs
*Dog saunters in with a parcel,of hugs and baked goods*
*Accepts sloppy kiss from Dog and gives hug in return*
Ooh, shnuffles with VM's choc lab AND leans cheek into Dog's sloppy kiss <3 Thanks dogs xxNeeded those; struggling to get my arse into gear at the moment.
(*Goes away scoffing baked goods*)
I Just posted this on my facebook. But needed to express my self in multiple forums (stupid writer):How to piss off an Author (forget just indie author) and ruin your community. Local independent bookstore who won't support local Authors:
Background: In my early twenties I worked at independent bookstore. My wife worked at independent bookstores from teens into her forties. We get it. We get there's limited space on shelves. We get there's a need to attracted tourists. We get there needs to be a theme. But we get how important it is to support locals and artists.
So I walk into our only local bookstore. A bookstore I have frequented a good many times over the last 15+ years, but probably not enough that I'm recognized. I bought a book first (this was one of my pet peeves working bookstore or any retailer, don't talk business until you've contributed to the business which I had done a plenty before too.).
Then I said, "I would like to talk a little business with you. I have a book." My next line was going to be, "If you'ld like to read the book and see if it's something you would want to sell. It even has a chapter dedicated to the area. I'll just give you a free copy and if you don't like it that's fine but please give it review even a negative one on amazon..." I'd been practicing those lines in my head during lunch making it difficult to read... That's what I WANTED to say but I was cut off.
He put up his hand and said, "I'm not interested. I only take books from big publishers."
Wow. He assumed I wasn't from a big name publishing house. Its true but ouch!-ha. Of course, my feelings were hurt but no he didn't stop there he had to dig even harder at me and went on and said, "I only have limited space and I only can have books that draw in people (which include used book and crappy selection of anything but YA. Oh and LOCAL history by independent or small presses). But then everyone would want me to sell their books (well duh). Now if you have a big following... You have to understand I had cds that never sold (so you're trying to get revenge on other artists?)..."
I did say as I walked out (fuming), "I thought a small independent bookstore would be most understanding of an independent writer."
Because I understand, I know the reasoning. I also looked at your spacing and you have plenty of room for a locals shelf. You could care less about locals. You could care less about customers. You really don't care about books at all. You're trying to survive. I get it but what you don't want to do is upset the locals.
And in all honesty, I think the thing that pissed me off the most is he judged me as incapable of writing, which might be true but how would he know? Maybe he could have made a fortune off of me, probably not but who knows. I hate being judged period. I break molds dammit!
I wanted to drop my book off at the library but didn't have the courage. I am a writer and I am an Introvert.
Hey Mister bookstore owner thanks for helping me out, blowing any confidence I had gathered as an indie author (I did have one person ask me to sign my book he'd just gotten in the mail-yay). You are everything I hate about the world today.
Alex wrote: "@Michael, when you're a huge success, make a point of going back in to that shop and telling the guy how he could have been in at the beginning of your career and parlayed that into something great..."Good positive attitude. I like it! Wishful which I'm all for. Been in the book business including writing business to long-ha!
I think the thing that really upset me is the judgement (even if he judged correctly). He had no idea if I had a local history book (which he had tons-- all small/indie published having owned most of them), a book on fishing the river (I live on a river-ha), or if I had just got published by Tor. That's the aspect of my life I hate the most. Being Judged.
Feeling better this morning though I did wake up to early thinking about it. Guess I'm not over it but I'll move on... Eventually.
Hey Andrew. Help yourself to hugs from Dog's basket. Grab a doughnut and breathe... its no good letting folks like that get to you. Just make a doughboy and stick pins in it...
Hugs Andrew! I'm with Alex and Jane. Now bring your book to the library like you had planned. Hugs
Jane wrote: "*Dog saunters in with a parcel,of hugs and baked goods*"Dog is just the best. *hugs dog*
@Andrew, I would assume he was judging you as a writer, just assuming you were an Indy writer, therefor judging all Indy writers... so... you're not alone. Lots of people still assume Indy books are crap no matter what. It's sad he didn't at least give you a chance.My library had a 'submit your indy book' project and selected a number of them and did a bit "get an indy book" event. So, still give your library a chance!
Yeah, I know. They showcase one on the overdrive portal every month.
Something awesome happened to me today that I want to share in hopes of making you smile. A bird walked... yes, walked into my kitchen. I have the door open for our dogs to go out into the fenced in backyard at will. The bird then hopped up and flew onto a chair and sang while I watched in awe. Not one dog barked. After trying unsuccessfully to fly out through the closed window, the cute little sparrow found its way back out the door. It really made my day. Hugs to All.
G.G. wrote: "How cute! What kind of bird was it?"A sparrow. He or she is welcome in our home anytime, especially for not making the dogs bark. Hugs
My granny would have said that was the soul of a friend come to bring you love and good luck. Treasure the moment.
*Dog ambles in with basket of hugs and bottle of home-made sloe gin. Wags tail and departs grinning canine grin.*
Jane wrote: "My granny would have said that was the soul of a friend come to bring you love and good luck. Treasure the moment."Oh, how sweet, Jane! I certainly did treasure it and hope the bird comes back again. Hugs
Jane wrote: "*Dog ambles in with basket of hugs and bottle of home-made sloe gin. Wags tail and departs grinning canine grin.*"Ha, ha! You have a still out back? Got any moonshine? Hugs
*Hugs dog before he gets away*
V.M. wrote: "I could totally use a hug today. Have been stealing ones from the cats all week, but I keep falling asleep and cuddling them :P"*Hugs V.M with such strength, she lifts him off floor*
Come in here anytime, V.M. We're always here for you. Hugs
Firstly, I apologise for my absence, my huggy darlings. I've been up my own backside editing my duology. Currently awaiting proof readers though. Andrew; that's poopey! I would've wanted to have demanded a refund for the shite book I'd just bought, but probably wouldn't have had the courage to do so.
It is annoying indeed.
I created a paperback of one of my novels with Createspace. It was a marvellous idea, but they don't sell direct to stockists i.e. no wholesale, so bookstores don't really want to stock it. I CAN order it, ship it from the US to UK and use my house like a warehouse and send it to bookstores, but they'd still have to charge more than I'd want my readers to pay to make it worth their while :-(
Sam; definitely a loved one in spirit type visit from that sparrow. How loveyl <3
VM; sending emergency hugs your way xx
Grabs a slug of gin with a slobbery Dog hug n kiss <3
(*leaves another big basket of hugs; please feel free to take as many as you need*)
Thank you T.L. The or a sparrow often comes to rest and sing on the back porch, but doesn't come into the house. I enjoy the song and so do the dogs. Hugs
T.L.Andrew; that's poopey! I would've wanted to have ..."
I appreciate the support (by everyone and the wonders of hugs and this forum), I am as over it as I can be. Small towns can be wonderful and cruel and at some point you forgive (but I don't forget) just to survive. That said I do have an independent bookstore in San Francisco (Green Arcade) who will sell some of my books. Not gonna make money doing it but it's nice to see my books on the shelf.
I too offer a barrel of hugs (watch out for monkeys...), enjoy doggie drool(newfie's unite), and feed sunflower seeds to the sparrow. Thank you.
P.S. Best therapy for marketing woes -- writing another book!
Be they from loved ones, or pets
They can banish the blues
And shine up,your shoes
So just grab them and have no regrets"
I'm really curious! How do hugs shine up your shoes?