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yasmin
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 10:17 am: | 
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In the past six months, I've read or (heard about and will read a number of books by debut and veteran authors) who still do not appear to demand the attention or the $$$ that many of the current AA fictional writers garner. Some of the books that come to mind are:
This Side of the Sky by Elyse Singleton
Bliss by Gabrielle Pina
Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones
Douglas Women by Jewel Parker Rhodes
Quite Storm by Rachell Howzell Hall
Friday Night at Honeybee's by Andrea Smith
Discretion/Grace by Elizabeth Nunez
Triple Take by Yanier Moore
The Drift by John Ridley
Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Shelia Williams (one of my top reads for 2003; this book will speak to multitudes of women no matter the race, color or religion)
Most of these authors have stories that are creatively crafted and well told but I don't see a lot of folks reading them? Why is this? It almost seems that authors who didn't have to self-publish and get out there and bust their rumps to promote their books DON'T. It seems that authors who are immediately picked up by major publishing companies expect the 5-6 city tour compliments of the publishing house to achieve their goal of getting the word out about their book. However, with so many new books and new authors daily, and the cost of books, many folks still don't take a chance on a new author/book unless they hear it from someone else's mouth.
So why do you surmise that many of these authors books haven't quite taken off even tho' they have good stories. And on the flip side, I know of a self-published author whose book is not written very well, but its selling like hot cakes, because he/she is EVERYWHERE promoting this book. I even surmise to say that once she/he shows she/he can sell 20/30,000 copies some agent/major publisher will be knocking on the door and offering the individual a deal. Not knocking self-published authors, because a TON of them have gone on to get major deals and they have good stories to tell and good writing skills to boot. But there are some folks whose books have been picked up and I have asked myself WHY...but only for the almight dollar have they triumped. Madison Avenue saw the $$$ and said this one can add to our bottom line PLUS they will self-promote and therefore we won't have to worry about spending too many of OUR dollars behind them because they alright know how to sell themselves.
I want to see Pina, Jones, Singleton et al around for the long haul but as Elizabeth Nunez said in a recent conference I attended..."a reader can silence a writer by not buying their works." And if most folks don't know about these writers and they're not prominently displayed when we walk into the bookstore...how will they survive beyond the first couple of books? To stay in the game they've got to show sales or get out. If they're not promoting their works who will? Let's discuss.
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Rachel Howzell Hall
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 01:25 pm: |
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Hi, Yasmin-
I'm a daily lurker of this site, as well as one of those authors listed (Rachel Howzell Hall). To give you a quick answer (speaking for myself), I'm not self-promoting because I'm actually busy working full-time (I'm a fundraiser for the ACLU in Los Angeles) and writing when I'm not working. I also have a husband that I like playing with when I'm not writing or working, sleeping or showering .
Yes, the squeaky wheels get the oil (and money and publicity and 12-city tours), but you know, I'm not a writer for any of those reasons. I'm sure some of those other writers you listed (and I'm SO HONORED that you listed me, especially with Tayari, Jewell, et. al) will say the same. I write because I have to or else I'll go crazy. Some writers (like me) feel like Paul Revere. We have to alert the world that something's coming - evil, good, death, life. We can't get off the horse because we know the truth (or our version of truth) and we have to share it. No lie.
Yes, it's quite difficult when you read about six-figure advances to some writers who couldn't string together a sentence with a needle and thread (writer's envy) BUT I'd rather have the respect of my readers, my family, my English professors...you know what I mean. Writing is a business, yes; but writing (the actual practice) is also an art and it's political and religious. And if I have to choose between showing my face at every single conference from L.A. to Poughkeepsie, OR eke out a small existence as I attempt to put into words my explanation of truth and nontruth, good and not-so-good, I'll choose the latter.
AND I'll continue praying that, if the Lord sees fit, big money comes to buy freedom. Until then, I will rely on readers like you and many others on this board to seek out new and not-so-new-but-not-necessarily-popular authors like the ones you listed. On behalf of that group, thanks so much for supporting us. |
Kola
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 01:52 pm: |
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Mrs. Hall,
I'm so glad you posted, because I had never heard of you before. But by the integrity of your letter, I'm ordering some of your books right away today.
I loved your post.
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Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:05 pm: |
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Wonderful response Rachel...and your book is among my favorites of the year as well. One thing that sticks out is that you approaced a new subject and plotline! I liked that...congrats to you. I'll be looking forward to hearing more good things and reading more of your work.
You sound sincere about what you're doing (writing) and in it for the right reasons (my connoation of right). I have no doubt you'll go far!!
-Tee |
Rachel Howzell Hall
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:26 pm: |
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Awww, shucks....you ladies are sweet.
And your responses, both Kola and Tee, are worth more to me than a check. Compliments I get to keep all for myself. Money, on the other hand, gets taxed 40% if you're childless (like me)! And Tee, I had a wonderful time in the RAWSISTAZ chat room. I sat at my laptop, dressed in sequins just for the occasion! |
Yasmin Coleman
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:36 pm: |
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Hey Rachel and it's good to hear from you again...long time no hear! Yes, your book is one of my favorites...I can still remember scenes and details from it almost 9 months later.
I'm glad you posted because you helped me to understand why you write (and I believe there might be others that I listed with similar reasons).
Thank you for stating:
BUT I'd rather have the respect of my readers, my family, my English professors...you know what I mean. Writing is a business, yes; but writing (the actual practice) is also an art and it's political and religious. And if I have to choose between showing my face at every single conference from L.A. to Poughkeepsie, OR eke out a small existence as I attempt to put into words my explanation of truth and nontruth, good and not-so-good, I'll choose the latter.
I wish others admired the trade/craft and honored it like you and so many others I listed above. Now Soror when is your next book coming out and I hope that their will be another one soon and that you will one day be able to give up your day job and write full time because I think you've earned that right...but I'm just an avid reader/reviewer/bookseller of AA Lit. and fan of yours. ;)
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Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 03:44 pm: |
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Ms Hall, I certainly applaud your philosophy in regard to writing for the love of the craft. I feel this way, too. I'm one of those self-published authors mired in inertia, because I never felt the need to promote my books. I just wrote them because, as you say, I have a compulsion to write and, nowadays, it's so easy to do so on a word processor. I have had people tell me that I write as well as some of those authors out there, and have had others, who are on my wave length, even go so far as to say that they enjoyed my work. I have garnered some marginal success in the newspaper business, and my editors always validated my contributions by printing them word-for-word, noting that my concise style of writing made me a "natural" for news writing. Sooo, those of us who are true to our Muse will continue to indulge our creativity and enjoy the self fulfilment that money can't buy. "Ars Gratias Artis!" Write on! |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 05:37 pm: |
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ROFL Rachel...you are too funny! I hope to meet you one day in person, so please keep me posted on things and your tour schedule. I'm now in Atlanta and have about lost my mind with all the authors here. I don't know what to do first...fortunately, my dread of Atlanta traffic is helping slow me down.
-Tee |
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