Recently some of you may have read that I had petitioned
some bookstores to carry my books in their brick and mortar stores. Well I got
an answer back from one of the largest booksellers in the world and basically
their answer was no. What I was told was that since they already carried my
books on their on-line stores and because they already stock some one million
titles in their brick and mortar stores they did not feel that at this time
they could add my books to their on shelf inventory.
I am perfectly OK with that response. The fact that I
received a response in the form of a letter I see as a success. So many
publishers and agents do not even afford that courtesy now a day.
A big part of trying to become an author is learning to deal
with disappointment. I would guess that only about ten percent (or less) of my
queries even get a response, but it is important to keep trying especially if
you believe in your work. There are so many factors that go in to selecting
projects, it can rang from timing to subject matter to marketability to talent
or even what is happening in the pop culture and you may never know what some
one is looking for at any given time. If you did know that it would increase
your chances a hundred fold. But because most of us do not have a crystal ball
we just have to keep trying. The important thing is to keep trying. There are
things that you can do to increase your chances such as getting as much feed
back as you can from friends, family, and even strangers. Have your work as
finished as it can be. Use professional editors. Above all believe in yourself
and your work and don’t let your disappointments get the best of you, because
there will be disappointment but they will make the successes that much
sweeter.
Good luck and keep writing.
