Local Author Event

I would like to share some good news. My second book went live on-line last week. This is the non-fiction follow up to "The Journey, The Dreams, & AnnaBelle" titled "AnnaBelle's Spirit". I have also been included in a Local Author Event at Barnes & Noble in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. This event will take place this Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 7PM to 9 PM. I want to try my hand at fiction writing now, or perhaps freelance writing. I'm wondering if others have made this transition, and how it went for them. Any comments at all would be helpful. I have set up a website for my books,  www.csmorris.webs.com 

Good Morning World!!!!

                           Good Morning World!!!!

I recieved an e-mail this morning from my publicity specialist at my publishing company. It was an invitation to attend the AARP National Event and Expo, being held at Las Vegas on Oct. 22-24 of this year. It seems there are only 18 invitations available, and for the reasonable amount of $9,999.00 I can attend this function.

     This price will include the following: a booth, a Book Signing event supplied with 75 books, a poster, bookmarks, and flyers. They will also include a press release sent to my local media.

     Now, because it's AARP, you know I wasn't born yesterday. However, evidently I have "STUPID" tattooed across my forehead. Really, only $9,999.00? What a bargain. And I'm sure that staying at a hotel and eating for 4 days wouldn't be more than..... Oh, I don't know. No, really, I don't know.

      Here I am, trying desperately to find a reviewer to read this book, or any self-published book, and they think I have well over $10,000.00 to just offer up? If I had that kind of money, I'm sure I could pay someone to read it. More than one someone, I'm sure.

     Don't misunderstand me, it would be a wonderful trip, a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone like me. And I'm sure very productive, a dream come true. It simply makes my situation a little more bleak. Thank God I am, for the most part, an optimist. This sort of news could really cause me grief. It actually spurs me on.

     There has to be a way to break the stigma associated with the self-published work of thousands of writers. I'm definately not alone in my battle. I am hoping one of those thousands will find me here somewhere, and perhaps we can start our own reviewing system. I know it will be more difficult alone (there are strength in numbers), but regardless, I will continue. I have the support of my children, and so many of my friends and family. They help me to believe in myself, and in what I write.

     Thanks for reading my lastest post. Please let me hear from you.

         Carolyn Sue Morris

Still Looking

     I continue in my quest to find the answers for the self-publisher. Whether it be, POD or Vanity or whatever avenue each writer may opt for. The objective is the same for each of us, to see our work in print. I sometimes feel reviewers take very lightly what may have taken a lifetime to creat and complete.  For whatever reason, each and every writer will put their heart and soul into their work. There is little as downheartening as hearing back from a reviewer that their policy doesn't allow them to review self-published work.
     Who wrote these policies, and when were they written? These people are living in the dark ages. In this day and age, for a first time author, it's almost impossible to have your work seen by a traditional publisher. I would challenge any one of these reviewers to write a first time book, put an unknown alias on it, forget you know most everyone in the industry, and try to have it read, let alone published, by a "traditional publisher".
     Perhaps they don't realize that the authors of tomorrow are most likely the self publishers of today. I would ask the industry to re-think thier policies. Anyone can review a book from an established writer, they know the task is easy, the result, usually positive. I am still hammering away at reviewers, sending letters of requests, and waiting for a miracle. I feel I have to. This isn't just about me, it's about every new writer, and author who deserves a chance to be read. I have faith in my work, and the work of others. I feel someday the doors will open up a crack or two in this extremely harsh world of reviewing.
     I will continue my work, as I hope each and every new writer will also do. I will up-date if there is any news, I will post the names of reviewers and their companies as I recieve a yea or nay, and the reason why. I already have a few, but I need to organize the list. (By the way, they are all nay's thus far.)

Carolyn Sue Morris

Where's The Justice

Please post my posterous post "Where's The Justice" to twitter.

Where's The Justice??????

As anyone that has read my posts knows, I am trying so hard to promote my first published work. Like D. Parton, I would sell them out of the trunk of my car to get the word out. (You have to love that from her) Everyday it seems there is a movie star or politician on the news somewhere promoting their book. Now, we all know they didn't work any harder at it than the rest of us, if even as hard. I poured my heart and soul into this first work. I am currently about half done with my second book, a follow-up to this one.

I was watching The Early Show Weds. morning and there was Jim Nantz promoting his book. It seems he added another chapter and has published it again. Not to take away from the fact that he is honoring his Father who passed away in this extra chapter. I promised my Mother, AnnaBelle, that I would finish this book before she too, passed away in 2007. Hence the title: The Journey, The Dreams, & AnnaBelle". I know I personally am not as important as Mr. Nantz, but I know my Mother deserves honor as much as anyone's parents. I'm simply using him as an example. Again, it's not to take away from his work, but, Where's The Justice?????

I simply want to make a point. I mean, John McCains daughter wrote about being on the campaign trail with her dad, and was immediatly on national TV. It must have been really difficult to fly around in a jet, eat at the best restaurants, sleep in some great hotels. I know how that sounds, but....Where's The Justice???

I can't even get Barnes & Noble to carry my book in their stores. Well, not yet, I'm still trying. It's in their online store and at Amazon, but I would love to see it on the shelf. You have to be an established author, have a traditional publisher, and hopefully be a well known name to recieve the respect you desire. Again, Where's he Justice????

I will continue to fight the battle while completing this second book, even though I sometimes wonder why I would bother to finish it. But then I know why...... it's because I believe in my work, and I also believe that some day others will too. That's The Justice !!!!!!

Life.....

I can't believe it's Saturday again, so soon. I am still trying to prepare for my talk for the booksigning coming up on Monday evening. I'm getting a little nervous. Hopefully there will be lots of people there. The ladies at the library have worked so hard to make it nice, and have been so kind to me. I hope I sell some books, I know we would all be pleased with that outcome. Again, for those of you who don't know, my website is  www.authortree.com/carolynsdreambook  Feel free to check out my site, and look at the cover. I am busy picking out old photos for the follow-up non-fiction book, I am about half done with it. Titled, "AnnaBelle". The current one is "The Journey, The Dreams, & AnnaBelle". This has been a real labor of love for my Mom. I continue to miss her more than I can say. The writing has been great therapy for me. I would suggest everyone should learn the history of their family, especially that of their parents lives. Being so close to Mom, and having a special bond, made for wonderful memories. She was one of the most beautiful and fasinating women I have ever known. The book tells her story, as well as part of my own.
We're having the fireplace refaced today, Well, started today. Decided to go with fieldstone, I hope it looks nice. I'll need to paint the walls, but not until the stone is up. it should be the last room I have to do anything to for a long time. I can only hope.
It's a nice sunny day here today. We needed that. been a gloomy, cold, rainy, week. Crappy comes to mind.
Everyone have a great day !!!!!!

Carolyn Sue  

Booksigning Flyers

Distributed flyers yesterday. The library had printed them for my upcoming booksigning. It was quite a chore. Saw lots of greats friends around town, some new, some old. Now I just hope they remember the date and come.

Barnes & Noble

Finally got through to the Community Relations Manager at Barnes & Noble located in Ft Wayne. She was very helpful. i delivered one of my books to her today. She is going to look it over and see if they would be interested in helping to promote the sales of said book in this area. Because I am a new local author it may be helpful. I picked up the flyers about my event from the local library yesterday, I will spend part of the day tomorrow distributing them around town to the different businesses. I'm only 1 1/2 weeks away from the Author Event/Book Signing at the library, I need to get ready.

Good Friends, Wonderful Family, Endless Support

I am so very blessed to be able to feel the support that my home town of Huntington, Indiana has given me over the publishing of my first book. To the Huntington City Township Library, and The Herald-Press, I owe a debt of gratitude for their help with the marketing of "The Journey, The Dreams, & AnnaBelle". The Herald-Press ran a front page article from the interview they conducted. The library immediately ordered two of my books, and have scheduled an Author Event/Book Signing set for May 4, 2009 at 6;30 PM. 

Friends have called me to request a book, and the biggest compliment of all, they want it signed. I meet people in the stores while shopping that have seen the article and stop to congratulate me. I have a newly found cousin in Scotland, Jim Bollan, who ordered one of my books to read, he recieved it this week. Who could ask for a better response to anything, or a bigger compliment?

I want to praise and thank each and every one of these thoughtful people. They mean a lot to me.

Carolyn  

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