Markley's Blog

From the Vault

I wrote a book!  I am a published author.  Now what?  All the accolades… resounding reviews… book signings… book tour… last but not least television and radio appearances.  Ahh… the life of a published author.  Not quite!  Yes, the book is written, and in some instances that would be the easy part.  Now, it’s letting everyone know that you wrote a book. 

            I chose to go the self-publishing route in order to get my story to the masses.  Now, depending on a person’s view, the masses could be personal friends, family members, co-workers, church or club members.  To others, like myself, not only would I like to reach all those I just eluded too, I want to reach the world.  Reach as many readers as possible.  That’s a very lofty goal. Some might say that’s a little arrogant.             

Maybe.

            Just like any other artist, what you created you want to share with others.  The passion, desire, and joy that you received from creating your manuscript, are the same emotions you want to share with the reader.  One problem, you need readers-which also means you need sales.  Choosing the path of being self-published, also means I took on all the logistics that came with that choice.  The biggest being promotion.  With a limited budget, I am limited on how to achieve that goal.  There are several books, articles, and blogs, about how to do that.  I applied what I could.  I have been in my local paper; interviewed on a local radio station, I even had a former Capo of the Colombo crime family tell all his Facebook friends that it was a well-written book.  He even compared it to “The Godfather.”  That should tell you, if you’re intrigued with the mafia, maybe you should get a copy.  “Necessary Death” is available on-line. (Some small promotion there; right in the middle of my blog).  Hey, when you take on all the aspects of promoting you grab any chance you can.

            The frustration comes when you try all the avenues but your masses are just not as massive as you would like.  Now self-doubt creeps in.  Second-guessing.  Insecurity in your abilities.  All those demons that worm their way into the artist psyche, that if allowed, could stop that creative process.  So as a writer, I just write.  I need to write, need to create.  I get pleasure out of creating a poem, short story or even a complete manuscript.  Even this blog is a piece of work I am proud of.  So no matter the size of the mass I reach, I will write out of the pleasure of writing.  Expounding my thoughts, opinions, and my creativity; because that’s what I love to do.

            Here is a very small excerpt from my upcoming book “Necessary Blood”.  Maybe, just maybe, with a few words, it will create a desire to check out my first book “Necessary Death”.  Sorry about the self-promotion, but, you know…

            Dominic stood, walked around his desk. He sat facing Luther.  “Are you with me?”

            “Man, you don’t even have to ask that question. You know I’m with you.  I just don’t want to see you do something that you may not be ready for. No offense brother, but you’re not Michael.”

            “You’re right; I’m not. But he threw this in my lap. He left me with his quagmire.   He left his enemies alive. Now they’re my enemies; I won’t leave them alive.”

            Boy I loved writing that.