When I in March unveiled my GoFundMe page, I did so because I believed I needed the whole world for my book to succeed. Now early reviews of “How to Deal With Things That Suck,” and a maelstrom of news events has me convinced I had it backward.
I don’t need the world.
The world needs me.
Really, who's in worse shape?
Audacious, yes. But is the premise true? Let’s on this day have that discussion, at least before anyone tosses a tariff on hubris.
My dreams have always been humble. When people asked me if I was chagrinned my self-deprecating humor had not made me famous, I’d say, “No, I’m sorry my self-deprecating humor has not made me solvent.”
Yet, there were other intangible rewards. It was a couple of Christmases ago when an Indiana stranger called and said she wanted to buy 30 copies of my colorful life guidebook, “Use All The Crayons!” I said, wow, you have 30 friends?
“No, I only have 10 friends,” she said. “I’m taking the other 20 copies to the local cancer ward where I know it’ll make people happy.”
That was one small Midwestern town.
Think there is any place in the world that’s dominated by unhappiness this Monday morning? Know anybody that could use a lift, something that combines humor and heart?
I need your help for me to reach them I’ve already engaged a crackerjack local marketing firm that’s convinced me that together we can break through to a large audience. That costs money.
I had a local print shop produce 50 copies to distribute to book sellers, promoters, influencers and people in the Parkinson’s community. That takes money, too.
How is the early reaction? Is euphoric too strong a word? Some would say no, it’s on target. I do already sense a groundswell of untapped support.
Here’s how Meta AI described the on-line reaction to my announcement that the first 50 copies are up for grabs:
“Commenters eagerly express interest in purchasing signed copies of ‘How To Deal With The Stuff That Sucks.’ Many request shipping and payment details while others congratulate the author on his latest work. They without exception cheer his efforts. Enthusiasm and support dominate the comments. Unusually strong reaction like this is often indicative of a successful book release.”
Want to hear it from a human? This is the note a local woman sent me when she was just halfway through with the “Things That Suck” book.
“Oh my!! Loving it! Chris you are a funny man!!! I mean really!!”
That’s eight exclamation points to garnish just 13 words. But, some of you may be saying, what does she know about humor? Or books?
She owns a popular local book store. I predict with her enthusiastic support she’ll sell 150 of these books through Christmas.
Imagine how many I can sell if the book gets picked up by Barnes & Noble (I’m already working on it).
I’m, so far, 70 percent toward my $7,500 goal. I’ve had 22 donors fund me as much as $1,000 to spread the word. I would think on my second push, I can easily double the 22. Could I double the amount donated? Exceed my goal?
That’s a bit trickier. The deeper we go here the more tenuous the connection, or so goes conventional wisdom. But that may not apply between you and I.
Perhaps you’ve been reading my stuff for years — free! Free! Free since 2007! — and you and your whack job uncle used to bond over my blogs. Maybe the uncle just fell down the steps. Maybe he left you a map to a treasure chest of bitcoins that’ll make you rich once you find the loot and figure out just how you’re going to buy Pop Tarts with bitcoin.
Maybe you’ll get frustrated and transfer the whole bewildering mess over to me.
To be honest, I don’t even know if you can hold a bitcoin in your hand or use them to fill up a treasure chest,much less drop one in a vending machine full of Hershey bars.
Today, trillions of dollars are being shed in markets that once appeared bullet proof and now seem on the verge of imminent collapse.
Who has money to lavish on a struggling writer?
Everyone. Because you don’t need to donate $1,000* to make a difference.
Five dollars can make a real difference. Postal media rates to mail this book are $5.38 or about $2 more than it cost to mail my previous books.
What’s my takeaway from the disparity? I need to be writing lighter books! My next book is going to float. Either that or I’ll delete every other word, believing as I do the narrative will still make some sense.
Hell, it might make more sense.
So donate, share and recommend to friends. I’m convinced it’ll all together make a real difference.
Thank you for your consideration, and thank you, especially to those of you who've already donated and gotten the drive off onto such a strong beginning.
*Donations matching or exceeding $1,000 are still welcomed and the donors will be treated with suitable deference
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment