Some minor setbacks

A few more rejections to note since last time:

1. A generic one from Harpur Palate and Inch

2. A very nice, detailed one from Every Day Fiction.  Three editors actually read the story and provided comments.  I loved that.

3. I’m guessing the NYT or the LA Times did not take my Op-Ed.  So I will submit it to an Indian paper.

Also, I’m struggling still with the whole “non-response” thing.  I have emailed several outlets asking if I can send my book for review, or if they can post information about my book on their blog/site.  No response.  A “NO” would be great.  It’s just the non-response is so passive-aggressive, it gets under my skin every time.  I am also a little disappointed that a bookstore I was sure I would read at, and who expressed interest at first, has basically dropped off the planet.  I have called/emailed, and have not received even the slightest courtesy of a response.  A “I’m sorry, but we changed our mind about you coming here and reading your book, which we now think is not worthy of our store,” would be fine.  This is not the first time a bookstore expressed interest and then “faded” away.  I believe they do a bit of research after being a little too quick with their email, see that my book is being published by a small university press and that I have not received advance praise from the big guns like Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus, etc. (most of these reviewers SAY they like to review debuts, but they are not looking for small-timers like me, otherwise they would not ask for galleys so soon before the publication date, which is difficult for us small-timers to provide), and decide it’s not worth the risk.  What if the book sucks?  Yikes.

Onward.  My husband and I are unflinchingly loyal to those bookstores who support unknown writers.  Every time I go to Alamosa Books (where my launch party is being held), I buy something, most often more than one thing.  I buy a lot of my gifts there.  I do the same with the other bookstores that are supportive (and intend on buying Christmas gifts at Chevalier’s, the bookstore in Los Angeles), and I make sure to spread the word.  I actually make more if people buy the book directly from me.  Many have asked to do that, but I have insisted people buy the book directly from the bookstore, so that the bookstore can make money.  That is how much these bookstores’ support means to me.

We will continue to be loyal to those daring bookstores who do take a chance – who know that the power of the word is great, regardless of prominence.