What I Would Do To Sell My Book

Today, I read an interesting article in a publication called The Independent. The article highlighted ways “brick and mortar” bookstores are attempting to compete against the book selling giant Amazon.com. For example, some authors are offering extra material, say a chapter or two, for bookstore chains that sell their books.

Anyone who buys the new Joanne Harris paperback Peaches for Monsieur le Curé from Waterstones will find it contains an extra chapter not included in copies sold elsewhere, after the book chain signed an exclusive deal with the author.

This got me thinking. What would I do to get an “exclusive deal” with a bookstore chain?

1. Provide extra material? Of course.
2. Offer to lead book discussions? Yes.
3. Stock book shelves? Absolutely.
4. Vacuum the bookstore? Yup.
5. Offer customers beverages and finger foods? All day.
6. Make the finger foods? Let’s get cooking.

Guess you get the idea. I want to sell my book. So, why not go to Amazon.com and buy a copy. ; )

Related articles

• Waterstones offers bonus material in books to lure buyers away from Amazon (telegraph.co.uk)

Broad Street Books

Broad Street Books in Branchville, NJ has agreed to stock copies of my book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War.

Broad Street Books is a beautiful store and I’m proud to have my book on its shelves.

From Broad Steet’s website:

“Broad Street Books is an independent used book store specializing in a wide variety of non-fiction books, children & young adult’s literature, and leather-bound classics. Our shop is located right in the center of Branchville NJ in the square at 1 Mill Street.

We carry a wide assortment of books and cds.

Some of our categories are: Art, Architecture, Photography, Painting/Drawing, Design, Cooking, Fashion, Gardening, Pets/Animals/Nature, Children’s Books, Young Adult, History, Religion, Philosophy, Mythology/Occult, Sports, Science, Chess, Music, Transportation (auto, trains, planes, and ships), Sociology, Psychology, plus many others. We also carry a large selection of Classical Cds.”

A Note from One of my Readers

I recently received this note, caps and all, from someone
who read my book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of
the American Civil War. “I TOOK MY TIME READING YOUR BOOK
BECAUSE I KNEW THE STORY HAD TO END AND DIDN’T WISH THAT TO HAPPEN.
IT IS A WONDERFUL READ AND MAKES ONE HUNGER FOR MORE OF THE SAME.
NOT THAT I RELISH WAR STORIES, BUT THE HUMAN ELEMENT IS COMPELLING
AND APPLICABLE TO ALL AMERICAN WARS. THANK YOU FROM A NEIGHBOR IN
HASKELL. THANK YOU ALSO FOR BEING A TEACHER.” I am
pleased!!!

I Got Some Fan Mail

I was very happy to receive this note earlier today. It’s from someone who read my book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War. Please allow me to share it with you here.

——————————————————————————-

Scott,

I received the book between 4:30 and 5:00 this afternoon. Once I got a few minutes to pause, I read the first 35 pages before I absolutely had to put it down.

Scott, this work is excellent! Have you ever served in combat? I have, and the sensual and emotional nuances you’ve captured here are genuine.

On the other hand, for the very reasons I’ve stated, it’s a gut-wrenching read, and that, my friend, is maybe the highest accolade I can give you.

——————————————————————————-

A nice Christmas gift.

Related articles

• I Wonder as I Wander – Why? (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
• Private Hercules Nominated for a Pushcart Prize (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
• Sunday Poem: Peace (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)

Sunday Poem: Peace

I’m hoping, from now on, to post a poem each Sunday. This one is from my book Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War. At this point in the book, Private McGraw has just finished a day of fighting at Gettysburg. He is broken and tired. Night envelops all and, for a time, there is peace.

Union soldiers at rest.

Rest in Peace

Night came on, so hell seeped back
into earth for a time. Dragged all the hoot
and holler with it, all the pop and bang,

but the air – it was still slicked
with Satan’s stench: ash and death.
For the first time, I envied the dead.

They no longer needed to wonder –
would a Yankee cuss plant some lead
in their bellies or what Heaven is like.

Flies still buzzed around some. The hum –
like ma hushing me to sleep
when I still feared the dark. Funny –

I spent a whole night snoring
next to dead men. Purest
moments of peace I ever had.

I Wonder as I Wander – Why?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about one of my habits, a habit that, in part, compels me to write: I wonder. I grant my mind liberty and let it travel where it might. But why do I wonder?

As a child, I often visited places I was unable to travel to physically; however, I did travel to these places both mentally and emotionally. Simply stated, I employed my imagination. As all children do, I embarked on incredible adventures. I explored the reaches of space. I grappled with undersea tyrants. I flew. I spoke to animals. I became animals. I piloted starships. I…well, I did it all. But all kids do. Right? But I’m not a kid anymore. A few days ago, I turned 44. Guess what. I’m still piloting starships.

Psychological studies suggest that people wonder, or day dream, because it helps them relax, manage conflicts, boost creativity, and relieve boredom. I’ve no doubt that all of this is true, but I believe that, for me, it’s more. When my mind zooms me to new and other places, it’s asking me to knit reality to the dream. It wants me to blend each into one. When I write, that’s exactly what happens.

For the last few years, I’ve been writing about the American Civil War. My efforts resulted in my first book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the Civil War. Currently I’m writing a second volume of Civil War poetry, The Journals of Lt. Kendal Everly. Respectively, each book tells the story of its title character; however, it also tells my story. As I carved each story, I lived each story. I smelt the cannon smoke. I trod upon earth muddy with blood. For me, my poems are much more than poems; they’re memories.

So, I’m a writer. I write because I wonder and I wonder to weave reality with fantasy – but why do that?

Related articles

• Lt. Kendal Everly Finds His Lungs (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)

Private Hercules Nominated for a Pushcart Prize

My book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War, was recently nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

The following is from the Pushcart website – http://www.pushcartprize.com/

“The Pushcart Prize - Best of the Small Presses series, published every year since 1976, is the most honored literary project in America. Hundreds of presses and thousands of writers of short stories, poetry and essays have been represented in the pages of our annual collections.

Writers who were first noticed here include:
Raymond Carver, Tim O’Brien, Jayne Anne Phillips, Charles Baxter, Andre Dubus, Susan Minot, Mona Simpson, John Irving, Rick Moody, and many more. Each year most of the writers and many of the presses are new to the series.

Our Pushcart Prize editions are found in most libraries and bookstores. Each volume contains an index of past selections, plus lists of outstanding presses with addresses.

The Pushcart Prize Fellowships is the endowment for The Pushcart Prize, and appreciates contributions in any amount. For more information contact Bill Henderson at Pushcart Press.”

Needless to say, I am honored and terribly excited!

“Voices from History” Poetry Tour Visits Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

The “Voices from History” poetry tour visits Franklin Lakes, New Jersey on November 7, 7pm at the Franklin Lakes Public Library

Franklin Lakes Public Library
470 DeKorte Drive
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417

201-891-2224

http://www.franklinlakeslibrary.org/index.html

In the program “Voices from History,” a study of history through poetry, S. Thomas Summers (Scott) provides a tour of the battlefields and camps of the Civil War through the eyes of Confederate soldier Hercules McGraw, and David Vincenti offers a view of the life of Galileo Galilei that will surprise many who think they already know the famous astronomer. Through their compelling verse and discussion of the times about which their poems speak, Scott and David will entertain fans of poetry and fans of history alike.

David Vincenti (www.davidvincenti.com) is a father, husband, poet, engineer, accordionist, and project manager. His poems have appeared in the Paterson Literary Review, the Edison Literary Review, and The Journal of New Jersey Poets, and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His first chapbook, To The Ones Who Must Be Loved, was published in 2010. David curates the Spoken Word Series at The Theater Company in Hoboken, NJ.

S. Thomas Summers (www.thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com) is a teacher at Wayne Hills High School and an adjunct professor at Passaic County Community College. He is the author of two chapbooks: Death Settled Well (Shadows Ink Publications, 2006) and Rather, It Should Shine (Pudding House Press, 2007). Scott’s book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War (Anaphora Literary Press), was published in 2011. It is available for purchase at Amazon.com.

This reading is free and open to the public.

Dueling Characters

Scott’s great snake. Cartoon map illustrating Gen. Winfield Scott’s plan to crush the Confederacy, economically. It is sometimes called the “Anaconda plan.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve a friend, a fellow poet, who reads everything I write. Well, at least everything I send him. He, William, read and commented on each poem in my book Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War. He’s also read and commented on every poem in my ever growing, soon to be published second book, The Journals of Lt. Kendal Everly: Poems of the American Civil War.

Recently, William made the following observation. “Here, in The Journals of Lt. Kendal Everly, more than with the rebel series, Private Hercules McGraw, you seem to isolate on the singular enemy ["the man I was to kill"] rather than the mass – as if these soldiers fight soldiers rather than armies.”

William also commented, “It seems that the Union liutennant is more self-absorbed and takes his action as against individuals. The tenor of the Confederate representative has a nobler essence – suggesting the poet has a sympathy for the settled character of the South.”

Hmmmm? Do I like one character (Hercules) more than another (Kendal)?

I need to think this one through. Fascinating.

Related articles

• Private McGraw Receives Stellar Review (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)
• Voices From History (thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com)

My First Book Signing – Kind of…

Yesterday, I walked into the main office of Wayne Hills High School – where I teach literature. I was surprised to find someone reading my recently released book Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War.  It was the first copy of the book I saw and the first one I signed.