From a Flame to a Fire

Let's go back in time 6 maybe 7 years. That is when I first dipped my toes into the waters known as social media. It started with a few blogs. (reading them, not writing them) Most notably the famed and ever fabulous Miss Snark.

Miss Snark's blog was written by a literary agent. It was a beacon of truth and light in a swirl of confusion and lots of we writers flocked their like alcoholic moths to neon beer sign. We were thirsty for the plain spoken knowledge she dispensed. Sadly Miss Snark hung up her blogging stilettos back in  '07 but the archives remain a treasure trove of information. I wish the great Snarky One would return and offer her take on the state of publishing, e-books, indies, and self-publishing, but I'm sure she's off with Killer Yapp and George Clooney soaking up sun and avoiding general nitwittery.

Like I said, many writers hung out there and most if not all of my early blogworld friends came from there. Some are still around but others have vanished disappeared. Many who were unpublished at the time have gone on to sign with agents and see their books printed.

As the years have gone by my social media network has grown and expanded to include many folks who are not writers, but I'd guess that a full 60-70% of those I interact with are writers. and talented writers at that so a huge proportion of those have one or more books available for purchase. Once upon a time I tired to buy every book written by every online friend I have. Regardless if it was a genre I'd normally read or a subject I cared anything about. 

But as the list of people I call friend grew and the talent of those people blossomed that got harder and harder to do. I've finally given up and only buy the books that interest me or that I can give as gifts to someone else who I think will really like it. I do at times feel guilty when I do not buy a friend's book, so I still try and do my part helping them promote. I might mention the title with a  link on my blog, or tweet about it. Share the cover via Facebook, let them guest blog at my place or whatever else I can think of.

In less than two weeks my first full length book will be released and I will finally join my crowd of talented friends. Of course I'd love for everyone of y'all to buy a copy but I understand not everyone finds bulldog masturbation stories funny. So I guess what I'm saying is don't feel guilty if you fall in that camp. Writing is subjective and there is no story or book that pleases everyone. But even if THE FEEDSTORE CHRONICLES isn't your cup of tea I'd be quite ecstatic if you mention its release to your cousin Larry, the crazy guy down at meat market, or the hillbilly that lives next door.