What I've learned (and confirmed) my first two years in the book business
More adventures in words, plans for 2024, some very cool photos and a trip to Brooklyn
Yesterday, Joe Swarctz of the Echo City Capers duo and I did our last book event of the holiday season, which more or less means we’re closing out 2023 for our book business here at Parisian Phoenix Publishing. Meanwhile, the other half of the duo, Ralph Greco Jr. wrote the Echo City Capers year-end blog entry, which can be read here. He sums up some of what I feel as well in his summary:
Joe and I truly got out and about and worked the 'brand.'
And not to be indelicate, but also some cold hard cash came our way; we even saw royalties….a first for Echo City Capers. How cool is that?
Mostly, though, and I also speak for Joe when I write this, it's meeting people that matters the most and really makes our day.
— Ralph, EchoCityCapers.com
At the Holiday Market hosted by Blue Flame Events at the Palmer Park Mall (which is now full of an intriguing variety of small businesses), Joe and I met a young woman who looked like she belonged on the cover of Juicy Bits. We asked her to pose with the book and gave her a copy.
Which, if you are in the neighborhood of the Palmer Park Mall, I’ve heard a lot of people complain the mall is in decline. I think people need to reconsider their definition of what a mall should be. I was impressed by the amount of independent businesses in the space— like an arcade (with an air hockey table!), a general store with a cafe that had a very Cracker Barrel eclecticism to it, a Boba kiosk and a witchy store.
Eva Parry did some shopping and mentioned her tarot title, Shuffling & Scribbling, to the proprietor of Eva’s Bargain Boutique, a metaphysical supply store. They bought a copy to give as a Christmas gift to a family member! This store has a lot of great supplies for the practicing witch or pagan. This is after last week’s visit to Comfy Cozy Apothecary in Nazareth and Handmade Mystic at the Promenade Shops.
But back to book stuff, on Friday, we met with our art director to plot out the next round of projects. Echo City will release new editions of their picture book Otto the Oak and their middle-grade fiction, Who Turned The Lights Out? I’m working on a spiffy new publisher’s introduction to the book.
Dentist Steven Hymovitch will offer his new business book, The Emotionally Intelligent Dental Office, and Wayne Sherrer is on track with his Black History book focused on Phillipsburg, N.J.
Top 10 Things I have learned about publishing in 2023
- People always think they have too many books.
- People don’t like to take chances on new authors in random places.
- Book publishing has tight profit margins.
- Sometimes the book you want to make costs too much money.
- People say they will review your book but most don’t.
- Not enough authors buy and review other authors’ books, even if you review theirs.
- People who don’t read say it as if they are bragging.
- Every book has a reader out there, but you need to know your reader.
- Even when it’s hard, it’s worthwhile.
- The community we have built amazes me every day.
In other news:
Parisian Phoenix— some of our authors, one of our new poets who hopes to debut her work in 2024, and our existing poets— has started attending regularly the Noble Quills Poetry Showcase on the first and second Thursdays of the month at the Southmont Shopping Center Barnes & Noble in Bethlehem Township, Pa. The staff at Barnes & Noble have invited us to table at PoetPallooza II on April 6, 2024.
We learned of the existence of Armchair Lehigh Valley here on Substack— if you live locally check out this resource for political news in the region. Check it out here.
Thurston Gill of Phulasso Living (check that out here, also Substack) has sent along copy for several new editions of his newsletter and his presence on the Parisian Phoenix website (ParisianPhoenix.com/Thurston). Look for new content hopefully before Christmas and perhaps even his own web site early in 2024.
Speaking of the web and 2024, Larry Sceurman will be expanding his online presence and working more on his easy reader fiction book featuring dancing bear fishermen. Larry had started referring to his main character as Barry but there already is a Barry the Dancing Bear so we may update that later. Paid subscribers can read his Christmas letter about animals and the nativity scene below.
I made my first trip to Brooklyn last week, saw Coney Island from a distance and spent some time in the area of Sheep’s Head Bay. While I’ve visited New York City many, many times and gone on many job interviews in various areas of Manhattan, I never had this view of the city before and I hope I’ll be going back if only because I need to try some of the restaurants recommended to me and eat some Brooklyn pizza. I adore the client who introduced me to this neighborhood and the project they pitched has become an(other) obsession of mine. I even started a Google map to learn my Long Island geography.
And hopefully, I will release Road Trip, book four of The Fashion and Fiends paranormal/horror series, and finish writing book five, Absolution. I also finally started my medical advocacy memoir, Gravity is a Harsh Mistress, in part because more people are asking me to write about disability and the process of getting a service dog, which provided motivation, and I noticed how my iPhone’s “favorites” reads as a list of strong, independent women who hate to ask for help and that provided inspiration. Special thanks to Jerry Waxler and his Emmaus Public Library free, Zoom-based memoir group for nudging me to do something. Speaking of Jerry…
TO BE READ:
My To-Be-Read pile has exploded. I can’t even tell you everything that’s on the pile because I can’t remember! I have several books by Lehigh Valley authors (just finished A Heart to Heal by Laurel Wenson. She does a fantastic job merging “sweet” romance with heavy issues like eating disorders and family feuds) and some related to my personal interests.
Jerry Waxler’s memoir, Thinking My Way to the End of The World, arrived last week. Since I’m attending Jerry’s memoir group, I figured I should read his work.
My daughter bought me a Yule present, Mom’s Comedy Coloring Book by Margie Cherry as a humorous reprieve from stress. She did not know that I am a fan of Margie, who serves as the career counselor for Lafayette College alumni.
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner is the January selection for the Mary Meuser Memorial Library book club.
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry, the keynote speaker for the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group 2024 Write Stuff Conference April 11-13. Early in his career, I followed his books and then my daughter took off with some of his books so now I’m trying to get up-to-date. For more information or to register, click here.
AND GUYS—
Look for me on Social Media and interact with the content when you can. I’m not asking for the normal reasons, the ‘we have to beat the algorithm reasons’ but I’m honestly interested in:
“Where” you spend your time.
What content you want to see.
Please don’t forget that reviewing a book you’ve read on Amazon, Goodreads and/or Google Books is an easy but meaningful gesture you can do for any author. Reviews really do help sell books.
Would you like some tips on how to do that? Click here.
Thank you as always for your attention and your support.
— Angel
This isn’t the best composed photo, but it’s me in my threadbare favorite Christmas sweater. Fleece navidad, with a sheep.
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