Two writers in ten years have come to me and asked, “Can you make my book a New York Times Bestseller?  I’ll do whatever it takes; guide me.”  They were good books, with money behind them, and the authors were charming and articulate. These two clients came to understand my New Author Marketing Model and they followed my suggestions. Both books became NYT Bestsellers; one became a huge, international hit.

 

During this same period another three dozen authors came to me with good books, with money behind them, and the authors were charming and articulate.  They said, “Can you make my book a New York Times Bestseller, but do it my way?”  They never came to accept the New Author Model, they told me what they wanted to do (based on their limited knowledge of the literary industry) and not a single one ever came close to the NYT Bestseller list. In fact many of these fine writers have since published second and even third books since their first experience with me but they still cling to a book marketing model designed by the large publishing houses with the goal of promoting established and well known authors. These writers and their books, continue to languish in obscurity. No matter how many books they publish, no matter how good the quality of their work is, this pattern will not change. I could list all thirty plus names, but what is the point, few have ever heard of them.

  

Why am I writing about this in my journal?  Because I’ve concluded that only a few authors are going to listen to my advice so why should I be sacrificing my life and happiness to support those clients who want to do things “their way”. Of the four new authors I’ve taken on in the past four months, not one is accepting and following my model. They are Prima Donnas who are essentially managing their marketing campaigns using me and my staff to carry out their wishes. Fuck ‘˜em, I’m going to go live my life now.