I Can No Longer Avoid the Void

The book cover attached to this post has nothing to do with trying to sell my latest book to agents and publishers. It was, however, the first book I wrote, describing in the words of a 22-year-old an extraordinary Peace Corps experience. My job was to go to the U.N.-designated poorest country in the world, Niger, to teach basic agricultural techniques in French to young men at Kolo Ag School. The fact that I did not speak French and had never been on a farm in my life did not deter the Peace Corps from placing me there. It turned out to be one of the most eye-opening and rewarding experiences of my life. And I did manage to teach the required techniques, including how to turn bulls into oxen and plow a field with them.

My journal, describing this experience, was rejected by the same establishment of literary agents who have expressed absolutely zero interest in my tenth novel and eighteenth book overall, Eternal Moments. Therefore, I am now turning once again to the avenue of self-publishing, where I will need to publish my book on Amazon and then promote it. For me, this is a far greater challenge than writing.

Of course, I am not alone in being forced to pursue this path. For instance, another former Peace Corps Volunteer, Lawrence Lihosit, has self-published twenty books. He is a fine writer and deserves a better fate, but he has accepted the challenge of self-publishing and self-promotion much more elegantly than I have. I go kicking and screaming into that good night.

I will not start right away because I have other irons in the fire, so to speak, including editing my brother's historical fiction Vietnam book and spending time with my family and extraordinary grandson. Also, I think it's necessary to be committed to the process of self-publishing and self-promotion in order to avoid a half-assed approach that would only lead to more frustration. I plan to use shepherd.com, which describes itself as an "indie book platform built for readers by readers" and where I have already received positive reinforcement for my writing. Imagine that!

And I will continue to post occasionally on my site because now, as of this moment, the future of my new novel is in my hands. And yours.