That was the last thing I just said to a Salesperson pretending to be a Publisher. And she was calling from a pseudo-publisher that would LOVE to “help” me become a million seller!
All I have to do is the hard work and write the book and pay them upfront buckos, and they promise to “fix” my manuscript and distribute it to many outlets, and the sales will come rolling in. I know where some swampland is for sale! ONCE BURNED TWICE SHY!
I bit on an offer to include my book “Sleep Travelers” in a show in California, and it only cost me more than $700. Not one book was sold! At that point in my life, I morphed into a natural skeptic.
Since they sold my name to everyone, almost every week, I get offers from various “Publishers” that want to become my partner, and can get me a contract with and up to $80,000 for the rights to guess which book? You got it; “Sleep Travelers”.
I wonder what makes them think my self-published book needs help when they have NEVER read a word of it? It is probably my ego talking, but I am not aware that my manuscript needs fixing, and to the extent of several thousand dollars!
I love that book because it is the brainchild of my daughter. When she was young she had three imaginary playmates. Most kids have one, but she had three.
She asked me one day, “Mom, why don’t you write a book about my playmates?”
She couldn’t remember what they were, only their names, which were, Ning, Dog, and Boss! I created characters for them; Ning became a Siamese Cat, Dog became a huge shaggy dog, and Boss became an African Gray Parrot!!
The first book tells the story of when they met and became friends! They all decide to go to he Zoo, where they meet Ella Elephant, Tigger Tiger, Orchid Orca, and Harold Hippo, and more. The animal can talk and are not confined to cages. I write a lot of conversation between them and feel this book would be fun to read to children and use the voices of the animals.
In this book Daddy Shirl shows up as Ranger Shirl to help cook burgers and fries, because Little Dawnie is too little and the animals, well you get the idea! After everyone got filled they have a food fight with ketchup and mustard. They have a problem!
Daddy Shirl to the rescue! He reminds them that all they have to do is “think clean” and everything is spotless again. Remember, they merely had to “think Zoo” and they were there. When Little Dawnie is tired, everyone says goodnight, and they magically snuggle into their various beds for a good night’s sleep.
I love to write Sci/Fi because it allows my mind to take flight and imagine anything. Murder/Mystery is also fun, as I love to figure out, “Who done it?” before the end. Recently, I have delved into Sexy/love. That is fun, but at my age, I have to use my imagination. And my grown-up daughter reads what her mother writes, sexy/love it is, with her eyes closed!
I write for myself because something inside makes these stories bounce around inside my head until I can’t stand the pressure and have to let them out.
If you want to read one of my books, here are a few of the places where you will find them in eBook and/or Paperback: Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand, Smashwords, Tolino OverDrive, bibliotheca, Baker & Taylor, BorrowBox, Hoopla, Vivlio, Palace Marketplace, Odilo, Gardners, Amazon.
If we meet at a craft fair in Kingman, AZ, I will be happy to sign one for you. Thanks for listening, and I look forward to talking again. Check out my website at http://www.brendacolbathboooks.com where if you click on one of the books, you will magically be taken to a store where they can be purchased.
We will talk again soon…
💙