Published on September 21, 2005
This article may be reprinted/redistributed freely as long as the entire article and bio are included.
After publishing last week’s article, I received a flood of email from authors. One mentioned that she’d heard bookstore returns were instituted during the depression to help bookstores stay in business. Interestingly, however, the practice never died, despite the end of the depression. I researched this interesting tidbit and this is what I found.
Published on September 21, 2005
- Former Bookstore Owner Says…
- Another Permanent Temporary Solution…
- Author Supports Both Systems
- Book Signings A Problem
- Another Opinion On The History Of Returns
- Another Way Returns Can Victimize Publishers
Published on September 21, 2005
People like to read about places they know. I discovered this to be true when I recently published my first mystery novel, Murder on the Prairie: A North Florida Mystery. The book is being received with an unexpected degree of enthusiasm for the setting, Gainesville, Florida – home of the University of Florida – the nearby Paynes Prairie State Park Preserve, and its Visitors Center in Micanopy. Reader comments and book sales have reflected this enthusiasm.
Published on September 21, 2005
I thought my book title was really unique but I’ve just discovered another book with the same title. What can I do?
Published on September 21, 2005
I remember the night I took the call from my future writing partner, Catherine Tully. What she told me was the first step on a long journey of failure, frustration and eventually, freelance writing success. Catherine had called to share her excitement in having an article accepted for publication in Boys’ Life. It was her first query and she had made four hundred dollars. From that moment on I saw dollar signs.
Published on September 14, 2005
We’ll be hitting the road again next weekend, right after Zach’s birthday. We feel the oil companies may have hyped the gas shortage and I really don’t think it’s fair that I miss my reunion when there seems to be plenty of gas…
Published on September 14, 2005
This article may be reprinted/redistibuted freely, as long as the entire article and bio are included.
Bookstores have a long history of ordering too many books and then returning them for a credit, often damaged and at the expense of the publisher or self-published author. At other times, the books are simply destroyed (or sold to a big salvage bookstore), again, at the expense of the publisher or self-published author. It is my strong opinion that bookstores, like other retailers, should be financially responsible for their own sales forecasts…
Published on September 14, 2005
Angela:
Your article, Writing For Others – What to Charge?, is a godsend. I’m just quoting my first big professional job, and he wants a scope of work. Now I can be sure that I don’t get ripped off!
Thank you,
W.A.
Published on September 14, 2005

Fifteen years after I first began to work as a writer, I decided that it was time I looked for an agent to sell my work to overseas publishers. At first I emailed writer friends, asking them to suggest agents who would be receptive to new clients. When nothing came of that, I visited my favorite writing websites and followed their market links. As expected, there were links to agents
Published on September 14, 2005
I read your article, Angela and I’m still confused.
It was my understanding that I could email friends, family or someone with whom I have an existing business relationship, without it being considered spam. I was planning to add an opt in box on my website, but also from time to time to mail to a group of people known to me, probably using Constant Contact. Please clarify.