Oops, simul-post! Cluck—This is my 4th book, and I am in the throes of my 5th, to be published in “aught-two,” as my old first-grade teacher would have said.
I write about old movie and theater stars, mostly full-length bios. I only make a teeeeny bit of profit on 'em, after spending a fortune on research and photos, but it’s “what I do.” Everyone needs something to get them out of bed in the morning and not toss themselves under the train on the way to work . . .
I’m just happy (and lucky!) to get published. I have finally found a good house I’m happy with for my bios (the University Press of Kentucky), and if I can do a book for them every four or five years, I will be as merry as a grig.
Well, what the hell. I’m in. Ramen for a few nights is a small price to pay for great literature. Who was it that said, “If I have a little money, I buy books. If I have a little more money, I buy books and food.”?
Damn it, Eve! How do you inspire such fanatical devotion? You have them all clamoring for your hand, and I can’t even get anyone to write a short review for me on Amazon. Must be because you’re a Grande dame, and I’m a Short Guy.
Bunny—I am VERY impressed that you got that Mae West quote correct!!!
Ike—You’ll tuck anybody into bed for the price of a half-pint of Night Train. Or, so I’ve heard . . . .
Jodi—Yowsah! You definitely get an autograph!
Cal—The only way I can explain it is my books have a certain, ummm . . . Well, slutty showgirls, sex, tragic death, drugs. You know, that sorta thing. Throw a coupla slutty showgirls into your books, it really does work wonders.
When a friend authored a book, I seem to recall her telling us that while she loved seeing her “rank” rise on Amazon’s site, she actually got less cash for Amazon sales than other sales. Of course, I think the other sales she was talking about might have been direct from her (she had a stash).
Anyway, is there an advantage to you (or your little publisher) for us to order it from a local bookstore over Amazon? Or directly from the publishing house? Or from YOU?
You’re not a ghost researcher for “Scandals and Mysteries” are ya? They seem to like to feature the occasional silent film star.
I’m at my desk today and my boss shouts out “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.”
I joke back, “shouldn’t that be ‘I took the road less travelled?’” as I go into her office.
She said “Funny. OK, who said it?”
I shrugged, then said “Mae West.”
She just about freaked. She accused me of looking at her computer screen and cheating. She couldn’t even believe I had heard of Mae West. In truth, it was a guess, but it just sounded like something she would say.
Anyway…
um…$35 to get Eve to tuck me in at night? Where do I send the check to?
Seriously, my friend’s mother absolutely loves classic movies. I’m not sure if that extends to silent films, but I’ll ask her.
Eve will be coming to YOUR town soon, like the Beverly Hillbillies.
Manhattan will be driving the Model T, Alphagene’ll be carrying the shotgun, SaxFace will be the one in the daisydukes, Eve’ll be sitting up in the back seat with her beribboned straw hat waving at everyone, and I’ll be in the trunk, on top of a big pile of books, playing Scruggs-style five-string banjo.
Have your cash ready. Cash sales only. Silver preferred.
I went and ordered my copy before even learning Eve was gonna come read it to me and tuck me in
Though I do wish i had thought to ask about buying it directly from her. Or from the publisher, but I am guessing from the publisher doesn’t net her anything more from the sale.
Ramen for a few nights is a small price to pay for great literature. Who was it that said, “If I have a little money, I buy books. If I have a little more money, I buy books and food.”?