Some More Perspective

Well, this is proving to be quite the adventure. I am learning a lot about myself and about other people. I have been receiving feedback about the book, all of which I appreciate. All will be of use as I move forward on other projects in the future. I would be pushing the novel harder save that I am also going through my courses to learn to be a hypnotherapist. The initial courses will be done in early May. After that I will take a couple months to really concentrate on marketing the novel, at which point I will sign up for the course of study to become a clinical hypnotherapist. Right now I feel like I am juggling.

I am pleased with how things are going. I am looking forward to the first reviews. The first online retailer to be taking advance orders is Barnes and Noble. I know Amazon will be carrying it as well. I'm a first time author so I know it will take time. This book is my stepping stone, how I am starting on this career path. I am still amazed by some of this, other parts I had an idea of but this is all so very different than what I have done.

Now, back to the ever present task of marketing. Comparatively speaking, writing and dealings with editors and such is easier.

Update and Commentary

Sales of the book are off to a solid start. What really got them going was when the hardcovers showed up about a month earlier than my publisher had promised them. Some people have gone to the Tate Publishing website and ordered the e-book. To all who have purchased, my thanks. I still have plenty of copies on hand for those who are interested in obtaining an autographed copy. General release date is June 5, 2012, at which point all the major Internet retailers will have it. Those copies, however, will not be autographed, and the hardcovers are a special press only available directly from me. So keep that in mind.

Recently I have experienced an uptick in junk e-mail. I expected this, but so far one was completely comical. It claimed to be from a woman in Uganda who wrote to 'Dear Writer' seeking contributions so she could pay an alleged 30,000 pound tuition for a Masters in Writing degree. She hoped I could see my way to contribute 'just' 3% of that, or 900 pounds. Well, sorry, but that isn't happening. I'm a writer, not a sucker. Besides, I don't have that kind of spare change burning a hole in my pocket. I blacklisted that person and I expect to have to do it some more. Sadly, I expected this, but I have to have a public e-mail so people can reach me.

Yes, marketing the book is a lot of work and will remain so. However, it does have its rewards. Even when you have to put up with the bots....

How to Order the Book from Me!

As stated a few days ago, the book will be in general release on June 5th. As I also revealed, I have copies available to order direct from me and I will autograph them if desired. Some may not want my scrawly signature on it, fine by me. I am not putting pricing information directly on Facebook because I am not sure if that would violate their rules and turn the page into an ad, or possibly run afoul of some other weird quirk of the trades. However, I see no impediment to mentioning such information here.

So, for those interested: I am selling copies of the trade paperback for US$20 postpaid to addresses in the US and Canada. Additional copies to the same address are US$15 provided they are ordered at the same time. So, if you order one copy and then decide you would like another one 3 weeks later, it will cost US$20. I will autograph them anyway you would like.

For those of you outside the US and Canada it will be a bit more because of the higher postage costs and customs and whatnot. Write to me and we will come to an arrangement.

Anyway, you can send me an e-mail at: ronaldctobin@hotmail.com if you want to pay via Paypal.
Or, for deliveries to the US and Canada, you can send a check to: Ronald Tobin, PO Box 39590, Phoenix, AZ 85069-9590.

Thank you all kindly...