* * Selling *Union, WV*

My new novel, Union, WV, is now in print.  I received my first shipment of books 2 weeks ago tomorrow and have sold 50 books already.

I have come to learn that writing and selling a book is an audacious thing.  That I could spend several months composing my thoughts, have other people pour over those words carefully for me picking out grammatical errors and making everything more readable and relevant, and then having other people, sometimes friends and sometimes strangers, pay money to read those words, is a notion I am still adjusting to.

The feedback has been wonderful.  One of my new readers wrote on Facebook yesterday, “I am totally amazed at the research and knowledge that has gone into this book! I have always taken history as it was “taught.” I am at the point where I have to digest rather than rapidly turn the pages.”  This is exactly what I hoped to accomplish: to challenge and educate my readers while entertaining them.  I was ecstatic reading this note.  This is the kind of thing that makes all of the hours spent in this project worthwhile.

One of the more interesting aspects of this process is that many other people have told me how much they wished they were writing their book.  I met a man in Rocky Mount, Virginia who told me that he for many years had had a book in mind.  I asked him how it was coming along.  He admitted that he had never actually begun writing.  He asked me if I would consider ghostwriting for him.  In the course of our conversation, it seemed to me that what he was really looking for was a contract disciplinarian.  We agreed on a fee and since then I have been keeping him on schedule with writing his various chapters.  He is delighted to finally be making some progress and I am equally delighted to be assisting him with it.

I called on a woman I know recently and showed her a copy of the book.  A day later, she wrote to me saying how jealous she was that I had my own book in print.  I wrote back and said, “Don't be jealous.  Be inspired.”

On a couple of occasions, I have attended a writer's workshop at Hollins University in Roanoke.  During these events, attendees are bombarded with good and relevant information but it is too much to capture and remember.  One thing I do remember is this gem: do some writing every day.  When progress stops it is very difficult to get it going again.

I have the luxury of working a job that takes little time, allowing me to focus almost exclusively on my writing.  I recognize how difficult it is for many people to work a full-time job and then to come home and work more on writing.  And nobody can argue that writing isn't real work.

With my nonfiction book, The Spine of the Virginias, on the way, I realize what a great accomplishment a published book is.  But I feel that I am only just getting cranked up.  I appreciate the support and encouragement I have received from so many people.  I am eager to encourage others to write as well.