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Tonight, an author friend posed this question in a discussion group: Is being a writer just a pipe dream?
She asked this in response to a controversial tweet by Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, last week:
‘English Major = Want Fries With That? Pick something that will give you enough money to write what you want.’ (Follow the link to the full article.)
It’s a thought-provoking question. Can I legitimately call myself a writer or a poet if that’s not my main source of income? Without a doubt, yes!
Authors throughout history have held other jobs to survive while they pursued their writing. I’m just one in a very long list.
In this world, being “just” a writer is the domain of very few.
However, being a writer AND having another job doesn’t mean one is not a writer.
I don’t make enough out of writing to quit my job… far from it… but writing is both my passion and my therapy, so if I can cover my expenses… in my mind, that’s a good outcome.
If my writing helps someone feel that they’re less alone, or less weird, or can better understand someone else’s situation… that’s far more like what I want to achieve, particularly with my poetry.
I’d like to sell more books, sure. But not doing so isn’t going to stop me writing. And it won’t make me any less a writer.
You just wait til I’m dead. (Hopefully not any time soon.)
My poetry will go off the charts then.
Maybe you should buy a signed copy from me while you can.
The reviewers agree: Nova is pretty good.
The reviewers agree: Nova is pretty good. 
The first five reviews have all been five stars!
One of the biggest challenges writers face is getting their readers to give some feedback and tell other readers about the book. It’s always exciting when a review appears, and even more so when it’s positive.
I’ve chosen a couple of the newest reviews to share with you here.
The images may come up a bit small to read, so you can click through to the original reviews by clicking on each one.
This one is a brand new review this week, written by novelist Kyra Leary.
She seems to like my work.
Nova is available at:
I got published… again! In two issues in a row!
This is such an unbelievable feeling!
I got published… again! In two issues in a row!
This is such an unbelievable feeling!
I shared a fortnight ago that The Australia Times Poetry Magazine published one of my poems in their Vol 4, No. 25 issue.
I’ve just opened Vol 4, No. 25 to find that it contains another of my poems, Rogue Wave. That’s the poem that was shortlisted by Wildsound Festival of Poetry in November, and performed by Michelle Alexander as part of the Wildsound Festival.
My poem, Rogue Wave, has been recorded by Michelle Alexander as part of the WildSound Festival.
Link to video in post.
A few weeks back I announced that my poem had been shortlisted in the Festival of Poetry selections for November.
That poem, Rogue Wave, has now been recorded by Michelle Alexander as part of the WildSound Festival.
It’s really rather cool to hear my poem being interpreted and spoken by someone else. I’m really pleased, though, that the performance is exactly how I thought it should be.
You can watch the video of Rogue Wave here.
Thank you for taking the time to watch the video. I really appreciate it.
Please feel free to like and share with your friends and social media followers.
Seriously… who else is willing to work for free?
There are a lot of authors giving their books away – free – on Amazon and various other services.
I won’t be one of them.
To be quite frank, I believe my work is worth more than that. I believe that is true of most of the authors who discount their work. It’s certainly true of almost every book I’ve been willing to buy. For the record, the ones I haven’t liked were not on Amazon – one was a classic and one was a bestseller.
I fully understand not everyone will buy, read, or be interested in, my books. In the same way, some folks don’t like chocolate or pizza or coffee, and not everyone on the planet is going to like or understand me. I’m cool with that.
Even so, I believe that my work and what I have to say through it, are valuable.
If I discount my book, doesn’t that cheapen my work? Doesn’t that just make it less attractive? Doesn’t that make it seem like I don’t think it’s worth reading?
And really – who else works for free? I’d like to see people try to get a plumber, or doctor, or garbage collector to work for nothing because someone doesn’t feel like paying.
So, I have decided that $2.99 is a fair price for an electronic copy of my latest book, and probably the next one.
It’s less than a cup of coffee. It’s less than a slice of pizza or a sandwich.
And I’m worth it, dammit. L’Oréal said so.
So, after spending a November on the very attractive pages of Yours & Mine magazine, my work is now gracing the pages of The Australia Times Poetry Magazine!
So, after spending a November on the very attractive pages of Yours & Mine magazine, my work is now gracing the pages of The Australia Times Poetry Magazine!
The amazing editors there have given me a great bio and a three page spread for my poem, ‘The Sea’, enhanced by some lovely photography, on pages 22-25 of Issue 24.
It’s always a thrill to find out someone likes something that I’ve written. That kind of connection is why writers write, and why artists paint, sculpt and create.
Can you imagine my excitement when I saw the beautiful treatment they’ve given my poem?
I hope you’ll take the time to click through and read my poem.
Of course, my poem isn’t really just about the sea. It uses the sea, and the shore, as an allegory for depression and anxiety. The poem itself is about living with and through that, and surviving.
TAT Poetry is a great magazine every month, and I am really honoured to be featured in it!
I’d also really appreciate it if you’d share it around on twitter, facebook, or your other preferred social media.
Let me introduce you to my books.
Hello, and welcome to the latest “Indie Author Cooperative” Book Launch Blog Tour.
Today we’re joining with the cozy mystery/romance author Lolli Powell, to celebrate the ebook launch of “The Body on the Barstool”
The Body on the Barstool Synopsis
New Yorker Erica “Ricki” Fontaine’s ne’er-do-well uncle has dropped dead and left her a dive bar in a small Ohio river town. With a lousy apartment, less than-promising job prospects, and even worse romantic ones, the inheritance comes at just the right time.
Ricki packs up her cat and her belongings and heads for the Buckeye State. Now she’s trying to change the Top Shelf from a bar known for its Friday night fights into the kind of drinking establishment where you can bring your granny.
But finding her ex-husband dead on a barstool at opening time one morning just might put a kink in those plans.
About Lolli Powell
There’s no denying that in many, many ways, 2016 has been a rough year.
People around the world mourn leaders and entertainers, and there seem to be plenty of those that have left us this year. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, Leonard Cohen…just to name a few. And I’m not even going to start talking about politics – nope, I’m leaving that one right alone.
I also know a lot of people personally who are struggling with illness, pain, grief, money problems, relationship issues. I know those things happen every year, to everyone at some point.
Personally, my year has had very few highlights.
One of those highlights was the launch of my book, ‘Leaf’, in June. That was the one positive event in a very dark patch of grief and sorrow like I have never experienced before. Thankfully, my launch of ‘New Horizons’ ten days ago was plagued only by end-of-year teacher fatigue, so it was a much more enjoyable event.
Imagine my surprise when this little poetry book made it onto a number of selected reading lists on Goodreads! I’m so excited that people are reading and enjoying my work, and that it’s starting to get some attention.
If you’re on Goodreads, check out ‘Leaf’ on these lists:
Favourite Books That Released in 2016
Best Indie Books 2016/2017
Beautifully Written
Poetry
Wow! I’m humbled that ‘Leaf’ is in very fine company, and not even last. ‘New Horizons’ is also on those first two lists, which is even better!
If you love reading, and you’re not on Goodreads… let me recommend it.
It’s a great place to find new books, network with other readers, and connect with writers whose work you enjoy.
WordyNerdBird 