Feb. 5, 2009:  (I've decided that dating these blogs may be a good idea.)

I quote again from the lengthy N.Y. Times article of 1/28/09:   "Diamonds in the rough remain the outliers. 'For evey thousand titles that get self-published, maybe there's two that should have been published.' said Cathy Langer, lead buyer for the Tattered Cover bookstores in Denver, who said she has been inundated by requests from self-published authors to sell their books.  'People think that just because they've written something, there's a market for it.  It's not true.'"

Back to my own experience:  Three senior-interest novels of mine have been accepted by an agent who is trying to find a publisher for them.  I have written these between composing and selling and/or gaining contest recognition for articles, travel, essays, poetry over the past 20 years, the most recent novel, completed and submitted to her the beginiing of this year, 2009.  I have self-published one book, but prefer not to go that route again.  Mainly because I am no longer agile enough to get out on the road promoting my books. And this is often a totally unrewarding effort.  Selling more than two books at any bookstore or writer club appearance is a plus!  The many on-line opprtunities these days to make oneself and books known are ones I am currently ivestigating.

My writing career was launched with my first sale at 19 years of age.  I did not consider working on adult books for the first 30 years of my writing career  because  articles and profiles paid fast.  Either the editor liked what I sent or rejected it. The only "promotion" required was to do the most acceptable job of writing (and photography) for that editor.  I built up a long and profitable relationship with agricultural magazines in the late 1970s though the early 1990s.  I've said it before:  Get your writing "feet" wet by marketing shorter pieces that bring you credits and cash!  Until tomorrow, Willma