Artistry & Advocacy. The Long and Short of Independant Publishing

This is a blog by my best + friend Ryan B. Clark. Please read it through and check out his sites on MySpace and Facebook. Thanks.


Now his words begin :
So....

I have been brooding on this for a while now, and it has come time to at the very least put the ideas out here... although editing them a bit from time to time might be necessary at some point.

Here is the deal...

I first got into the crazy world of publication (well, attempted anyway) about five years ago or so when the first draft of GRAVE WHISPERS was completed as part of my Master's Degree Thesis. So, I jumped into the world of sending out query letters to agents and trying to find a home for my opus of a first novel. (145,000 words when most first works are recommended at about 80,000 or so). I was greeting with about 85% form rejection letters and the other 15% or so, nice and personal rejection letters: it was too long, it was too dark, it was too horrific, it was too..... I didn't have a deep enough publishing history, I didn't know the right people, I didn't have impressive enough recommendation letters, I didn't... blah blah blah.... You get the idea.

So, I refocused. Along came the opportunity with Sinister Landscapes, and my first short story - SCOTLAND YARD DEMONS finally saw the light of day. The second story, THE ADDICT followed very closely. Now two more - THE HAUNTING OF AL TZIMER and THE HORRORS are in the queue, and Black Bed Sheet Press is getting ready to launch.... so, I would love to say.....

And the rest was history..... but..... I digress.

Here is the issue:

Black Bed Sheet Press is a small book press with a lot of aspirations, a lot of promise, and a couple of guys at the helm with a hell of a lot of determination. BUT... it is small. This is not Random House, or Knopf, or Viking, or Penguin...

This is what this means:

GRAVE WHISPERS is going to release (January.... keep your fingers crossed) as is RED WET DIRT by Nicholas Grabowsky and BLOOD BAR by Norman Applegate. These are the first three novel releases from the publisher. We are hoping to cover a lot of ground, get ourselves recognized by catelogs and distribution people and away we go.... but, all of this is going to have to start...

WITH YOU.

Independent ( I use the word as Black Bed Sheet was spawned by a artist who said, "Hell, if you can't get it done right sometimes you gotta do it yourself"... and away we went) artistry required the same kind of grass roots push as you have seen in elections. And it is going to take all kinds:

Some of you are really going to like this book.

Some of you are going to completely hate this book, but buy it because your crazy ex-English teacher wrote it.

Some of you are family and are going to buy it and then look very weirdly over your glasses at me at holiday meals and wonder how close you should be letting me sit to your children.

Some of you are probably just humoring me, and have no plans on plopping down your hard earned nickels and purchasing my ravings....

BUT...

Here is the bottom line. Everything at this point is going to come down to word of mouth. I need a street team. I need a vocal engine. I need folks to say, "Hey - have you read that new guy Clark's novel?" It takes less than five seconds. it doesn't cost you anything. And it could be just the push that this needs to achieve lift off.

SO PLEASE......

Your support is paramount.

I love you. There are so many people that I need to thank and deserve trophies for all they have done. I have stood on the shoulders of so many and been influenced by so many.

Please.... as we approach the launch date (Specifics to follow soon)....

Spread my name around. Recommend my book to folks that like horror fiction. Pass around my website.... www.ryanbclark.com (coming soon).

One of the first things my publisher asked me is if I had a myspace account. I do. It has 760 friends or something like that of a whole bunch of folks trying to do exactly what I am doing. The reason I like facebook more is people actually seem legitimately connected. People seem more plugged in. People seem to actually care about what is being said and blogged.....

SO.... ????

I need you. I need the power of your persuasion. I need your passion. This book is not going to start off on the NEW RELEASE shelves of Barnes & Noble or Borders. It is going to take WORD OF MOUTH to get it there. It is going to take public knowledge. I have plans on the PR side for me. My publisher does as well. But, the real part that counts is the voice of individuals who want a hell of a good read.

Thanks all.

I will keep you posted on release info. Plan on a release party in Phoenix.... probably first part of February.

Smiles and Bests.