Your corner store is on the corner of the world......"

What are you passionate about? If you are a writer, and, especially if you are working on or have published a work of fiction, are you truly passionate about your subject and your characters? The whole world is asking, and they are interested. The w’s in www stand for something that an awful lot of us have forgotten. World Wide Web. That’s right, By opening your doors on the internet you are opening your door to the world.
I am again reminded when I look at the analytics for our website, www.thebanditproject.com. that we have a chance to reach the world. Canada, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, Finland, Mexico, India and Germany to name a few countries whose folks visited our website just last month. That is a list of countries that have visited us at the Bandit Project. People who are interested in a story about an extraordinary Australian Shepherd and his trials and tribulations on a sheep ranch in Montana.
Every time I receive another report from a reader, especially a reader from one of the aforementioned countries, I am flabbergasted about the passion they have for this story. It’s a passion ripped from the pages of the novel. You see, all of the characters in the book, both human and canine, are passionate about their lives, their work and their story.
My passion for this whole endeavor grows daily. Don’t find a reason to fail. Don’t get caught in the game of rejection. I remember several years back when I belonged to a group of writers in Los Angeles how puzzled I was that this group of hopefuls would congratulate each other for rejection slips like they were badges of courage. As I have matured over the years I began to understand that celebration that I often mocked. Congratulations for doing something, anything, just do it as Nike says. Keep at it. Work on your story and your book. Show some passion, especially to yourself.

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"What a difference, a word makes......"

Since I started to develop my idea for a story about a heroic Australian Shepherd working in the beautiful Absorka mountains of Montana, over two years ago, I felt the need to avail myself of the wisdom of agents, writers, publishers and other storytellers. I chose to subscribe to Publishers Market Place as a one-stop for information, criticism and inspiration. My choice, as far as I am concerned, was correct. From Automat to Daily News, I believed I was learning all that was important in this business of writing for profit and publishing. Through these pages I became friendly with one agent in particular, not because he represented me, but because of his generous effort of extending sound advice. Chip MacGregor and I have become friends. We’re the type of friends who communicate through emails, his blog and an occasional phone call. I greatly appreciate him and I would have never known of his generosity without discovering him on the pages of PMP. What I am trying to say is that up until a couple of days ago, I would have argued that I was firmly planted on the whys and wherefores of self- publishing, writing and how to carve out a niche for myself in this vast industry. When my novel, Down from the Mountain was released and I could hold a copy in my hands, I assumed the excitement and joy of following through was at its peak. What more could there be? Sales? Those would come. Acclaim. I had already had over 45 years of, what I choose to call "minor celebrity" and found it fleeting and mostly meaningless, but also satisfying in a strange way. It’s nice to be known and noticed. But I never really understood the overwhelming joy of writing until I read a non-solicited comment about my book.

A reader wrote on a blog, “ I was totally infatuated from the first page of Down from the Mountain. I loved the characters; especially that wonderful dog, Bandit, and I must admit I cried nearly for two hours. The story really moved me.”
I was stunned. I grew a new appreciation for what we all do. The power and joy of simply “Words”. A word’s power to move emotions, ideas and passions creates in us all a dutiful obligation to be careful with these powerful objects, and when we do commit them to paper to tell a story or move a mountain, we are most privileged to be a part of the power of words.
I mentioned earlier my long distance friendship (acquaintance) with the Literary Agent, Chip MacGregor, and I would add that I admire his dedication to the written word and the results it can engender.
Speaking of words, I have been blessed with a grandson who is autistic. I say blessed because this remarkable non-verbal young man is struggling with the very act of speaking, forming words so that he can express his wishes and needs and emotions. I love each minute of helping him through his speech therapy and I marvel at his advancement. Through my Matthew I have learned…words, and the ability to speak and write them cannot and should not ever be taken for granted.

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The Hits keep on a comin'.......

Word of mouth. Often discussed and mostly taken for granted. I got an email from the manager of a major book store operation here in the Houston area, requesting a meeting so that they could carry my novel, Down from the Mountain in her store. And even better, she is setting up a book signing in a couple of weeks and offering to do all of the publicity. It doesn't hurt that I have a Movie and Television career to draw on but in reality she heard about the book, you guessed it, through word of mouth and took action on her own. I am really grateful. Tonight I finished mailing out the second batch of books sold through our website and I am pleased to announce that our sales haven't hurt the books demand on Amazon. I want all of you to know that things are possible if you really, and I mean really work at them daily.

I have a phone conversation tomorrow with a true to life Advertising genius with a resume longer than the Key West bridges. I worked for him as an actor several years back. He is now operating a consulting firm in Virginia. Its called, "Seandotcom.com" Visit his site for some reveling information about marketing and advertising... I wish you all could be on the line tomorrow..but I will blog about his comments...

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Staying involved.

So Down from the Mountain is now available on both our website and Amazon. Kindle is featuring it and now we are moving on to Sony and B&N.
Back when I was reading about establishing a platform I didn't take into consideration that by writing this book, if you haven't read it you're missing out, that I created for myself a full-time business. Meeting with accountants, keeping up with shipping orders, follow through and answering questions and requests from the readers. I am telling you, if this is part time I would hate to have to work full time. I cannot let one thing slip by or I fall further behind in everything I need to do. The Sales of the book are fantastic both on Amazon and our website, www.thebanditproject.com. Readers have peppered me with questions about when the sequel is coming out? I haven't a clue, I am just trying to keep up. Remaining in contact with those who've purchased the book is essential because they are the spreaders of that famous marketing line, "Word of Mouth". If you botch an order the Word of Mouth can kill you. If you don't respond to a buyer's request you suffer losing all of that person's circle of influence. In these days of the market shifting to a new paradigm the one constant is customer relations.
I have explored the relationship we have since Book Surge has merged with Create Space. I must report not a hiccup, so far so good. I have to admit I love this activity. The more the merrier, as far as the next book is concerned I am trying to stay in the vein of a adventure dog story but I now know that the dog must be a vampire, live in Washington fighting for the individual's rights we are being denied , have a out of wedlock sexual affair and be running for either political office or a network news job...so there.

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"On your mark...get ready...2010"

You got to be kidding me, its 2010 and I haven't begun to even lay out a plan, let alone get on my mark even thought I've been set for a couple of years.

I don't know about you but sometimes the "getting ready" stops me from "going on". A person can kid themselves all he/she wants about "preparing to work" which is only busy work and allows for putting off the actual work. Now is the time to hear the starters pistol, get out of the blocks and get on down the track of getting your book, your idea, your query letter, settling on a publisher, fish for an agent or what ever you've planned to accomplish in the coming year. A couple of ideas if you don't mind.

First of all: you may use my "yellow pad program" free of charge for the next 12 months. Its simple and I guarantee it to work or you get all of your "free" refunded. That's an iron clad deal, don't you think?

Grab a yellow pad (either legal or letter size) Next obtain a pencil, (you remember pencils don't you...they are like little computers where you have to input all the materials your self).

Each evening before you tuck that worried little head on the pillow, write down a list of things you want to accomplish the next day. (keep the list to things that will further your writing or publishing or marketing), use a separate list for things like, cleaning up the kitchen...You get my drift..

The next day, as you set out to make the day profitable, then cross off each thing as you do it. (not plan to do but actually DO IT). There you go...its the little things that move us along.

So there. The first thing on my list was to write this blog and now looking at the yellow pad in front of me, I have to start mailing out the copies of Down from the Mountain that people were generous enough to order over the holidays. In the next couple of days.., dealing with the folks in our business....(you gonna luv it..)

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" Here we go into double digits...."
originally posted: December 26, 2009

I have only one thing to say to you all between Dec 25th and Jan 2nd.....

Have a Happy New Year, primed and ready for what is coming in 2010. May all of your wishes and dreams and plans come true..best Jim MacKrell

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"Nuts and Bolts, and candy and goodies
originally posted: December 22, 2009

If you are like me, the business of business is tough. Tough to do and tough to as they use to say, "keep you nose to the grind stone." ( I have never known exactly what that means but I assume its advice about looking where your grinding,) in this case grinding away at the business of business.

I took a big leap and self published my novel, Down from the Mountain. I listened to all the experts, and their varying voices and messages and after weighing all the "ifs and buts" decided to go it on my own. There are several important reasons that I chose this path. Several that I believe are important to any author who is considering this avenue of bringing a book to market.

First, the state of the publishing business in today's economic downturn. Only the old timers in the Pub business know that these stresses on the industry are iterations of stresses in day's past. All this will change and patience is the mortar that will hold a viable industry together. EX: when is the last time you went to a "record store" and purchased a phonograph record. For me it was about the time that Elvis recorded " All Shook Up". Yet, music still abounds and the music industry is still churning out the hits. In different forms however and in completely different venues of merchandising. We don't even call recorded music "records" anymore. The main thing that changed in the music industry is the way artist reached their market. I spent nearly 15 years in the music publishing industry and can vouch for the fact, that Independent Music Publishers, (Tin Pan Alley if you will) no longer exist. Of course there are a few exceptions to this, but by in large the Music Publisher acted for written sheet music and records in much the same way that Literary Agents operate today. We cultivated the writers, used our contacts to obtain record contracts for them and later used our influence to get other artist to record our writers songs. Sound familiar? Then a lighting bolt hit the record industry. Artist (singers, musicians, song writers and groups) found out they could do it all themselves. They knew that their appearances on TV and in live venues were the rope ringing their bells and as they developed their Fans, ( niche marketing list). They were pretty much in charge of their own fate. Again sound familiar?

In the case of my novel, Down from the Mountain, I knew that the subject matter would have a limited or direct appeal. A Dog Story has prospective readers, just like vampire stories or romance and I believed that I knew how to reach the market (potential readers) who loved animal stories, in the vein of Jack London or Albert Terhune. So first I made my choice based on the fact that today publishing firms (traditional) do very little to promote a new author or new book. Since I felt I knew the market and could promote myself...I chose to do it all myself and reap the highest reward, monetarily, for each unit (book) sold.

Secondly, I decided that the cost of advertising and promotion was something I could budget for, out of sales. The proof of this was, I offered pre-publication prices to generate sales (dollars) and test market the ability to attract buyers. The experiment was successful and lead me into my decision to handle the day to day business of book selling myself.

Thirdly, I HAD HELP. My family owns a major TV/internet production company in Los Angeles and my daughter is a graphic designer and artist with a degree in Advertising and Marketing. (raise those kids right and they can take care of you..ha ha_)

Later I will discuss in detail my search for the best POD and service and why I chose Book Surge/ Create Space.

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Jim MacKrell - Biography

Birthday: October 12, 1937

Jim MacKrell’s broadcast career has spanned decades and has included every aspect of communications.

For the four years of its run, Jim was the star of the hit NBC game-show “Celebrity Sweepstakes.” He also hosted “The Game Game” (CBS), “Quiz Kids” (Columbia Pictures TV), plus numerous other shows.

Jim’s theatrical credits include such memorable films as Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall,” Albert Brooks’ “Defending Your Life,” “Semi-Tough,” “Gremlins,” “Harry’s War” and “Teen Wolf” with Michael J. Fox. He has had guest starring roles on television in “Dallas,” “Soap,” “Moonlighting.” and “Golden Girls,” amongst over 40 others. His Made For TV movies include “Miracle in Caulfield,” “Walk don’t Run” and “Reason to Live.” Jim was also a regular on “ General Hospital ,” “Capitol,” and “Days of our Lives.”

With acting, hosting, writing and producing highly motivating sales films and to having most of his life laid out in Video Rental Stores across the country, there is not an avenue of entertainment or marketing in which Jim MacKrell has not excelled.