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April 20, 2001 - The
physical journey stalled when I got to New York in February of last year. All
I’ve done since then is write the book. I’m still in the same apartment
planning how I can let the world know that TALES OF A FEMALE NOMAD exists.
I am talking to bookstores, publicity agents,
organizations, newspapers. I’m planning to do radio interview shows, fairs,
libraries and anyone else who will have me. At this point Crown has not
volunteered any money to help me, though they are working to get me
"gigs." The publicity agent at Crown, Rhoda Dunn, has been working
hard making contacts and connecting me with bookstores and groups. But Rhoda
is responsible to lots of other authors and her time is limited.
I’ve been living for two years on the $40,000 I’ve
received. That doesn’t go very far in New York City. But I am incapable of
putting together the kind of campaign that is required and I’m overwhelmed
by the enormity of the organization involved. I’ve hired Diane Glynn and
Jennifer Tartikoff, experienced P.R. people, to do the job of contacting
public radio programs across the country. I will also be working with Jan
Goldstoff who is going to help me organize groups and media on my National
Nomad Tour.
The National Nomad Tour is my idea, my expense,
and my responsibility. But it’s my book, too, so I’m the one that has to
"make it happen." I’m convinced that the popularity of the book
will spread geometrically as people read it and call their friends. Word of
mouth is what will sell this book. The response among the trade has been very
encouraging. Editors, bookstore employees, friends of people who work for
Crown, magazine people have e-mailed me to say how much they’ve liked it.
Click here for some prepublication comments from inside the trade.
I’m hoping the book buying public will be as
enthusiastic.
The list will grow rapidly when I send out my
letters and contact stores and organizations. I actually prefer speaking
before groups to appearing in bookstores. A group has a membership. A
bookstore is a risk. I hate the thought of talking to five people and selling
one book in a bookstore signing, which is what sometimes happens. The signings
I’ve set up are all are in places where people know me or where I have lots
of friends.
When I first thought about talking to
organizations, I told myself that I’m a writer, not a speaker. But the fact
is that I have fascinating stories to tell.
I’ve actually developed a moving and
inspirational talk that I’ve practiced now at the Spa in Ixtapan, Mexico, at
my college friend Lisa Kramer’s in Sarasota, Florida, and at my high school
friend Susan Lechner’s in Arlington, Virginia. Each time I address an
audience, I get a little better sense of how people react to the different
stories and how long I can keep going. And I’ve noticed that the talk
changes with the audience, my mood, and the looks on the faces of the people
as I go on.
I’ve been making lists of the kinds of
organizations I think will be interested in sponsoring a talk. Women’s
groups, travel groups, book groups. Community groups. Libraries. Brandeis
Alumni. Unitarian Universalist church groups. Reform or conservative Jewish
organizations. People who are genuinely interested in other cultures, in
books, in hearing about alternatives in life. Communities of retired people.
The over-50’s. Student organizations.
I’m hoping to find ways to contact these groups………or
maybe they will contact me as I and the book become a little better known out
there.
When I begin my publicity stuff, I’ll add to
this section every couple of weeks, with comments on how things are going and
any interesting anecdotes and adventures that happen. See you in a couple of
weeks.
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