Into the Fire

Take a good look at these shelves. Lots of books. Right? And a mere minute miniscule picture of the writer's competition. Published books. So what makes any author think their book is going to sell? Beats me.

I've resigned myself to the enormous number of available fiction out there. Let's face it: much of it overlooked because who can keep up with all of it? I mean, really. Even those readers who find a way to read several novels a week, in terms of the overall production of fiction, can't penetrate the 25% of books available.

The fresh-faced inspired indie publishers will realize soon enough how hard it is to incite "bestseller" reading status with their entries. Their marketing skills, their personal platforms, their multiple – sometimes international – friends and associates will support them and bring them a rush of interest and purchases. Will it be sustained? Expanded? Successful?

Publishers, in my opinion, are shocked at the revolt of indie publishing. They've been in control of the gateways to fiction for a very long time. Their processes, their acquisitions, their "take" of the publishing pie has all come into question now by those pesky little authors wishing to sell their labored-over stories to more than a particular demographic (in the case of the CBA) who might get their knickers in a knot because one of their majorly bad words like hell, damn, or boob was used! Or worst of all: a realistic mention or concept of sexual attraction (no graphics mind you).

But it's hard to sell books. Regardless of talent – or sometimes lack thereof – getting to the audience that best suits an author's story is no easy game. That shelf of books in the picture is just the proverbial drop in the bucket. Well-known names of favorite authors tend to get the majority of readers because it does take diligence to seek out fresh ones in the oceans of new titles.

The marketing factor crushes many of us. Prancing about on the various sites to strut our stuff doesn't bode well. We shrink at the "selling" and shirk the dynamic because we cannot figure out what might make our work more appealing to the audience we think would appreciate it. And so it still remains, when everything else is stripped aside, we stand alone with the command reverberating in our brains: Sell that $%#* book! And we can't.

So why bother creating these novels? The only reason I can give is my own: I've been given characters and a story to tell. That's it. In the maze of books I hope you find them. Then I hope you like them - if you ever read them.

Father, it's all up to you. Ultimately, finally, and rightfully so. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.