The Strangeness of Men Wins a Silver IPPY Award!
Success Does Not (Necessarily) Mean Sales
My book has not been selling well. It sits on Amazon, Smashwords, IngramSpark, and many other databases ready to be printed and mailed or downloaded. I have zero desire to promote it via book signings and hitting the pavement, trying to chat up book store managers (not that either of those strategies are bad or that I won't do them at some point). And, yet, I feel incredibly proud of my baby winning both a Silver IPPY and Finalist in USA Best Book Awards. The Strangeness of Men beat out many books published by small presses, including top-notch university presses. It won put up against writers with MFAs from prestigious universities. It won over presses that had published many, many times. This to me is a success. It's never going to make me a million bucks. I'm not being offered movie deals. It will never win a Pulitzer. However, with these tips of the hat from reputable national associations, I can hold my head up high that I "self-published" the right way and The Strangeness can stand on her own. Don't let anyone (especially yourself) tell you it can't be done...but take the time and energy to do it right.
