A shameless plug
Cindy on December 3rd, 2009
Home is a name, a word. It is a strong one; stronger than any magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.” ~Charles Dickens
As everyone in business knows, you must promote your product — whether it’s exotic landscape design, the best rhubarb pie in town, or a piece of art or writing. I was encouraged to launch this Website several years ago to promote both my Sunday newspaper column and my book of personal essays and columns, Writing Home.
While I’ve always felt squeamish about self-promotion, I’ve learned it’s as essential to my work as proofreading. Or, as another freelance writer told me, I can’t hide in the back row and expect someone else to toot my own horn for me. So I hope you’ll forgive me for today’s post.
With the holidays in view, I have even more reason to try to boost sales for Writing Home. As I’ve done every year since 2005, at the end of this season I’ll donate my profits to shelters and organizations serving the homeless in metro Detroit, where I live. These include Royal Oak’s own Welcome Inn and the South Oakland Shelter. Why? Because home is the dearest word to my heart. And because the pieces in Writing Home are all about home and family, I feel it’s especially important to give something to others who don’t have a home and whose families are at risk.
If you’ve already purchased a copy of Writing Home, thank you! If you enjoyed it, I hope you’ll consider buying a new copy as a gift to a friend or a reader in your family. It’s available in most bookstores. Both retailers and individual buyers can order the book with a special holiday discount (through January 15) directly from Wayne State University Press. Writing Home is described and reviewed on its own Amazon page, where you can also order it in time for Christmas giving. — CL
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Writing Home is a gift worth giving! And what a bonus, to give double;-)
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
aw, thanks, Cindy! — CL
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
I’ve read a few blog posts just recently about self-promotion, which I see as a way of sharing your art. And that you are donating your profits to charity makes the mention of your book even more generous. Kudos to you!
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Good luck with the book sales! It’s so much more special to give gifts that are locally created and produced. It’s easy to click away on Amazon, but if we want communities of creative people, we need to support them.
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
P.S. Just saw the title of this post — LOVE IT!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Your book does make the perfect gift. I gave it to my mom last year for Christmas. Good luck with this year’s sales.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am
What a generous thing for you to do Cindy. I take my hat off to you.
Happy holidays,
jj
December 4th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
HOME, the most beautiful word.
I will picking up my copy this weekend.
December 6th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I love this book–and so do those who have received it as a gift from me. Keep promoting it, Cindy. It is truly a treasure.