Lies in a Season of Tribulation by Launa McNeilly

This is a time of green thinkers. What I mean is everyone wants to have a cleaner Earth. I am in full support of that if it allows those individuals to do what they can and not be brow beaten into doing any more than that. I personally cannot afford an electric car and probably won't be able to for many years if ever. I do keep my car in good working order which keeps down on any excess exhaust fumes. I don't throw my trash on the side of the road and I try hard not to waste anything. How does this relate to my  writing, well lets think about it. I am published POD, print on demand for those that don't know what that means. I didn't until I got published.

POD means my book is printed when someone orders it. I don't have several copies stored anywhere that I know of. Wish I did when I'm in author mode. I still get my book out to who has ordered it, usually in twenty four hours. By being POD there are no wasted paper used. My book doesn't gather unread dust in some warehouse and ends up being burned or what ever they do with the old ones which contributes to the world's waste and pollution. I haven't killed an unneccesary tree or two to print an unwanted book. So, in that respect POD is a good thing.

The other side of the story, of course, is what the POD will to bookstores. You know the ones. The little corner bookstore in your town that you love going into and mulling through the aisles looking for your next book.  I know I have one and I love that place! You won't find my book on any of their aisles as I am POD. Sad for me. I do have a bright spot with my closest Barnes and Noble, Augusta, Me., as they do have my book on their shelf. Of course you already know that if you have read my blogs.  For an author, POD doesn't do much for sales. You need to know what you are looking for to type in that information to even get a gander at the book. I have an intriguing cover and I believe that is wasted sitting in POD mode. I think the old adage "don't judge a book by it's cover" which we all do, is lost on the PODs. Of course you judge a book by it's cover. It's what makes you pick up the book from the shelve and read the back. It is what gives the book it's first showing. Very important. So for an author of a great book with a terrific cover, POD doesn't get you very far. What will PODs do to local bookstores? I hope nothing but as the world becomes more electronic with PODs, Kindles, Nooks, Sony's version of the instant download and whatever comes next, who knows. What do I think would help local bookstores? I think they need to take a chance on new authors and give their books a chance to be seen. I especially think this is true for the home State of that author. If the book is right there and the cover can be seen and the author is from their own State, I think the book will get sold. Do they need to stock a pile? Absolutely not. It will only take a few to let you know whether the book is a seller or not. The small bookstores have a chance to promote new authors and I don't think they are thinking about that very much. They are powerful if they use that power. I think each bookstore should adopt a new author and promote.  What happens if you have twenty books that haven't sold, ask the author to do a booksigning. You'll get rid of them if that's what you need to do.