Inspired

I'm inspired by many things. It could be hip hop music, a painting or one of my peers works. As a writer reading keeps the mind sharp. I do a lot of reading and now I'm jumping into new genres. Its fun reading something I wouldn't otherwise give a chance. Everytime I do I'm surprised and mad I shunned it in the first place. I've always been labeled as a thinker and rightfully so. I like survey my surroundings first before I venture into them. The other day I was thinking I could release my new book this week if I felt like it but it'd be premature. I don't want a good book. I want a great book. A piece of work that transcends race and is timeless. I admit its a daunting task but I'm up for it. Every bit a constructive criticism I get I take what I need from it and improve. If your goal isn't to become a better writer with every project I'm not sure what your doing. This project has sped up my maturation and I know my patience and going to pay off.

The Booksigning Chronicles 1st Entry (Harlem Book Fair 2011)

Harlem, U.S.A. July 23rd, 2011 11:43 am

It is literally 100 degrees out there and I'm thinking why in the hell am I out here and not under an AC with a cold glass of lemonade? These books need to move.

Now the day before the fair I had to diffuse a crisis situation (with the help of my peoples of course). That morning along with Amore, one of my newest authors, and her publicist, China we were on the road in route to NYC.

When we finally arrived I couldn't ask for a better spot then the front of the book fair. We had a cooler full of water, a nice table set-up (courtesy of Amore) and we were ready.

Everybody that entered had to pass our table. I would say the first 30-45 minutes we were on fire. We got the bulk of our customers in the first couple of hours. The thing is 85 percent of the people who bought our books had to be enticed to come to our table. A general misconception is that you set up a table with books and smile and people will flock over. NOPE. I take pride in persuading a person to purchase my work. I don't have the recoginition yet of my peers (striving to get!)so I have to work harder to build a following.

2:39pm

By this time we've hit a dry patch and most of the people we see are "just browsing". Some of the responses to me:
"I only read female authors"
"I'm not buying anything today" (Then they come back pass our table with another book)
"I'll be right back"
"I'm making my first rounds"

My point is NO is alright to say. I can't possibly sell a book to every person. Some of the responses still were funny though.

3:58pm

My brother/marketing director/best friend/etc. is there now and he starts bringing people to the table and once someone is at the table there like a magnetic force that brings more people to the table. It basically started to pick back up.

For the final couple of hours our sales were staggered and we stayed right up until the last minute.

Overall I thought the fair was a good expirence. I first went in 2008 as an author and there were more authors and patrons that year and every year since then they both have declined. I'll continue to go as long as they have it. The great thing about going was I know what I was going for. I had a set goal and I hit it. I wanted to network with new people and put my brand out there. And if I can move some books in the process, I'm cool.

Sometimes it can be frustrating standing out there with the sun beaming down on you and customers passing you up but I'm thankful for the people who took a chance on me. Selling books is an artform that has to be praticed to perfection. You have to give that potential buyer a good reason to skip over someone to try you.

I met a few author's and saw some I haven't seen in a while. At the end of the day I was glad that one of my author's got the chance to go and expierence the book fair and we had a good time.
I even sold a few books when I got back home.


I couldn't ask for more.

-MQW

Side Note: I wish I could get my money back for that garbage Soul Food I had!!!!!!!!!

My 4th Novel

In the midst of writing a father's struggle I stumbled across an untitled novel about 33,000 words in. My intial thought was just to try and get to about 60-65,000 words out of the novel. I thought on it a few days and scraped the whole book and started over. My daily goal is 1500 words or more. 1500 being the smallest word count I'd be cool with. As I make sure A Father's Struggle is smooth I'm going to be working on this project which will probably be the next novel released by my publishing company, 5ive Star Publications. As both of these projects are progressing I will have weekly updates. I'm even thinking about starting a blog about called the booksigning chronicles. I have plenty of funny stories to tell.

-MQW

The Road To A Father's Struggle

I haven't blogged in a while because the book needed to be touched up. Now that I've completed the book it needs to be critiqued. The process of birthing a book is a complicated process because you want it to be well recieved. I could've put this book out a while ago but until its ready I can't release it. I will be posting excerpts in the following weeks to gauge interest. I'll also try to blog every other day or just more consistently. Until the next time.

-MQW

The Road To A Father's Struggle

Well well well. Now I'm thinking of the acknowledgment and dedication page and there has been a plethora of people who made this book what it is. I read in one of my fellow author's books in their acknowledgment page that they weren't shouting out people that didn't even buy their first book. That hands down was the funniest one I read. They say it takes a village to raise a child and it applies to a book as well. I could've just thrown this book out there but I won't do something just to do it. Never. Now even as I'm tightening this book up I'm hard at work on my 4th novel. This acknowledgment page probably will be bigger than my first two books combined. Everybody involved in this process has been tremendous with their critiques and support and I know it all will pay off with the final product.

The Road To My Third Novel Part 6

I've been slacking lately with my blog updates. I finally completed my sweep of the novel and now its up to the firing squad I've assembled to give me feedback. The firing squad is a combination of readers and reviewers whose opinions I respect. I'm so nervous because this is the reason you write. For people to read and now the cat is out the bag so to speak. I'll probably be on edge until I get some feedback. This whole experience has been great to just consistently write and write until I come with something I feel is enjoyable. I still can't believe I condensed my novel down to 18 words. Here it is:

Abandoned by his father. Forced out of his son’s life. Blindsided by betrayal. This is a Father’s Struggle.


-MQW

The Road To My Third Novel Part 5

I haven't blogged in a few days and I was itching to type something. Writing is therapeutic because for however long your typing you can get away from the everyday struggles for a minute. Its been a few days since I attacked the keys on my laptop and I'm going through a little withdraw. I'm nearing the end of the manuscript and going through it non bias is fun because your reading it from a different perspective. I've had my coffee for the day so I'm ready to burn the midnight oil as they say. My goal is to get to 100 pages read and proofed. I'll be back to report how my reading session went.

-MQW