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SATURDAY December 6, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 20, 2003 The author's art So much more than words on a page By Tim Bousquet Tidings Correspondent "The publishing industry is just the pits," says local author Jura Sherwood. "You can't find an agent because they only want authors who have a track record, so you go directly to the publisher and they tell you they like your book but you need an agent." Frustrated with the large publishing houses, Sherwood published her historical novels "Wave Me Goodbye" and "Sometime, Somewhere" through publish-on-demand (POD) houses. "The up-and-coming way to publish is POD and have the author promote and market their books," she says. Indeed, Sherwood has become a one-woman marketing company. "I do book signings at Albertson's, and wherever else I can," she explains. "I go in Costco and see people looking at books, and I ask them if they like that kind of book and give them my business card. "I pass out my business card like its candy. I sell a lot of books out of the back of my car." As part of her marketing efforts, Sherwood began networking with other area authors through a local writers group and by calling every author she saw mentioned in the press. The result is the Southern Oregon Book and Author Fair, a collection of about 40 authors presenting their work next Saturday in Ashland. A diverse group The books at the fair span the spectrum of genres. Murphy resident John Malkow brings "Never Give Up," his remarkable memoir of a thirty-year journey of losing and regaining sight. Ashlander April Thomas has her nature guides "Discovering North Mountain Park" and "Discovering Lithia Park." Tidings Editor Andrew Scot Bolsinger presents his "If Pennies Could Talk," a novel of hidden lives, personal despair and the hope that comes in uncovering the past. Children's books are well represented, including Mary Palmer-Nowland from Medford. Her "Denali" is a fictionalized account of climbing Mt. McKinley. "My favorite part of being published is that I have met thousands of children who I have planted little seeds of ideas in," she says. "I don't get to see those ideas come to fruition but by the looks of letters I still receive from far away, those kids are achieving their goals. That is the finest accomplishment I could ever hope for my works." Wallace Kaufman, from the Applegate Valley, is one of the more controversial authors. His "Coming Out of the Woods" and "No Turning Back: Dismantling the Fantasies of Environmental Thinking" take a Libertarian approach to environmental protection. "The large environmental organizations don't care for these ideas," he says. Kaufman is a firm supporter of capitalism and backs such programs as trading pollution rights and the Healthy Forests Initiative. "Every time we drive a car, we feel we have a right to pollute," he says. "With our capitalistic system we can manage our rights and reduce pollution. Affluent people are the ones who want environmental protection." The book fair, he says, "will be a way for me to meet some people. I love to debate with people. They either change my mind a little or sharpen my arguments." Still other authors will be pushing romances, sports manuals, Christian-themed books and even Peter McCusker's "From Dweeb to Adonis: The Complete Guide to Manly Excellence." If there's one thing representative about Southern Oregon writers, it's that there's nothing representative about them. The common struggle Whatever their genre, the authors have one thing in common: They've learned through determination how to sell their books. "Getting the book written is just the beginning of what can be a long journey," says Barbara Irvin, who with Theresa Gooch authored the children's book "It Was My Star." "All authors have to consciously promote their books through book signings and in most cases, speaking engagements," she says. "Most writers are a bit naive, I think, in terms of the effort it takes to market a book. I can personally attest to the truth of statements I have heard about marketing taking 90 to 95 percent of the effort in selling a book." "I feel their pain," says Steven Scholl of the authors. "It's really hard to get product to market. There's so much competition." Scholl owns White Cloud Press in Ashland, which specializes in spiritually-oriented books. White Cloud is bringing five authors to the book fair. The company is using the event to celebrate its 10th anniversary and to announce a new partnership with the Ashland School Foundation. A percentage of all books sold in Ashland will be donated to the foundation. "We probably give more support to the authors than the larger houses," Scholl says. "Random House puts out 500 books a season. They wait and see which books do really well, and that's where they put their marketing efforts. But we work with each of our authors." "Still," he continues, "we look for a level of commitment from the author. We're putting out a children's book with Donovan, the singer, and it's made me think about the similarities between being an author and being a musician. The label does their thing, but the artist needs to get out and go on tour." "A lot of authors are recluses, and that doesn't do us a lot of good. So we try to find authors who have a message they want to get out and are willing to do the hard work." White Cloud gets its authors booked into various events, including lectures, workshops, and conventions. "You have to sell beyond the bookstore world," Scholl says. Jean Lengwin, author of "Animals and Their People," takes such advice seriously. She attended a four-week marketing class at Rogue Community College and has subsequently been hitting the pavement between Corvallis and Red Bluff. "I've found with writing, I pretty much know where I am and where I'll be the next day but with marketing, you never know from where your next sale will come," she says. "I'm finding it to be very challenging but I'm having fun doing it so it doesn't get any better than that." "Will I get rich? No." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams