I am an author, with seven books published. I still make sales of some of those books, in fact I sold one of them yesterday, at an event I attended. And I get book sales often of the website of the publisher of my first book published by an actual publishing company.
When I make a new sale in person, I still get a big buzz out of doing the ‘signed by the author’ thing. I proves to the critic inside my head that, yes, I am an author, you doubter! Book signing is what authors do, therefore if I am signing a book I wrote then I am a real author.
But my car has unsold copies of some of my self-published books. More copies than I’d like left still. But when the right time comes, I will find the best home for all of those books, and I will personally, and gladly sign every copy!
I know I can do a lot more than I already am, to raise my author profile, speak more in public, and be known more widely as an interesting person to hear speaking. I have many themes I have valid opinions on. I know much about living well with dogs, creative writing, finding peace in life, having a happy marriage, and about living well with Multiple Sclerosis too.
Ask me about any of these things, and many others and I can talk interestingly about them. Or if you have things troubling you, I will listen in an engaged way, and offer assistance to you if you ask for it. I know sometimes the best listener is just a caring person who will just listen, with no blame or judgement, simply listen. I have been that person on many occasions, and I know I have helped others in this way.
Helping others is a good thing to do, and that is why I do it when I can. Communities need people like that, and people like that love their community, so they are happy to play that part when they can. A good Society is made up of good communities, and good communities have good people doing the good things.
In my days of connecting with my communities, I have met many good people, and I am making a list of some of these good people, ‘movers and shakers’ in a bigger way than I am currently, and I am going to find ways to connect with these people in informal ways, with them as informal mentors, assisting me in ways that can increase my skills, and help me to be better known as someone who has opinions worth hearing.
Writing creatively helps me to work through the thoughts in my head, and I know I am able to learn more about myself and others through writing about myself, and what I see around me. I also know I am able to assist others in doing the same thing, with the thoughts they have inside their heads … simple and honest encouragement, combined with careful critiquing are fine tools to help others create beautiful words.
I have a good life, I want to use my skills to help others have good lives too.
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 