The Roanoke Valley Bookfest
In Floyd we have locally famous artists, potters, wood-carvers, writers, and musicians; alongside well-diggers, saw-millers, hunters, and homebuilders. We also have midwives, herbalists, dousers, and rites-of-passage ceremonialists. Is it any wonder that I publish my books from my log cabin home, from a make-shift office that used to be my son’s bedroom, which is why Grateful Dead posters still hang on the walls? ~ Colleen, From “Homegrown“
My feet were still wet from the talk I gave about my book, “The Jim and Dan Stories,” at the Franklin County Book Festival last weekend, and I was just one in a panel of five authors scheduled to speak at Saturday’s Roanoke Valley Bookfest. For those reasons, I wasn’t as nervous as I usually get.
Our collective panel was called “Local Voices,” and, besides myself, it included: Fellow Floydian, Fred First, author of “A Slow Road Home: A Book of Days,” a collection of seasonal poetic prose; Jon Harris, author of “Wings of the Morning,” an account of his experience as a pilot, shot down during Vietnam, Becky Mushko, humor writer, author of “Where There’s a Will” and other books, and Sally Roseveare, author of “Secrets at Spawning Run, a mystery.
We are all residents of Southwest Virginia and authors who have self-published, aka “in house publishing,” “books on demand,” or, as I like to say, “the small press just got smaller.” In my experience, some of the benefits of self publishing include: you have more control of your product, you can interface more personally with readers; it fosters a sense of self-sufficiency; and you can have book-in-hand quicker than you can when publishing traditionally.
Did you know that e. e. cummings, Carl Sandburg, and John Grisham all initially self-published? So did Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, D. H. Lawrence, James Joyce, and Thoreau. Blogging is a form of self publishing. Citizen journalism is on the rise.
From my point of view, I’m all for more access for everyday people to be in print. I think storytelling is our natural right and that a book to a writer is what a canvas is to an artist, or a stage is to a regional actor.
My motto is this: Start from where you are and watch how it ripples out.
Post Notes: Photos – 1. The Valley Bookfest author’s book sale table, staffed by library workers. 2. Some presenter’s perks, found in my goody tote bag.
For more on self-reliance, including self-publishing, read my WVTF radio essay, “Homegrown”HERE. Also, comments from readers prompted me to do a little research. The Hall of Fame list of authors who have self-published is more extensive than I knew. It includes Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, Robert Bly, Nikki Giovanni, and many others. Read more HERE and HERE.
August 27th, 2006 6:44 pm
Amen. I love the ethos of self-publishing. I may seek you out someday soon to absorb some of your wisdom and guidance. If that’s OK with you.
August 27th, 2006 11:44 pm
Great post, great info. I’ll pass it along to some friends who want to self-publish several books. Interesting about so many famous writers who initially self-published as well! Oh, and Michele says hi.
August 28th, 2006 7:36 am
I know I have a book in me. I know I write well if I take the time to write. I should just go forth and write!
I have only read two pages of Jim and Dan and already the tears stream down my face. And, my brain goes click, click, click. Since, my sister died I can more easily see the patterns in life that went, previously, undiscovered. I could not have read this before now. THANK YOU so much for having the courage and wisdom to write your journey.
August 28th, 2006 8:58 am
The bookfest was fun, wasn’t it? (Three of us could have sub-divided into a “Rural Authors” panel!) I’m enjoying your books, Colleen. Thanks for swapping with me. As for self-pubbing, I got tired of waiting to be discovered and realized I’d have to discover myself.
August 28th, 2006 11:34 am
Great advice you shared this morning about self-publishing and such Colleen. There is much to be said for the Internet and the artistic independence it has set free. Many artistic areas of our society are commercially driven, not talent driven. And as you have pointed out, the blog has given many writers and artist a platform to share their talents that has never been available before.
August 28th, 2006 1:19 pm
Where was this bookfest held?
If you keep a regular speaking schedule, pretty soon you’ll have nerves of steel for public speaking. Then a regular spot on the PBS station, then….. the national arena!
August 28th, 2006 1:40 pm
It was at the main library in downtown Roanoke, off Jefferson St. Yes, it’s so much about learning a new skill set and facing my worst fears.
August 28th, 2006 2:08 pm
This is inspiring Colleen and more than that, it fills me with hope! The hope that just possibly I could self-publish a book, if I ever get around to writing it all!
BTW: I love your dream about my health being great! From your mouth to God’s ear! (lol)
August 28th, 2006 2:44 pm
I did know that John Grisham still visits those little book stores that welcomed him before he became famous and does signings for them….I think that’s nice. That is in fact the only ones he does I think..
Looks like a great festival and I admire you for staying so busy and on top of things!
I also like the term citizen journalist!!!
August 28th, 2006 3:53 pm
My friend Fred’s book is taken from 3 years of blogging. You might be writing your book now, Naomi, and you’re just not aware of it.
That’s cool about John Grisham, Deana. I didn’t know that, but it makes sense. There was a guy at the bookfest who took all our autographs just in case we were famous someday!
I just googled John Grisham. His dad was a cotton farmer and he once held office in the Mississippi House of Representatives…as a Democrat. I found some other cool links that I’m going to add on the front page.
August 29th, 2006 12:27 am
I’m still trying to sell to a traditional publisher but haven’t ruled out self-publishing. _What Color Is Your Parachute?_ also began as a self-published book.
August 29th, 2006 6:02 am
So true —> “I think storytelling is our natural right and that a book to a writer is what a canvas is to an artist, or a stage is to a regional actor.”
August 29th, 2006 1:08 pm
Citizen journalism rises with each contemplated post or considered conversation. Self-publishing is the grain with chaff and wheat that time winnows.
small press
at its most compressed
this conversation
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