The Writer’s Equivalent of Winning the Lottery

I’m sure many of you out there, like me, have fantasized about what you would do if you won the lottery – particularly a staggeringly large amount of money. I know my fantasy involves telling upper management at my day job exactly what I think of them and walking out with my head held high, with Aretha Franklin singing R.E.S.P.E.C.T. in the background.

I was watching/listening to the coverage from San Diego ComicCon last week and it set me on my own little fantasy of what it would be like to hit the “writer’s lottery”. First, my book becomes a major best seller and I make more than enough money to quit my day job so I could write full time. I’d be asked to do book signings all over (instead of begging someone to let me do a signing). My book would be made into a movie – a good movie that actually resembled the plot of my book. And in that deal, my wife and I would get to appear in small roles in the film. I don’t have a role for my wife picked out yet, but I know that I’d like to be playing in the military band that welcomes the Daedalus back to the UK.  And finally, I would be asked to be on a panel at some kind of convention with other writers whose work I respect.

That’s not too much to ask, is it?

Now let me come back to reality.

Did you hear that thud? That was my dream falling like the proverbial lead balloon.

I hold no illusions that my book will become a bestseller. I’m not saying that it can’t or won’t. I’m just realistic that as an independent writer, it makes it very difficult to stand out from the crowd. The fact that you’re reading this means you are interested in either my book, me, or Google was having a particularly off day.  The one thing I’m counting on is word of mouth. I’ve been fortunate that everyone I know who has read my book seems to like it – even people who I thought would have no interest in the subject matter at all.  I would encourage any of you who have read my book to review it – on whatever site you bought the book or Goodreads. I hope that the more people review it, it will interest more people in the book, which will generate more reviews, and so on, and so on.

And who knows? Maybe some of it might happen. I did send a copy of my book to Felicia Day not long after I published it. Maybe she’ll read it and like it so much, she’ll show it to Joss Whedon who will immediately love it and want to make the movie. Hey, I figure I’ve got a slightly better chance of that happening than winning the lottery because at least I sent the book. So step one of my plan is complete.

C’mon, Felicia, the rest of it’s up to you!

And speaking of winning…On Goodreads.com, I have a giveaway running for the whole month of July where I’m giving away a copy of my novel signed by me and Emilee Jayne Smith, the very talented cover illustrator, to ten lucky readers. I encourage you to enter and spread the word!

Until next time, happy journeys!

Mike