Turning Bad News Into Benefit: Book Promotion Success

By: M. LaVora Perry - [writing]

In the early Fall of 2003 my children's book, Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart was rejected by a local (Greater Cleveland, Ohio USA area) suburban children's room librarian. Her rejection meant the book would not be in included in the reading selections of that suburb's library.

Although the largest school and librarian systems in Ohio (Cleveland) both picked up the book with high praise, and the Cleveland Municipal school district put the book on their reading list for 2003-04, the rejection by the suburban children's room librarian bummed me out. Perhaps my bummedness was particularly acute because one of the objectives I'd been praying to realize over the previous several months was for Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart to be in libraries across the United States of America.

The librarian in question said my book had awkward sentence structure, was too didactic (preachy), had too much going on with Buddhism and diabetes and "Children won't like it." She said, "We don't carry those kinds of books." In a few words the librarian articulated my worst fear about myself as a writer--I'm no good. All the people who told me they loved my story and that reading it uplifted them, and their children loved it, too were either lying to keep from hurting my feelings or didn't know quality writing from junk. That's what I told myself.

So I prayed and sought guidance. My biggest obstacle was how could I effectively promote a book to people if it was no good? How could I have the heart to tell folks to buy my book if it stank?

In her wisdom, Cindy Carlson of Chicago, who is an appointed leader in the Buddhist organization to which I belong--Soka Gakkai International (SGI)-USA, told me that Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart gave people a positive feeling. So the question was not was it good, but did it create value? She said it definitely created value based on people's reaction to it. So it was therefore good. She also said the book didn't have to be perfect to create value.

I also talked to my friend here in Cleveland, Barb Jenkins, who is also an appointed SGI-USA leader. She encouraged me to face the funky inner demons that had me allowing one negative voice to drown out a chorus of positive ones. She helped me see that the librarian was showing me the inner weakness/doubt/lack of faith in my Buddha nature that I needed to defeat.

Through the words of these wise women, and through prayer, I came to realize that as a writer I certainly hope Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart is the worst book I write in this lifetime. Goodness knows I plan on writing until the day I drop; so if I've hit my peak with my 1st book out the gate, I'm in trouble.

That's not my plan. I aim to continuously develop and learn my craft. So Taneesha--as well and widely as she is being received--is just the beginning. Not only that, but the simple truth is not everybody is going to like what I write. Big deal. I don't like everything I read of other folks' writing either. I need to develop thicker skin.

The most important thing I realized out of all of this is that what matters most is for me to stick to my original determination regardless of what happens. My intention from the start was to sell 1,000,000 books within a year of publication, and to thereby give all kinds of people, of all ages, of whatever belief, an opportunity to learn about the humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism. So I renewed my determination.

Since my bout with the librarian blues there have been other disappointments, but I will keep transforming them into benefits based on my deep prayer to achieve what I believe I was born to do as a writer: be the best I can be--be a writer who inspires people to believe in and go for their deepest, biggest, wildest dreams. So here's been what's happening on the up side lately (post librarian blues):

1.) I was invited to New York City on November 6th to appear at the Langston Hughes Community LIBRARY and Cultural Center in Corona Queens soon after it was awarded a SGI-USA Liberty Award for its efforts to foster multicultural awareness. The head LIBRARIAN who invited me had no idea I was affiliated with the SGI-USA until after he asked me to visit. Straight out of the "There Are No Coincidences in Life" bag.

2.) A LIBRARIAN in a different Greater Cleveland library (a suburban school), raved about my book and my appearance at her school. She sent her comments to Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

3.) Zambian Schools (yes, Africa) will be carrying the book!

4.) Children in an online kids' book club voted to feature my book on their Web site in November (the club is coordinated by a Texan LIBRARIAN).

5.) "Taneesha's Treaures " was listed in the October newsletter of the Black Caucus of the American LIBRARY Association.

6.) By invitation, I will be a featured author at Cleveland's Louis Stokes LIBRARY (main branch) Kwanzaa celebration of authors.

7.) "Taneesha's Treasures " is listed as a holiday stocking stuffer in the nationally distributed November-December issue of Black Issue Book Review

8.) "Taneesha's Treasures " is featured in the October (Fall 2003) SGI Quarterly--an international publication.

9.) Children's groups in Zambia, Kenya, South Africa and Malaysia are reading "Taneesha's Treasures "

10.) I've been nominated for inclusion in Who's Who in America, 2005.

I am sharing this story in case it can inspire or encourage somebody to not let anyone or anything sway you from your goal--no matter who is giving you the blues or how outrageous your goal seems. I will continue to move forward and enjoy the journey and I hope you will as well.

M. LaVora Perry posts book promotion tips on her Web site, http://www.fortunechildbooks.com and in her newsletter. In 1995 she became the first African-American card writer in the world's second largest greeting card company--American Greetings. Her words have appeared on gift items on three continents. She is the author of Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart and the free e-book, Wu-lung and I-lung, which is available for immediate viewing from her Web site. She can be reached at lavora@f....

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