One of my favorite books growing up was Jeff Rovin’s The Transgalactic Guide to Solar System M-17. This book, presented as a tour guide for an imagined solar system, allows you, the space tourist, to visit several exotic planets and meet their alien inhabitants.

One of these alien races is called the ‘Buskap,’ which means ‘livestock’ in Norwegian. Mr. Rovin didn’t choose this name accidentally, and as the reader soon learns, this race serves as feed cattle for another alien race called the Kiraly. And the Buskap agree willingly to this relationship, on the condition that the Kiraly feed them and take care of all their physical needs. Freed from the fetters of humdrum routine, the Buskap devote themselves full-time to artistic and creative pursuits. Which works out well for them…until the Kiraly come calling for dinner.

While the Buskap have settled on a really horrible lifestyle choice, I must confess that on some level I sympathize with them. Sounds whacko? Let me explain.

I’ve been working on a children’s fantasy novel for some time, and I’m finally at the point of getting it published with End Game Press. The craft of writing is more challenging than I dreamed when I first started back in 2017, but now that I’m wrapping up the actual writing portion of this effort, I’m discovering a new challenge…the dreaded ‘M’ word.

MARKETING.

Yes, writing a book isn’t enough. If it’s going to make any impact, you have to get it in the reader’s hands. Which means selling it. You know, working the room, making good first impressions, shaking hands, etc. What fun!

I hope you detected my sarcasm.

Buskap authors, I presume, do not have this problem. Sure, they may get filleted six ways and served with parsnips after crafting their magnum opus, but at least MARKETING is off their plate.

And just how horrible has my marketing experience been so far? Would I be willing to endure the cuisine treatment by aliens to avoid it?

In a word, no.

Surprise? Well, there’s only one reason I can honestly say that, and it’s this…Book People.

Everyone I’ve talked to about marketing my book, including every store or library I’ve walked into, has been a book person. They love books. Some of them are such lovers of books that they rival even the most rabid sports fans out there.

That means that they’re not going to laugh you out of the store, or tell you to take a hike, or say stuff like “well it IS important to have dreams, I guess…” They’re behind you. They want you to succeed, so that the Kingdom of Books may ever expand its boundaries. These are militant bookworms.

Which is great! Because this publishing adventure isn’t going to be smooth sailing (it sure hasn’t so far), and it’s sure nice to know you’ve got people in your corner. And these people, unlike the Kiraly, are much more likely to have you over for dinner than eat you for lunch.