Still no sales number, first rejection, and more
The publisher has a small team to work with. I think there are just five of them running the entire operation. In that light, it’s impressive that they successfully publish books worldwide.
But I’m eager for some sales numbers. Indeed, I have no idea whether we’ve sold three copies, 30 or 300. Friends and family keep asking me for the numbers, and I keep asking the publisher. And he keeps directing his attention, understandably, to matters much more pressing than one of his gazillion authors eager for numbers. So no news on that front.
No, thank you
I’ve been trying to work my way into design conferences, festivals, etcetera. Sadly, to no avail just yet. A few of my applications didn’t get any response. Yesterday, I got word from Design Matters in Copenhagen that I was among the 250 applicants who missed the boat.
I’m still waiting for a response from a couple of other festivals. And a podcast or two. To be fair, they’re all long shots. Me and my non-existent social media presence aren’t precisely headline keynote material. But you gotta try.
Some nice mentions
Even though I’m in the dark regarding the sales numbers, I did get a couple of mentions and messages from people who read the book. Yesterday,
posted right here on Substack that she picked up the book at Rotterdam Central Station, and she’s already 1/3rd in!A friend of mine spotted the book in a bookshop in Amsterdam.
And not long ago, a reader from Hamburg, Germany, messaged me saying, “I read your book over the holidays, and it’s the best I’ve read on these topics! It’s now sitting on my desk, full of highlighted sections and bookmarks.”
He then continued to point out an embarrassing error in the book, where I miscalculated a series of numbers. Oops.
Either way, those shout-outs really mean a lot. It’s really cool that people read the book and then take the time to send me a message. I will start doing that from now on, too. Who knows how many authors eagerly check their inboxes?
Up next
Being dependent on others never sat well with me. Although I really hope I’ll get a shot at some speaking engagements, I’m not a big fan of going through the application processes and then waiting two months for a rejection. Especially because my chances are slim due to said non-existent social media presence.
In that light,
and I have been working behind the scenes setting up our own thingamajig. It’s not officially launched yet, but I’ll spill the beans right here:It’s called: The Take Away Network
It is: A transparent, inclusive, and practice-oriented community offering resources, tools, and events created for and by creatives.
Our aim is to: Help creatives thrive and find fulfillment both professionally and personally.
And we’ll do that by: Connecting creatives and delivering practical knowledge, actionable frameworks, and proven models to help them produce outstanding work consistently.
More on that soon. I did already create a Substack, so consider subscribing if you want to follow along:
More soon.
Stay sane.