About six months ago I realized that I needed help. The three cartons of books resting on my office floor that greeted me whenever I strolled in were not getting any lighter. Instead, they remained at rest, probably wondering if I was ever going to unpack them. I was also somewhat haunted by the fact that there were several more boxes just like them in a warehouse at Post Printing in Memphis, equally inactive.
I thought about my quandary. It was plainly apparent that I had neither the time nor the connections to place Cypress Walls into retail outlets. Not only that, I didn't have the patience to let the boxes remain motionless. If I wanted Cypress Walls to gain greater notoriety, I knew that I needed those books to get into circulation.
This led to a day last fall when I began researching book distributors. Google directed me to Bookmarket.com and I quickly found several candidates, including one in Murfreesboro, TN, home of my alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University. Geography rather than fate intervened. I downloaded a submission form for Blu Sky Media Group and carefully filled it out. A day or two later, I shipped it and a copy of the book via FedEx to their office and wondered how long it would take before I received the rejection letter.
On Nov. 13, an intriguing email from Cissy Tiernan, the company's vice president of business development, landed in my in-box. The subject: "Blu Sky Media Submission - Two Sides." I figured this was "thanks, but no thanks" and opened the email, steeled for such a likelihood.
"Thank you for sending your submission for distribution for Two Sides of a Cypress Wall to Blu Sky Media Group. I will be reviewing your book and information to determine if we can offer our services, and will be back in touch within the next few days."
Woo-hoo! Over the next couple of months Cissy and I exchanged a few more notes and one day in January we spoke live. As I mentioned previously, she was gracious with her time and offered me several tips and suggestions. After we hung up, I had a good feeling about Blu Sky Media. On Feb.18, she arranged a call for me with the firm's president, Greg Snider. They were interested in signing me on as a client.
I sought input from Heather and my parents. They were all supportive, each willing to do anything to help me in the pursuit of my dream. As we neared a decision, Dad and I were on the phone discussing the pros and cons. He had Blu Sky's homepage up and was scanning the client list. He recognized a name,
Cynthia Polansky. Dad had worked with her earlier in his career at FedEx and had heard through the work grapevine that she'd gone into writing. I asked him to send her a note. He did and she quickly replied, singing the praises of Greg and the Blu Sky team.
"Joel would be making a good decision to go with them for distribution," she wrote.
We were sold and last week I signed and mailed the contract. In the coming days, we'll be getting ramped up and the Blu Sky sales team will begin introducing my book to the industry. There are no guarantees, but I'm thrilled nonetheless by this development and am looking forward to shipping those cartons to Murfreesboro ASAP!
Congratulations - glad to hear that your making progress!
Also -- in case your interested -- I found this blog update through your recent tweet, so apparently Twitter actually works :)
Hope El Paso is treating you muy bueno!
Sie
Posted by: SieTX | March 15, 2009 at 09:53 AM