Appreciate it sir. I hear you too re: topicality, it’s a conundrum I cannot seem to escape as far as being a writer that inevitably has to do some semblance of self promotion. A metamodernist Catch 22 let’s call it. But hey. Joseph Heller struggled, too.
I'm inspired, thank you, Samuel. You may just have tipped the scales for me to the self-publishing side. I'm also happy to hear you feel Substack is "still a fundamentally enriching space."
Ahhh well you’ll be on the side of independent publishing then😎
Self-publishing as a term is I fear mostly now used by traditional publishing and its acolytes to demean and differentiate between what amounts to independent artists 💪🏼
Great seeing your words here Samuèl and I am filled with gratitude for you and your beautiful book. I have been taking some breaks away from the screen myself so my inbox is full and I am unlikely to get to it all but that is ok. I have been working in my yard and walking my dog and reading good books.
I love the fact you could envision an independent process for your book and make it work. It turned out marvelous and didn't require the evil gods of Amazon self-publishing to make it happen. I also really enjoyed the discussion between you and Joshua. I listened to it while walking my dog the other day. Keeping my fingers crossed for an opportunity to meet and chat about life one of these days.
We'll surely find ourselves with a glass of wine and/or a coffee one of these days along the Seine. It's such a seesaw battle between the desire to pursue more market-based ambition and the recognition of what creative success really means in the quiet moments. Knowing my book is on your bookshelf, and Joshua's, and 200+ others is as much as I can possibly ask for. Which doesn't mean I won't also publish an American edition so that the people who use the Amazons of the world can also have access. But thanks to this 1st edition, the potential for mass validation isn't--and can't be--the point.
I miss dogs. One day in a country home I can call my own, I shall have one. A human can and will dream.
Living the writer’s life, indeed. You’ve reconfirmed both my plans for future “independent” publishing (love this term) *and* the value of in-person connections. Très bien!
Yes! I think we should strike out the term "self-publishing" as one that no longer serves us (and only upholds the very systems we're trying to dismantle). The word of mouth connection remains the most surefire, authentic, and profitable one I know of. Glad to hear the inspiration is flowing. One day all of the big ole corporations cornering artistic markets will be a thing of the past. I do believe in that. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing this, after all.
You had me at metamodern consumptive trends. I'm also a writer who left the land of "have you been on Orpah"? (When being on Oprah was a thing) for life in the south of France. Bravo on your decision to launch Kingdom Anywhere. I'm inspired!
Haha love it. And what a pleasure to hear even bonafide bestselling authors like yourself have found a better way to pursue the writing life than the constant stress of self-promotion. Next time you're in Paris, we'll have to find ourselves a glass of wine.
Kingdom Anywhere can't wait to work with one of Paris' kings for whatever thy king doth decide to publish with the Royalist Press. Thanks friend. You've literally been there since the beginning of The Crown.
So, you know Jake Lamar. Yet another connection between us. Jake was one my MFA mentors. Great guy. I hope to catch up with him when I come to meet you in Paris this fall.
I do! But only vaguely as a fellow writer in Paris, we've crossed paths a few times / may so again next week at the American Library's 1920s party. If I see him there I'll be sure to give him a David-approved high five
Sensationally Contemporary ! Lovin it !
Your ‘Topicality’ of your work ain’t exactly my ‘cup of tea’ - yet the ‘spirit’ & perspective ‘slays’ ..
Appreciate it sir. I hear you too re: topicality, it’s a conundrum I cannot seem to escape as far as being a writer that inevitably has to do some semblance of self promotion. A metamodernist Catch 22 let’s call it. But hey. Joseph Heller struggled, too.
I'm inspired, thank you, Samuel. You may just have tipped the scales for me to the self-publishing side. I'm also happy to hear you feel Substack is "still a fundamentally enriching space."
Ahhh well you’ll be on the side of independent publishing then😎
Self-publishing as a term is I fear mostly now used by traditional publishing and its acolytes to demean and differentiate between what amounts to independent artists 💪🏼
Thanks for the correction!
Great seeing your words here Samuèl and I am filled with gratitude for you and your beautiful book. I have been taking some breaks away from the screen myself so my inbox is full and I am unlikely to get to it all but that is ok. I have been working in my yard and walking my dog and reading good books.
I love the fact you could envision an independent process for your book and make it work. It turned out marvelous and didn't require the evil gods of Amazon self-publishing to make it happen. I also really enjoyed the discussion between you and Joshua. I listened to it while walking my dog the other day. Keeping my fingers crossed for an opportunity to meet and chat about life one of these days.
We'll surely find ourselves with a glass of wine and/or a coffee one of these days along the Seine. It's such a seesaw battle between the desire to pursue more market-based ambition and the recognition of what creative success really means in the quiet moments. Knowing my book is on your bookshelf, and Joshua's, and 200+ others is as much as I can possibly ask for. Which doesn't mean I won't also publish an American edition so that the people who use the Amazons of the world can also have access. But thanks to this 1st edition, the potential for mass validation isn't--and can't be--the point.
I miss dogs. One day in a country home I can call my own, I shall have one. A human can and will dream.
Living the writer’s life, indeed. You’ve reconfirmed both my plans for future “independent” publishing (love this term) *and* the value of in-person connections. Très bien!
Yes! I think we should strike out the term "self-publishing" as one that no longer serves us (and only upholds the very systems we're trying to dismantle). The word of mouth connection remains the most surefire, authentic, and profitable one I know of. Glad to hear the inspiration is flowing. One day all of the big ole corporations cornering artistic markets will be a thing of the past. I do believe in that. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing this, after all.
proud to be a part of the process. xx
Thanks wife. You're cool.
Bravo!
You had me at metamodern consumptive trends. I'm also a writer who left the land of "have you been on Orpah"? (When being on Oprah was a thing) for life in the south of France. Bravo on your decision to launch Kingdom Anywhere. I'm inspired!
Haha love it. And what a pleasure to hear even bonafide bestselling authors like yourself have found a better way to pursue the writing life than the constant stress of self-promotion. Next time you're in Paris, we'll have to find ourselves a glass of wine.
Happy to have found you. Happy to have The Requisitions winging its way toward me.
It's an honor to be on your bookshelf Eleanor, I'm looking forward to delving into your work & expanding the circle of Substack prose friends
Hooray! Ditto. I want to come to your Salon. 🙌
And who is the king of this kingdom...hmmmm? Damn royalists keep trying to bring back the monarchy... (so proud of you bruv)
Kingdom Anywhere can't wait to work with one of Paris' kings for whatever thy king doth decide to publish with the Royalist Press. Thanks friend. You've literally been there since the beginning of The Crown.
Independent and free,
living a life of joyful resistance.
May more and more of us discover
together
"the way out of the matrix"
from the life of appearing
back to the life of being
together.
I dig this poem.
Joyful resistance indeed.
So, you know Jake Lamar. Yet another connection between us. Jake was one my MFA mentors. Great guy. I hope to catch up with him when I come to meet you in Paris this fall.
I do! But only vaguely as a fellow writer in Paris, we've crossed paths a few times / may so again next week at the American Library's 1920s party. If I see him there I'll be sure to give him a David-approved high five