It is sad that I must end 2018 with a blog sharing disappointing, frustrating, maddening experience.

In my research for social media book promotion I found Books Go Social (BGS).  It’s an upstart from Dublin, Ireland that uses email and tweet blasts and facebook to promote author books.  This June they offered three membership packages and I purchased the “middle package” for $123.  BGS guaranteed selling 200 books and offered a full refund if they didn’t meet that goal.

I wanted to promote Dead Reckoning.  BGS has requirements on ebook pricing, book description and book cover.  I received permission from my publisher to lower the price to $2.99.  I submitted my book cover and description and was given a 4 out of 5 rating.  The promotion began and in two months not a single book sold.

I asked for advice.  Their view was that it was difficult to sell book 3 in a series – I should start with book 1 – Murphy’s Troubles.  I still don’t understand why they didn’t offer that advice in the beginning – but they offered to extend my membership at no additional cost to promote Murphy’s Troubles.

I ran into a quagmire with Amazon because I had the original Create Space version and the Henschel Haus version both on their platform.  It took until October to work through that maze. I also purchased a special 1 day promotion in November for $29.

My promotion for Murphy’s Troubles ended on the Winter Solstice.  In that time I sold exactly 2 books.  Can you believe it?
I emailed BGS owner Laurence O’Bryan asking for my refund.  His response was to deny my request because I was beyond the 60 day refund period.  He did offer to extend my promotion and promote the book at the 2019 Dublin Book Conference a $299 value – for FREE.  I took a pass on his offer and asked him to reconsider and refund the full amount.

He did refund the $29 for the one day November promotion but was reluctant to refund my original package price of $123.  He claimed there was a $20 administrative fee and would refund $103.  I took the money.
What can I say about my BGS experience?  It didn’t work.  No one can tell me why. 
​ So, I end 2018 pondering how to promote the Irish Trouble Series in 2019.

The image in this week’s blog is the face of the ancient, pre-Christian, Celtic symbol for the Winter Solstice.  Jack’s face is made up of all the plants that remain green throughout the winter.

On December 21st there will be about 8 hours 23 minutes of sunlight.  The hours of sunlight vary by your location.  The next day you can expect about 2 minutes 8 seconds more sunlight every day through the summer solstice in June.

I don’t understand why the emphasis in our culture is on the darkness of the winter solstice.  The ancients celebrated with the knowledge that the next day is the rebirth of the sun and Jack the Green brings the promise of warmth and the gift of life sustaining light.

It is sad that for most of us today the solstice is just a date on a calendar with no celebration of its meaning.  It was important in an agrarian culture but it has been many years since the solstice was meaningful and relevant it our individual lives.
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We should return to honor ancient customs and celebrate Jack the Green.  I for one will raise a glass of whiskey to honor his arrival on December 21st.

I am a Midwesterner.  I lived in Pennsylvania for graduate school.  My first real grown-up job was in the State of Washington.  I’ve driven in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle and other large cities.

None of these compare to Dallas-Fort Worth – lovingly called the “Metroplex” by natives.  I visited family in a suburb called Keller but to get ANYPLACE requires traveling on interstate highway and state roads that in any other city would be considered an interstate.

Their urban arterials – those roads used to get people and cars around a city easily are at least 6 lanes.  In Wisconsin we have Interstate that is only four lanes.  A typical Interstate that loops Dallas is eight lanes – three lanes in each direction and a two lane express.

The express is a challenge.  On the road sign it is listed as an “exit” but it isn’t really.  It’s an exit to an express highway.  Above the express highway that tells you if it is free or if there is a fee.  If there is a fee the sign tells you that the fee can be mailed in.  Doesn’t tell you where to mail it.  How do they know you’ve used the express lane?

The posted speed in the express lane is 75 mph – in the heart of the city.  In Wisconsin the posted speed is only 70 mph out where the cows roam.  I accidently wandered into an express lane and was passed like I was standing still.

With the grandkids in the back seat I had to ask them to stay quiet so that I could hear the GPS instructions on the phone.  When you are traveling 70 mph the instructions come to late to make any lane adjustments and I missed many exits on our journey to the Botanical Gardens.

A trip that was supposed to take 20 minutes took me 60 minutes as I roamed the city from exit to exit.  Tension made my shoulders and neck ache, the only relief a fist full of ibuprofen.   
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My warning is: if you go to Dallas-Fort Worth – don’t drive.         

A few weeks ago a Henschel Haus Publishing author friend posted her picture on facebook in the local Barnes & Noble selling books.  I had heard rumors that the local B & N occasionally hosted local authors but never actually knew an author with the opportunity.

I emailed my friend to ask how she got her books into a brick and mortar store (also known as the Holy Grail).  She gave me the name of the B & N contact – every 3-4 months the store hosts local authors.

Here’s the deal.  B & N buys books from their distributor and displays them 1 month before the event.  B & N hosts a 2 hour signing event with up to 3 authors.  If the books sell, B & N will keep them in the store for another month.
So, I wondered – what does the author get out of the deal?  Nothing.  The author doesn’t receive a fee for the signing event.   B & N gets the money for selling the books. 

When asked how many of her books were on display she said – 8.  When asked how many books B & N purchased – she didn’t know.
I was puzzled.  I asked her what benefit she received.  Her first response was a chance to meet a reader and sign her book.  She said she also had “exposure” as a local author.
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I’m sorry, but I don’t get it.  Everybody makes money but the author.  My view is that Barnes & Noble is taking advantage of local authors desperate for recognition and the glory of capturing the author’s Holy Grail.
Personally, I’m not going to let Barnes & Noble use me.