Since I Have Been De-PublishAmericaized...
Since I had my heart attack, Stent implantation, and a Leukemia scare (I suffer from the run-of-the mill Anemia) and finally being released from the clutches of the PublishAmerica contract - I am feeling better, thank you. The pain in my lower back is still present. Since I do not meet the criteria for the Veterans Administration for a back operation to remove two herniated discs and bone spurs, I have to plead my case with the local hospital to refer me to an orthopedic surgeon that accepts Medicare and AARP coverage. The list of pain pills I consume each day is numerous, and I am getting tired of living life like a really elderly person (I am 52).
Aside from all that - my writing abilities have been short-circuited by the experience I had with PublishAmerica. They wore me down to such an extent, that the fire in my stomach to create a work of fiction / non-fiction has been extinguished. I have tried to re-write my book many times. However, each time I begin a writing session to re-write my memoir - the sting of PublishAmerica hits me deep within my brain, and I abandon the effort.I believe that my creativeness has been nullified by “PublishAmericaitis,” and it will take a long time to recover from this malady. Yeah, I know - the malady of which I speak of is “self induced,” and I should fight off its effects on my writing.
However, with everything I have to contend with, mentally & physically - it is very difficult to build up a full head of steam to begin writing again. Sure, I write small articles on an opinion based website
www.useless-knowledge.com/columnists/argilestox (you may have to click twice on that site to read the articles). However, I am unable and or unwilling to unfurl the sails and begin another writing crusade. PublishAmerica has sucked the creative juices out of the gray matter that is housed in a bone sanctuary which sits between my ears.
I am a very angry man. PublishAmerica promised in writing that my memoir would be placed in brick & mortar” bookstores. That did not happen. A customer must order the book from the bookstore and or a bookstore’s Web site. PublishAmerica promised in writing that they would assist in promoting my memoir. Yeah, sending flyers to my friends and relatives is not what I would call promotion. PublishAmerica promised in writing that my book would be reasonably priced. I don’t think $24.95 for a 325 page trade paperback is reasonable. In addition, Author Support sent “tone” letters to me when I questioned their business practices.
In short, it took a war of e-mail words, columns written on web sites, and an almost initiated media campaign - exposing their scam operation, to get released from the chains of their publishing contract. All of which has left this writer exhausted and worn out.
Will I ever re-write my memoir? I don’t know. It appears pointless to revisit that issue. When the memoir was in print with PublishAmerica, the book sold only about twenty copies. The general population is just not interested in the plight of the homeless in the USA. Will I ever write another book? I really don’t know. I am a non-fiction writer. I tried my hand at writing fiction, and failed miserably.
I truly do not know if there is another book formulating in my brain. The future is just that - the future. Well, at least I am writing in short spurts - like this post. Well, that is all I know for now.
Argile Stox