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 By Argile Stox Dec. 25, 2005 Well, it is the day before Christmas and I am reflecting on the year 2005 that is nearly at an end. I survived a heart attack, I am grateful to be alive to enjoy Christmas, and bringing in the new year of 2006 with Tracy and her family. A few things are sticking in my mind as 2005 is drawing near a close. PublishAmerica – with a great deal of fanfare announced that all their publications will be returnable beginning October, 2005. I checked with their distributor, Ingram, a few weeks ago and my book was still not returnable. I immediately sent an e-mail to Author’s Support and asked when my book will be included in their returnable list. They replied a few days later – stating that my book will be returnable as of January 1st 2006. I will wait and see if that ever comes about. On the subject of book returns – Author’s do not relish the fact that the general public can buy their books and return them. There are circumstances wherein a consumer will buy a book as a gift and the recipient returns the book for a more desirable title. That is okay with me. However, my memoir was printed – June / 2004 and has sold approximately fourteen copies. Granted, my memoir is about my experiences with homelessness in New York City and is not on the top of everyone’s Christmas list. Yet, if my book was returnable at the time it was printed – would bookstores have carried it nationwide? From what I have read on many message boards which deal exclusively with the PublishAmerica debacle, the return policy that they have instituted is not very attractive to booksellers – compared to the big publishing houses and their return policy. So, if my memoir is listed as returnable in January, 2006 – I have a feeling that booksellers will pass on shelving it. After my heart attack, I began to reflect about my life. Frankly, I really had no regrets. However, if I had passed on and began knocking on heavens gate, my memoir would have most likely died with me. I doubt that my death would have improved sales, and everyone would be clamoring to buy my book. In the same vein, who knows! My contract with PublishAmerica has another five years to go – and I have willed the book, copyright, and royalties to Tracy. I know that she would do her best to keep the spotlight on my memoir. However, I have a feeling that all her efforts to promote the work of a dead author would be muted by PublishAmerica’s inane return policy. Be that as it may, I am still alive and kicking – thanks to the efforts of everyone at the Rapid City Regional Hospital, and the quick thinking of the cardiologist(s) on duty at the time I strolled into the emergency room. I just received the bill for their services, which they are submitting to Medicare – a whopping $22,645.39 for a four day stay! Yeah, I know – Medicare (will) may cover eighty percent of the bill and I will be left with the remainder. I am hoping that the hospital will accept monthly payments of about twenty bucks a month – for I have Social Security Disability as my only income. Maybe there are State agencies that can assist with the remainder of the bill. I will have to investigate that possibility... Yes, I had thought about getting Supplementary Social Security Medicare Disability Insurance to satisfy the twenty percent that is not covered. However, I could not afford the additional thirty to forty dollars in additional monthly premiums. It is sort of a Catch-22… Well, I will keep everyone informed as to the eventual outcome. Tracy is very happy that my ticker is still pumping, and I am not taking the eternal dirt nap. I would have been very pissed off if my life had ended just a few weeks before our one year anniversary. Dear reader, if you remember my past articles – I came to Rapid City, South Dakota to visit with Tracy over the Christmas holiday’s in 2004 – for only a four day stay. It just so happens – that I never left-LOL! I want to wish everyone who reads the articles on Useless-Knowledge Magazine, the contributing columnists, and the editor (who has granted this author an opportunity to publish his rants & raves in this forum) a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! ------------ Email Argile Stox: argilestox@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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