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Nov. 8, 2004 (I was drawn to write and Post the following Memoir after having a conversation with a fellow PublishAmerica Author, regarding “after-glow” reflections concerning my status as a Published Author.) In about two weeks the first anniversary of the day I submitted a manuscript to PublishAmerica, will arrive. Shortly after that, the sixth month anniversary of the publication of my book will follow. It has been an interesting year. My first memory takes me back to September / 2002, sending a synopsis and the first chapter of my Memoir (Computer-End Program – Homelessness Memoir) to a host of literary agents and publishers via e-mail from lists which were gleamed through Google’s search engine. With floppy disk in hand, I would walk from the Shelter to a Internet café on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and send a cover letter and my writings attached to an e-mail to everyone connected with the publishing industry. After three months and about one hundred e-mails later, not one literary agent or mainstream publisher acknowledged my efforts. Undaunted, I continued adding to my manuscript. After transferring to a Veteran’s Shelter in Long Island City, I continued to send e-mails through the computers stationed in the Public Library which was located on the ground floor of a tall teal colored structure of the Citi Bank building. Each day, my e-mail Inbox would be devoid of any acknowledgment of my efforts. Many months and experiences with Homelessness later, with my black duffel bag in tow while transversing the streets of Albany, New York, my manuscript was still housed in the deep dark recesses of a laptop, destined never to see the light of day. In August / 2003, through a fortunate set of circumstances, I was able to find affordable housing in Albany, New York, and began accumulating furniture and food in the refrigerator, leaving the world of Homelessness behind. After a few weeks of adjustment to my new surroundings, I completed my Memoir and began a renewed effort to have it published. Another three months and countless e-mails later, to literary agents and mainstream publishers, not a single acknowledgement was to be found in my e-mail Inbox. I was disheartened and feeling rejected, for it was becoming increasingly clear that no one had the slightest interest in my experiences. It was about three o’clock in the morning on a cold November day. I could not sleep. My mind was filled with past conversations of well meaning, newly acquired friends in the neighborhood, who had read my manuscript, advising not to give up on the quest to have the Memoir accepted by a publisher. I was also aggravated by a recent telephone conversation with a very critical relative who advised me, in very harsh words, that he had not read my Memoir which was contained on a CD ROM disc I sent him a few days earlier, via express mail. Now seated in front of my computer, I powered it up and began an all out search effort through Google for a publisher. Placing keywords, such as: manuscripts, new authors, publishers, etc, PublishAmerica’s website continually appeared on my screen. My first thought was “I never heard of them.” Then, after reading all of the information and testimonials on the website, my second thought was “This has to be too good, to be true”. I found it very difficult to believe that a publisher’s main “Mission Statement,” was to embrace unknown Authors, who, through “Non- Fiction an Fictional Accounts,” conquered life’s adversities, and to publish their work “Free of Charge”. Following PublishAmerica’s manuscript submission process, I entered information about my Memoir, attached a synopsis, few chapters, and pressed “Enter”. As early morning rays of the sun began to cascade through frosted windowpanes, the computer was powered down, and I resumed my slumber. A few days later, with the earlier manuscript submission as a vague memory in my mind, I was floored to find a “Congratulations! We want to publish your Memoir” e-mail appeared in my Inbox from PublishAmerica. My eyes were transfixed on every single letter, every single word of that e- mail. Paralysis immediately overtook every function of my body. I literally turned to stone. Upon recovering from the initial shock, I called my sister and forwarded the e-mail to her. She was elated, and was sincerely overjoyed with the prospect that her brother was on the verge of becoming a Published Author. Gasping for air and nervously accepting their offer to publish my work, I followed their procedures and sent a conformation e-mail. My mind began to ruminate on a single looping thought: “Could it be that I will receive an actual Publishing contract in the mail?” True to PublishAmerica’s word, a huge white envelope appeared in my snail-mail apartment house mailbox, about a week later. My body shook, as my eyes scanned and my mind absorbed the details of the contract. With the speed of a comic book superhero, I exited my apartment and banged on my neighbors doors with the news. After getting past my wide-eyed excitement and incomprehensible jabbering, my friends read the contract. Their first comments were “Who is PublishAmerica? I never heard of this publishing company. Are they legit?” After informing them of my research on the Web, they said, “Go For It!” I signed the contract, and propelled my body at Warp-Speed to the Post Office. I then called that very critical relative, and asked if he had read my Memoir. He stated in so many words, that it was not worth the CD it was contained on, and it would never be published. After I informed him that my signature was affixed to a publishing contract from PublishAmerica, he was speechless. I remember hearing an almost undetectable “gasp” coming from his end of the telephone line. It is now about a year later, November / 2004. My book, Computer-End Program By: Argile Stox, has been published and promoted through various channels of the publishing industry. Considering its subject matter, the book buying public’s aversion to read about and to do something about the increasing population of Homeless individuals which roam the streets in their cities, sales of my memoir are beginning to ramp- up. Each day, my sales ranking on the Barnes & Noble Website (compared to other published Memoirs in their inventory) have remained steady. The lower the sales rankings, the higher the sales. My Memoir may not be #1 in sales rankings. However, it has remained in the mid 400,000 rank for over three months. My book is selling, one copy at a time. Frankly, that is all that an unknown Author can wish for. In retrospect, PublishAmerica has given me a “Masters Level Degree” of real world experience in the field of publishing regarding editing, proofing, book cover design, and marketing. With regard to its detractors, PublishAmerica is a traditional Publisher, which uses "Print On Demand" State of The Art technology. Unlike other mainstream publishers, for the next seven years, my Memoir will not go out of print. Unlike fee based / self publishing houses, the printing of my book did not cost "one single dime" (Okay. I spent 2 cents for an envelope and 64 cents in postage to send the contract to the publisher) to have my book produced in a Trade Paperback format. For all those who have been critical of my past Posted Articles on this website, it would be to your benefit to pause, and reflect upon how my thoughts and concerns have been radically changed over the past two years. I have lived through an experience of Homelessness, which I would not even wish on anyone who resides in Our Great Nation; have walked through the valley of Hell, and experienced the daily trials and horrors, which face the underbelly of present day society. The wounds are deep, and the psychological scars of my experiences will haunt me throughout my lifetime. If you would like to place a trendy label on me, such as a “Recovering Homeless Person, who is also, a first-time unknown published Author” so be it. Remember, in one short event, your opinions, and views concerning the political process, political parties, the current administration, the economy and life in general, could rotate 180 degrees. ------------ About the author Argile Stox: Visit the website: http://mysite.verizon.net/res8nrbr/ Email: argilestox@verizon.net 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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