At some point in the recent past, Life in the Boomer Lane noticed that she had written an alarming number of posts, since starting her blog in 2010. Several of these were seriously worth reading. Most were marginally worth reading. All were read by at least somebody. The realization was pretty overwhelming.
She decided to select a group of posts to publish on Kindle, and she has been working diligently on this project for the past six months or so. She hired an editor. Now Husband, ever the knight on a white charger in her life, taught himself how to manoeuver around the Kindle self-publication process. The result is now an actual book, cleverly titled Life in the Boomer Lane: Musings of A Former Hula Hoop Champion, available on Amazon.
Some of you have probably already read most of the posts contained in the book. Others have read at least some of them. LBL doesn’t expect you to re-read the material. She has enough of an issue doing that herself. She is simply announcing the book’s publication, in case you feel the need to have some of her writing with you at all times. Or you can tell friends about it. Or you can suggest it for your book club. The possibilities are endless.
LBL is making no money on this, or rather, so little money that it won’t even cover the cost of putting everything together. She’s at a point in her life when making money is less important than buying used clothing on eBay or seeing grandchildren or curling up with a good book. All she would like would be the knowledge that some people out there would be willing to plunk down $4.99 in order to visit her alternate universe.
And, unlike the enormous effort she spent to market her previous books, Invisible No More: The Secret Live of Women Over 50 and Saving the Best for Last: Creating Our Lives After 50, she will not be marketing this one. Neither has she any plans to print it in dead tree format. The only marketing she will do is to announce it here on her blog, and possibly on social media.
That’s it. It you are interested, check it out on Amazon: Life in the Boomer Lane.
Actually, that’s not it. Back in 2001, LBL published a novel, King of the Gypsies. She never tried to get a publisher. She never marketed the book or even told anyone about it. She simply wanted to see a physical manifestation of all her months of work. For many years after that, she received royalties, averaging about $13.00 per year. Clearly, it wasn’t the amount that mattered. It was the fact that some people somewhere had found her book and bought it and presumably read it. For LBL, the thrill was off the charts.
Now, that’s really it. The rest is up to you. Buy Life in the Boomer Lane, or not. Tell your friends about the book, or not. Post about the book on social media or not. Or don’t buy the book but just send LBL $4.99 directly. Or don’t do anything except to keep reading LBL’s blog. Whatever you do, LBL still thanks you for slogging through her posts. She may give you glib reactions to your comments, but you should know that you matter a great deal in her life.
Keith
May 23, 2016
$13 a year definitely makes you a read author. I hope your Kindle sales go well, Renee. Keep us posted on your success. Best wishes, Keith
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
Thanks, Keith!
virginiarapekits
May 23, 2016
congratulations am forwarding to Ric, who has a kindle (I don’t)
Thank you! Marj Signer 5310 North 26th Road Arlington VA 22207 home 703-237-1765 cell 202-341-5559 marj.signer@gmail.com
On Mon, May 23, 2016 at 6:17 AM, Life in the Boomer Lane wrote:
> Life in the Boomer Lane posted: ” At some point in the recent past, Life > in the Boomer Lane noticed that she had written an alarming number of > posts, since starting her blog in 2010. Several of these were seriously > worth reading. Most were marginally worth reading. All were” >
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
And thank you, Marj!
Elyse
May 23, 2016
Congratulations! I’m pretty sure I already love it as I’m already a follower …
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
Thanks, Elyse. Yes, you have probably already ready most of these posts. I, on the other hand, have looked at some and have no knowlege of having written them.
Pat Skene
May 23, 2016
Congrats and good luck with the book. I’m in the process of writing a memoir of sorts and including many of my posts in the book as well. A daunting task to merge the pieces within the story, but it seems to be working.
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
That does sound daunting, and very exciting. Mine is just a compilation of blog posts. Let me know about yours, when you complete it.
rosiebooks2009
May 23, 2016
Just bought it on Amazon UK. Know how difficult it is to sell books on Kindle, having tried! Boomers stick together. Looking forward to starting it this evening. Linda (aka Rosie)
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
Thanks, Linda! Let me know your reaction. Since I’m not marketing it, I’ll be thrilled at each and every sale.
rosiebooks2009
May 24, 2016
I will do. I’m enjoying your friend’s adventures in internet dating, having had very similar experiences myself, in my younger days. Stifling giggles as I read. The cats must have thought I’d got a cold. Was going to review it on Amazon when finished anyway, if I can remember how. (I’m Merlynne on Amazon)
Andrew Reynolds
May 23, 2016
Well, I don’t know. I memorize each of your posts and often quote them to my friends.
Good work on getting the book done!
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
You’re a funny guy, Andrew. You are a loyal reader and a person with an empty life.
wendykarasin
May 23, 2016
I get that, (although not as prolific as you – in books or blog posts) I wanted to see my memoir in print manifestation too. And it wasn’t about the money (even though I have received hundred in royalties), it was about the tribute to my parents and the thrill of seeing my work in an actual book!
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
Bravo to you, Wendy. And that’s one of the great benefits of print-on-demand, a record of what we have accomplished. And, in addition, it has the ability to reach others. Sure beats hand-written journals of days past, that people kept squirreled away in drawers and attics.
Sande Caplin
May 23, 2016
Congratulations!
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
Thanks, my friend! xxoo
ammaponders
May 23, 2016
That is very cool!
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
Thanks, Now that the manuscript is finished, I can go back to saving the world by bitching to anyone who will listen about a certain unamed candidate for president.
Lunar Euphoria
May 23, 2016
Seriously, hands down, this is the best book release announcement I have ever read. You go girl with your bad ass hula hooping self!
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
Wow, thanks! One of the tricks to aging is to continue to find ways to be bad ass with arthritis and diminished flexibility. But I’m still trying.
Jill Foer Hirsch
May 24, 2016
Congrats! Nice to have your stuff gathered in one place. And I don’t like to brag…but my book is bringing in like $4-$5 in royalties every single month. Putting me right up there with Grisham. Or someone.
Life in the Boomer Lane
May 24, 2016
I am insanely jealous of you. That’s a fortune.