Tayari's Blog: Vowing To Never Leave My Home Again

Some unexpected cool things happened like I met George in real life in a totally un-blog-related scenario. I scored a pair of pretty remarkable cowboys boots and I finally got to see my friend, Joao, play his bass. So it was a good conference.

But this entry is sort of about a nagging feeling I've had lately. I know that I have blogged many times about how an author has to take a major role in her own publicity campaign. It's a sad but true kind of thing. When I was busy with the mailing for the book launch party, a person I know said, "If you have a decent publisher, you wouldn't be stuffing your own envelopes." (Charming.) But the point is that envelopes must be stuffed and if you don't have the money to hire an envelope-stuffer, you better get to stuffing.

So maybe this year's AWP just came at a weird moment for me. I almost missed my plane as I was trying to get all the invites to the mailbox in time. And maybe it's because my house looks like some sort of paper factory and I almost killed myself when I slipped on the slick paper that's left when you peel off the labels. But whatever the case, I went to AWP with a huge stack of postcards announcing the release of my new paperback-- I'd paid for RUSH shipping-- and I handed out maybe ten. My heart wasn't in it. I just didn't FEEL like telling anyone about my book. I just didn't FEEL like encouraging anyone to buy anything, unless they wanted to buy me a drink, and that would be different.

There gets to be a point, I think where the author has to draw the line and just write the books for a while. I know we all hear the stories of E Lynn Harris, Zane, or even Tom Wolfe in his white suit (TM)... And yes, these things work, but you know, it's just not for everybody.

I know that many publicists complain about authors who won't pitch in with the task of promotion and this, I imagine, is a nightmare for the person working to get the word out. But now, I understand the urge to refuse it all. I have heard of authors who won't do radio. They won't sign their own books. No photos! I used to think, "Why the drama?" But I sort of understand the impulse now. A person gets TIRED.

But I guess at the end, I person gets rest, too. It's spring break and I am going to work on THE BIGAMIST'S DAUGHTERS. I am going to stumble around in my pjs. And then in the morning, if envelopes need stuffing, I'll be sitting at my kitchen table with my envelope-stuffing hat on.