Tuesday, July 6, 2010
THE OTHER F-WORD.
I like to think of the people who read my books as, well… as Readers.
But many of you prefer the F word. Fans.
According to Webster’s, a Fan is an ardent admirer or an enthusiastic devotee — probably short for fanatic.
It’s an unnerving word for an author. I mean I’ll get an email that says, “Dear Marshall, I’m your Number One Fan,” and think, oh shit, that’s what Kathy Bates said to James Caan in Misery just before she hobbled his ankles with a sledgehammer.
But after four books, I’ve come not only to accept your ardent admiration and enthusiastic devotion, but to totally appreciate it.
Many of you have bought Cut, Paste, Kill, read it, then told your friends, lobbied your libraries and your local bookstores to carry it, and posted brilliant reviews online. As of this posting I have eleven reader reviews on Amazon — every one of them 5 stars.
Writers can only write books. It’s readers who sell them, and nothing drives the online book engine like a whole bunch of readers heaping praise and stars.
So to all those of you who read Cut, Paste, Kill and took the time to hype, pimp, shill, thank you.
And if you didn’t, we’re still cool. I am grateful for your fandom. As long as you don’t show up with a sledgehammer.
Hi Marshall!
Todays "The Other F Word" blog was very funny. Also I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed "Cut, Paste, Kill" and recommend the hell out of your books any chance I get!
P.S.
After reading your blog I said to myself I sure am glad that I'm just an anonymous nobody and not a famous author that some crazy person would take a sledgehammer to...and then I realized that being in law enforcement we have a lot more in common than I thought!
Anyway...take care and keep up the good work!
Johnny
I actually consider myself not only a reader and avid admirer, but an aquantance if not casual friend based on our ongoing correspondance and "inner-circle" of blogs.
Of course, no one ever accused me of living in reality either. LOL.
I sincerely hope your fan base grows and grows, your writing deserves a huge audience.
debb posted on July 8, 2010 12:02 PMI have read all four of your books...loved "The Rabbit Factory" and "Flipping Out" best...the other two I like a lot but left me with some questions about why some of the thing were done.Don't want to give away to much...also loved the ending of "Flipping Out"...that said...WHEN IS THE NEXT LOMAX AND BIGGS book coming out? Also read on the back cover you were working on a book with James Patterson can't find anything on it...any information you want to share?...PLEASE
Hmmm, that picture could almost look like me :/
Kelly posted on July 26, 2010 9:16 AM