Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Jessica Bell: Why I decided to build a cubby house in Celery Tree

I'm thrilled to have Jessica Bell guest posting here today as part of our Celery Tree Tour! Jessica's book, String Bridge, was the very first one to be sold on the site.


"Athens, Greece, (I am, however, an Australian from Melbourne) I'm a literary women's fiction author, poet, and singer/songwriter/guitarist. My debut collection of poems, Twisted Velvet Chains and novel, String Bridge, are now available. I make a living as a freelance fiction editor and a writer/editor of global English Language Teaching materials and collaborate with HarperCollins, Pearson Education, Hellenic American Union, Cengage Learning and Education First. I am also the co-founder and co-editor of the Vine Leaves Literary Journal."

I can’t stress enough how the underdog needs support in this ever-evolving publishing climate these days. And there is so much information on the net that it can become overwhelming sifting through the dos and don’ts.

So here’s a simple do and don’t:
Do join Celery Tree
Don’t delay
Why?

Well, who doesn’t want to be a part of an author community that supports each other, and clearly wants to support each other?

You know, I’ve heard a little whining on the grape vine about one of the rules to join:

To be a member you must buy six books from Celery Tree every 12 months.

What is wrong with that?

Absolutely nothing.

Because you’re going to buy more than six books a year anyway, and it might as well be from a place which supports and promotes others of our kind: the underdog with the small publisher that leaves most of the time-sucking promo up to the author, or the self-published genius who couldn’t seem to get the big guns to take notice, but has certainly got the little guys wondering why no agent has picked them up, or the hermit writer who knows next-to-nothing about the internet, but just wants to share their work with the world, and know that they’ve touched at least one soul …

No, there is definitely nothing wrong with buying six books a year to help each other out.

If you’re a reader, check out what Celery Tree has to offer so far, and give your money to the little people instead of the giant corporations who … well … have plenty of attention already.

And if you’re a writer with a self-published book, or with one published by a small press, please, please join. I did. And I’m offering signed print copies of String Bridge there, as well as my poetry book Twisted Velvet Chains. I was going to do it on my own website, but I figured, what’s losing ten cents when my ten cents means other people deal with the orders (and saves me time), and I can lend a helping hand to another fellow underdog?

It’s win/win, I say. Don’t you?

So come and join me in my new cubby house. I’ve got wine. And lots of books!

You can find Jessica with her books and wine on her Celery Tree author profile page. I love the image of the cubby house. Come on over and join the club! Memberships are still free during this promo time.

Also, today is double duty on the Blog Tour, with the second part of L.A. DeVaul's guest feature with Melissa Ann Goodwin.

32 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for having me, Karen! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a great way to connect with others. I'll take a look.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That sounds great! I'm going to go check it out now. I buy soooo many books, I'd love to help more authors like me. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'll have to check this out. It sounds win/win to me. Thanks for sharing Jessica.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jessica, what kind words of encouragement ! I cannot wait to have my book published so I can join Celery Tree. In the meantime, I think I will just order one of your books. Here I go...

    ReplyDelete
  6. When I am published, I will join. I am not ready yet, but think it is a fantastic idea! The majority of my books are ones that are supporting the individual.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you everyone for the awesome comments, and thank you Jessica for this fantastic post! Having talented and respected authors like you as Celery Tree members and helping me to promote the concept just warms my heart.

    I could do talk constantly and spend millions on advertising (which I can't do obviously) but without author support Celerytree.com would go nowhere. I could do everything wrong and spend nothing but with author support it could still be a huge success. It's all about the authors, and it's they and those who buy their books who will determine where it goes from here.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great post. I hadn't heard of Celery Tree. I'll definitely go have a look.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is great, Jessica. When I am published (and I may self-publish later this year), then I will look at joining.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yay! Thank you so much everyone for reading! Celery Tree really is a wonderful place to be! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is excellent, Jessica! In your stunning prose, you make the perfect case for joining Celery Tree. And kudos to Karen and her co-founders who have brought this site to fruition!
    Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs

    ReplyDelete
  12. I need to send my publisher the link...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jessica, thanks so much for the post. You're so right...Celery Tree is definitely a win/win for each author!

    And Karen, thanks so much for generously giving your time to such a wonderful "place."

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've seen the picture in several blogs but never knew what it was. Thanks for the info.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Like the others, I'm waiting to join when I get published. But it sounds exciting. It's a great idea for readers and writers alike. Very nice interview, Jessica and Karen.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Time sucking promo - you got that right.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's a great initiative. If I had something published I'd certainly join up.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yay for celery and wine!! All the best lovely Jessica and amazing KarenG! Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds great and a good way to support self/small published authors!

    ReplyDelete
  20. There are celery trees? I'm so happy that I'm doing the "green" dance and seeking peanut butter to add to the stalk.

    You have a lovely idea.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the Celery Tree initiative - congratulations on being their first book offered, Jessica!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think Celery Tree is an excellent idea. I'm having Nicki Elson do a guest post about it on my blog TOMORROW!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Theresa, Yay, can't wait!

    Deniz, May Jessica sell many more books on Celery Tree!

    cleemckenzie, Actually there is a celery tree. You know how kids will take a stalk of celery, put it in a glass of water with food coloring in it and see the celery leaves turn the color of the water? I remember doing this as a "science experiment" in third grade or something. Anyway, this is called a celery tree!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Karen should hire you as ambassador-at-large (slender though you are!) You make a great case for Celery tree. I make a point to buy whatever new book my blog friends have just written anyhow, Roland

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great idea. Look forward to reading all the posts.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Looking forward to enjoying this blog.

    Just connected to this blog and following, why not follow me at http://thewrongplaceatthewrongtime.blogspot.com/

    I am a first time writer and very excited about putting my true story out in the world....

    Come in, your always welcome.......

    ReplyDelete
  27. It's a great way to support small authors and publishing houses. Congrats to all involved!

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is awesome! Celery Tree is such a great idea, and I'm looking forward to the others posts on this.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Jess and Karen - I like that I can be a member for a year ... and then can join once I'm organised with a book - so I can keep up with what's going on, even though I'm not yet an author as such ..

    Celery Tree is great - cheers to you both - Hilary

    ReplyDelete