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."
"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.
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.
Thanks so much for having me, Karen! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great way to connect with others. I'll take a look.
ReplyDeleteThat 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. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check this out. It sounds win/win to me. Thanks for sharing Jessica.
ReplyDeleteGonna check this out too. Thanks
ReplyDeleteJessica, 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...
ReplyDeleteI'll go have a look.
ReplyDeleteWhen 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.
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
Great post. I hadn't heard of Celery Tree. I'll definitely go have a look.
ReplyDeleteThis is great, Jessica. When I am published (and I may self-publish later this year), then I will look at joining.
ReplyDeleteYay! Thank you so much everyone for reading! Celery Tree really is a wonderful place to be! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThis 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!
ReplyDeleteAnn Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
I need to send my publisher the link...
ReplyDeleteJessica, thanks so much for the post. You're so right...Celery Tree is definitely a win/win for each author!
ReplyDeleteAnd Karen, thanks so much for generously giving your time to such a wonderful "place."
I've seen the picture in several blogs but never knew what it was. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteLike 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.
ReplyDeleteTime sucking promo - you got that right.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great initiative. If I had something published I'd certainly join up.
ReplyDeleteYay for celery and wine!! All the best lovely Jessica and amazing KarenG! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Sounds great and a good way to support self/small published authors!
ReplyDeleteThere are celery trees? I'm so happy that I'm doing the "green" dance and seeking peanut butter to add to the stalk.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely idea.
I love the Celery Tree initiative - congratulations on being their first book offered, Jessica!
ReplyDeleteI think Celery Tree is an excellent idea. I'm having Nicki Elson do a guest post about it on my blog TOMORROW!
ReplyDeleteTheresa, Yay, can't wait!
ReplyDeleteDeniz, 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!!
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
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. Look forward to reading all the posts.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to enjoying this blog.
ReplyDeleteJust 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.......
It's a great way to support small authors and publishing houses. Congrats to all involved!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! Celery Tree is such a great idea, and I'm looking forward to the others posts on this.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I agree with Jessica.
ReplyDeleteHi 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 ..
ReplyDeleteCelery Tree is great - cheers to you both - Hilary