tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post3892428019436433793..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: (THE STORY OF) THE SURVIVAL OF THOMAS FORD by John A. A. LoganKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-43677136362685617092012-06-14T16:56:31.362+01:002012-06-14T16:56:31.362+01:00How can you NOT admire John Logan. What a man. I b...How can you NOT admire John Logan. What a man. I believe he's in his prime like a fellow Scot once was (albeit fictional): Miss Jean Brodie. From now on, I will follow this remarkable man's path to success, as I would an old friend's. I believe in The Survival of Thomas Ford (as well as the survival of John Logan). He's too accomplished a writer not to have full-blown success. <br /><br />I myself am a writer and am working on another project that I'm in love with and one day, I'll have readers, just as John Logan does. As I said in another post by John, I have received an OBSCENE number of rejections over the last four years. I often grow weary of rejections but rarely of writing my novels. What a gift. As a matter of fact, this week I've had one of my best writing weeks in months. It is precisely weeks like these when I realize that yes, I may be kept from publishing(temporarily), but I will NEVER be kept from writing. <br /><br />Once someone asked William Faulkner if a writer needed money in order to write, and he said, "All [a writer] needs is a pencil and some paper." <br /><br />I love stories like the one John just shared. It makes me want to "keep on keeping on, like a bird that flew" (Bob Dylan, http://vimeo.com/23077804). :)<br /><br />Thank you, John, and thanks to all who commented. We are all of an essential craft that will prevail.Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08487410096401009472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-82143304703121441082012-04-03T22:15:11.307+01:002012-04-03T22:15:11.307+01:00Well done John. While I wasn't quite bashing m...Well done John. While I wasn't quite bashing my head against the wall for as long as you, 18 months was long enough. I'm glad I took the plunge into self-publishing - it has been nothing but positive for me, and it looks like it will be for you too.David Gaughranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236692339928690142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-49365655421173444502012-04-02T20:33:29.327+01:002012-04-02T20:33:29.327+01:00Thanks very much Enid!
Yes, it's the promises....Thanks very much Enid!<br />Yes, it's the promises...and the silences...unfulfilled...that cause the wear and tear on the spirit.<br />All very best to you too!<br />JohnJohn A. A. Loganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03613779477853664598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-39500175141759271552012-03-31T10:55:35.216+01:002012-03-31T10:55:35.216+01:00John, you have my admiration. I gave up writing an...John, you have my admiration. I gave up writing anything longer than Early Readers and picture books after every one of my children's and YA novels went out of print (six of these are now re-published as ebooks, and I've recently converted an unpublished junior novel).<br />It's not just the rejection, it's the promises held out for months/years, and the unbearable silences that are soul killers.<br />I'm now going to download your book. I wish you - and all of us - continued success.Enid Richemonthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218197995089241666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-92010265200429987262012-03-15T04:17:37.506+00:002012-03-15T04:17:37.506+00:00I want to thank everyone here very much for the su...I want to thank everyone here very much for the support and kind words.<br />It means a lot to me!<br />All best,<br />JohnJohn A. A. Loganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03613779477853664598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-36613219829550737742012-03-14T00:15:52.157+00:002012-03-14T00:15:52.157+00:00John, I've been away (at the Scottish Associat...John, I've been away (at the Scottish Association of Writers conference, where I was doing a workshop!) so have only just read this brilliant post. I identify with ALL of it, and could relate something pretty similar myself about the last 15 years or so - It's only when you put it together like this that you realise how badly so many of us have been treated - and how much we need to fight back, now that we have the tools to do the job. One thing I identify with so strongly -you get so heartsick at the endless submission process, waiting, fulsome praise, prevarication, followed by oh dear me the sales department see a faint resemblance to something that didn't do too well five years ago NONSENSE - that you start to identify the horrible process of submission with the practice of writing. Indie publishing has made me excited about the actual writing again and it sounds as if that's where you are too. I bought your book some little while ago, but haven't read it yet - but I will, very very soon! And meanwhile, yours is another inspirational post for all of us. I was asked about eBook publishing at the SAW conference - and then came the inevitable question from the audience - how do you manage without all the support and promotion that a publisher gives you? Answers on a plain postcard...Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-78620453080830431712012-03-13T20:55:45.715+00:002012-03-13T20:55:45.715+00:00John, I take my hat off to you. I struck lucky ea...John, I take my hat off to you. I struck lucky early on but if I hadn't I doubt very much if I would have had one-fifteenth of your perseverance. The publishing man who said that if he met a self-publisher he would turn round and walk away is now shown up for the clown he is.<br /><br />Wonderful. I shall go to bed happy.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-71811693965239642752012-03-12T21:06:37.401+00:002012-03-12T21:06:37.401+00:00You write so eloquently about the 'strange fea...You write so eloquently about the 'strange fearful internal landscape' of rejection. Can't help wondering now about the other four novels?julia joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773900100240758504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-14647093252496049932012-03-12T13:20:52.288+00:002012-03-12T13:20:52.288+00:00What an inspirational story. Thank you for sharing...What an inspirational story. Thank you for sharing your trail-blazing experience, I'm sure the rest of us will follow!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238195176796200866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-74549325606720469712012-03-12T09:53:44.213+00:002012-03-12T09:53:44.213+00:00Well done, John! This is a great story and as many...Well done, John! This is a great story and as many others have said, you deserve a medal for persistence! May your success continue...Jennie Waltershttp://www.jenniewalters.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-76589093265979414652012-03-12T09:53:43.973+00:002012-03-12T09:53:43.973+00:00Well done, John! This is a great story and as many...Well done, John! This is a great story and as many others have said, you deserve a medal for persistence! May your success continue...Jennie Waltershttp://www.jenniewalters.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-70101861505862727902012-03-12T08:09:25.011+00:002012-03-12T08:09:25.011+00:00Thanks for sharing your story John. I wish you lot...Thanks for sharing your story John. I wish you lots of success with your book. I am a recent convert to Kindle as a reader, and really can't see how the current publishing model can continue as digital books flourish. As a writer though, I'm still banging my head off the traditional wall. But for how long? Who knows? You've shown the way around the wall. Well done. Off to buy your book now :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840475795135915167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-19240128649763959142012-03-11T19:08:59.706+00:002012-03-11T19:08:59.706+00:00I salute you, sir, I really do.I salute you, sir, I really do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-12743025578346684092012-03-11T15:54:37.715+00:002012-03-11T15:54:37.715+00:00John, I know that brick wall well!
What authors n...John, I know that brick wall well!<br /><br />What authors need for a long career these days is one of these:<br />(a) a sledgehammer/trebuchet<br />(b) a ladder / rope & grappling hook<br />(c) the ability to walk through walls<br /><br />(a) is a hard-hitting agent<br />(b) is someone you know who knows someone else who knows someone else who is an editor/film producer/head of a bookselling chain <br />(c) is what you do when all else fails...Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-13112010052854121552012-03-11T11:13:30.748+00:002012-03-11T11:13:30.748+00:00Good for you, John! I've always said the main ...Good for you, John! I've always said the main thing that stands between books and their potential readers is the publishing industry. Your story is inspiring and I'm sure you'll go from strength to strength now. <br /><br />(Btw, just to clarify a point: I'm English but I've lived in Scotland since 2000.)Linda Gillardhttp://www.lindagillard.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-76420861820767620242012-03-11T11:11:16.190+00:002012-03-11T11:11:16.190+00:00You go, John - such perseverance is a lesson to us...You go, John - such perseverance is a lesson to us all.JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-10515311204855204292012-03-11T11:03:18.014+00:002012-03-11T11:03:18.014+00:00John, I'm awed by your determination. I have ...John, I'm awed by your determination. I have a similar story - though a successful non-fiction author, my fiction has been through a similar process of delay and humiliation. I'm sure members of Authors Electric all have similar tales to tell. That's why we're here. The publishing (and agenting) industry is going to have to watch out, because writers are fighting back!!Kathleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645566938871914385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-21558417157712888862012-03-11T10:45:55.229+00:002012-03-11T10:45:55.229+00:00fantastic stuff, john, well done. but what DOES it...fantastic stuff, john, well done. but what DOES it tell us about the industry we're all in? and all those people make their living at it...Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-12322365690291478732012-03-11T09:10:35.672+00:002012-03-11T09:10:35.672+00:00John, I am lost in admiration for your staying pow...John, I am lost in admiration for your staying power - and good for you! Wishing you shed-loads more sales.Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.com