Made It Moment: Joe Rinaldo
Sometimes you get a Made It Moment that just tells it like it is. Joe Rinaldo’s is that. I recommend that anyone considering independent publishing read this Moment–and then contact Joe to ask more (you might want to read his novel first–just to see the level of quality the e world can boast). As writers we have hopes and dreams that would make presidents, leaders, and dictators cringe at our hubris. But in the end it’s about writing, not dreaming, and that’s what making it turned out to mean for Joe. Read on.
Whether I have made it at this point is debatable. However, some moments have made me feel like I’ve made it. When reviewers post
well-written, thoughtful reviews, I feel like I’m on top of the world. When A Spy At Home moves up in the Amazon rankings, I feel loved and
appreciated.Those are the external events, but writing is really something you judge for yourself. I feel important or like I’ve made it when I read
a book by some author with a big fancy New York publisher that isn’t as good my book. Regardless of the resources behind a book, I look
forward to people judging mine on its merits. That’s the beauty of ebooks. They level the playing field so a talented guy with no connections can put his book for sale on Amazon and let the readers decide. That feels good and gives everyone a chance to make it.
By day I work as Credit and Financial Manager for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning distributor. When I first started writing, I thought being a numbers guy would make me an oddity as an author. That’s proved to be wrong. The more people I meet in this industry, the more I run across accountants and CFOs. Apparently, creativity infects a variety of people. Of course, I have the same dream as other writers. I hope my book sells a million copies and becomes a smash hit movie. Selling ebooks isn’t the get-rich-quick scheme I thought it was before being published. It’s been a lot of work.
You said it.
Regards,
Arthur
Comment by Arthur Levine — September 27, 2011 @ 9:11 am
You are so right, Joe! We all hope to rise to the top, but it is a lot of work. Hope you make it!
Comment by mountainmama — September 27, 2011 @ 9:19 am
Great post Joe, and a great reminder. It’s all about the writing!
Comment by Johanna — September 27, 2011 @ 9:37 am
Jenny! Great blog
Joe
I’m both print and indie pubbed, and I have to say I’ve long dreamed of giving up the day job. Someday. In the meantime all we can do is write, write, write. Congratulation on your successes so far, and may many more come your way.
Comment by Susan — September 27, 2011 @ 9:42 am
I will testify to the high quality of some of the work that is being offered by the indie community. I often read 5 or 6 books a week, and recently some of the better books I have read have been indie authors. That is not to say that the work being promoted by the large publishers has been terrible, because of course it has been just as good. But that is the point, I think; there is so much out there that is worth reading, and if you have an e-reader it is an affordable habit!
Comment by Connie J Jasperson — September 27, 2011 @ 10:07 am
Hello Joe,
I guess the main point is to never give up! You never know unless you keep at it, right? Great post and good luck
Comment by Collette Scott — September 27, 2011 @ 10:17 am
I love your cover, Joe!
Comment by Judy — September 27, 2011 @ 10:50 am
Writing is a lot of work, I agree. But it is rewarding for me in a personal way no matter how well the book does in term of sales.
Comment by Lisa Zhang Wharton — September 27, 2011 @ 10:50 am
You are so right! Thank god for somebody giving power to the writers at last.
Comment by Karyne — September 27, 2011 @ 12:26 pm
Hi Joe. I liked your Moment so I went to Barnes & Noble because I wanted to download your book, but couldn’t find it. Are you available on B&N? Jenny has my email. Let me know!
Comment by Theresa de Valence — September 27, 2011 @ 12:46 pm
Boy did I need that post today! Thanks Jenny and Joe. Keep on writing.
Comment by Pamela DuMond — September 27, 2011 @ 5:43 pm
Very well said. Perhaps we should all take that optimistic approach, and look at the glass as half full.
Comment by Janet — September 27, 2011 @ 7:13 pm
Congratulations, Joe! And thanks, Jenny, for sharing the Made It Moments with the rest of us. Always nice to share successes!
Comment by Lauryn Christopher — September 27, 2011 @ 9:10 pm
Joe, although I had eighteen novels traditionally published it was only when I had five books up on kindle that I was earning a decent rate. I can now afford holidays and have NO DAY JOB! It comes. Give it a little more time and you’ll be able to pass on the daily toil for wages.
Comment by Geraldine Evans — September 28, 2011 @ 7:00 am
Wow, Joe! Good luck and congrats on the great reviews!
For anyone else thinking about self-publishing, I read this great post fairly recently. It’s thoughtful, informative and encouraging.
http://shannon.users.sonic.net/blog/?p=1681
Thanks, Jenny, for posting all these moments. They are fabulous to read!
Comment by Leah — September 28, 2011 @ 7:37 am
I’m often asked what advice I would give to beginning writers and I aways tell them that perseverance is the key. I have never looked down on self-publising – by self-publishing my own first book, I had a book in hand to take to a conference where I found a traditional publisher. Now with electronic publishing it’s a whole new world out there! I’d only add to please double-check your spelling if you e-pub. I’m hearing horror stories about some e-manuscripts. Always be professional when you submit a work to the public.
Comment by M. E. Kemp — September 28, 2011 @ 10:56 am
Thank you, all commenters, for your kind and supportive words. I do sometimes feel that I’m spinning my wheels, BUT I will persevere! It’s all I can do to quiet the voices in my head telling me their stories! LOL!
Again, thanks to Jenny and to all who commented for your support. Writers ROCK!
Comment by Joseph Rinaldo — September 28, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
Great post, Joe! As someone who just jumped into the e-book self-publishing pool (and I mean JUST–my book went live on Amazon 3 days ago), I’m always looking to learn and be inspired from those who have been there!
It’s an exciting time in publishing. Good luck with your book and all your future projects. My new blessing for the e-published: May you go viral!
Comment by Lauren S — September 28, 2011 @ 2:34 pm
Hi, Joe and Jenny,
There are a lot of talented people these days that simply can’t afford to write fulltime. For many years I was in the same situation. Congrats, Joe.
Hope you make lots of money from your writing! But one of the great things about being out in the real work world is you meet people and make observations that someday turn up in your fiction in some form.
Comment by Jacqueline Seewald — September 28, 2011 @ 4:59 pm
I write two series and I have two publishers. One is an epublisher and the other is a small traditional publisher. Frankly, I like them both and I’m finding that the ebooks are doing as well as the traditional books. I’ve also learned, because of this, that if I like an author, I don’t care who they’re published by. It’s all about the writing. Best wishes with your writing and I hope you sell that million!
Comment by Marja McGraw — September 28, 2011 @ 6:19 pm
Hi, I like your post, and hope your book does well. One problem is that I went to Amazon, and I didn’t see it available. How does one get your book? Maybe Jenny could post it on this blog?
Comment by Lil Gluckstern — September 28, 2011 @ 10:13 pm