I try to follow my instincts, and my gut tells me that it's a smarter idea to promote Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick during the actual Scorpio season, which runs from October 23rd through November 21st. While the book is already out online, it makes more sense to promote it effectively during the boom season for the rest of my tribe, so to speak. While I'm not superstitious and while I don't cling to too many pat philosophies, there are too many parallels and far too many coincidences associated with the Scorpio sign that are worth giving tribute to. The entire book is devoted to the Scorpio mentality along with scorpions as a species.
While my poetry collections make up a very small percentage of my overall revenue, the new book is still worth hitting the road and promoting. Some people shut down instantaneously when you even mention the word poetry, so they're not going to even be receptive. Other people's ears perk up at the notion of something new and innovative. Others can be converted given the right circumstances. That's the market I'm going after. It's my wish to incorporate a few readings, signings and related events along with some old tricks that have worked in the past. Mark McElligott will be joining me on the journey in Buffalo and beyond. The Monsters Of Verse will get back into the habit this fall with a few coffee houses and a few bookstores. I'm entertaining the idea of even doing some guest bartending stints just for the hell of it.
Breathing Room Volume I was wildly successful considering the miniscule hopes I had for it. Volume II did just okay by comparison, but it was weirder, so that's okay. The few people who picked up the first batch of Scorpion books have called it 'the best poetry book I've written so far.' It may be my last. Locking into that frame of mind is difficult to do, but I'd be happy to go out on a high note where poetry is concerned.
Please enjoy your summers and free up a few weekends in late October and November. Poke The Scorpion will be hitting you where it hurts soon enough. In the mean time, I'll be crouched in a small dark place waiting to strike. Like most scorpions.
Thanks for staying tuned,
Tom Waters
While my poetry collections make up a very small percentage of my overall revenue, the new book is still worth hitting the road and promoting. Some people shut down instantaneously when you even mention the word poetry, so they're not going to even be receptive. Other people's ears perk up at the notion of something new and innovative. Others can be converted given the right circumstances. That's the market I'm going after. It's my wish to incorporate a few readings, signings and related events along with some old tricks that have worked in the past. Mark McElligott will be joining me on the journey in Buffalo and beyond. The Monsters Of Verse will get back into the habit this fall with a few coffee houses and a few bookstores. I'm entertaining the idea of even doing some guest bartending stints just for the hell of it.
Breathing Room Volume I was wildly successful considering the miniscule hopes I had for it. Volume II did just okay by comparison, but it was weirder, so that's okay. The few people who picked up the first batch of Scorpion books have called it 'the best poetry book I've written so far.' It may be my last. Locking into that frame of mind is difficult to do, but I'd be happy to go out on a high note where poetry is concerned.
Please enjoy your summers and free up a few weekends in late October and November. Poke The Scorpion will be hitting you where it hurts soon enough. In the mean time, I'll be crouched in a small dark place waiting to strike. Like most scorpions.
Thanks for staying tuned,
Tom Waters
