Monetary Report: Week 13

Made two bucks this week -- and, sadly, I've had four weeks this year that have been worse. My total for the year is $155.90.

I have the Rally of Writers event this weekend, so that should shake things up a bit financially.

Want to know more about Rally of Writers? Check out the blog entry below.

Random Things

First, don't forget that next week is the Rally of Writers Event in Lansing. Still time to decide to go. Looks like they have quite a few sessions for the money. Check it out: http://arallyofwriters.home.att.net/



On Tuesday, April 15th at 9:30 a.m., Beverly Matherne, Cajun poet and professor in NMU's MFA program, will give a reading in G-160 at Delta College. She will read some of her poems in both English and French. Need more info . . . email me at jcvandez@delta.edu



If you're in Marquette, you can catch me reading at Northern Michigan University on Saturday, April 19th -- time and place yet to be announced, but it will be in the evening.



Finally, did you know that Delta College now offers Certificates in Writing? You can choose to pursue the general track, the technical writing track . . . or both. Check it out at:

http://www.delta.edu/catalog/programdetail.asp?ProgramActionID=335

Monetary Report for Week Twelve

Well, only 40 weeks left . . .

Week 12 wasn't bad. I made 12 bucks in profits. Twelve on twelve -- how coincidental! Pitiful, but coincidental.

This brings my total profits for the year to . . . $153.90.

Man, I can see the people lining up now to be a writer. The secret is out. Writin' is where the money is!

Milestone and Praise for March Street Press

Well, it finally happened . . . I've sold 350 copies of my novel, Into the Desperate Country.

My next report will be when I reach 400 copies sold, which I hope will happen by June 16th.

I just wanted to emphasize that my novel came out from the very fine March Street Press.

Robert Bixby and March Street have been around for a long time and have published not one, but 185 books. That's a pretty amazing catalog for a small, independent press.

Bixby has published such writers as Elinor Benedict, Alan Catlin, Robert Cooperman, Stephen Dunning, Michael Estabrook, David James, Russell Thornburn, Josie Kearns, Gerry LaFemina, David Dodd Lee, Lyn Lifshin, Peter Markus, Ken Meisel, John Rybicki, and Keith Taylor . . . just to name a few. In many cases, he published the first book to come out from some authors, including me. He's a dedicated editor, and his press puts out a quality book.

In fact, it would be great if you support March Street Press right now by going to the site and buying a March Street Press book. It's a small press worth supporting.

http://www.marchstreetpress.com/

Monetary Report for Week Eleven

Of eleven weeks, this has been my fifth best week, and I only made $8.00 in profits.

That brings my total to . . . $141.90 for the year.

Well, here's hoping for a week that breaks ten bucks. I've got my fingers crossed.

2008 Zen

Jesh, a student of zen, went to visit a friend that he hadn't seen in two days. Arriving at the friend's house, Jesh found him lying in bed. Dishes were piled in the sink. Clothes were scattered on the floor. His life was out of order.

"What is wrong?" Jesh asked.

"I am sick," answered the friend.

"What are you feeling?" Jesh asked.

"My throat hurts when I swallow. My nose is sore from blowing. I'm miserable."

Jesh studied his friend.

"And," Jesh asked, "do you still feel phantom pain where your leg used to be?"

The friend looked at Jesh. "Phantom pain? I don't have a missing leg."

"I know."

Week Ten Monetary Report

Not a bad week -- at least compared to some weeks in the past. I sold a few books and turned a profit of $4.60.

So, that brings my total for the year (in actual profits) to: $133.90.

Well, I'm averaging a little more than thirteen dollars a week. Man, I could probably make more by collecting refundable cans from the side of the road.

Of course, those of us who write know that there's a payoff that goes beyond money. (Or is that just something we D-listers tell ourselves?)

Not much else happening. Spring Break is over. Spring clearly isn't here, yet. I finished reading Walden Two (incredibly thought-provoking read). I also started reading The Road again -- partly because I'll be teaching it in a spring course in May.

A Recent Acceptance

I just received word that the editor of HeavyGlow wants to publish my flash piece "Cormac McCarthy Visits the Local Parable Writers Club and Suggests Some Alternate Endings for Their Work" in their next issue.

Check out HeavyGlow at . . .

http://heavyglow.stacytaylor.net/

Week Nine Monetary Report

I'm leaving for Denver tomorrow morning, so the report is coming a day early.

Overall, not a bad week. Ken Meisel and I received our check from the Creative Spirit Center for a presentation we did on love poetry earlier in February. I took my half of the money, which was twenty dollars.

Plus, I sold five books this past week. Of course, I sold all of them at only a dollar over cost, so I made $5.00. I have to get tougher on this pricing issue.

In the end, it was a $25.00 week of profits, which means that I've earned $129.30 from writing so far this year.

If anyone wants to help the cause (i.e. me making profits from writing), drop me an email and I'll offer you a highly discounted price on my books -- but not so discounted that I don't turn a little profit. Just email jcvandez@delta.edu and let me know that your interested in the Let's-See-Jeff-Make-Some-Money-From-Writing Project.