Does Promoting Other Authors Fix the World?
A Literal Literary Loser Goes Global
TL; DR: No. But….
For the past two weeks, I’ve been speculating about whether Promoting Other Authors Sells Your Books (Part #1 and Part #2).
I was going to continue with the theme this week. Tonight, October, 12, I was scheduled to interview Masha Rumer, author of “Parenting With an Accent: How Immigrants Honor Their Heritage, Navigate Setbacks, and Chart New Paths For Their Children” at United Jewish Federation’s Former Soviet Union (FSU) Kick-Off event in New York City.
When my brother got the notification, he texted me to ask: Why you promoting someone else’s book?
I could have told him it was because it was a fundraiser for those affected by the war in Ukraine. I could have told him it was because Masha had arranged for the two of us to appear together while I was on my book tour in San Francisco:
I could have told him it was because all press is good press, and interviewing Masha to promote her book still helped to promote mine.
But, in the end, I simply told him what I believed: That it was the right thing to do.
Prior to the event, my family and I joked about how a book discussion would stop the war in Ukraine. Books are the most powerful force on Earth, after all!
In light of the horrific attacks in Israel, Masha’s and my conversation has been postponed.
To promote the evening, I’d filmed a conversation with my daughter as part of our YouTube channel, “Explaining USSR To My Kid - Through Books,” where she explained how she felt about growing up, subjected to “Parenting with an Accent.”
After much, much thought, I decided to upload the video as scheduled (see below). Talking about books wouldn’t end the war in Ukraine, and it wouldn’t bring back those lost in Israel. But it could whet viewers’ appetites enough about the topic so that, when my conversation with Masha is rescheduled, you might feel moved to buy a ticket to come hear us speak - and, through that, contribute to UJA’s fundraising for them to keep doing their extremely important work in America, Ukraine, and Israel. (To donate now, click here.)
And as long as we’re talking about books helping to fix the world, here is another opportunity to contribute:
History Through Fiction, which published my latest novel, “My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region,” is hosting a 24 hour live fundraiser starting on Friday, November 3rd, to support the “Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant,” a literary diversity initiative to raise $10,000 for one Indigenous writer from Minnesota in order to celebrate and honor Indigenous writers, their stories, and their invaluable contributions to our communities.
Throughout the 24 hours, History Through Fiction will be hosting a variety of engaging interviews with special guests from the fields of writing, editing, and publishing. Viewers will have the opportunity to connect with talented writers, learn about their experiences, and gain insights into their creative processes.
There’s also a Silent Auction, where, along with many, many others, I’ve donated a 30 minute Zoom Q&A you can bid on, where I will talk about writing, publishing, book promotion, and more. (You all know how much I love talking about all those things! Endlessly, comes to mind.)
So come join us for a few minutes, a few hours, or for the entire day. (As they used to say when I worked at ABC Sports, “You can sleep when you’re dead.”)
Will either event fix the world? No. Will it bring back the dead? No. Will it do a tiny bit of something for someone somewhere so that those who currently feel helpless might experience a sliver of hope?
That’s the plan….