Do Not Comment on this post on Social Media!
If you feel the need to comment, follow the link to my website and blog section, then comment under the post.
I am stepping back from social media for a time for my mental health. I’m re-evaluating my presence on social media because all my marketing and posting have not led to any sales of my cookbooks or flavored peppers. I’m not here to boost any one else’s books, products or sales. During the past ten years or so, I’d been pumping other author’s and writer’s works and they’ve been appreciative of my efforts (of which several made top ten lists in various online stores) but would never return the favor. Being used is not a great feeling. Some authors and writers openly and deceitfully denigrated my books and writing.
I’m not here for that.
I’m tired of my marketing efforts coming to no avail. I’ve used all the tricks of marketing from all sources and have tried all the ways to market. Some comments have been belittling, such as “congratulations on the post! that almost makes me want to buy your book!”. What a low comment. Or “Oh, I never return book reviews. I’m above that.” Some purposefully give one or two stars, just to cause damage to a rival author’s reputation.
I’m a talented writer and I realize i’m not a talented proofreader or editor. My books have great storylines and I try my best for continuity. I try my best to catch errors but i’m not perfect or all knowing. Proofreaders cost between a grand or two. Someone did volunteer to proofread my first novel. She sat on it for a year with one excuse after another. Then when I put her to the line, she whined and complained while doing it. Then missed half. What a piss-poor job.
I’m living on social security, so everything comes out of my little paycheck. That’s why my ebooks cost between zero and $1.99. That way everyone can afford to buy my ebooks. If I had the editors and proofreaders, my books would be $3.99 to $7.99, like everyone else. I write in all genres as well. And I’m very proud of all my books. Four of my ebooks are even free.
I’ll be donating the rest of my physical cookbooks to whichever organization returns my email. When I wrote the book, facebook acquaintances begged for my recipes. I stupidly spend months writing the cookbook, raised funds to get it published, then when they arrived, almost everyone disappeared. Never again. I wrote the cookbook to raise funds to get my stuff out of storage, paying for monthly fees going on ten years now, or raise funds for various health issues I have. I never thought I would never see my stuff again.
I have learned many bitter lessons the past five to ten years. People love when I comment, like, share their posts across social media, but are want to return the favor. I’m so tired of being used and looked down upon. Even in real life, I discovered people only liked me when I was convenient for them. No one wanted to just spend time with me, share a coffee or willingly seek me out. I don’t think I’m terrible person. I treat everyone equally, I try to stay positive, I eat healthy, I exercise. It’s the nice people like me that get treated like shit.
So, I’m taking a break from social media. I’ll post on my website, which will send the posts to social media outlets.
I thank the few friends that do reach out, I appreciate you.
Brick ONeil 