Advice to aspiring writers who are considering self-publishing: Self-publishing is relatively straightforward, but marketing is the major hurdle.
Leslie and I have rejoiced over the comments of our friends, acquaintances, and strangers who have read Jewish Luck and written reviews or notes to us. We aspired to write the book to appeal across cultures and age groups and from our unscientific survey, we’re succeeding. But how do we storm the shelves of local bookstores?
Bookstore managers are an embattled breed. They are trying to fight the aptly named Amazon. A new book with a weird title by unknown authors? “No, thank-you” or “We’ll think about it and get back to you” are their responses. And now out of the pack emerges one resounding “yes!” Thanks to Magers & Quinn of Minneapolis for taking a risk.
For those of you unfamiliar with this bookstore that sounds like an English marmalade, it is located in uptown Minneapolis at 3038 Hennepin Ave. You can check out the store on the web at magersandquinn.com. Both Leslie and I are inveterate bookstore wanderers and Magers & Quinn is a favorite destination because their book selection feels curated—much like Alisa’s furnishings in her Stockholm apartment. Leslie and I both have a nostalgic connection to this Uptown neighborhood. When I moved to Minneapolis in 1971, I lived in a much grittier Uptown, two blocks north of Magers & Quinn. Leslie also first lived in an Uptown apartment in 1977 complete with a resident mouse that seemed to enjoy taunting Leslie by residing in her toaster oven.
Jewish Luck is all about taking a risk and we thank those independent bookstores that embrace the risk together with us and with Vera and Alisa.
