About twelve years ago I contacted several publishers and a couple of literary agents about some ideas I had for novels. I got no interest. Zip, zero, nada. When I asked why, I was surprised to learn they didn’t care if the ideas were any good. The only reason for the lack of interest in my ideas was that I’d never been published before. I inquired about how I could get published if no one would talk to me if I weren’t published. The response from everyone I asked was, said in various ways, “That’s your problem.” A classic “Catch 22?” I’d rate this situation more than 22. Maybe “Catch 25,” or maybe even 30.
So I had to come up with a book idea so compelling to break out or this conundrum. One that even the most reluctant publisher would believe was marketable and would make some money. So I compiled a list of quotations, all concerning everybody’s favorite topic, sex. I named the raunchy compilation Sex Talk. The first publisher I sent the manuscript to bought it.
The quotes were selected on the basis of humor, entertainment value and the credentials of the author. Groucho Marx, Mae West type quotes. Raunchy, funny stuff about sex.
The net result was that I not only found a publisher, but I made some money. While not making it to the top of the New York Times best seller list, it sold enough to warrant a sequel, More Sex Talk, and was reprinted in 6 foreign countries. And it got me past the publishing “Catch 22.” People would now talk to me about other book ideas. A few agents even called, wanting to get in on the Sex Talk action.
I selected Windstorm Creative to publish my first novel, The Big Five-O Cafe. It is author centric, offering great royalties and never back-listing anything it publishes. And the company is packed with good people who treat you like one of the family.
This blog will be primarily about books. My books. Right now, I’m promoting the introduction of my new novel, Little Balls, Big Dreams, a story about the game of golf. The blog will, therefore, emphasize golf for the near future.
I hope I can persuade knowledgeable, entertaining guest writers to contribute to this blog. If you have something important to say, or a positive review about any of my books, please let me know. This blog may be your outlet.
Housekeeping: The website is a work in process. The photos do not do justice to the T-shirts. Little Balls, Big Dreams is printed on the back. Trust me. The T-shirts are cool. The golf balls, with Little Balls, Big Dreams inscribed on them, are now in stock and other neat stuff following soon.
If anyone has any suggestions about anything except my golf game, e-mail me at james@jameswolfebooks.com.
Golf Tips and Quotes
Chip Hagen with the help of Matt True, a stars characters in Little Balls, Big Dreams, wrote maxims to help improve one’s golf game. The tips do not cover techniques like stance, grip and swing. Check out the following from the book.
-80% of golf luck is bad.
-Know your limitations. If you can’t hit a shot, don’t.
-You’re as good as you think you are. Or at least the downside of this maxim is on the money. If you think you’re a loser, you’re a loser. On a golf course or anywhere else.
-Don’t sweat the small stuff. All things considered, the shanks, yips, ducks hooks are pretty small potatoes in the big scheme of things. Don’t sweat the big stuff, either. Because it simply doesn’t matter. At least not as much as you think it does.
-Let it all hang out. Express your emotions, while managing them. Experience the ups and downs, understanding that they will affect the next shot. A good shot not only increases your confidence and expectations, a good thing, but also your heart rate, a not so good thing. A bad shot can make you angry and frustrated, a bad thing, but part of living. And it can destroy your confidence. Feel and express your emotions then haul them back under control before the next shot.
Since a penalty plays an important part of Little Balls, Big Dreams, here as some quotes from notables golfers.
“What’s the penalty for killing a photographer-one stroke or two?” -Davis Love III on a picture distracting his swing
“Hey, is this room out of bounds?” -Alex Karras, football great on hitting a ball through a clubhouse window
“I’ll tak a two shot penalty, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to play the ball where it lies.” -Elaine Johnson on her tee shot that hit a tree and landed in her bra
“We have to emphasize that we’re the only game where you call penalties on yourself.” -Arnold Palmer
“I saw a course you’d really like, Trent. On the first tee, you take a penalty drop.” -Jimmy Demaret to Robert Trent Jones, course designer