Red Room Where the Writers Are

As an editor and ghostwriter, I've sent more authors out on tour than I can count. And, like many writers, that was fine for awhile. I've preferred to be quietly toiling in the background for some time now. But when you feel like you've had enough of pushing forward the very folks whose biggest qualification seems to be their propensity for ego stroking, you realize you're not really doing anyone, least of all yourself, a favor by being that way.

You deal with it, right? Then you move on. That's what I tell myself.

My publisher, a very small one in Los Angeles (with excellent and creative people, mind you), has just informed me that I'll be going out on several small book and workshop tours from January through May of 2009, to coincide with the release of the Write It Off Club, an online coaching and weight loss support system I've developed, on January 1st (details at http://www.WriteItoffClub.com).

I have mixed feelings about this Brave New World of publishing. Though I've become a lot more comfortable talking to people, doing interviews & other press, it's still a strange concept to live in a world where writers, or any kind of artists, have to be publicity people as well. But that's the reality now; that's the way it is.

I like the meatier stuff -- getting to meet real people, sharing stories, showing them how they can use the mental material they produce each day to facilitate healing and even actual written works that can (hopefully) be sold. I like the view from the car, the rain and the sleet, the weird-tired feeling when you don't know exactly where you are. It should be interesting, just months after a big election.

I am ready for my country, though. At least I think I am.