Some background. My wife and I have two daughters whom we welcomed into our family at pre-school age. We never had a baby in our family. I never had to change a diaper. Since the birth of our first grandchild in 2007, I have discoved close-up the marvels and wonders of new birth, and yes, I’ve changed a few poopie diapers, too. I’ve discovered a wonderous stage of being–infancy–that I’d never paid attention to before. I’ve learned the universal language of new-born life. 

Upon meeting this Pompei mother, millenia deceased, we made a spiritual connection. I had to write about this experience, but I choked on early prose versions of my story. The only way to express the moment we had shared was in verse. . . . as follows:
 

 Pompei
August 24, 79 A.D.

It fell so fast the
cloud of death;
no chance for aid—
on stone-laid street
my one last step;

eyes down, face hid,
womb pressed to earth,
brief shield ’gainst fire-
flung stone—a crib
for babe’s long sleep.

Pompei
July 10, 2008 A.D.

I gawk, snap, feel
out of place, no
right to break your
rest; yet I am
slave to your grace.

Was this new life
your first sweet fruit,
love’s best of gifts?
Did some die home,
no mom to hold?

From lava tomb you
rose to see day’s
light and through time’s
thin veil hail my
soul: You know me.

Our tour moves on
to sites fresh dug;
with a glance, I
bid good-bye, carve
you on my heart.

You stir this old
dad’s core, set late
to flame with awe
of new-born life.
I’ll give you voice.

Copyright (c) 2008, Alfred J. Garrotto

Another motivation to seek commercial publication is found in the professional writing association I belong to. When I joined the group in 1996, and for a decade after that, “published” meant royalty- or fee-paying publication. Within the last few years, the organization’s Policies and Procedures have been rewritten to admit self-published authors to the highest level of membership. Nonetheless, there persists within the consciousness of members, whose work has been accepted and distributed by name-brand publishing houses, a sense that that self-published writers don’t deserve “published author” status. 

Six of my nine books have been published by royalty-paying houses. Would I like to add to that total? Of course. Then, why did I go POD with The Wisdom of Les Miserables: Lessons From the Heart of Jean Valjean? The answer is complex.

I researched the spirituality market and targeted agents and publishers most likely to be interested in my manuscript. I even had an inside lead at one of the major spirituality publishers. My queries and proposal submissions produced puzzling responses that, translated from industry-speak to common language, meant, “Interesting and unique, but I don’t get it” and/or “Well written, but I don’t know how to categorize this book.” I might have continued my search, but several factors led me to another solution.

I could have spent another six months trying to convince an agent to represent the book. If successul in securing representation, it could have taken another six-to-nine months to sell the manuscript. (Or not.) With the clock ticking from the moment of signing a book contract, publication might take another 12 to 18 months. Total time from marketing the manuscript to availability for sale? Easily two to two-and-a-half years! Having passed the age of 70,  I have a creeping sense of running out of time to write and publish all the books waiting inside me (including another based on Victor Hugo’s classic Les Miserables).

Another reason for self-publishing is the nature of The Wisdom of Les Miserables itself. My intention from the beginning has been to develop a series of workshops and retreats based on the book’s themes and personal Reflections. I made no senses to wait two-plus years for the book to come out. Therefore, the decision to self-publish turned out to be an easy one.  I let go of my professional pride and insistence on royalty-based publication–or no publication.

In the three weeks the book has been in circulation, it has sold well (by my standards) and earned positive feedback. This despite absence of bookstore availability. Another strike against the book is Amazon.com’s recent decision not to sell any POD book not produced by its in-house BookSurge (POD press). This arrogance has engraged a large segment of the publishing world, including the many royalty-paying publishers who use POD to produce and ship their books. 

In my next post, I will share why I chose Lulu Press, Inc. to produce The Wisdom of Les Miserables.  

What can a nineteenth century French novel teach us about life and love in the 21st century? Plenty. In “The Wisdom of Les Miserables: Lessons From the Heart of Jean Valjean,” Alfred J. Garrotto offers Victor Hugo’s flawed protagonist as a model for anyone in search of practical wisdom for everyday living. One of fiction’s most beloved characters, the former convict and life-long fugitive, represents humanity in both its brokenness and its potential for selfless—even saintly—living. The author offers his reader a set of intimate, meditative Reflections on topics ranging from principled living and forgiveness to parenting and the primacy of love. Each Reflection explores a universal theme, including the daily call to spiritual and moral conversion and the summary life-lessons parents impart to their children. Questions at the end of each Reflection invite the reader to use the book as a personal wisdom journal. Alfred J. Garrotto has authored four religious nonfiction books and five novels. His long experience as teacher and spiritual guide has prepared him to harvest the deeper meaning of “Les Miserables” and apply its inspiring message to modern daily life.   Cover art by Douglas M. Lawson