A LETTER TO BILL

 

From time to time I either mention, or hint at the fact that a life in the arts is not at all easy, and for most begins as a dream and ends as not necessarily a nightmare, but a disappointment. For myself, I took the leap when I was 40 years of age, and had already prepared financially (sort of), so the outcome, my experience was, not necessarily a failure, just a bit of a disappointment. In order to become an artist, looking back I now know that you must be more than a bit narcissistic, as well as ruthless, impervious to the feelings of others, and completely driven....at least that's what I've determined after considering the few relatively successful artist that I've known in my years at working to become an artist. I, fortunately, or unfortunately, was successful, or unsuccessful, depending upon just how you look at it for, although I was never financially successful, never set the world on fire and will be quickly forgotten, I have benefitted from the experience. I had my chance, made a lot of what I think is art, and still have a few moments to appreciate the experience. As I mentioned to a friend that I wrote a letter to the other day.....

 

Hi Bill

About book publishing, I should mention… A long, long, time ago, when I was employed as an Insurance Adjuster, still dreaming about becoming an artist, I belonged to the Reader’s Digest book club. They had little incentives for keeping your subscription, one of which was a small booklet with sketches and drawings by a African wildlife artist. I was quite intrigued, both by the sketches and the format. I held onto the idea and once ensconced as an artist I found myself thinking about producing  a book, similar to the sketchbook produced by Reader’s Digest. I made a lot of sketches, and thought to put together a 100 page book. I approached several printers only to discover that it would cost something like $100.00 plus to print a single copy. The idea was shelved. A few years later along comes the personal computer. I spent a lot of money to purchase a computer, a Mac 11Vi, 4MB of RAM and 8MB of Hard Drive….and a very expensive printer….then taught myself how to use the Word program. While doing so along came the internet, and Adobe Acrobat’s PDF file. I spent a lot more money and purchased a thick book about how to create a PDF file….I then, working with a small printing firm put together two PDF books, which, with the help of a music producer, made a couple of hundred CDs and Jewel cases, and set about to try to sell my now PDF books. I was away before the times. Most people didn’t have computers, and if they did weren’t running Adobe Acrobat and had no idea what a PDF file was. I had a major exhibition of my work at which I ran the PDF on a continuous loop. The few that attended were interested in this new technology, but few were willing to put out $20.00 for  a copy. I lost my shirt on the exhibition. I did manage, however, to get my CD book up on Amazon. Unfortunately Amazon doesn’t really buy anything from the product producers. Instead they take orders from a distributor, who contacts the producer who in turn sends a copy to the distributor to be sent to Amazon. My distributor, long since out of business, was Raincoast Publishing in Vancouver, Canada.. Over a period of several years I managed to sell a half a dozen copies through that source with an overall total profit of something like $10.00. I ended my relations with Raincoast and Amazon, although to this day Amazon still advertises my books. Time passed, as time does, and the digital book became mainstream. I again became interested in writing and publishing. With the help of Blurb Publishing, a print-on-demand publisher, I’ve self published 15 - 16 books. It’s mostly a vanity thing, they publish a copy of the book for me, and I leave the book with them to sell. If I wished they could upload it to Amazon. I receive no royalties. Sales in the U.S. would be double taxed, the royalties would be peanuts, and the whole process would be a lot of work for virtually nothing. So, what I’m trying to say is that unless your someone like Stephen King, book publishing is a non profit business…..as is making and selling art, when, you get right down to it. Over the last40 years of working at becoming an artist I’ve made many people happy, but have probably only broke even. Back to the books, a PDF copy costs something like $5.00 U.S.. Few That I know, friends family, have ever bought one. Art is only appreciated if it is gifted. However, It’s a price that one has to pay if you want a life in the arts. And so, happy to say that I’ve survived the journey, had my say, and now with time remaining I’ve decided to take a break. No more publishing. Been a blast, but time now for a rest.

 Interesting story, eh?

Sincerely,

Ernest Somers 

P.S. Here's a copy of my latest, and what will be be my last published book...

https://www.blurb.ca/b/12009999-sketches-a-collection-of-sketches-and-drawings