Haven’t Read My Books? I'm In Good Company.

Let me start by saying I have had a long and happy life (No, I am not dying, just reminiscing). I have been blessed with a loving family, several successful careers, and good health. What more can someone ask for?

Some have told me it is time to retire. Sit back and watch the world go past. Still, I am not ready to call it a day. There is more I wish to accomplish. But one thing has changed. When you are young, up and coming, your concerns are about what is yet to come. When you get older you think more about what you are leaving behind.

A few years ago, I embarked on my latest career, fiction writing. After years as a technical writer, I chose to expand my repertoire. The transition has not gone smoothly. As with all things new, there is a learning curve, learning takes time. When your timeline is compressed into a shorter time period the route becomes more treacherous, the curves more harrowing.

How did I get here?

I was reading a book by a popular author, one whose writing style has captured my attention. I researched his methodology and process to extract some pointers on his success. He told an account about how one of his non-traditional books, eventually became one of his bestsellers.

The book had been rejected by publishing houses numerous times. It took him 8 years to get the book published. Only after he had successfully created an entire murder mystery series that garnered good reviews did a publisher agree to take a chance on this unusual story.

His account was music to my ears. It told me there was still a chance for my latest novel. Except that I still had a problem. At my age, I may not have the time to wait that long for someone to take a chance on my story.

If my latest novel takes 8 years to catch someone’s eye it may likely be posthumously. Instead of guiding me into the future, it will be one of the things I leave behind.

In Good Company.

Fortunately, I will be in good company. The world of art and literature is loaded with famous names who toiled in obscurity only to become famous after their passing.

We have all heard about Vincent Van Gogh who by most accounts only sold one painting during his lifetime. His artwork, now worth millions, was not discovered for nearly twenty years after his death.

Then there was Emily Dickinson the famous poet and author. She published very little of her work. It was her sister who found her unpublished works after her death and worked to have them published.

Modern author Stieg Larsson was a journalist who penned best-selling novels like ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, ‘The Girl Who Played with Fire,” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet Nest.” His books did not achieve wide recognition until after his death in 2004.

These stories tell us that even if we do not have immediate success, success still may be imminent if the work is fruitful.

There may be another option.

Then, of course, there is another option. I can choose (not a choice I get to make) to live a long life like Millard Kaufman. Kaufman’s first fictional novel, “Bowl of Cherries,” wasn’t started until he was 86 years old. I heard that upon hearing of Kaufman’s undertaking, one of Millard’s friends recited the old saying, “You should live so long.” It took him 4 years to complete. He was 90 when it was published.

So, in the absence of being able to predict my future, I will continue to write down my thoughts. Be it an opinion piece, short story, novel, or whatever inspires me. I feel secure in knowing that someone, someday will find my scribblings and recognize them as worthy of replication.

I am also content knowing that even though my work hasn’t caught the eye of the masses, I am a member of an elite group of writers that have yet gone undiscovered.

Former Major League Baseball owner Bill Veeck, a voracious reader, once said, “If someone took the time to write the story, I should at least take the time to read what they wrote.”

It is too bad more people don’t feel like Mr. Veeck.

Don’t worry be happy.

The thing is that as readers, once we find an author or book that we enjoy, it adds to our happiness. Reading a good book makes us happy people.

I like being around happy people. They make good company. I hope to have happy people remembering me long after my funeral. So even if you don’t read my books today, I hope to make you happy at some later date and time.

I will be in good company. Me, and Vincent Van Gogh.

J. Salvatore Domino

Photo by 2Photo Pots on Unsplash