A struggling author’s tale – and no, it’s not mine

There are days I look at all I wrote and wonder how it’s possible to put in the time and effort to write hundreds of pages and get it to market. Certainly in this space alone I’ve written a million words based on the fact I’ve put up nearly 3,000 posts over 6 1/2 years because I can guarantee you that the large majority of my posts are more than 300 words, even if you consider blockquotes of others’ work.

But there’s no narrative in this work per se, aside from a desire to instill the benefits of conservatism to my readers leavened with other features I enjoy writing about. So I have to admire those who take the time to write a long-form work on a particular subject, and my blogging friend Bob McCarty is one. Last fall he put out Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight for Military Justice. It’s actually sold rather well for a self-published book, but in his heart Bob certainly believes he can do better.

So I received this note the other day:

Since launching my first nonfiction book, “Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice,” eight months ago, I’ve been working on my second book, “The CLAPPER MEMO” — and it’s almost finished!

Now, to help me push this project across the finish line, I’m launching a crowd-funded publishing effort via Kickstarter.com.

My goal is to raise $10,000 in 30 days, beginning (last) Monday!  More details here and in the book trailer.

Please help me spread the word and get this important story out there. Thanks in advance!

Kickstarter is a relatively good vehicle for raising money, but Bob is off to a slow start so I thought I’d make a pitch for him. I’ve never met the man but we in the blogging community like to support each other as we can and he’s been at it for about as long as I have – we first communicated in the wake of my Rushalanche back in 2007 but according to his bio he’s been a freelancer since 2006. Lord knows I’ve used enough of his stuff over the years!

It seems to me at times that the literary world is upside down – those who churn out formulaic, derivative works of tepid fiction can last for years on reputation alone but those who write on weightier and important subjects aren’t always given their due. On a similar front, those who lack the talent to string two coherent sentences together are still considered newsworthy. Conversely, an actual trained journalist who served in the military for over two decades – long enough to know that of which he speaks – has to go hat in hand for money to publish something he deems worthy of his subject. I suppose that’s the fate of 99% of us, though.

But you have the power to help out guys like Bob. Check out the story behind his new book and if you think it’s one worth telling right, slide a few dollars his way. Every so often I’m pleasantly surprised by someone rattling my tip jar, so imagine how he’ll feel when he sees a significant jump in his Kickstarter account tomorrow or the next day.

Finally, it’s worth pointing out that Kickstarter only deducts the money if the goal is met. If Bob comes up short next month, you are out nothing – but we may all be shorted of a story worth telling.

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