by Alex Brooks
Grafton resident Bill Middleton has launched a new career at the age of 75 as a writer of children’s books. Three of his books have been published already, and Middleton has written three more which are not yet published.
[private]The first book, Gordon the Goldfish, was published in July 2011. It is about a goldfish that yearns to escape the confines of his bowl. After a scary out-of-bowl adventure, he learns to appreciate the comfort of his bowl.
This book features Middleton’s grandchildren, Ainslee and Cooper.
Two more books were published at the end of 2011, a week before Christmas. These are Stanley and Henrietta, about a couple of lampposts who find happiness together, and The Autumn Ball, about a little evergreen tree who was sad because she couldn’t join the other trees in their autumn finery, who finds her niche when she gets all dressed up for Christmas.
Middleton said this all started because he enjoyed telling stories to his grandchildren. Some family members told him he was very good at it and urged him to write down his stories. When he did, his daughter in law Lisa showed them to some publishers she knew, and this led to publication.
But Middleton is finding out that publishing a book these days is not what one might imagine. An author with no track record is rarely given a paid book deal, and the author must become deeply involved in marketing the book.
Middleton paid $1,500 to the publisher to hire an illustrator, design and print the book and do some publicity. He has been disappointed with the marketing efforts of the publisher (as authors perennially are) and finds that it is mostly up to him to sell the books. He has done one reading and book signing in Michigan. His first one around here will be this Friday, March 30, from 7 to 8:30 pm at Market Block Books, 290 River Street in Troy. He plans other events, which are not firmly scheduled yet. He has sold over 200 books so far but feels he is just getting started.
Middleton is warming to the task of selling his book. He loves to read the books to kids and to talk with parents and kids about his books. He likes to hear what children have to say about his stories. He feels that simple storybooks like his give the children room to exercise their imaginations in a way that encounters with TV and iPods® don’t. He happily recalls the stories that he heard or read in his youth and has the desire to pass that experience on to today’s young people.
Middleton’s books are whimsical and light-hearted and always end on a pleasant note, but he said, “All my books have meaning and purpose.” There are things to be learned from thinking about these tales.
Middleton said many of his ideas have come to him while driving late at night. He has a part time job delivering medical supplies and equipment which sometimes involves driving on the New York Thruway in the wee hours of the morning. He finds that stories often pop into his head on these long lonely drives. Also, he has found that the medical offices he visits for his work are good places to sell his books.
The books are available at Amazon.com, at several local book stores or from the author. You can contact him by phone at 279-0815 or by email at winbillm@aol.com.[/private]