Tale of the Tigers: My Personal Debt and Ours (UPDATE: Yes!!)

At Real Clear Politics this morning, the Top 5 Stories are as follows:

Record Number in Government Anti-Poverty Programs

More than 40 million people get food stamps, an increase of nearly 50% during the economic downturn, according to government data through May. The program has grown steadily for three years.

The Folly of Subsidizing Unemployment

The unemployment-insurance program involves a balance between compassion—providing for persons temporarily without work—and efficiency. The loss in efficiency results partly because the program subsidizes unemployment, causing insufficient job-search, job-acceptance and levels of employment. A further inefficiency concerns the distortions from the increases in taxes required to pay for the program.

Why the Recovery Lags

The recovery is a creature of confidence, or its absence. "In normal times, psychology doesn't matter much. It reflects economic conditions," says Zandi. "But in abnormal times, it's the reverse. Psychology determines economic conditions." What the boom and bust left is a massive case of collective doubt.

The Obama Vision of Federal Government

[President Obama gave] a stirring Sunday secular sermon [in New Orleans on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina] on the value of the federal government—and on the idea of national community that, in its best incarnations, it does or should represent to us all.

He wanted to prove not only to the people of the [Louisiana] but the people of the nation that the feds can be a source for good.

70% of Americans Know They’ve Been Conned

Two years into what had been sold as a new politics and a new approach, the 70 percent are fully aware that they have been conned, suckered, and taken to the cleaners by a hyper-ideological amalgam of leftist public intellectuals, snarling bloggers, career politicians with limited abilities who are often corrupt, and a president wholly inexperienced in the management of complex problems who is in way over his head and prisoner to slogans and schemes that make for great campus debates -- but for disaster in the real world.

The Total Outstanding Public Debt as of today: 13 trillion dollars and change. (See what I did there?)

It’s a High-Tech Looting of We, the People; it’s reparations to the "deserving" from the "undeserving."  Forget about the injustice and the immorality of it all and follow the mass dependence on public funding to its logical conclusion:  what happens when there are no jobs to service this debt via tax revenue?  What happens to all and sundry who are fed, clothed and sheltered by American treasury monies when the treasury money is gone?

Speaking of unemployment, I’ve been laid off from my position as Social Media Consultant at Carmel Coast Publishing Enterprises—no worries; it’s a friendly parting and but a sign of the times.  And even though it was only a part-time job, it was sufficient for my needs.  But now, my only source of income is…you guessed it, my novel.

I’ll get right to the point: I need to raise $10,000 to pay my bills and my taxes.  So far, I’ve sold 23 books from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, 15 via Kindle and 150+ via my novel’s website.  Here’s what I need:

556 books sold from Amazon and B&N;

589 books sold from the Tale of the Tigers website;

2000 Kindle Editions sold. (Only $5.00!)

I will accept any combination thereof and, of course, donations will be much appreciated.

You can do so here:

It’s tough for me to get out and do the hard-core, in-person marketing I need to do because I’m the sole caregiver for my great-aunt.  (My inability to be away from home for long periods stands as one of the reasons that I finished the novel and took the chance on self-publishing.  Therefore, nearly all of my marketing has been online, word-of-mouth and reputational.)  All of the reviewers have judged Tale of the Tigers to be an exceptional work and I am grateful to those who have bought, read and commented.  But now I need more.

About the national debt:  many observers conclude that it is impossible for the United States to recover from such a crushing weight.  I’m not sure that I believe this, though.  Oh, it isn’t that I don’t believe that the debt isn’t lethal or isn’t meant to be so.  It’s merely that God-inspired human inventiveness and ingenuity always seem to save the day.  Sometimes we see through a glass darkly as to how, but, with faith, hope, love—and work—the light can be turned on.

God gifted to me an allotment of talents and I chose to invest them rather than bury them.  I know for a fact that I am far from being the only recipient.

UPDATE: Love ya, Jeff.

UPDATE: To the fine gentlemen at the RoadRaceAutoX.com message boards: I would say that my work isn't "chick book," but others might be a better judge.  There's no bodice-ripping and there's some cussing and violence, so there's that. :)  At any rate, welcome and thanks for the link!  I think you will enjoy it; my reviewers are mostly men.

UPDATE:  Welcome Instapundit and Ace of Spades HQ readers! I'm humbled by your purchases, donations and good wishes.  As for the tally: 37 additional Kindle Editions sold and $1,100 in sales and donations!  As for Amazon, I have to get a report from my publisher but I can tell that the book is selling when my rank drops.  More report--and blogging tomorrow.  I'm very grateful!

Comments

[Conservative Belle]

I just ordered a copy for my Kindle! ♥ I hope it helps.

[baldilocks]

Most certainly it does! Thank you!

[Cindy]

Well, alright! I'll have it on my Kindle soon. I haven't visited this blog since my old computer died a couple of years ago and I lost all my bookmarks, but I remember you well! Praying for you to get some huge donations. I'm kinda busted, or I'd chip in a little more. :-) I look forward to reading Tale of the Tigers.

[baldilocks]

Much obliged and may you become un-busted for your own sake! :)

[Bill Waldron]

Picked up a copy for my Kindle. Meager help, I know, but it's what I can do right now.

[Barbara]

Been there, done that, Juliette. It hurts to lose even a part-time job, even when you know it's just business. Best of luck to you.

Glenn Reynolds pointed me here. Don't have a Kindle, but I did donate the (little) bit I earned on eBay this weekend. Hope it helps.

[Bill Waldron]

Just bought a copy for my Kindle. Meager help, I know, but it's what I can do at present. Best of luck!

[Cindy Munford]

Which gives you the most bang for the buck, Amazon or your website?

[baldilocks]

Hi Cindy! My website. Also, it's cheaper for you and you get an autograph!

[wormme]

Hi Juliette,

New blogger here, just hit your tip jar. Drop by the new kid's place sometime if you can spare the time.

All the best!

[baldilocks]

Meager? No such thing! Enjoy.

[Cindy Munford]

Well you can't beat that with a stick. I'm on it.

[cthulhu]

Sorry, don't have Kindle, don't have $20, got a stack of CPE to complete -- so reading time is iffy until next year anyway....

So I hit the tipjar. Not meant to down the book, but it'll be a while before I could read it anyway -- and I'd hate to string you out "until then".

(Hoping you won't hold it against me when TSHTF and I show up destitute at the "Baldilocks Colony")

[Monty]

I've been meaning to pick it up for the Kindle anyhow, so...done! I may even feature it in my Sunday book-thread over at Ace's place if I can finish reading it between now and then. Best of luck!

[Mary Beth]

Hi there! I just ordered a copy through your site!

I love your blog, btw. Thank you for your insights!

Mary Beth

PS...Instapundit directed me to this post. :)

[Mary Beth]

Testing testing... :)

I'm not sure what happened to my post so I'll try again.

I just ordered your book from your site.

Thank you for your very insightful blog!

PS. I got here courtesy a link from Instapundit.

[Kenny]

Done! Wish I could do more. Keep up the good fight.

[Mitchell]

Woot! Acelanche! Purchased from Amazon just now.

[Audrey]

Bought the book a while ago so made a donation today. Good luck!

[predator]

Hi Baldi,
I just ordered three. I came here due to Cindy Munford's post on Hot Air. I'm more of a Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, Vince Flynn type. But I'm sure my sister will love it, and I'm going to put one on the table in the breakroom at work. Maybe someone there will read it and pass the word. The other one I'm keeping, whether I read it or not, just because it has your autograph!

[David Block]

Sent a note to Professor Reynolds. You may have some incoming traffic.

[memomachine]

Hmmmm.

Hi! Yeah I completely understand about debt issues and being homebound. Unfortunately I've got a backlog of about 200+ books that I want/need to read so buying another one to add to the multiple stacks littering the house would be pointless. On the other hand I made a $50 donation so I'm hoping that helps.

BTW have you looked around at doing contract work via online services? Try checking elance.com, it may give you some ideas.

Good luck!

[baldilocks]

It definitely does. :)

[baldilocks]

I will check it out! Thank you for your assist.

[baldilocks]

I have your back!

[baldilocks]

My dream is to be a Moron(tm) book thread feature!

[baldilocks]

Hi Mary Beth! I moderate comments.

Thanks for buying and I think you will enjoy the story.

[twitter.com/tdpwells]

Here via Ace. Just bought a copy via Amazon, and I can hit the tip jar in a couple weeks. :)

Good luck.

[redclay]

I already donated, but for those after me. Would you rather have book sales or donations?

[baldilocks]

Book sales, most definitely! But I'm very grateful for the donations.

[Laurie-Anne Manel]

Greetings, Juliette!
I just bought a book via your link, but had to pay by e-check since my debit card got hacked and am awaiting a new one.

I belong to a number of book clubs -- we now have a "DLI-East" book club going here in the DC area of ex-Presidio types, and there are a number of marketing groups that specifically target book club sales. The premise of your book sounds like it would be a good book club read. One of the ones I have used to choose book selections is bookmovement.com. The lady who coordinates the marketing there is Pauline. I have no idea how much they would charge, but it might be worth checking out.

Sorry to hear about your recent unemployment issues. Are you still in Carmel? We sure do miss Monterey and am looking forward to our trip out there in November for our son's graduation.

Best of luck to you with your book!

[Tom Mathers]

Hi there,
1st stop here, but if your work is good enough for Ace and Insta, that's good enough for me. Look forward to reading the book, and good luck.
Tom

[Stoutcat]

Already have the book (loved it!), don't own a Kindle, so I hit the tip jar.

You'll get past this hurdle, and I'm betting you'll do it with flying colors.

[Mrs. Compton]

Just had it sent to my Kindle, looking forward to reading it next week while I'm on vacation! I had planned to soil myself with Sookie Stackhouse stories, now I feel much better getting to meet a new writer!!

[bluemarlin]

Saw a post from Cindy Munford on hotair.com I will hit Amazon for one. I assume more numbers there might help in the long run. Best wishes to you!

[Patrick]

Well, chit.

Looks like the recession is kicking all of our butts. I ain't in a position to give any. But I can send some traffic over.

I wish you well. :)

-Pat

[lgude]

Ain't the web wonderful. Here I am in Perth Western Australia and an American who has lived here since 1976 and I now have your book on my Kindle in under a minute. I'll tell you one thing being an expatriate does - the differences between people in America- race. class etc. which seem so important in America somehow become just details given sufficient time and distance. God bless and I have to say I have always admired your spirit.

[CJ]

Send me an email so we can chat. I'd like to bring you on my radio show to plug your book and help you out a bit!

[McQ]

One copy of "Tale of the Tigers" bought via Kindle.

[Caveman82952]

Count me in, baldilocks. Just ordered a copy and am forwarding this link to all on my mailing list.

[baldilocks]

No Caveman are you, new friend.

[Caveman82952]

I have received it, excellent, now to read it.

[baldilocks]

May you love it!

[caveman]

baldilocks...I read it in one sitting.....stayed up late, only stopped once to take a leak and have a smoke. I must confess it ran the entire gauntlet with me...... a rare thought indeed when I have read a book I know will change my life. I just did. Somehow I am glad I know you somewhat. It messed with my head at work the day after..... You masterfully led one into a pleasant relation, abruptly shattered by the realities of unreasoned racism, jealousy and hatred. Then the belated epiphany of the ramifications of such behaviors. My gut was steel, my eyes wet..........for I know and have seen in my life what you related, both the greatest and worst in humanity. Fortunately I have never felt it, either given or received. I really think you should see about getting some reviews, say the NY Times?
Well done, my friend...very well done!!!!!!!