Supporting The Local Authors!

May 24, 2013

For Sunday – May 26^th 2013.

Between Us Only!

Supporting The Local Authors!

Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money! – Jules Renard

This similar article was written in January 2005 – over 8 years ago! The mere fact that I am writing on the same topic now again – shows nothing much has yet changed that much!

It is commonly said – and repeated over and over again – that the person who really cares and feels for you will tell you the truth – even if you do not like to hear it being told to you! The person who keeps quiet – or goes along with you – even if he knows deep down that what you are doing is wrong and unethical in all accounts – is not your real true friend!

They also say in our Religion that we should not stop saying things which are the truth – even if it will hurt us. There are so many references in the good book and in The Hadith pertaining to this very same topic – and so many cases, examples and references given of our Great Prophet (PBUH) and other examples – rich in history too!

It need to be also said that if Truth was spoken – and people are prepared to hear and listen – and act on them too! – then the world would have been a safer more peaceful place – with more tolerance, co-existence, ‘live and let live’, and patience than now! Whether we want to accept this or not – or go for the ostrich head in the ground approach – it is our own business only – and no one else for that matter! The truth be said – without the necessity of always sugar coating – because the later too does not work either!

I have noted lately that there has been a great support for Arts and Paintings – but with the few exceptions of VIPs books – or books supported by VIPs including opening and launching sessions – the rest of us are still out there in the cold! Especially some of us that write in English as the easier language for us to do! And if you write on topics that people prefer to push under the carpet – or not to hear – then your situation becomes even worse! And that especially when you have compiled your works in books formats – and people can read easily – over and over again!

A few years ago when the poor girl I knew well in my HR Consultancy jobs died – with 9 members of her family in a tragic horrible accident – I was talking with her Manager and was inquiring about her – and why there was a great silence – and nothing coming from her in emails in support and nice comforting words. My emails were going to her – but the IT people there were themselves still in shock to remove her name from the mailing list!

Being The Safe Driver! www.bethesafedriver.com

It is true that many of us read the newspapers – or watch the television – of road accidents stories – but we never imagine that the victim in the tragic accidents – many are avoidable – is someone we know well! We never get involved personally in the stories and get emotionally inclined in touch and feelings! Perhaps if we made the attempts – or tried to do so – things could act out to be different! Perhaps only then road accidents could come down tremendously! I strongly believe in this – with the ever increased accidents and fatalities in the country!

When I self published on my own the Road Safety book – Being The Safe Driver! – Behind The Wheel! – and created the supporting website – www.bethesafedriver.com – I thought things would now be different this time! With exception of some few great companies of the land buying copies for their Board and The Management Team – nothing else went different! It was just the same stories – all over again! Reduce the book price – if I get OMR 2 in each book after costs publishing, air freight from USA and Bookshops commissions at 35% each book!

You would have imagined the Bookshops were the only winners – but even there ;you have to beg, borrow and steal’ to get your books taken in – unless it is for the publicity for the VIPs books – or books launches by VIPs! Poor M – a retired HR – no one knows him – and he has no W! Besides, why support and assist him – when his other books links – especially The Arab Management books that ‘rocked the boat to its very foundations’! So if we support his Road Safety book it would be like directly or indirectly supporting his other books per se!

I remember the famous nursery story of The Red Hen who went around asking others to help in growing seeds until harvest of the corn – but none did! When it baked the cake – and asked – who will eat from my cake? Everyone wanted a piece. I am sorry to say this – after the advices I get of ‘why don’t you translate the book into Arabic? You will get more Readers that way!

When I sent my appeal to them before the book publishing – they just ignored me and looked the other way! Thus my writing the article – Deafening Silence! You can see it here in my website! I should have learnt my lesson – after sending these VIPs my first books – including The Arab Management books specifically – but with the exception of very few expatriates – none even acknowledged even receiving the books – let alone in thanks!

Truthfully, I have never considered the business of writing as a business enterprise – or to make money! There is no money in books – and the returns – if any – are extended, tedious and belated too! But one needs to look things at the greater picture – and look things outside the box! Not everything is money in life! Otherwise today there would have been no great works like War and Peace – or the Shakespearean works! What is the added advantage if one’s works come out in fame – when he is invalid – or as many cases long time dead? Whilst he was alive he was unknown and unacknowledged – and miserable and poor!

I appeal to The Leadership to visit this arena too – and to (re) consider our cases more sympathetically and pragmatically! Especially those of us few that write in English! Even in the few competitions the insistence is works in Arabic – point taken – but communicating in other languages should be welcomed in! That is what and why Oman became great in history! Besides, not many are like yours truly – determined not to be let down – but keep his head up – and to succeed against all odds!

May Allah God Guide and Direct us to the right path and way – Amin.

By Majid Al Suleimany

The Other New Books