A number of my readers have contacted me and kindly suggested, "You should mail your book to Oprah!" or "Send your memoir to Jenna Bush!" It pains me to explain the bookselling process to them, and how almost all famous people who recommend books are sponsored by the huge-big-name book publishers. Jenna and Oprah don't actually choose books. Or maybe they choose a book---but from a carefully selected and sponsored pile of books. And they get paid very well for their "recommendations", money neither I nor my publisher have.

I wonder about books that are listed on the bestseller list even before they hit the bookstands. How does that happen? A mass buy out? Bookstores that are paid to stock their shelves with a particular book? I really don't buy books based on how many have been sold. Instead, I READ books for myself and decide and don't let the hype influence me. So many books are touted as "bestsellers" or "most anticipated" and I find them so disappointing. Sometimes the story is strong but the writing leaves so much to be desired. Other times the story relies on shock value to draw the reader in, rather than strong plot, writing, character development.

I've come to the conclusion that "bestseller" doesn't necessarily mean that the book has been widely read. A book that is sold, doesn't always get read. Something like buying a beautiful painting and putting a cloth over it or cooking an amazing meal and never tasting it. Art is meant to be experienced and with a book, the only way to do that is to read it.

Books should be read, not just sold