‘Most writers, who are beginners if they are honest with themselves, will admit that they are praying for a readership as they begin to write. But it should be the quality of the craft not the audience that should be the greatest motivating factor’ – late Chinua Achebe
The title of this article is one question that I have asked, and get another question for the reply. Questions like, who is asking this stupid question? Is book a commodity market? What is quantity and what is quality as it relate to book?
I decided to write about quantity and quality of a book because of the personal experience during the self-marketing of my book – Silver Lining. In Nigeria, it is sad to note that some notable and respected bookstores rarely have ‘uncelebrated’ Nigeria author’s on their shelves. I have no need of wanting to blame them. They are in business and overhead costs must be paid whether they record any sales or not. Aside that, many Nigerians don’t believe that any Nigerian especially the ‘uncelebrated’ author could write anything of interest (success, marriage, financial matters, self-development etc.) to them especially if the ‘popularity or celebrity spell’ has not been broken.
Late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya’s book How to choose a life partner became an overnight success after her death in an ill-fated aircraft in December 2005. Dr. Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase’s book How to make it in Nigeria… became another instant hit when the business of being your boss began to gain unwarranted attention. Yellow Yellow, a book by Kaine Agary became a hit immediately she won the ANA award and NLNG award prize for prose in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Pastor Sam Adeyemi’s book on Success Power and The Parable of the Dollar was another hit immediately Nigerians began to see the need for effective, efficient and accountable leadership. Dayo Olomu’s book 4 indispensable laws of Success which is an acronym for his name – D. A. Y. O. became a bestselling book because of the well calculated merging of his international and local image.
These books I mentioned are not the only bestselling books. They are more. For any individual that have read any of these books will come to agree with me that they are not too voluminous but rich in content. The prices for some of these books sold for as much as ₦1, 000 or even more which is equivalent to $6.08, £3.62, €4.48, ¥622.66 (as at the time of submitting this article. Note, exchange rates fluctuates) and yet, these books got patronage. So why should my book Silver Lining not sell for ₦1, 000 if not more since it is also rich in content? For friends, fans, critics in Nigeria, visit Patabah Bookstore, shop B18 adeniran ogunsanya shopping mall, surulere & Terra Kulture, tiamiyu street, victoria island in Lagos and the Silverbird Media Store, Silverbird Entertainment Centre, Central Business District in Abuja to get your copy. 
For international friends, fans and critics, please, visit http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/products/SKU-000602511/Silver-Lining.aspxto place your order now.
No doubt, I felt bad when I was challenged over the price for my book when I approach bookstores. Not forgetting that the bookstores is getting an agreed percentage from the selling price of any book which in this case is the first gross profit for the author before remitting also the first net profit to the same author. About thrice or more, I have been questioned about the price and quantity of my book to the point of comparing my book with another known international author. Not a bad idea as I gave myself praise like the agama lizard that fell from the iroko tree and decided to praise himself.
Book business should not and cannot be justified by it quantity but it quality. I want to believe that we all have a good knowledge of what quantity and quality really is. Talking about quantity of a book, the autobiography of Bill Clinton did not record many sales as expected by the publishers.  As Obama’s book – The Audacity of Hope, Late Nelson Mandela’s book now adopted into a film – Long walk to freedom kept the publishers cash register ringing non-stop for months. That is what book business, publishers and authors are interested about not forgetting that the quality of the craft – writing alongside its passion should be any writers’ No. 1 motivating factor.
I don’t make promises. But I want to make this promise – between 16th June and 20th June, 2014, I shall post on my blog and other of my social media accounts, abstract review of my book – Silver Lining an undergraduate English student of the University of Lagos (Unilag) Nigeria posted to me after reading my book.
Until then also remember that writing is a profession that commands respect.
Don’t just talk the talk or walk the walk. Talk and walk on the literary side of life.
Shalom!