A writer of non-fiction must have a firm platform from which to promote their book. What better platform than a resume that includes Congressional membership? Wouldn't a literary agent perk up to receive a query letter from a former Congressman, seeking representation for a political hash-up on all that's wrong with Iraq?
John Hostettler used to represent the great state of Indiana, until his constituents voted overwhelmingly for his Democratic rival in the last election. He served on the House Armed Services Committee, so he spent some quality time in the trenches during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. The platform might have been shaky because Mr. Hostettler isn't a Congressman any more, but his past experiences would have an agent on the phone within seconds of reading his query.
Did Mr. Hostettler go that route at all? His tell-all book, exposing all the hidden motives and dirty deals, will be published by Mr. Hostettler himself. He set up his own publishing house so that he could sell his own book.
No need to worry about editing and rewrites and running it past legal to make sure there's no potential for a lawsuit. At the same time, there's no publicity department to generate buzz and arrange talk show appearances. There's no distribution system in place to get the book into stores. Still, whatever Mr. Hostettler sells will be pure profit for him. No need to give some literary agent 15% of something that will sell like corn dogs at the Indiana State fair.
How does a vanity-published author sell their words? Assuming that Mr. Hostettler made a few friends in Congress, he might seek permission to set up a little stall in the Capital Rotunda. Just a small table piled high with his book and maybe a few souvenirs for all the tourists who come through daily. And there's always the busy street corners of Washington, D.C. A box full of books out to serve nicely in lieu of a soapbox.
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