“One of the more challenging aspects of authoring a book and working with a local publishing house is executing effective promotions. I’ve always found it difficult to ask for anything that might be perceived as self-serving. My mindset has always been, "I’ll work for whatever it is I want," and that’s exactly what I’ve done throughout my life. However, when it comes to promoting a book on a limited budget, you need to activate your network to help spread the word. As many of you know, my public goal is to reach 10,000 readers.”
I drew inspiration from the Bible. The number 10,000 often symbolizes something vast, a number so large it’s difficult to count, representing abundance, completeness, or a multitude. I was particularly struck by
Deuteronomy 32:30: "How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?"
This verse, part of the Song of Moses, speaks of the power and protection of God. The idea is that with God's help, even a small number of people, just one or two, can overcome vastly larger numbers, symbolizing divine empowerment and victory.
I had to remind myself of my days in fundraising, when I would coach volunteers on overcoming their trepidation about making asks: you’re not asking for yourself. To push through the challenge of asking others to support this book, I had to remember why I wrote it in the first place, to help change lives.
Do you realize that 70% of Americans are dealing with interpersonal trauma, which leaves them unoptimized and diminishes their potential, both personally and professionally? The impact is significant, and it's not just about financial value; it's about relational value as well. The book acknowledges that trauma is real and that how we think about and process our experiences matters in terms of our ability to manage, survive, and ultimately thrive. I believe God allowed me to live through my experiences so that I could help others.
In addition to the social media communications, you’ve seen from me on weekends, I’ve also been in direct contact with many of you. My goal is to personally connect with 1,000 people through social media, particularly LinkedIn and Facebook, and through text messaging. I'm about halfway there. While I’m sending a similar message to everyone, it’s not automated, each message is written with care, much like writing a personal note. When someone asked me why I’m so hands-on with this, I replied, "You’re hands-on with things you’re invested in." Being part of the hip-hop generation, I remember when artists would sell cassettes out of the trunks of their cars. This is just where I am, selling cassettes out of the trunk of my car!
During this outreach, someone asked, "Don’t you want this to be a commercial success?" Of course, I’m human, and when we invest time and money into something, we naturally want a return. In the case of this book, part of that return is economic, but the bigger part is the impact on lives.
As of this writing, we’ve sold roughly 300 books in just over a week, and we’re listed at #16 on IngramSpark.
When I researched the average number of books sold by new authors, I found some general estimates:
What this means is that my public goal of 10,000 readers is a bit of a stretch, but I’m used to stretching. And I keep saying "public goal" because privately, I harbor thoughts of exceeding this number. I plan to do what is within my control and lean on God to continue His work.
I want to give a special thanks to the members of the Thrivers Club. Your support means the world to me.
Remember: I’m aiming to reach over 10,000 readers and would greatly appreciate your support. Here’s how you can help:
When we reach 10,000 people, Orvin will host one group digital author Q&A for you and the people you invite to read the book at a date to be determined. The first 100 will be invited to a private in-person reception and receive a discount on the book.
Ten percent of the profits will go to support charity, a real full circle moment!