Dan Poynter (1938-2015)
by Barbara Florio Graham, publishing consultant & marketing strategist
I contacted Dan Poynter right after he wrote his first book, The Self-Publishing Manual, which was published in 1979. At that time, I wrote a resources column that appeared in the newsletter of the Periodical Writers' Association of Canada (PWAC was later renamed the Professional Writers' Association of Canada), Freelance, the newsletter of the Saskatechewan Writer's Guild, and the Canadian Writer's Journal.
In my column I reviewed books on writing and publishing as well as software for writers and either solicited review copies or was sent these by authors who were familiar with my column.
Dan's book impressed me, especially when compared with other books about publishing. He and I began to correspond, he sent me subsequent books to review, and asked me to become one of his Book Shepherds when he first began that listing in his widely distributed newsletter, Publishing Poynters.
This listing began my consulting career, which has flourished to the extent that authors now find me by word of mouth and referrals from editors. I still receive the occasional email from someone who saw my name on the Publishing Poynters list of Book Shepherds.
Dan became a mentor and a friend. He regularly mentioned my Canadian Library List, which always produced sales, and he invited me to become a judge for the first Global E-book Awards.
When Dan and I were both invited to speak at a Cat Writers' Association conference in Houston, we finally met in person. What a big hug that was!
I'll miss Dan as a friend, but more as someone who was continually finding ways to promote and market self-published books. Many of us have learned how to do this from him, and then built on his advice to develop our own techniques and expertise.
Dan was the master. He leaves a huge void.
