An orange man on a computer in front of a bar graph, probably running his business.
“The Chart” by Mort Laitner
Happiness is watching my author’s chart arrow point upward— 71 Amazon reviews, 600 books sold, over 221,823 views on my website (mortlaitner.com)
Every year I reflect on my writing accomplishments, accolades, marketing skills and what direction my writing career is headed.
2018 has been a laid-back year. Meaning many of my numbers grew rather slowly if at all. In my defense, I spent a good portion of my energy on writing a screenplay for my next film, entitled, “Sitting Shiva” and I’m getting older.
On a positive note, my blog grew steadily—427 posts and 146 pages.
We are at the 600 sold-books mark (not bad considering the average self-published book only reaches the number 77). Our goal for 2019 is 700 books. Our ulitmate goal is 1000 sales (No drop-dead date) which is equivalent to the average sales of a book that has a publishing house, an agent, marketeer and a publicist. Just think about how many they sell to libraries.
Number of Writing Awards— Eight (8) —–(1) Lip Service selection of “The Stairs” For Video and public performance (2008) (2) Healthy Stories, 2007 from the American Public Health Association,—(3) 2015 for “Estrogen” first place from the South Florida Writers Association—(4) 2015 Tales2Inspire selects story “Chocolates Filled With Music” for publication in book. (5) 2015 First place prize for Best Non-fiction Story, from The South Florida Writer’s Association for “The Stairs”. (6) 2015 Second place poetry prize for “Testosterone” The South Florida Writer’s Association. (7) “The Hanukkah Bunny” first place prize for memoir from the South Florida writers Association.(2016) (8) “The Hanukkah Bunny” published in Tales2Inspire Garnet Collection (2016)
These are the numbers the industry does not want writers to know. It is their dirty little secret. They are in the business of selling an economic dream. After ten years of reading hundreds of writer magazine articles, I only found one that gave the actual number—77 copies—a sad comment on our industry.
Number of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads is 71. (Hard and soft cover reviews) This goal is starting to look achievable. Happiness, I 
surpassed my goal. Writer’s Digest considers a 100 reviews a major success. I am getting there.
Number of libraries housing “A Hebraic Obsession”—twenty-five. My goal for 2019 is to reach 30.
1. Yad Vashem Jerusalem, Israel 2. Holocaust Memorial Library, Washington, D.C. 3, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 4. St. Cloud Public Library, St. Cloud, FL 5. Florida Holocaust Museum St,. Petersburg, FL, 6. Holocaust Museum of Southwest FL. 7. Holocaust Center of Florida Maitland, FL, 8. Holocaust Museum Hollywood FL, 9. University of Miami Alumni Library, Coral Gables, FL. 10. Florida International University Library, Miami, FL 11, University of Miami Holocaust Library, Coral Gables, FL, 12. Miami-Dade County Library, (Downtown Branch) Miami, FL., 13.Miami-Dade County Library, (Pinecrest Branch) Miami, FL., 14. Miami-Dade County Library, (Miami Beach Branch) Miami, FL., 15. Temple Beth Am Israel Library, Cooper City, FL, 16. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 17. Barry University Library, Miami Shores, FL, 18. Broward County’s Northwest Regional Library, Coral Springs, FL., 19. Life- Long- Learning Institute at Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida, 20. West Regional Broward County Library, Plantation, FL, 21. Broward College Main Campus, Davie, Florida. 22. Wilton Manors Public Library, Wilton Manors, FL. 23. United States Holocaust Museum Library Boca Raton, Florida; 24. Downtown Fort Lauderdale Jewish Center (Chabad) Fort Lauderdale, Fl. 25. The Reserve Jewish Heritage Library, Boynton Beach, FL
Number of viewers who have seen the movie “The Stairs” over 3,000.
Number of acceptances in film festivals twenty-six (26). Three top prizes, one best film, one best director and one best historical screenplay (for which I received a trophy)
Number of Film Festivals attended: Eleven (11).
2018—Number of Op-Ed pieces in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel—Jewish Journal (America’s largest circulation Jewish newspaper)—Three (3). South Florida Writers Association–The Authors’ Voice—five stories published
Number of hits on YouTube 195. My goal for 2019 is to reach 250.
Follow Mort at Mortlaitner.com, and Facebook
http://www.amazon.com/A-Hebraic-Obsession-Mort-Laitner/dp/0996036903
For autographed copy of book send check or money order made out to Mort Laitner in the amount of:
1. $30.00 hard cover or $22.00 paperback for “A Hebraic Obsession;”
2. $15.00 The “Hanukkah Bunny;”
3. $15.00 “The Greatest Gift;”
4. $15.00 DVD of the movie “The Stairs.”
These costs include shipping and handling.
Send to Mort Laitner, 8679 SW 51st Street, Cooper City, Florida 33328.
