From the womb of my mother, and my heart still ticking 72 years later, I am living exactly one lifetime to compile my memoirs into words, and many years of this lifetime has been used to transform these memories onto paper, an undisputable fact and a true story.
Originally I started to write my manuscript in longhand, and then I let my secretary type it as I progressed, a tedious process.
Then my secretary got married and moved away and my manuscript and I was lost with hundreds of pages hidden away somewhere on the computer in the front office, and hundreds more of handwritten pages in my desk, and more added every week.
"Dad," my son said, "you must learn to use the computer."
"Yes son! You are correct, but I am too old for that."
Two months later I entered my office, and sitting on my desk, was a new computer.
Suspecting my son had something to do with it, I asked him.
"Where did that rigga-ma-thing come from?"
"Daddy, you have to learn how to use the computer."
Cold and inviting, this computer sat on my desk for two years, all programmed and ready to go. One morning and very frustrated with my manuscript at a standstill I asked my son.
"How do you start this darn thing?" "Like this Dad!" and within one minute it spurted to life and the screen lit up.
"And now what do I do?"
"Like this Dad!"
And very patiently he started to teach me, and soon the whole world opened up to me, and I was having a ball with my new toy as I finally realized what I had missed all these years.
Best of all, I could start work on my manuscript again, but before I proceed, let me add following so that a certain kind of reviewers do not gobble me up, gravy and all.
I admit I am not a writer, and that I will never be bestowed with the elusive title of a best selling author, but there I was, pounding away at the keyboard with two fingers.
All I am capable of is opening my mind and heart from the past, and let the words flow, freely and truthfully, and transform my memories into words, and then let these words flow on to some pages that in the end became a book.
That is all. No more, no less. And then one day, many years later it was done.
Knowing I did not have command of the English language, I had my manuscript edited, and a decision was made to leave much of my Norwegian "dialogue" intact, giving my manuscript a Norwegian flavor if you like. Many reviewers and readers saw through that ploy, but two reviewers pounced on these "misses" maliciously, but more about this later.
I though it was a good manuscript, and so did others, and after I received some very favorable reviews, I decided to publish it, and eight months later I stared at the first copy of my book, saying to myself, "I did that?"
Yes, I did and proudly I mailed out lots of copies to reviewers all over the country. One month later the reviews started to come back. All were favorable, and I was pleased, basking in the limelight if you like.
Then one day all of this changed dramatically. I had paid a large sum of money for a professional firm to review my book, and I was taken completely of guard by the review and I was stunned.
One month goes by and I am receiving more phone calls, letters and reviews, praising my book. Then another review appeared and it was brutal and malicious, and someone slapping me across my face would have been much less hurtful.
With the clatter of the keys on a keyboard, two professional reviewers attempted to destroy my book. And me I might add. Why?
For the record you will never accomplish neither, and I tell you why. You read my book, but you surely did not understand it.
Within hours you had formulated an opinion, rubbed your hands together in glee and one of you splashed your response across the globe.
Of course you have a right to your opinion; I do not deny you that.
But why so malicious?
And then, to learn more about you, I read some other reviews by you, and I pity one author and how you responded to her. You were spiteful, mean, nasty and outright cruel.
Matter of fact, you litterly buried her. Why?
To make a name for yourself? You will, but not the kind that you may like.
I did not exaggerate! I have plenty of ego, but I am not an egotist! I am not angry! I am not a braggart! I was there and I did all those things with ample recorded proof, but you want to deny me all that because you did not understand or believe it possible.
What are you? A 125 words per minute computer geek with a vendetta?
Understand this. If I had received lots of negative reviews, I would have submitted to failure and thrown in the towel. But that is not what happened. What happened is the total opposite.
I have only received two negative and untold positives. From family and friends, from amateurs and pros, from readers everywhere they keep coming, and then, within minutes of pushing some keys on your keyboard, you had reduced all I have done and accomplished, one lifetime, to silt.
Everyone has a right to their opinion, but why these cruel and malicious responses?
Did I miss something?
Did you take offense at some four letter words?
Did you think my book was full of lies? Is this what threw you off?
Forget about me, and do the serious writers and author's one favor.
Admit that certain subjects are not favored by you.
Admit you do not like biographies.
Admit you do not like mysteries.
Admit you do not like memoirs.
Simply stated. Since, in my opinion, I believe you do not like the above subjects, you should not pass a judgment upon these. Leave these subjects to the expert, what ever that is.
You will never destroy me or my book. Absolutely impossible.
From the time I was a little boy in Norway "they" tried just about every means to push me down, degrade and destroy me, but I would not let them and I never gave up.
I fought back with everything I got, and thou the chips were down many times, I made it in this great country, Amerika, with a k. PS. Not a misprint!
Read my book one more time with care, do not glance at it.
Learn from it; where I came from, what I did to become what I am today, the whys and wherefores if you like. Yes I fought hard for what I have accomplished, but not in a ruthless way like you want other readers to believe.
Now write your review using a pen, the old fashion way, giving you time to think, and then let your fingertips transform it onto the computer. Do this for all the writers who are asking for a review and I believe you will make a name for yourself that you can be proud of.
Be reasonable and fair to the writer, whoever they are or represent. Use a generous amount of honey and if possible, use the vinegar sparingly.
There are many types of reviews, but for now let me call them good versus bad. The puzzle I can not solve in an objective manner, though many will say it is based upon ones opinion, is:
Why is a book good or bad? Or why is a book met with either positive versus negative reviews. Again, I know it is based upon ones opinion, but use another excuse and tell me something else.
Tell me you hate Norwegians! Or something similar and I will understand. And then you ridiculed me. Why?
Last but not least.
I know I wrote a very good book and for many reasons, and I will tell you why.
First. It is a very good book because I lived the story within and it was written from the heart in a way only I could, nobody else.
Second. For all the untold positive reviews, I only received two negative.
Third and above all: It is a very good book because Sandra E. Graham said so, and so did Susanna Hutcheson and Mother LodeBeth, and so did numerous others, and none of them would lie to me.
And so I ask you.
Who are you to dispute these facts?
Sandra told me to rise and shine, and that is what I am going to do. Rise and shine. You did not like my review of your reviews?
I'll be darned.
Olof A. Eriksen, Author of Memoirs of an Immigrant.
Owner and President of Unique Systems, Inc.
You may visit his website, www.uniquesystems.com to learn more about him and his company.
This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
Great article, Olof. Sometimes the better articles, are the ones which come straight from the heart; the ones that reveal the real 'you'; honest and to the point. Don't worry about your 'English'--there are some Americans born here who still haven't mastered the language as well as you have.
Keep up the good work; it gets better with practice.
i really liked your style of writing in this article, and therefore, i imagine i would like your book, as well. i am going through a divorce right now, and do not have what turns out to be a luxury and a blessing to get in my car and go to the book store and purchase a book i'd like to read. someday, that will change, and i will read your book.
don't let anyone get you down about your book, it is my dream to write a book, i'm just waiting until this is over to be in the right frame of mind. you accomplished writing, publishing, and selling a book, about you!
that is quite a prestigious feat, and anything sandra likes, has to be good :)
» left by Olof A. Eriksen from Cedar Knolls. NJ (108 days 6 hours ago.)
Dear Sue,
After you read my book, you will learn many things.
One thing you will learn is what my beloved friend and neighbor Doctor Porfido did for me, and others.
"One of the the most valueable things in life is your friends."
True friends are hard to come by, the kind you can rely and hang your hat on, if you get my meaning.
You are down on the dump. Cheer up!
I want to be your friend and give you a helping hand, just like Dr. Porfido did when I was down.
Today I am a blessed man, and I have much thanks in part to my many friends and this great country, Amerika. (PS. With a K!)
I want you to read my book!
Send me your address and I will mail you a copy, and then, if it is as good as Susan Graham say it is, then you will like it, and judge the book and me accordingly.
Lastly,
Thanks for your kind remarks, and hope to hear from you soon.
Olof, you are going to meet a lot of great people (authors) here at searchwarp and Sue is one of the best---she is a real sweetie and reads every article that is put on searchwarp. She will also tell you how she really feels about your articles; so never doubt when she says she likes your work.
Sandra
p.s. Welcome again to searchwarp--you're going to love it.
Hi Olaf! I thought your article was excellent and strait from the heart. I wonder if the malicious reviewers are only hiding from their own truth and don't like themselves. Thank you and I look forward to more articles. There is nothing wrong with being yourself and writing from your experience and heart. God bless you
I am so pleased that you have the Internet, my mum is still struggling with it. Your son is wonderful to have taken so much time to open a new door for you, he must think the world of his father.
I think that the best writing comes straight form the heart, un-calculated, flowing and free, full of
emotional energy and lifting off the page to communicate with the reader. What could be more poignant and satisfying.
» left by David from Dallas, Texas (90 days 5 hours ago.)
Mr. Eriksen, I know we don't always hear what we want to hear or get what we want to get, but trust me; there is always something better waiting down the line. We just have to have patienience.
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