Let the Sun Illuminate

(Via David:)

Here are a few of the email messages I have received today -- and my responses.

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On Wed, Jul 8, 2026 at 10:10 AM Cassandra R. Baldridge [email protected] wrote: Dear David ,

I recently finished learning about Bouncing Off the Moon, and one aspect stayed with me long after I finished reading about it.

What immediately captured my attention was how the novel combines the grand scale of a future shaped by political instability and corporate power with the deeply personal journey of three brothers forced to navigate life on their own. Charles "Chigger" Dingillian and his brothers aren't simply surviving in a hostile lunar environment, they're confronting questions of trust, family, and resilience while carrying knowledge that powerful forces will do anything to obtain. That blend of compelling character dynamics and high-stakes science fiction creates a story that feels both intimate and expansive.

Books that leave that kind of impression deserve more than another advertisement or another promotional campaign. They deserve thoughtful professional evaluation from people whose opinions carry weight within the publishing industry.

That is why I wanted to personally invite you to consider entering Bouncing Off the Moon into the 2027 IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDAs).

What immediately sets the Discovery Awards apart is that every single entrant receives a professional verdict written by an IndieReader reviewer after reading the complete book. It isn't an automated score or a participation certificate, it is a genuine editorial assessment that can be quoted as promotional copy, used as a credibility blurb, or shared with readers if the verdict is positive.

For many authors, that professional verdict alone becomes a valuable long-term marketing asset.

Beyond that, the Discovery Awards were designed to place exceptional books in front of people who can genuinely influence an author's career.

Among the opportunities available to top-winning books are:

Book-to-film consideration by acclaimed producer Ram Bergman, whose credits include Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Review for potential literary representation by Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management, the New York agency whose clients have included bestselling authors such as Colleen Hoover.

Professional publicity consultation from Wildbound Literary PR for the top fiction and nonfiction winners.

A full professional IndieReader Review for qualifying winners.

Featured author interviews through IngramSpark and Bookfinity, helping winning books reach booksellers, librarians, publishers, and readers worldwide.

In addition, category winners, Best First Book winners, and Best Cover Design winners receive industry exposure, featured interviews, recognition materials, and promotional opportunities that continue well beyond the awards announcement.

One aspect I especially appreciate about the Discovery Awards is how the judging process is structured.

The focus remains on the quality of the writing and the originality of the work itself. While editing, production quality, and design are considered, the primary objective is discovering exceptional books that deserve wider recognition, regardless of how they were published.

After learning about Bouncing Off the Moon, I genuinely believe it possesses qualities that would make it a meaningful submission for the 2027 program. Its combination of imaginative world-building, suspense, and emotionally grounded storytelling demonstrates the kind of originality and narrative ambition that the Discovery Awards were created to recognize.

Whether the outcome is a professional verdict that strengthens your marketing, category recognition, or one of the top industry opportunities available through the awards, I believe your work deserves to be seen by experienced publishing professionals.

If the Discovery Awards sound like something you'd like to explore, I'd be happy to send you the submission information and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for continuing to create stories that challenge readers to imagine the future while remaining invested in the people at the heart of it.

Warm regards,

Cassandra

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On Wed, Jul 8, 2026 at 5:04 PM David Gerrold wrote:

You may feel free to consider my book for the award.

I, however, have no interest in filling out any paperwork at all.

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On Wed, Jul 8, 2026 at 12:10 PM Cassandra R. Baldridge [email protected] wrote: Dear David,

Thank you for your response. I completely understand, and I appreciate your willingness to have Bouncing Off the Moon considered for the award.

To make the process as simple as possible for you, you do not need to complete the paperwork or submit everything through the official link yourself. I can handle the submission process on your behalf. I will just need the required information and materials sent directly to me, and I will take care of organizing the entry.

The requirements I would need from you are:

The final manuscript or published book file for Bouncing Off the Moon

Book cover image

Book description/synopsis

Author biography

Publication details (publisher, publication date, ISBN if available)

Any additional information you would like included with the submission

The entry fee for the Discovery Awards is $150 USD for the primary book entry. If you would like the book considered in additional categories, each additional category entry is $100 USD.

My goal is to make this as straightforward as possible while ensuring your book receives the professional evaluation and consideration it deserves.

Please feel free to send the materials directly to me, and I will guide the process from there.

Thank you again, David. I look forward to helping Bouncing Off the Moon receive the recognition it deserves.

Warm regards, Cassandra

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On Wed, Jul 8, 2026 at 5:11 PM David Gerrold wrote:

Yeah. No thanks.

I have a very firm rule. Money goes TO the writer, not FROM.

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Cassandra R. Baldridge 12:23 PM (7 hours ago) to me

Dear David,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I completely understand and respect your position.

I know many authors have a personal rule that money should always flow toward the writer rather than away from them. It is a reasonable concern, especially with the number of questionable services and practices that exist in the publishing industry.

At the same time, I think it is important to distinguish between paying for a guaranteed result and making a professional investment. In any business or creative industry, growth often requires some level of investment. Companies invest in marketing, entrepreneurs invest in development, and professionals invest in tools, education, and opportunities that can increase their visibility and reach.

Publishing works in a similar way. While no legitimate award, marketing effort, or professional service can guarantee success, authors often make strategic investments in areas such as editing, cover design, publicity, advertising, and industry recognition because these can help position their work in front of the right audiences.

The IndieReader Discovery Awards are not a promise of publication, sales, or representation. The value is in receiving a professional evaluation of the work and having the opportunity for additional recognition and exposure. Ultimately, whether that type of investment makes sense is a decision each author has to make based on their own goals and circumstances.

I appreciate your honesty, and I certainly do not want you to feel pressured into something that does not align with your approach. I simply wanted to clarify the purpose behind the opportunity and the difference between a cost-based service and an investment intended to create professional possibilities.

Thank you again for considering it, David. I respect your decision either way and appreciate the opportunity to discuss your work.

Warm regards, Cassandra

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David Gerrold 8:04 PM (26 minutes ago) to Cassandra

I'm going to assume you're not a bot, but the text of your note is definitely bot-like.

I am a published author with 60 years of experience. I have worked with almost every major publishing company in NY and elsewhere, including multiple publishers in Europe and Asia. I have published best-selling books. I have won awards. I have been the guest of honor at numerous events, including this weekend. I have written short stories, novellas, novelettes, novels, trilogies, plays, teleplays, and several movie scripts.

You can look me up on SFADB and ISFDB.

I do not need your services. There is absolutely nothing you can offer me that would be worth me taking a single dollar out of my wallet for you. And, to be blunt about it, I find your assertions not just ignorant but insulting -- because if you had the slightest idea at all about my career, you would not have offered your services. I am far beyond any need for your services.

But more than that, I do not believe that any business that sells such services to working writers can ever deliver anything that is going to put more money or recognition into their pockets. This is the electronic equivalent of "Who's Who?" -- a book of people who paid to be included.

Sorry, but please do not write to me -- unless you intend to apologize for the implied insult.