Although I’m more known as a documentary filmmaker and an artist, I have written four books. My former classmate works at a publishing house, and I published with them an entertaining collection of short stories in a light feminine style. Based on this and my experience as a dominatrix, he suggested that I write an Estonian version of “Fifty shades of gray.” I did that, submitted the manuscript in the fall of 2020, and they liked it. Unfortunately, due to technical reasons, it was released at the beginning of June 2021. It was no longer a good time to launch a book because suitable TV shows and other opportunities to present it had disappeared. The book’s presentation was also canceled as the corona restrictions were still in effect. The novel received relatively positive reviews in all kinds of media, but in summary, it came out too late to get the necessary attention.

When the book came out, I had the idea to publish another entertaining collection of short stories. I told the publisher about it, and he loved the idea. Time passed, last year I contacted the publisher about it and he told me that since my last novel had sold so poorly, he couldn’t accept anything from me anymore. In other words, they are no longer ready to take this risk with me due to the lack of commercial success.

It seemed particularly hopeless to me. If I present my art or film projects for funding and they get rejected, I can always submit them again. But this is the first time I’ve experienced something like this, where you’re basically told that we can’t accept it because your last book didn’t sell enough. And now, this commercial direction in book writing seems completely cut off for me.

I have learned that timing and marketing campaigns are critical to launching an entertaining book. For me, the wrong timing proved fatal.