To start with, it is not a question of whether they are doing well or not but rather, a question of whether they are willing to do well. And the answer is no, they lack the will. It is a daunting fact to any budding writer today that you can compile your manuscript and stay with it for another five years looking for financial resources. All publishers are looking for money and not stories or poems. If you are an upcoming writer, you would rather go out there and look for money before settling down to write.

But what is their side of the story? I once attended a meeting that brought together a team of publishers, established and budding writers and when it was their (publishers’) time to respond to a myriad of complains raised by the writers, one clear answer was that ‘they too got to eat’. So, the capitalistic world has docked in the book industry and now it is not our stories that matter but what money we (writers and publishers) would want to earn.

So what is the solution? Well, I have observed a trend especially with the rise of book clubs. The book clubs are no longer places where people meet to read books and encourage each other to write. Most of the clubs are getting the capacity to publish books. Without mentioning, I have seen many Kenyan authors (budding) whose works have been published by these book clubs without engaging the ‘professional publishing houses’. They also have excellent marketing capacity for their books where should one of a member’s book be published in a group of 200, each member must buy a copy. 199 instant sale of copies! Perhaps what they are now looking for is the printing capacity (which still takes them to professional printers) and soon we will find a solution.

Alternatively, other writers especially motivational speakers or religious leaders are taking to self-publishing. While it is a daunting task, many are successful. However, I would recommend it writers of fictions and poetry.

Strong book clubs will make a future.