Men Cry In The Dark by Michael Baisden
The mass-market edition of the first novel by the author of the popular The Maintenance Man, this is a gripping novel that gives a man's perspective on relationships, fatherhood, and interracial dating, through the lives of four childhood friends. Originally self-published, sales in hardback and trade paperback have already topped 130,000 copies in the US.For this 37-year-old Chicago native, success did not come easily. In 1993, he was working for the Chicago Transit Authority as a train driver while also trying to keep a small business afloat. Never Satisfied: How and Why Men Cheat, a controversial collection of short tales about unfaithful men and the women who tolerate their irresponsible behavior, was published in 1995. His work was rejected by huge New York publishing houses, who said it wasn't marketable -- which effectively meant it wasn't good enough. Michael, unwilling to accept loss, opted to self-publish.
He borrowed money from friends and relatives, maxed out his credit cards, and sold his car. Within eight months, he had sold over 50,000 books and was on the best-seller lists of Essence and Emerge magazines. He performed at black expos, sorority conventions, and book fairs as part of his tour. I was determined to make it! He even signed books at nearby nightclubs and hair salons. If they let me, I'd sell books at a funeral. As his popularity grew, so did the desire for his next book.
Instead of publishing another book about relationships, Michael decided to try his hand at creating a novel. He indicated that there was a gap in the market for African-American novels written by guys. In July of 1997, he published his second book, Men Cry in the Dark, to dispel the misconception that men don't read. The book was a huge hit once again, selling 30,000 hardcover volumes in the first six months.
The national media took notice this time. Michael has appeared on a number of local and national radio shows, including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which is nationally syndicated. Ricki Lake, Sally Jesse, Maury Povich, and The View have all featured him on their talk shows because of his enthralling personality. He's also appeared on BET Tonight as a guest host for Tavis Smiley. By the summer of 1997, demand for his appearances had reached an all-time high.
Organizations, reading groups, and retail establishments were scrambling to book him. Michael, on the other hand, was not about to go back to his old ways. Organizations declined to give honoraria because local retail stores were too tiny to handle his big following. It was time for him to market his own seminars, he determined.
The tour was dubbed The Love, Lust, and Lies tour. Unlike regular book signings, the events took place in auditoriums and opulent hotel ballrooms on Saturday nights between 9 and 11 p.m. Michael was careful not to alienate his consumers for the sake of making a quick buck. My goal was to ensure that everyone walked away with a great experience.
He stated that if he broke even, he would be satisfied. The price of publicizing a successful event was starting to mount. With radio advertisements costing an average of $5000 and hotel ballroom rental costs costing $2500, Michael knew he needed support. The assistance came in the form of co-sponsoring radio stations.
They ran more advertising, gave away tickets, and broadcasted live from the conference in some situations. Other sponsors, such as banks, credit card firms, and publications, quickly jumped on board with substantial financial backing. Michael could now focus on organizing larger, more complex events. The seminar drew over 3,000 ladies to the 1997 and 1999 Expos in Cleveland. Michael recalls that the floor was so busy in 1997 that the fire brigade had to seal it off.
The conference has become a widely anticipated yearly event in other regions such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and Detroit. Michael created a movie using extracts from numerous shows and sold it by direct mail because the demand was so high. Love, Lust, and Lies was, of course, the title of the video. The cassette sold over a thousand copies in the first week after its release.
Finally, in 1999, he self-published The Maintenance Man, his most recent novel. Malcolm, the protagonist, is a dashing gigolo on the lookout for a way out of the game. It was my way of letting the world know that not all males like cheating and playing women, according to Michael. You must eventually mature.
It soon rose to the top of the best-seller list, cementing Michael's position as one of the country's top authors. Without a question, he was already the most divisive and entertaining. Michael is currently based in Houston, Texas, and is working on a number of projects for 2001. He is carrying out his duties as the CEO of Legacy Publishing. In addition, Rueben Cannon, a well-known Hollywood producer, has optioned his latest novel, The Maintenance Man, for a film adaptation.
Michael also recently inked a deal with Tribune Broadcasting to host his long-awaited national talk program, Speak or Walk, which is set to premiere in the fall of 2001. Information about these activities will be available on his website and in his monthly email, so make sure you subscribe!
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780743218023 |
| ISBN 10 | 0743218027 |
| Title | Men Cry In The Dark |
| Author | Michael Baisden |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year published | 2001-08-07 |
| Number of pages | 352 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |