I LOVE THIS BOOK!
About a year ago, I had my first official meeting with WWE in three years. I discussed a number of subjects with Triple H, and after shaking hands on the potential of a working relationship, I thought of one last pressing concern – a little something that had been in the back of my mind for the past eight years. “You know, I’d really like to write another children’s book.” It probably sounded almost like an afterthought, but the truth was, I missed writing children’s books.
After the disappointing numbers “Tales From Wrescal Lane” (which I absolutely loved writing) put up, the world was not exactly beating down a path to my door, begging for a sequel. The world of literature had changed A LOT since 2000, when “Mick Foley’s Christmas Chaos” put in some serious hang time on the New York Times children’s best-seller list – despite being banned in some stores (for the depiction of a naked elf) and filed away under “adult humor” in others; kind of hurting me in the Santa Claus market. I followed it up with another Times best-seller, “Mick Foley’s Halloween Hijinx” and even read the book to Katie Couric on “Today.” I was on a roll, brother – 4 books, 4 best-sellers; batting 1,000 when it came to hitting the exclusive Times list.
I’m 5 for 9 now, with only 1 of my last 5 books hitting that list. I came to realize how special it is to have a book hit that list at all, given the 1,000’s of authors whose hard work and dreams will never be seen by a single set of eyes, let alone a mass audience. I also came to see just how integral timing is when it comes to the promotion of these books.
Man, what I wouldn’t give for the market to be like it was in 1999, when “Have a Nice Day” seemed to be exactly what WWE fans were clamoring for..and when all I had to do to promote it was show up with it on TV. I remember shooting a commercial for overstuffed beef ravioli, where Mankind, as the Boy-R-Dee-avore was posed in the foreground of the Statue of Liberty, a can of overstuffed beef ravioli held aloft, like the Lady of Liberty’s torch. I mentioned to the director that the Statue was holding a book in her other hand, and that in order for our overstuffed embellishment to feel more legit, I should probably hold some type of book in my other hand, too.
“Good idea”, the director said. “It’s too bad we don’t have some kind of a book with us.”
“I think I may just have a book”, I said. Presto, national advertising!
That was 13 years ago. Chances are, I’m not going to be on WWE TV too much, holding “A Most Mizerable Christmas” aloft. The company loves the book, though, and I think we could have a nice little success on our hands. But I measure success a little differently in 2012 than I did in 1999. Back then, I was looking to hit best-seller lists and to be well compensated for my efforts. This time, my goal is really simple: I just want “A Most Mizerable Christmas” to do well enough to merit another book – hopefully a Halloween book in the fall of 2013. I would love to do a series of these children’s books, where I get to right all the wrongs in the world (or at least the little corner of it known as Wrescal Lane) in 20 minutes of rhyme.
Like I said, no one was beating a path to my door, pleading with me to write another children’s book. I wrote the story and pitched the book in front of the marketing team, telling them for the first of many times that “this is not about money.” It’s not about the money. Yes, I’ll be making a little bit, but promoting this book is largely going to be a labor of love. I’m really hoping this book will be my gateway into becoming a much bigger part of WWE’s “Be a STAR” campaign, and that the Superstars and Divas whose childhood likenesses are on display in “A Most Mizerable Christmas” – especially The Miz (@MiketheMiz ) CM Punk ( @CMPunk ) and John Cena ( @JohnCena ) will get behind the book and send out an occasional tweet or message.
I guess by now you know that I won’t be shy about getting the word out. I love this book. I’m really happy with the rhymes and the feel of the story, and the little lesson learned by The Miz. I love the fact that my son Mickey inspired it when he was just 3 years old – when he told me to tell Santa that he didn’t need any more toys. St Nick could simply give more toys to the kids who really needed them. I love the idea of being a children’s book author for the first time in 8 years. I know parents are going to love reading it to their children, as much as children love having it read to them. Despite the fact that I kind of liked being that rebel with the book that had been banned, I love the fact that this book is not going to offend anyone. Sure, there is one lone reference to pee-pee, but at worst, it’s a single PG line in an otherwise very G-rated book. Try it – you’ll more than like it. You WILL love this book!Here's a sneak peek http://www.wwe.com/inside/miz-makes-classmates-un-merry-in-foleys-book-most-mizerable-christmas-26048041
The price in nice, too! You can pre-order it for right around $10 US (that’s half of what my other children’s books were) at http://www.amazon.com/Most-Mizerable-Christmas-Mick-Foley/dp/1465403450 or http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-most-mizerable-christmas-mike-foley/1112640933?ean=9781465403452 and for just under 10 pounds at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Most-Mizerable-Christmas-Mick-Foley/dp/1465403450 in the UK. Yes, I’ll probably over-do my tweets about this book. But I would love to have the chance to write a 2013 Halloween book, and more, much more in the future. Thanks for reading, and for entertaining the idea that “A Most Mizerable Christmas” will make for a most awesome gift!
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