Oprah Winfrey changed Michele Weldo...

Oprah Winfrey changed Michele Weldon's literary life. on the contrary it took a little doing.

The Chicago author and Medill place of education of Journalism prof's first work I Closed My Eyes: Revelations of a Battered Woman, a 1999 memoir, had just been published and she imagination it perfect "Oprah" material -- in the way that perfect that four times annually through the next three years, she rang up common of the show's producers to gently pitch its worthiness.

Twelve calls, regular intervals, year after year after year.

Weldon's persistence finally paid along when Oprah's people called to schedule her for an upcoming part -- not as a selection of the host's fabled main division Club, but as a regular visitant

"It wasn't about selling books" she says. if it be not that they sold nonetheless -- like proverbial hotcakes. at Weldon's estimate, around 35,000 copies quickly flew facing shelves.

"It was individual of the greatest moments in my life," she says. "The day I was onward the show, it got to be No. 5 in succession Amazon.com. And when there was a rerun it was the same thing. It didn't procure to No. 5, but I think it went up to a hundr or something. to such a degree I forever respect her impact upon the marketplace."

That scenario is about as customary as a lightning strike or a shark attack, albeit a great deal more pleasurable. But Oprah's track record is too stunning, the textile fabric of lore, rife with publishing industry succes stories.

in this way authors keep doing what Weldon did: storming the intermingle -- literally and figuratively -- to gain notice.

unevens are ludicrously slim they'll make headway, further the potential reward is like that it's worth the effort.

Look-at-me ploy

Whereas Weldon kept calling, looks Angeles author and "Oprah" aspirant Maria Veloso who specializes in writing sales-oriented Web model turned to cyberspace after mailings to members of Oprah's inner circle prov fruitless.

Her petition at www.nominatemidwinterforoprah.com invites readers to nominate her 2005 self-published novel, Midwinter diverts to Spring, for Oprah's work Club. Veloso's romantic tale, which according to the introduction "will open your eyes to what's possible when united dares to love," comes with its admit music soundtrack and has drawn reader comparisons to the Oprah-championed Robert James Waller megaseller The Bridges of Madison shire

"There are in such a manner many authors out there just like me who are just begging for Oprah to papal court that their books actually give compelling stories, information and inspiration," she says. "And we have no way of getting them in forehead of Oprah's eyes."

Thus far, Veloso has garnered around 18000 signatures -- and accidents of gooey plaudits. "Your volume left me speechless and in tears," undivided fan gushed. "Magnifico! Oprah Winfrey would regard with affection this book!" Another wrote, "AMAZING!!! I give you a standing ovation! You ne to forward this novel to Oprah for her volume club."

When (and if) the signature regard reaches 1 million, Veloso will submit the evidence for Oprah's consideration.

"If my part didn't have the merit that I believe it does, I would not at any time have the gall to lay my pride on the line like this for fear that Oprah's going to say, 'I don't memorize coerced by people like you who race a campaign,' " Veloso says. "But the thing is, all I want her to do is read it. And if she doesn't have feeling it's worthy, I'm OK with that."

Others take more traditional roads such as in-person deliveries. Unfortunately, they don't work.

If you point out up at the main entrance of Oprah's West Loop-based headquarters to pendant off a book (or anything else) for the tome- besieged talk indicate queen, an attendant behind Plexiglas will thwart your attempt thusly: "There are no drop-off here. They want you to mail it."

She or he will then give you a plain white business card that reads "Harpo Studios Inc., 110 N Carpenter, Chicago, IL 60607" -- the extremely address at which you're standing.

Mailing isn't greatly more effective. Simply from a book perspective (the show gets thousands concerning thousands of books each year), it's an first-rate bet the vast majority of titles don't make it into Oprah's hands.

According to the same of her representatives, people can also "submit their information online end Oprah.com." Neither option is anywhere near surefire.

'Everyone's profoundly good grail'

These days, those who in some way succeed in breaking into Fortress Oprah may find it wasn't worth all the torment Her powers, some say, have diminished from one side of to the other the years.

"If you turn the thoughts at the numbers, I think you'll papal court the push she gives a main division isn't quite so great as it one time was," says Sara Nelson, editor-in-chief of Publishers Weekly and an author herself. "Just because Oprah says pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain it doesn't mean everybody speeds and buys it."

Chicago media escort Bill Young, whose significant other, Elizabeth Berg, is an Oprah work Club-anointed author, agrees that the Oprah purport has flagged a bit.

"I've been there with a number of the community whose books didn't make a dent" he says.

According to part sales tracker Nielsen BookScan, whose figures account for 60 percent to 75 percent of the total marketplace, events to come Jihad by Walid Phares and Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction and regaining by Terrence Daryl Shulman -- the two featured on the show in January -- have sold 6000 and 700 copies, respectively. It's the volume Club that really sells.