When a writer publishes their own work, and even when their book is put out by a publisher, the job is not done when they have scribbled or typed 'The End' at the bottom of the manuscript.

After the pen comes the printing and then the push.

As Imani Tafari-Ama puts it, "You have to have a strong personality and even a split personality. Like if you are shy and retiring, as I am in another life, you have to push. Even if you are published by a large publisher, you have to push it yourself."

"I have been aggressive in marketing," she said.

For Morgan, 'my job takes me all over Jamaica and everywhere I go I have cards with my books. And friends help me'.

A formal launch always helps and Morgan had one at his office party in December.

Tafari-Ama had her launch at the Institute of Jamaica in October, noting that she got corporate sponsorship from the National Housing Trust, the Institute of Jamaica, Dehring, Bunting and Golding, and the Institute of Caribbean Studies at the UWI, Mona.

Sold many copies

She has sold copies in Martinique and Barbados, where she visited, being a guest speaker at the African Liberation Day Celebrations in the latter country in May, where there was also a launch.

And even before that, in April she was at the Pan-African Book Fest at the Broward County Library in South Florida for the Pan-African Book Fest, where she was one of the guests on a panel.

As for further publications, Morgan says "I am thinking about it. But I have to see how this is going. I would seriously like to expose young authors who have not been published before." He notes also that 'you can't discredit the clout of a big publishing house. They can get you places you cannot get by yourself.'

And Tafari-Ama says, "I would do it again, but I would have much more money."

- Mel Cooke