“The pen is mightier than the sword.” When Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote those words in 1839, he wasn’t just dressing up a line in a play—he was planting a flag in the ground. At a time when authority was tied to armies and aristocracy, he reminded the world a well-formed sentence could stir a deeper response than any battlefield triumph. Bulwer-Lytton wasn’t content to be remembered for a single quote, though. He used his talent—and his platform—to shape both public thought and official policy, proving writers could do more than reflect society. They could redirect it.
Life didn’t hand Bulwer-Lytton easy victories. His father died when he was four. His mother disapproved of his literary ambitions. Still, he wrote and published his first book as a teenager. It didn’t set the world on fire, but it set his course. He fought for every inch against social expectations, financial stress, and eventually, a bitter marriage to Rosina Wheeler. She was as outspoken as he was determined, and their split became public—and painful. She published fierce attacks. He responded with legal pressure. What might have crushed another man seemed to fuel him instead. Those years taught him words could do damage, but they could also defend truth. They could reshape a narrative. They could outlast scandal.
Bulwer-Lytton didn’t retreat from the public eye. Instead, he ran for office. As a Member of Parliament and later Secretary of State for the Colonies, he kept a foot in both worlds—policy and prose. He played a major role in the founding of British Columbia. His speeches carried the same weight and clarity as his novels. He believed writing had a moral purpose. He once said, “Talent does what it can; genius does what it must.” That wasn’t self-flattery—it was a challenge. He expected writing to do real work. And in his case, it did. His words didn’t just entertain. They informed decisions, elevated debate, and pushed ideas into motion.
Bulwer-Lytton’s novels may not fill today’s bookstores, but their influence is still present. The Last Days of Pompeii helped shape the public’s fascination with ancient cultures, bridging the gap between history and imagination. The Coming Race gave us the phrase “the pursuit of the almighty dollar”—a reflection of industrial-era anxieties still relevant today. His play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy introduced the world to his most quoted line. But beyond phrases and fiction, his work left an imprint on how people thought about power. Not just the power to rule—but the power to persuade.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton understood something many still overlook: writing doesn’t just describe history. It drives it. He proved authors can do more than comment from the sidelines. They can step in, speak up, and make a difference. His life wasn’t tidy, and his fame faded. However, his core belief remains rock-solid. Words matter. They carry weight. They shape what comes next.
If you write, take time to read Bulwer-Lytton—not just for the famous quote, but for the mind behind it. Read Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy to see how he crafted power with dialogue. Read The Last Days of Pompeii to understand how fiction can make history feel alive. And when your hand hovers over the keyboard or page, ask yourself what your words are meant to do. Influence? Inspire? Inform? All three? Use your pen like Bulwer-Lytton used his—with courage, conviction, and the quiet strength to outlast the noise.
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Author Campaign Method (ACM) for Authorpreneurs
This is Publication Consultants’ motivation for constantly striving to assist authors sell and market their books. Author Campaign Method (ACM) of sales and marketing is Publication Consultants’ plan to accomplish this so that our authors’ books have a reasonable opportunity for success. We know the difference between motion and direction. ACM is direction! ACM is the process for authorpreneurs who are serious about bringing their books to market. ACM is a boon for them.
Release Party
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Facebook Profile and Facebook Page
Active Social Media Participation
Ebook Cards
The Great Alaska Book Fair: October 8, 2016
Costco Book Signings
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Jim Misko Book Signing at Barnes and Noble
Cortex is for serious authors and will probably not be of interest to hobbyists. We recorded our Cortex training and information meeting. If you’re a serious author, and did not attend the meeting, and would like to review the training information, kindly let us know. Authors are required to have a Facebook author page to use Cortex.
Correction:
We take the quote by Marcella Smith, Small Press Business Manager, Barnes & Noble seriously: “The author is essential to the success of the book, giving energy behind the book to make it something that a customer will come in and ask for. That is what makes the difference in a book that sells, that develops legs, and has a life of its own. Otherwise the book goes on the shelf and stays there for three months. Then it gets returned.”
This is Publication Consultants’ motivation for constantly striving to assist authors sell and market their books. ACM is Publication Consultants’ plan to accomplish this so that our authors’ books have a reasonable opportunity for success. We know the difference between motion and direction. ACM is direction! ACM is the process for authors who are serious about bringing their books to market. ACM is a boon for serious authors, but a burden for hobbyist. We don’t recommend ACM for hobbyists.
We’re the only publisher we know of that provides authors with book signing opportunities. Book signing are appropriate for hobbyist and essential for serious authors. To schedule a book signing kindly go to our website, <
An Author Page on Amazon Author Central is a serious author ACM requirement and desirable for the hobbyist. Author Central is a free resource designed to help authors become more active participants in the promotion of their books. In Author Central you can manage an Author Page, update information about your books, and view Customer Reviews and sales information for your bibliography. If you don’t already have an Author Page on 
We hear authors complain about all the personal stuff on Facebook. Most of these complaints are because the author doesn’t understand the difference difference between a Facebook profile and a Facebook page. Simply put, a profile is for personal things for friends and family; a page is for business. If your book is just a hobby, then it’s fine to have only a Facebook profile and make your posts for friends and family; however, if you’re serious about your writing, and it’s a business with you, or you want it to be business, then you need a Facebook page as an author. It’s simple to tell if it’s a page or a profile. A profile shows how many friends and a page shows how many likes. Here’s a link <> to a straight forward description on how to set up your author Facebook page.
Active Social Media Participation
Mosquito Books has a new location in the Anchorage international airport and is available for signings with 21 days notice. Jim Misko had a signing there yesterday. His signing report included these words, “Had the best day ever at the airport . . ..”
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When he published those overseas blogs as the book The Innocents Abroad, it would become a hit. But you couldn’t find it in bookstores.
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