but it didn’t seem feasible from all of the stories I’d heard about how impossible it was to get a book published. So, when I decided to try anyway, I went the traditional route, and contacted over 100 literary agents. As the process evolved, I realized just how hard it really was.
Then, I slowly realized that even if I was ingramer lucky enough to get an agent and a publishing deal, it would require signing over my rights (and creative input to an editor) allowing the agency and the publisher to decide on my book cover, interior layout, formatting, pricing, release dates, all which could take between 1-2 years, maybe more. I was jumping through hoops, when I met an author in my genre that was “lucky” enough to be signed to a rather well-known traditional publishing house, and asked her about her experience. She shared with me that she had to sign over her rights, and was only offered a $3000 advance (that she split with a co-author). She said that although the company sold 20,000 copies, 15,000 of them were returned-and destroyed! The book was taken off the publisher’s roster, and shelved forever.
Out of curiosity, I started to listen to book marketing teleseminars, and how there were several advantages to self-publishing. One day, I walked into a Barnes and Noble, and just for fun asked if they ever carried self-published books. The person directed me to their website, where I found an offer for a free self-publishing guide from Outskirts Press. Upon further investigation, it seemed that I could not only be in charge of my own pricing, interior, be involved in book design, set my own distribution discount, order authors copies at a deep discount, get a free website, but also be published within 12-16 weeks, all for under $1000. And that is precisely what I did! My book looks exactly the way I want it. The cover designer took my ideas and created something that was to my specifications, and even exceeded my expectations. I did my own interior formatting-something I never thought was possible. I also received free marketing advice on a weekly basis. I now had a real product that was mine, and I own it 100%. It was available online, with national online distribution through Ingram and Baker & Taylor. And what a thrill to hold my book in my hands for the first time!
But now what?
I found out about the Amazon.com best-seller campaign, a course given by Peggy McColl and Randy Gilbert. So, I went about creating an on-line campaign, and took my book to the #5 spot on Amazon.com, where it’s held court in the top 100 in it’s category ever since. I made so many online friends, and got into a pool of authors who now ask me to promote their books by contributing mine as a “bonus gift” which creates even more online exposure on a regular basis.
I also took a course called “Sell Your Book by the Truckload” which answers the question: would you rather sell 10,000 copies of your book to 10,000 people, or the same amount of that book to one person? I was excited about going that route, but the cost per unit through POD (Print On Demand) was too high. Therefore, I purchased the cover art from Outskirts Press, found an off-set printer, and did a short run of 250 copies, to test the waters. By this time, I was getting more and more interested in book marketing, so I attended Steve Harrison’s “Publicity Summit.” I used these 250 copies as “calling cards” to give out to the media-a finished product that cost me only about $2.50/unit.
Because I self-published, I have gained media coverage from over 65 sources, ranging from radio and internet, to print and television. My book reached #2 in Weddings on Amazon, and I recently appeared on the nationally syndicated show, “The Daily Buzz.” I was a featured expert on Martha Stewart Whole Living Radio and Dr. Laura, the #8 nationally syndicated radio therapist in the USA recommended The Daughter-in-Law Rules as her “pick of the week.” The DIL Rules was also chosen as “Hot Book of the Week” in Star Magazine on Mother’s Day, and the African Women Business Network has submitted a letter of intent to purchase 5,000 copies-one for each member of their organization.
I continue to educate myself. There is a wonderful site called PlannedTVArts.com where there are free teleseminars that you can download to your computer or iPod that features interviews with many people ranging from authors, to publishers, to media trainers, agents, radio hosts, producers, distributers and more. I get ideas from every single class, and try to put at least one of the ideas into practice from each speaker that I listen to.
If I hadn’t gone the self-publishing route, I never would have learned so much about publishing, book marketing, the media, creating on online presence or special sales. It’s a wonderful way to get started learning about the business, and to make some contacts so that if your dream is getting into bookstores, you can transition into traditional publishing with confidence. I have made enough contacts so that I now know several agents and publishers, book-marketing mentors, printers, copyright lawyers and editors. However, I am completely sold on self-publishing, would recommend it to anyone. And it certainly is and fun rewarding way for an author just starting out to completely own your book to do whatever it is that you want with it. And since I just completed my 2nd book, I have been asked to teach a 2 day workshop at a writers conference in February, called, “How I Became an Amazon.com Bestseller” and have been asked to contribute an online video course to the Learning Annex. As well, I received an offer to serve on the panel of ghostwriters at an ASJA convention (American Society of Journalists and Authors) in the spring-all unexpected and wonderful opportunities! You see, a book opens doors-it is the biggest and most important calling card you will ever have. Because as Steve Harrison points out, very few people get rich from their book. It is the back-end products and services that are created from the book that can make the difference between a struggling writer to million-dollar author.
ingramer 