Publishing Options

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy]

Many authors are still hoping to have their books traditionally published, yet there is a growing trend toward Indie publishing for a number of reasons.

I would very much like to start a dialog with everyone on this social network, to find out why you believe that Indie publishing is a good or bad way to go vs. traditional publication methods?

 

 

 

 

[Shawn Lamb]

Yep. I have to say, it would take a REALLY sweet offer to make me go back to traditional.

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy]

Even then, eh? You'd lose creative control, they could tear apart your book and whatever else they wanted too. With Indie --- you are in charge!

 

Thanks why I am so PRO Indie! :-)

[Shawn Lamb]

Did you see my tongue in cheek as I was speaking? :D lol

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy]

Yes, I sure did. :-) ha ha

[Gisela Sedlmayer]

Shawn, i followed your discussing very closely with Bobbie, because i was wondering all about that too. I selp-published my first novel TALON, COME FLY WITH ME, because of many rejection letters from the traditional publishers. I was and are still very happy what they did with all the distribution as well. My book is available everywhere and now as ebook, ect at amazon.com as well. the second and third novel in the TALON series is finish and edited. But... now comes the big but. I don't have the maney again to do the self-publishing with my publisher again.
My question is now: How can I publish again without money but I would love to get my books out there? I do get very good reviews, Bobbie did one for me.

[Shawn Lamb]

Gisela, try POD - Print On Demand. I use CreateSpace, which is owned by Amazon. It only cost $39 for the Pro Plan and I get all the same distribution my publisher has - and put up on Amazon within 24 hours. I even have a signing at Barnes & Noble later this month for all 3 of my books. They are ordering copies of 1 & 2 from Ingram. Book 2 - is self - and B&N (and other brick and mortar stores) can order it just like my traditionally published book. Book 3 has not yet made it through the system yet - which take up to 60 days to be available through Ingram and Baker & Taylor, so I'll bring copies of those for consignment sales.

As for formatting your manuscript to POD - my husband does it and learned by using Aaron Shepherd's book Perfect Pages - giving step-by-step instructions for using Word to format books for POD. From that formatting, he easily converted the PDF to Kindle format for the e-books. It costs NOTHING to put the Kindle version up on Amazon.

[Gisela Sedlmayer]

Thank you Shawn.
My self publisher is doing POD but they have to do everything else. i mean, everything, designing the cover, letter setting and so on, because, i have no idea how to work a computer, really. I can write on it and can convert it into pdf form, send it to my editor and get it back from her, but that's it. That's why i need everyting from a self-publisher and so i have to pay them for doing all that. They do distribution, to everywhere. And, unfortunatel i have to say, i have no one who could help me with. I am alone here as writer. My book is available in all forms by amazon.com now.
It seams all so easy, what you say, but in fact it is not. Not for me, anyway. Sorry to say that. but that's the truth.

[Gisela Sedlmayer]

After i got several, lost cound of them, rejection letters from the traditional publishers i deceided to self publish as well. I am really happy for what they have done, and my book TALON, COME FLY WITH ME, a children's and adult novel, is available in all the internet outlets and now as Kindle by amazon.com. soon it will be available as ebook as well, and for ipod and iped. The second, TALON, ON THE WING, and the third TALON, FLIGHT FOR LIFE are finish and waiting for publication. But i can't do it self publish again. So i am looking for an agent in the moment to represent me. They are professionaly edited.
I believe my book has to go out there since i got such a gook review from Lee Marvin. He wrote:

This was a great read! A very original plot and all the characters have a unique and likable voice. The writer has a knack for keeping you in and it was hard to put down. I almost read it all the way through in a few days!
I dont want to give too much away, but the fact that the main character is much older than she looks, gives this book a special feel that Im sure chidren and adults alike will relate to in some way!
So shouldn't it be getting out there?

[Gisela Sedlmayer]

Actually i wrote the name of Lee Mavin wrong. It is not Lee Marvin, it is Lee Mavin. I am sorry. I thought i have to correct that. Sorry Lee for the bad mistake.

[Sean Patrick Bridges]

The ebook revolution has a gold rush feel to it right now, and it will only continue to grow, but the traditional publishing method will always be something authors will strive for. Nothing beats the feel of a book in your hand. Well, maybe if it's the book you wrote in the palm of your hand. That beats it.

[Gisela Sedlmayer]

Oh, yes, sure dose. it's just wonderful to have a book, my book, in my hand, and in the hand of my husband and children. It was just awesome. But as you seid, Sean, the ebook is the revolution and that's way i am so happy, that my book is finally available as ebook as well. But i haven't heard anything yet, if it is selling. Well, i hope to find out soon.
It is so hard to be a new author. I am not so well, to go around and sell my book, i have only done, but that a lot, booksignings. But Angus & Robertson closed down a lot of their stores, so are Borders. so i can't even do that anymore. with the conventional publishers they, i think to more for publicity, to get their money back, what they have invested.

[Tom Gahan]

Sure, it is always sweet to have a book in your hand -- but as Sean said, it's a revolution. Some do-it-yourselfers are able to get by and put their book up on Amazon. I came to realize, although Amazon is huge, that my readers wanted my book on different readers -- their i-Pads, B&N Nook readers and others. That's where First Edition Design eBooks really made it easy. Just submit the file and it's reformateed to all of the file types and submitted. For example -- to submit to the Apple I-Store, you have to have a Mac, and if your not an Apple developer, it can take up to 120 days for your book to be accepted (I may not live that long!, LOL) However, at the end of 120 days, if your file has an error, it can be rejected and the 90-120 process starts all over again. Although I am knowledgeable, I don't have a Mac or the expertise to get my book out there to all of the locations ...PLUS First Edition has now reached a Master Distributor status and will put my book out to over 1,000 locations at no extra charge. If they add a retailer or school, they automatically add my book to that site for the one time price. THAT is sweet. I'd rather spend my time writing than playing around with all of the submission sites and each with their own requirements.