Like most self-publishers I was baptized by fire.
Like most new authors I first sent a couple of chapters from "Earth, the Forgotten Temple: A Spirit Quest in the Wilderness" to several commercial publishing companies listed in the latest addition of "Writers Market." I also included a synopsis, cover letter, and marketing plan.
When I did not find a publisher I read a couple of books on self-publishing and formed "Impala Press" my own publishing company. I found Dan Poynter’s "The Self Publishing Manual" and Tom & Marilyn Ross’ "The Complete Guide to Self Publishing" the most helpful.
I was dismayed to learn that if a book doesn’t sell in a store within three months another replaces it and that most titles in a store have recent copyright dates because shelf space is expensive and in short supply.
It was interesting to read that three out of 10 books will sell well, four will break even and three will be losers in most of the 100 big New York publishing firms. Books that do not sell quickly remain in print about a year before being sold cheaply at remainder stores. If the author wants to continue to sell the book they are expected to buy back the title from the publisher.
A medium or "niche" size publisher is another option for a new author. These smaller or newer firms usually specialize in technical, geographic or niche markets.
For me self-publishing became an attractive alternative to rejection slips and the reported dismal book sales with a commercial publisher.
About five thousand small presses are founded annually and have revolutionized book techniques and distribution.
Self-publishing gives the author direct control over the book title, content, printing, marketing and distribution. The author can make more money receiving up to 35 instead of the six or ten percent in royalties. The manuscript can become a book in one instead of 18 months with a commercial publisher. Self-publishing is also good business as there are tax advantages in having a publishing company.
Some of the printers I contacted were Morris Publishing, Phone 1-800-650-7888, Fax 308-237-0263. They sent me 4 very good free color books—Publisher’s Guide, Marketing Guide, Technical Guide and Cover Ideas. They also mailed sample books with their price quotes.
Other printers included Whitehall Printing Company, 1 800 321-9290 www.whitehallprinting.com in Naples, Florida. Two authors I know published books at www.booksjustbooks.com. Both liked them enough to use them for their subsequent book prints. They were cheaper than Morris Publishing Company the printer I used.
It cost Impala Press $6,000 to print 2,500 books in 2000. I broke even after two years and now make a profit. I consider selling 1,727 books a success considering that my marketing budget was limited. I have had many positive reviews from readers, newspapers, magazines and web sites.
Shar Phoenix the author a Lupus NewsLog Library Website at http://lupusnewslog-library.blogspot.com/ found my book and articles at www.authorsden.com and wrote the following piece about me:
Niki Collins-Queen is a children’s therapist and modern day pioneer, trekking the wilderness to find the center of her universe. She is the author of "Earth, the Forgotten Temple: A Spirit Quest in the Wilderness," which chronicles her explorations and expresses her keen observations. In articles such as, "Health Care is an Art Not a Business," "Living with Chronic Illness" and "Hidden Agendas in The Cancer Industry" she shares her opinions of society’s ills and their effects in our lives. Her writing stimulates thinking in those who dare to care."
Thanks to people like Shar many search engine have links to my web site www.authorsden.com/nikicollinsqueen, book, articles and book reviews.
My book promotions also included bookstore signings, workshops, lectures, TV interviews, radio and print feature coverage, space advertising and direct mail. Many people said they enjoyed receiving my color postcard of the book cover with the following text synopsis.
"Earth the Forgotten Temple is a feast for the spiritual seeker, the nature lover and the outdoor adventurer. Taking a leap of faith, Niki Collins-Queen gave up a successful career and the comforts of civilization. Her book is the inspiring true story about a woman’s spirit quest while she hitchhiked on sailboats in the Bahamas, backpacked alone, and canoed in the Everglades and on the Suwannee River."
It was also helpful to join a local writers club. I joined the Georgia Writers Club at www.georgiawriters.org or 678-407-0703 or newsmag.georgiawriters.org. Their bimonthly newsletter, workshops and festivals helped me market my book, meet great people and join a larger writing community.
Like most self-publishers I was baptized by fire. Some bookstores like Barnes and Noble only buy from distributors. Unfortunately, Ingram and Baker & Taylor, the two largest distributors, are not cost effective for small publishers as they expect the publisher to pay for the shipping of the book to and from the distributors. Like most publishing companies I found it frustrating to have a 50 percent book return rate when the distributors returned and ordered 10 or more books on the same day. I have enjoyed working with "New Leaf Distributing Company" as they use the returned books as part of their 50-book inventory.
With only one exception I had a great experience working with the bookstores. Most stores paid for the books, scheduled book signings, printed promotion flyers and contacted the media.
The one chain bookstore that paid for only five of the fifteen books on consignment taught me the importance of good bookkeeping. Fortunately I did have a signed and dated invoice. A letter to their headquarters explained that the Police Department advised me to file a theft report and said my charges could result in a civil suit where local store employees would be subpoenaed. Also, the store would have to pay the court charge if Impala Press won. I pointed out that a civil suite judge would probably rule in Impala Press’ favor since the store’s general manager admitted the employee in question had been fired and that I was not the only customer they had wronged. The store immediately made their payment.
Another learning experience involved a distributor that requested payment for 26 returned books that had not been sold to them. I contacted the Accounts Payable Manager and said that Impala Press had no record of sending the 26 books and that we would be glad to pay for them when copies of the purchase order and invoice were received. I did not hear from them again.
My next book will use a more cost-effective way to publish. It is called Print on Demand or POD. POD means printing the book as it sells. The POD companies will sell the books to the author, distributors and bookstores at a discount. Apart from being able to publish a book for a few hundred dollars POD also eliminates the loss of money and stress when dealing with distributors. Authors avoid the up front expense of printing, the continuing cost of warehousing and fulfillment and the tax liability for maintaining inventory. The books usually sell seamlessly via online outlets. Like self-published authors the dotcom author is responsible for getting the best possible editing. Some of the POD companies offer packages covering editing and special cover design at budget prices. Authors report that many of their POD books bring in a 30% sales revenue. POD books are available quickly, need never be out-of-print and sell year after year without the author filling an order.
The main disadvantage is the relatively high cost of production per book. The average POD book costs $18.95 not $12.95 for a trade paperback and that can depress sales. Also a number of dotcom authors have reported difficulty getting in with some major distributors and chain bookstores.
Although POD companies are structured to make money from the author, not book sales they offer a revolutionary break through which release the author from the mercy of agents and publishers.
The three most popular POD companies include:
www.iuniverse.com 1-800-376-1736 (A subsidiary of Barnes and Noble)
www.xlibris.com 1888-795-4274
www.lightningsource.com (A subsidiary of Ingram Industry).
Others POD publishers include Fidler Doubleday, 1st Books Library, Upublish.com, Writer’s Club Press, Authors Choice (for previously published authors) and Replica (a subsidiary of Baker and Taylor.)
Although I had a wonderful experience with my first book I discovered the business side of self-publishing was stressful and decided not to publish again. But the advent of POD is tempting, as it would enable me to concentrate on doing what I like best: Write.
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