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Blogs by Claire Krulikowski
Keeping A Book Alive 9/6/2017 10:36:51 AM
Do not assume - It's important to keep an eye and ear on your book even when part of the publication or PR process is out of your hands. I haven't been involved in self-publishing yet. "Moonlight on the Ganga" was my first book which told tales of my encounters along the sacred Ganges River in India. Its initial publication was through a small press in San Francisco in 2001. The editor and publisher loved this book as dearly as I did and they and I labored on editing and proofreading to make it the best we could. We succeeded.
That initial publication garnered in the top 3 for "Best Editing" by a NW publishing association. Then came 9-11 and Moonlight hit the skids with tons of other book sales. Disappointment wilted my spirits further when the small press sometime later went out of business. Though I received the rights back, and even the publishers disk for the book, I was so downhearted that this, my first-born book had not been well-tended due to seeming circumstances, that she remained hidden away and under nourished with no thought in my heart about republishing her.
Many years later, I took a chance on iUniverse just so the book would remain available. It was a great deal - A prepaid offer courtesy of the Authors Guild Back-In-Print review committee. And, I thought, since I had the previous publisher's well polished disk, there'd be no problem or time needed on my end. Couple that assumption with the sting of the past disappointment plus distractions with moving and job issues and I ended up not paying close attention to the editing process - Surely a 'best edited' book didn't require any effort on my part, I thought! Well, wrong assumption. The version published was no longer "best edited" or proofed. Sufficient spelling and punctuation errors to make me feel ashamed. I rarely promoted her. What had happened to the inspiration and beauty and love I felt this book emanated and deserved?
Yet, "Mooonlight on the Ganga" has remained within me, until I had another chance for its re-release. Getting rights back from iUniverse, Open Road Media's contract would enable a POD and e-book version, thanks to an agreement with Authors Guild. Now my heart and mind was fully enlivened at the prospect of re-releasing the book and sharing these tales with others, because I knew they were not meant for me alone. I insisted on rounds of proofreading; at least four reviews before I gave my blessings. It seemed months passed before I discovered that the book was already released and I hadn't been notified. I scurried to mega-promotion (not just the teasers previously pasted up in various places). It wasn't till weeks later I opted to read "inside the book" via Amazon (why I waited, I don't know) only to immediate realize this was NOT the book I'd approved, but one of the first go-rounds.
I fought back emotions of failure and giving up. Instead I plowed into how to fix it. Authors may realize that publishers are not necessarily open to fixing mistakes and even recalling a book and re-releasing yet again. I got my guy at Authors Guild involved until the publisher finally relented and admitted an inquiry had uncovered the error and that they had uploaded the incorrect file to their POD and email "printers." That took days and weeks of follow up effort, but I'd set my intent: This book WILL be fixed!
As a result, I am today holding in my hands the actual final proofread POD copy of "Moonlight on the Ganga." How to tell in a quick glance it's the correct Open Road Distribution version? In the Table of Contents there is a listing for "Thanks For What Has Been Written Before - Page 123."
Readers...The Ganges continues to flow freely again, despite boulders, dams, droughts, and storms, and continues to nourish all who feel or hear her call. I hope everyone enjoys "Moonlight on the Ganga" for the jewels she brings. Just step into her waters. Thank you.
