Hi, Andy. It's nice to meet you. Thank you for your insightful comments, and congratulations on your decision to open your own publishing service. I wish you every success.
Yep, I have a little file of rejections too, and it took me awhile to realize that the rejections were less about my failings than they were about publishing as a business in which publishers and agents both are looking for, among the many thousands of submissions they receive, only those things they're pretty certain will be easy sells. And that in turn seems to me to be tied in with whatever is riding the crest at any given time. So, like you, I am tickled to have avenues like self-publishing open to me. Also like you, I realize the greater challenge of marketing without a big budget.
On the other hand, I rarely buy books based on how vigorously the big guns are promoting them. More often I buy by browsing book stores or on the recommendations of friends. And I think we can be heartened by the fact that we can, if we're willing to do the leg work, find ways of bringing our work to the attention of potential readers.
A case in point: the murder mystery I've just published takes place on a (thinly disguised) local island. I spent a couple days there this week, snooping and talking to people. And while I was at it, I tucked promotional items--bookmarks and business cards--in such places as the condiment holders on restaurant tables. A media blitz? Hardly. But as I was waiting for the ferry back to the mainland, I heard a woman behind me say, "What if there was a murder on the island?" I knew she had been in the restaurant across the street, and I thought, "Hmm, what could have given rise to that question?" I'm perfectly willing to start slowly, and even curiosity can be a tool.
gemma bloom

Hi Gemma,

I arrived after having been down the route of trying to find an agent on the same wave length and as you say the waiting can be seemingly endless when things do not materialise as you expect (who knows, perhaps my first efforts were way off target to what I thought the market might be). Needless to say, during that process I was fortunate to meet Nadine Laman (on line) and her encouragement sent me writing down a new route towards self publishing (and my introduction to Jerry and NB).

With the POD process opening the door for many I felt more encouraged to write, though initial colour printing costs seemed high especially when you are not sure of how well the work will be received and without means to additional sums for marketing to match mainstream; I finally decided to open my own publishing service with the view to producing books on CD Rom rather than paper.

Like you I am enjoying the learning curve and with NB opening doors, marketing will hopefully get easier the further we all go.

Regards Andy

Hi, Lauren. Thanks so much for your contribution. In terms of the goals you've set for yourself, your choice to self-publish seems like the perfect approach for you. And while I understand that it's not your ambition to make the Times Bestseller List, it seems to me that selling your books at seminars, etc. is just the sort of strategy that could help other writers, particularly new writers who may still believe that once they've completed their manuscripts, their work is done. I've BEEN there and thought all I had to do was wait a week or two for the Publishing Fairy to show up and take over for me.
Again, thanks, and may you continue to be successful.
gemma bloom

I've co-authored two books. In both cases, my co-author(s) was set up as a publishing company. Both books were "how to" books on specific topics...one on how to self-edit your writing, and one on how to become a successful virtual assistant.

In both cases, my co-author(s) and I never considered going through the traditionally publisher route. We just didn't want to work that hard for $1 or $2 per book sold.

I sell one or both of my books when I speak at conferences or seminars, to my colleagues who are in the associations I'm in, to my clients, off my website and off Amazon.

Yes, the promotion is a big issue. I'm pretty sure you could make promoting your book a full-time job. I've pitched myself to internet radio shows and podcasts with some success, put out press releases, write in my blog, etc.

My books are well-received and very positive reviews on Amazon, etc., but my main goal in writing the two books was to add to my professional platform and demonstrate my expertise, not be a best-selling author.

Anyway, that's the long answer to how I became an independently published author. :)

Lauren Hidden

Couldn't agree with you more, Gemma.

Dave, I am SO glad you posted about having a product, as I feel exactly the same way. I read a genuinely unpleasant post from what I can only assume to be a genuinely unpleasant woman who had had something published by traditional means, and was railing against self-pubs. Why? Because it had taken her ten years to get picked up, and self-pubs apparently are not playing fair and "doing their time" (not necessarily true either, is it?). Now, I don't know about anybody else, but I'm not willing to leave things in other people's hands and beat my head against an ever-thickening wall for TEN YEARS in the hopes of someday having a product TO market. That ten years is her problem.
I'm with you. I've got a reading/wine-and-cheese reception/signing set up at a local art gallery whose owner is interested in promoting local women artists. I took her some promotional cards, and she had a few hundred more printed at her expense to send out in her regular mailings. So yes, there are other avenues and some lovely people willing to help. Let's clap them.
gemma bloom

Well, not all of us are Indies. I'm published through a small press electronic publisher. And whether Indie or small publisher marketing is entirely up to us. I sell POD (print on demand) from my car, through speaking engagements, talking to someone at the grocery store and begging bookstores to allow me a book signing.
I'm never going to be going to get rich from this but I'm fulfilling my dream. And I have a product to show a prospective agent or New York Publisher, in case they are stuck with me an elevator or if Oprah decides to come to my town and risk hearing my well-practiced platform.
I think just never giving up is where we need to focus and to write the best product we can.
Dave

www.jdwebb.com
Shepherd's Pie (Golden Wings Award winner)
Moon Over Chicago
Her Name Is Mommy (Dec 2007)

I joined this site because I like it so much. But my past work and my future goals are not with independents--I've been NYC published and that's where I want to be again. (It's all about the money, I'm afraid, which might be a disqualifier.)

That okay-- or do you feel like it's not the focus of the site? I'm entirely unconcerned with pecking order, status (unless it sells books) etc. I try to ignore the fact that bookselling is a zero sum game.

I wouldn't feel at all bad if you tell me POLITELY to go away. I've been doing this long enough that polite rejection of any sort really doesn't bother me.

Jean Boggio, Author, Publisher
www.jeanboggio.com
www.colerithpress.com

I soon saw that assisted publishing (POD publishing) was the kiss of death in the industry if you wanted anyone to take your work seriously. That was why I started my own press rather than go that route. I've been learning a lot about publishing and hope to share that with other new authors. I'll be working with someone who did assisted publishing at first, but now wants to be published by a "real" publisher to give credibility to his work. I hope to provide that service.

My own first book is about the hit the market this spring and I've invested time and money to give it the best packaging I could. That gives it its first chance. The next thing is my own time and energy to promote it. And that is where I think you're wrong when you say that with self-publishing you have to do more marketing than with a traditional publisher. Even there, your book will languish on the shelf if you, the author, don't get out there and push it. If I'm going to do all that work, I want the reward for it!

Don't be shy about promoting your work!