Today, you are in for a treat because we are talking to Daryl Wizelman. Daryl is a leadership, corporate culture, emotional intelligence, life planning and work/life balance motivational speaker who consults with companies, associations, professional athletes, sports teams and individuals all over the world. Here’s what Daryl had to say about his self-published book:
Tell us about your self-published book.
“Heart Leader: A Personal Journey to the Heart of Business and Life,” combines inspirational stories and valuable lessons learned from 20 years of business leadership. Published in April 2010, Heart Leader contains numerous practical tools that can be immediately implemented by readers to improve their careers, businesses, relationships and lives. My personal journey, recollected in the book, is a roller-coaster of success, failure, joy and pain, and serves as an inspiration for my readers.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
Self publishing gave me the artistic freedom to write what I wanted to write and choose the book cover art that I wanted.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
Not having a traditional publisher meant that I would have to secure my own press opportunities through a PR firm. The firm I hired JS2 has done a great job for me as a first time writer who isn't a celebrity.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
I got to write and published exactly what I wanted the reader to read.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
If you can afford to hire a PR firm, then it is a must to get the book out to media. There is an organic element but I believe that fire is started through PR.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Writing is liberating and cathartic. If you have something to say, say it with pride.
Thanks for your words of wisdom Daryl. To find our more about Daryl and his book, visit http://www.darylwizelman.com/.
And if you have questions about self-publishing, or want your book featured on this blog, please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks.
Self-Published Author Gretchen Hirsch Reveals Tips to jexbo's Jill Exler
In today’s interview, we talk to the author “Back Again to Me,” Gretchen Hirsch. Here are Gretchen’s tips:
Tell us about your self-published book.
My book is titled Back Again to Me, and it is available from Amazon.com. While the plot centers on a pregnant teen who is making the adoption decision, the book is largely about women's relationships as mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
Although I had six books of non-fiction published traditionally, the advice I was getting from agents and editors about this novel, while good, was all over the map, and frequently the experts' opinions were diametrically opposed to one another. I decided it would be quicker and more fun to do it myself.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
The process was baby-simple, but, of course, there was a cost.
How did you overcome that challenge?
I saved up the money from other writing work and invested it in myself.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
I enjoyed having complete control over the process and making my own decisions about the cover, the typeface, and everything else related to the work. The worst part was finding errors after it was printed, even though I had gone through three rounds of proof. They aren't terrible errors, but they're noticeable to me. I should have taken up a friend's offer to proofread one more time for me instead of getting in a hurry and doing it myself.
What resources do you recommend to new authors?
Other people's books on the craft of writing. As I've attended writers' conferences, I've been struck by how much time people spend trying to get agents before they have mastered the skills of telling a good story or organizing non-fiction material effectively. As a book doctor/independent editor, I see many, many manuscripts that are full of misspellings, awkward construction, and sketchy research, so I recommend that people spend a lot of time learning the rules. I think Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and Stephen King's On Writing are wonderful books about craft and the writer's life.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Read the contract. Take only the parts of the publishing "package" that you need and want. Don't buy the "marketing" services. They usually consist of bookmarks, postcards, and other useless material, and if you want those things, you can create them much less expensively yourself. Be prepared to promote relentlessly. Every day. You aren't going to get reviewed, so you have to create your own word-of-mouth, and you can't do that if you don't try every avenue for promotion.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Be invested in your own success, but don't expect your self-published book to be a best-seller. If lightning strikes, that's wonderful, but very rare. Set your sights realistically and have fun.
Thanks for your honest tips Gretchen. To learn more about Gretchen, visit http://www.gretchenhirsch.com/.
And if you have questions about self-publishing, or want your book featured on this blog, please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks.
Tell us about your self-published book.
My book is titled Back Again to Me, and it is available from Amazon.com. While the plot centers on a pregnant teen who is making the adoption decision, the book is largely about women's relationships as mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
Although I had six books of non-fiction published traditionally, the advice I was getting from agents and editors about this novel, while good, was all over the map, and frequently the experts' opinions were diametrically opposed to one another. I decided it would be quicker and more fun to do it myself.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
The process was baby-simple, but, of course, there was a cost.
How did you overcome that challenge?
I saved up the money from other writing work and invested it in myself.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
I enjoyed having complete control over the process and making my own decisions about the cover, the typeface, and everything else related to the work. The worst part was finding errors after it was printed, even though I had gone through three rounds of proof. They aren't terrible errors, but they're noticeable to me. I should have taken up a friend's offer to proofread one more time for me instead of getting in a hurry and doing it myself.
What resources do you recommend to new authors?
Other people's books on the craft of writing. As I've attended writers' conferences, I've been struck by how much time people spend trying to get agents before they have mastered the skills of telling a good story or organizing non-fiction material effectively. As a book doctor/independent editor, I see many, many manuscripts that are full of misspellings, awkward construction, and sketchy research, so I recommend that people spend a lot of time learning the rules. I think Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and Stephen King's On Writing are wonderful books about craft and the writer's life.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Read the contract. Take only the parts of the publishing "package" that you need and want. Don't buy the "marketing" services. They usually consist of bookmarks, postcards, and other useless material, and if you want those things, you can create them much less expensively yourself. Be prepared to promote relentlessly. Every day. You aren't going to get reviewed, so you have to create your own word-of-mouth, and you can't do that if you don't try every avenue for promotion.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Be invested in your own success, but don't expect your self-published book to be a best-seller. If lightning strikes, that's wonderful, but very rare. Set your sights realistically and have fun.
Thanks for your honest tips Gretchen. To learn more about Gretchen, visit http://www.gretchenhirsch.com/.
And if you have questions about self-publishing, or want your book featured on this blog, please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks.
Interview with Self-Published Author Shel Horowitz
In today’s interview, we talk to the author of four, self-published books, Shel Horowitz. Shel is a “green marketing expert,” and here’s what he had to say:
Tell us about your self-published book.
Four of my eight books are self-published. The most recent one is “Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers.” Direct orders at http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com include my e-book, “How to Write and Publish a Marketable Book,” as well as another e-book called “The Missing Chapters,” which covers social media. I've also helped several people set up their own publishing companies and successfully self-publish.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
Each book has its own story. For this one, I felt that I was well known in the niche and could market it more effectively. It's not that much of a bookstore book; it lends itself better to direct marketing.
The previous self-published book, I actually had nibbles from other publishers and turned them down. Even though I knew I'd want to sell it to a larger publisher eventually, I wanted to have that conversation fro a position of strength.
And in fact, I did sell it to a large publisher; Wiley published a greatly expanded and updated edition under the title “Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet” (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson).
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
After self-publishing four times, I've gotten a lot of the bugs worked out. Still, I'd have to say that finding markets can be challenging.
How did you overcome that challenge?
I market very assertively and also go after credibility-builders like awards and testimonials. And a couple of times, I've actually sold out to a larger publisher. This most recent time, when the self-published, “Principled Profit” transformed into the commercially published, “Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green,” I was able to negotiate from a position of strength, and had a very different experience than I'd had as a nobody author with Simon & Schuster 17 years ago.
All four of my self-published books have been profitable, because I keep costs down and thus can make money on a print run that a big publisher would laugh at.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
Complete control. This was particularly an issue for the earlier book, “Principled Profit.” I was writing about some concepts that were very much against conventional business wisdom, and I didn't want any editor trying to water that message down.
What resources do you recommend to new authors?
The more you know, the better your chances of success. In addition to my own “Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers,” http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com, I regularly recommend John Kremer: “1001 Ways to Market Your Book,” Fern Reiss: “The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days” (she has a whole series of them); Dan Poynter: “The Self-Publishing Manual”; Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier: “The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing” (and incidentally, all four of these authors and several others have endorsed my book marketing book).
I also recommend joining at least one, online self-publishing discussion group. I personally participate in two on Yahoo Groups and one on LinkedIn, and yes, I still learn things. And perhaps most importantly, whether it's myself or someone else, I strongly recommend working with an experienced book coach/shepherd.
While it adds to the cost, it also saves you from very expensive mistakes – and a good portion of the fee gets returned to you, because an experienced shepherd knows good, cheap vendors. I've saved my clients thousands of dollars and gotten them a better product than they could have on their own.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their books?
Remember that you're competing for attention with 750,000 other books published this year. That means...
Even if you're traditionally published, most of the weight of marketing falls on you. By self-publishing, so do the profits.
Fantastic advice Shel. Thanks so much! To learn more about Shel’s books, visit http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com/.
And if you have questions about self-publishing, or want your book featured on this blog, please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/. I’m here to help! Thanks!
Tell us about your self-published book.
Four of my eight books are self-published. The most recent one is “Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers.” Direct orders at http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com include my e-book, “How to Write and Publish a Marketable Book,” as well as another e-book called “The Missing Chapters,” which covers social media. I've also helped several people set up their own publishing companies and successfully self-publish.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
Each book has its own story. For this one, I felt that I was well known in the niche and could market it more effectively. It's not that much of a bookstore book; it lends itself better to direct marketing.
The previous self-published book, I actually had nibbles from other publishers and turned them down. Even though I knew I'd want to sell it to a larger publisher eventually, I wanted to have that conversation fro a position of strength.
And in fact, I did sell it to a large publisher; Wiley published a greatly expanded and updated edition under the title “Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet” (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson).
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
After self-publishing four times, I've gotten a lot of the bugs worked out. Still, I'd have to say that finding markets can be challenging.
How did you overcome that challenge?
I market very assertively and also go after credibility-builders like awards and testimonials. And a couple of times, I've actually sold out to a larger publisher. This most recent time, when the self-published, “Principled Profit” transformed into the commercially published, “Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green,” I was able to negotiate from a position of strength, and had a very different experience than I'd had as a nobody author with Simon & Schuster 17 years ago.
All four of my self-published books have been profitable, because I keep costs down and thus can make money on a print run that a big publisher would laugh at.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
Complete control. This was particularly an issue for the earlier book, “Principled Profit.” I was writing about some concepts that were very much against conventional business wisdom, and I didn't want any editor trying to water that message down.
What resources do you recommend to new authors?
The more you know, the better your chances of success. In addition to my own “Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers,” http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com, I regularly recommend John Kremer: “1001 Ways to Market Your Book,” Fern Reiss: “The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days” (she has a whole series of them); Dan Poynter: “The Self-Publishing Manual”; Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier: “The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing” (and incidentally, all four of these authors and several others have endorsed my book marketing book).
I also recommend joining at least one, online self-publishing discussion group. I personally participate in two on Yahoo Groups and one on LinkedIn, and yes, I still learn things. And perhaps most importantly, whether it's myself or someone else, I strongly recommend working with an experienced book coach/shepherd.
While it adds to the cost, it also saves you from very expensive mistakes – and a good portion of the fee gets returned to you, because an experienced shepherd knows good, cheap vendors. I've saved my clients thousands of dollars and gotten them a better product than they could have on their own.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their books?
Remember that you're competing for attention with 750,000 other books published this year. That means...
- Your book has to be as good as or better than commercially published titles: in its ideas, content, execution, editing, and both cover and interior design.
- You MUST budget sufficient time and money for marketing. Don't spend it all on production.
- Be realistic. In most cases, you won't be on Oprah, you won't be a New York Times bestseller (though you could crack Amazon), and you won't have a line around the block for your book-signings.
- Don't be seduced by low unit costs for big, print runs. Spend more per book and print smaller numbers, but make the numbers work. If it takes off, you can easily go back to print. If it sells slowly, you won't have the problem of tying up huge amounts of capital and floor space in slow-moving inventory.
- For most of us, alternative channels are far more important than bookstores.
- Your ISBN matters a lot. If you are working with a so-called (falsely labeled) "self-publishing company" that buys warehouse quantities of ISBNs and provides you one, you're not a self-publisher. You've published with a subsidy publisher. That decision will have repercussions for the entire life of your book (mostly negative ones). There are some books that are suited to subsidy publishing, but don't delude yourself that you're a publisher if you go that route. When you get your own ISBN block from Bowker, select your own editors, designers, and printers, and control all the rights, THEN you're a publisher.
Even if you're traditionally published, most of the weight of marketing falls on you. By self-publishing, so do the profits.
Fantastic advice Shel. Thanks so much! To learn more about Shel’s books, visit http://grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com/.
And if you have questions about self-publishing, or want your book featured on this blog, please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/. I’m here to help! Thanks!
Interview with Self-Published Author Felicia Coley
Today in our self-published author interview-series, we talk to the author of “How to Stylishly Fall From Grace,” Felicia Coley. Here’s what Felicia had to say about the self-publishing process:
• Tell us about your self-published book.
“How To Stylishly Fall From Grace” is the journey of Zoe Chapman, a fashion-forward maven with a penchant for Broadway plays (and a collection of shoes to-die-for) who gets to answer the question: why would a woman who has it all, walk away from it all?
Synopsis: Zoe Chapman is a bit of a snob when it comes to zip codes, food and personal hygiene. Making no apologies, she prances through life as a fashion-forward, independent gal with a penchant for Broadway plays.
It's at one of her Broadway play excursions that she meets a charming guy. Beau Sampson is instantly drawn to Zoe, and a year-long, long-distance relationship blossoms. He woos her with weekend "play dates" and whirlwind reservations for two, which eventually sweeps Zoe off her feet. Or so she thinks, until she relocates her life, wardrobe and shoes to New York City to live with him...
"How to Stylishly Fall From Grace" details a young woman's life-transforming journey, going from thriving in the city that never sleeps, to barely surviving in a sleepy city obsessed with naps. Even with a background of management credentials and model looks, Zoe is forced to find the true meaning of her worth - Because "shoes to die for" should never be part of a woman's epitaph.
• Why did you decide to self-publish?
Blame it on my Type A personality. Also, the publishing industry seems to be enamored by celebrity scandal, so I did not want to get lost in the mountain of writers looking for that one publishing company to take notice. I believe in myself, so it only made sense to make it happen.
• What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
Being a writer, the challenge of technically creating the book made for many frustrating days. My laptop was powered by Linux, but the POD company required Word document formatting. After several attempts from well-meaning spirits, I finally found Earth Angel/Graphic Designer Robyn York who converted the formatting for me.
• What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
The unbelievable power of sisterhood throughout the 'sphere! From shoe designers to sister bloggers, they stepped up to make the nine-month delay of the book's release a worthwhile wait!
• What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Patience is the key. Your plans in the release may not be the best-laid, so accept the unexpected delays as "false labor." Through the frustration, nausea - and yes, tears - the birth of your book is the most amazing thing to experience!
• Is there anything else you would like to add?
Never take advice from anyone who has never done what you are attempting. And keep plenty of Kleenex on hand, for the tears of joy and pain!
That’s great advice Felicia. Thanks so much for sharing! If you’d like to read Felicia’s book, it is available It is available here and at https://www.createspace.com/3393284.
And if you have questions about self-publishing, or want your book featured on this blog, please write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!
• Tell us about your self-published book.
“How To Stylishly Fall From Grace” is the journey of Zoe Chapman, a fashion-forward maven with a penchant for Broadway plays (and a collection of shoes to-die-for) who gets to answer the question: why would a woman who has it all, walk away from it all?
Synopsis: Zoe Chapman is a bit of a snob when it comes to zip codes, food and personal hygiene. Making no apologies, she prances through life as a fashion-forward, independent gal with a penchant for Broadway plays.
It's at one of her Broadway play excursions that she meets a charming guy. Beau Sampson is instantly drawn to Zoe, and a year-long, long-distance relationship blossoms. He woos her with weekend "play dates" and whirlwind reservations for two, which eventually sweeps Zoe off her feet. Or so she thinks, until she relocates her life, wardrobe and shoes to New York City to live with him...
"How to Stylishly Fall From Grace" details a young woman's life-transforming journey, going from thriving in the city that never sleeps, to barely surviving in a sleepy city obsessed with naps. Even with a background of management credentials and model looks, Zoe is forced to find the true meaning of her worth - Because "shoes to die for" should never be part of a woman's epitaph.
• Why did you decide to self-publish?
Blame it on my Type A personality. Also, the publishing industry seems to be enamored by celebrity scandal, so I did not want to get lost in the mountain of writers looking for that one publishing company to take notice. I believe in myself, so it only made sense to make it happen.
• What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
Being a writer, the challenge of technically creating the book made for many frustrating days. My laptop was powered by Linux, but the POD company required Word document formatting. After several attempts from well-meaning spirits, I finally found Earth Angel/Graphic Designer Robyn York who converted the formatting for me.
• What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
The unbelievable power of sisterhood throughout the 'sphere! From shoe designers to sister bloggers, they stepped up to make the nine-month delay of the book's release a worthwhile wait!
• What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Patience is the key. Your plans in the release may not be the best-laid, so accept the unexpected delays as "false labor." Through the frustration, nausea - and yes, tears - the birth of your book is the most amazing thing to experience!
• Is there anything else you would like to add?
Never take advice from anyone who has never done what you are attempting. And keep plenty of Kleenex on hand, for the tears of joy and pain!
That’s great advice Felicia. Thanks so much for sharing! If you’d like to read Felicia’s book, it is available It is available here and at https://www.createspace.com/3393284.
And if you have questions about self-publishing, or want your book featured on this blog, please write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!
Interview with Self-Published Author Timothy M. Braun
As part of our self-published author interview series, today, we talk to fiction writer Timothy M. Braun. Timothy wrote, “When The Angels Cry-The Story of Arielle.” Here’s what the author had to say about his novel and the self-publishing process:
Tell us about your self-published book.
The purpose of my fiction novel is to acknowledge the small, daily miracles in our lives that most of us write off as coincidences. In the Foreword, I give several accounts of these in my own life, which I now believe were actually divine interventions. In the winter of 2008, I had a cardiac arrest out in the desert of Arizona, miles from nowhere, and survived. I detail the several, unbelievable coincidences that had to come together in those critical minutes for me to be alive today. As only about eight percent of cardiac arrests outside of a hospital survive, it was pretty miraculous.
About a month after being discharged from the hospital with a new pacemaker/defibrillator implanted in my chest, I had a very vivid dream. This was memorable as I am one of those people who never remember my dreams, but this one, I did. When I got up, I immediately wrote four pages of notes on a legal sized notepad. The dream had every chapter, the names of the characters and the name of the book. Those notes became my novel.
This may sound unbelievable, and I may sound like a religious zealot, but I'm not. Although I would describe myself as spiritual, I'm not religious. I've probably been to church three or four times in the past forty years. I wasn't a writer, but the story was so inspirational, it had to be written. I was driven.
The novel, "When The Angels Cry-The Story of Arielle," is about a very special little girl, who comes into the life of Rebecca. Rebecca had a wonderful life; a brand new, beautiful baby boy, a loving husband and a great job as an ER nurse. She had it all. She enjoyed an existence most people only dreamed about--until early one morning it all came crashing down. She found her son dead in his crib from S.I.D.S. She cursed God, the heavens and all who resided there. How could He do this to her? Her depression so engulfed her, there seemed no end to her sorrow. After months of begging Rebecca to see a doctor or therapist, her husband left her.
A year after her son's death, she apologized to God and asked for His forgiveness. Her life was forever changed. Then, she finds an infant, Arielle, on her doorstep, but possessing something so mysterious she can't bring herself to believe.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I decided to self-publish after sending out dozens of query letters to agents and receiving the standard, “It’s not what we are looking for” response. I knew from research that it was almost impossible for new authors, especially older ones, to get published through conventional means.
When I looked at the statistics of percentage of queries that are accepted by agents (1-2%), multiply the percentage of books agents accepted that they sell (25%??), then the percentage of those books published by mainstream publishers that sell over five thousand books (13-14%), it doesn’t take long to figure out first-time authors are better off publishing and marketing their work by themselves. At least you are in charge of your own fate.
After speaking to some first-time, traditionally published authors and doing more research, I also found that most of them didn’t make much, if any, money on their hard work. The publishers didn’t put any money or effort into marketing, and they were very upset at the contracts they had to sign. There was no control, no money, no recognition, and lots of frustration.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
My biggest challenge was the editing process. Each time I thought the book was ready for printing, I would find several more mistakes, typos, or problems with continuity. It was very time consuming but definitely worth the time and effort to put forth a quality product.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
I would probably have to say the educational process I had to undergo to learn how the publishing industry works, and at the same time, the most frustrating. I spent a lot of time just learning about the differences between “self-publishing” and “subsidy” or “vanity” businesses and the costs. I wanted to find the best place to have a superior product printed at the most competitive price. I understand companies making money on the processes of making a book; I refuse to keep paying them down the road for each copy I order.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Do your homework first. There is a lot of information to digest, but it will be to your advantage in the end. Position yourself to make as much money as you can from the sales of your book. Learn marketing, as it will be your biggest challenge after your book is published.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My book has been out almost a week, and I’ve pretty much gone through my first two orders of 135 books. I am placing my third today. That will make two hundred books that I hope will be gone by next week after two, book signings. Our new publishing company, Sangre de Cristo Publishing, Inc., will have another book out soon, “The Contest,” a mystery/suspense novel. If anyone would like to contact me about our publishing company or for information on self-publishing, contact me at sangredecristopb@aol.com. More information about my book can be seen along with a sample chapter at www.whentheangelscry.com.
Thanks so much Timothy. Your novel sounds very interesting.
How about you? Do you have questions about self-publishing and selling books online? Please write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!
Tell us about your self-published book.
The purpose of my fiction novel is to acknowledge the small, daily miracles in our lives that most of us write off as coincidences. In the Foreword, I give several accounts of these in my own life, which I now believe were actually divine interventions. In the winter of 2008, I had a cardiac arrest out in the desert of Arizona, miles from nowhere, and survived. I detail the several, unbelievable coincidences that had to come together in those critical minutes for me to be alive today. As only about eight percent of cardiac arrests outside of a hospital survive, it was pretty miraculous.
About a month after being discharged from the hospital with a new pacemaker/defibrillator implanted in my chest, I had a very vivid dream. This was memorable as I am one of those people who never remember my dreams, but this one, I did. When I got up, I immediately wrote four pages of notes on a legal sized notepad. The dream had every chapter, the names of the characters and the name of the book. Those notes became my novel.
This may sound unbelievable, and I may sound like a religious zealot, but I'm not. Although I would describe myself as spiritual, I'm not religious. I've probably been to church three or four times in the past forty years. I wasn't a writer, but the story was so inspirational, it had to be written. I was driven.
The novel, "When The Angels Cry-The Story of Arielle," is about a very special little girl, who comes into the life of Rebecca. Rebecca had a wonderful life; a brand new, beautiful baby boy, a loving husband and a great job as an ER nurse. She had it all. She enjoyed an existence most people only dreamed about--until early one morning it all came crashing down. She found her son dead in his crib from S.I.D.S. She cursed God, the heavens and all who resided there. How could He do this to her? Her depression so engulfed her, there seemed no end to her sorrow. After months of begging Rebecca to see a doctor or therapist, her husband left her.
A year after her son's death, she apologized to God and asked for His forgiveness. Her life was forever changed. Then, she finds an infant, Arielle, on her doorstep, but possessing something so mysterious she can't bring herself to believe.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I decided to self-publish after sending out dozens of query letters to agents and receiving the standard, “It’s not what we are looking for” response. I knew from research that it was almost impossible for new authors, especially older ones, to get published through conventional means.
When I looked at the statistics of percentage of queries that are accepted by agents (1-2%), multiply the percentage of books agents accepted that they sell (25%??), then the percentage of those books published by mainstream publishers that sell over five thousand books (13-14%), it doesn’t take long to figure out first-time authors are better off publishing and marketing their work by themselves. At least you are in charge of your own fate.
After speaking to some first-time, traditionally published authors and doing more research, I also found that most of them didn’t make much, if any, money on their hard work. The publishers didn’t put any money or effort into marketing, and they were very upset at the contracts they had to sign. There was no control, no money, no recognition, and lots of frustration.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
My biggest challenge was the editing process. Each time I thought the book was ready for printing, I would find several more mistakes, typos, or problems with continuity. It was very time consuming but definitely worth the time and effort to put forth a quality product.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
I would probably have to say the educational process I had to undergo to learn how the publishing industry works, and at the same time, the most frustrating. I spent a lot of time just learning about the differences between “self-publishing” and “subsidy” or “vanity” businesses and the costs. I wanted to find the best place to have a superior product printed at the most competitive price. I understand companies making money on the processes of making a book; I refuse to keep paying them down the road for each copy I order.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Do your homework first. There is a lot of information to digest, but it will be to your advantage in the end. Position yourself to make as much money as you can from the sales of your book. Learn marketing, as it will be your biggest challenge after your book is published.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My book has been out almost a week, and I’ve pretty much gone through my first two orders of 135 books. I am placing my third today. That will make two hundred books that I hope will be gone by next week after two, book signings. Our new publishing company, Sangre de Cristo Publishing, Inc., will have another book out soon, “The Contest,” a mystery/suspense novel. If anyone would like to contact me about our publishing company or for information on self-publishing, contact me at sangredecristopb@aol.com. More information about my book can be seen along with a sample chapter at www.whentheangelscry.com.
Thanks so much Timothy. Your novel sounds very interesting.
How about you? Do you have questions about self-publishing and selling books online? Please write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!
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