To e-publish or not to e-publish: That is the question.

[Missy Vixen]

Hi everyone,

I wasn't sure if this was appropriate in the prayer and healing thread, or should have gone in the 3/11 thread... :eyes:

Here's the thing: I have been working for the past 5+ years to publish a romance novel. I actually have several manuscripts, one of which is a series of three books. I have been querying. I get rejections, but they are the detailed type. In other words, "We loved your voice and characters, but you might want to change/fix _________." Rejections suck, but I can't get anywhere unless I learn from them. Here's my latest quandary.

Many publishers are now going to e-publishing or some combo of print-on-demand and e-publishing. In other words, you can download a new author to your Kindle or other e-reader before you ever see their work in a bookstore. It is my most cherished dream to walk into a bookstore and see my work there. Something I could touch, and definitely something I could sign. It would also be nice to be able to show something to the people in my life who have been less than supportive. ;-)

So, here's the thing. One of my friends (a MUCH more famous author,) has offered to write a recommendation letter to the e-publishing arm of Harlequin if I will submit there. I am so touched and thrilled that she would even offer. I am having a tough time with the "nothing to sign" thing, though. (Why am I suddenly hearing Rick in my ear? "Let go." LOL!) Just this morning, another huge publisher (Avon) announced that THEY are also opening a e-publishing arm as well. Obviously, submission doesn't automatically mean they will publish me, but they are willing to take more of a risk with e-book publishing than they typically do editorially. (In other words, my contemporary romance series about a fictitious NFL team may FINALLY find a home.)

If you think of me and my little problem, any good thoughts or advice would definitely be appreciated and cherished.

I wish I had the adequate words to tell all of you how much you all mean to me. Your caring and kindness to me and to each other is an amazing thing.

Thank you,
-MV

[teenagebambam]

1. I just read an article

...in fact, it may have been linked on DU....about a young author who is ONLY e-published, and how, even at $1 a download, she is primed to make more money than she ever would going the traditional agent/publisher route.

It sounds like you're not in it for the money...but that doesn't hurt! I'll see if I can dig up that article....

[Missy Vixen]

2. Oh, I like the money

;-) Most first-time authors don't get paid a lot, and the dollars are shrinking further because of the economy, and because publishing houses realize those of us who are offered a contract have already worked years to get there. In other words, we want to see our work on a bookshelf. LOL I would love to make as much as I possibly could at this.

Romance is the only genre currently making a profit in publishing. We also boast the most prolific readers - it's nothing for a romance reader to finish 1-3 books a week, and many read more. Those going to the digital publishing model are making all kinds of money already on romance readers. They want to make more.

I would love to see the article about the woman who e-published and is making money. I'm curious to know what her book is about, too.

[teenagebambam]

3. Found it!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20110301/tc_digitaltrends/selfpublishednovelistamandahockingmakesmillionsfromamazonkindlesales

[Sienna86]

4. Here's another good article on self-publishing

http://reviews.cnet.com/how-to-self-publish-an-e-book

[Missy Vixen]

5. Thank you so much for the additional article

At this point, I'm planning on submitting to Avon's new digital division and to Harlequin's. The people I know who've published through Carina Press (Harlequin's e-publishing imprint) are happy with their royalties, they get a cover design by an art department, and the books are easy to access. ;-)

Publishing: No wonder writers take up drinking. ;-)

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I have very definite opinions about this. :)

Here is the DU thread in which the same 26-year-old e-book bestseller was discussed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=546833

Good comments, good discussion.

Feel free to PM me if you have other questions. As you already know, each genre is different -- different opportunities and limitations -- but the state of the industry is pretty much the same across the board.

Good luck. :)

:hug:

[2Design]

7. go with ejunkie.com - no gatekeepers - just do it - if it is good it will go viral n/t

[MorningGlow]

8. Bless you, MV

You have been fighting the good fight! As you know, I'm far behind you in the romance-writing/-publishing adventure, and so have no opinion about the process (yet). All I can do is wish you the best...and I'll be watching your progress and rooting for you! :hi: :hug:

[Celebration]

9. the market keeps changing

Best to be flexible......

When it comes to decisions, ground yourself, meditate, and use your pendulum........yes/no.

Overall, sounds exciting!! Way to go!

[Saokymo]

10. E-publishing, all the way!

The cost to get a book published that way are virtually nil, vs. all the overhead of printing and distribution with traditional manuscripts. You can always make a print version later if the sales of the e-version are good enough, too. :)

[WhiteTara]

11. First, let me congratulate you

for sitting and doing the work. Congratulations for finishing! Do take those suggestions in the rejection letters to heart and do a little more rewrite. But wow! you are there!
:toast: :party:

I think the future is here and if you want your audience, you may have to fore go the bookstore scene for the first one. Then, by that time, there may be no bookstores, only Kindle. But I know what you mean about the paper and the ink. Losing those will be sad.

But notice, I used the word think, so use your intuition and you will know what to do.
:hug:

BTW Good Job!

[Ricochet21]

12. Best of luck to you

:bounce:

[OneGrassRoot]

13. For the writers here:

A really good resource for writers, with tons of information (technical, agents, publishers, and so much more), is AbsoluteWrite:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/

Just fyi.

:hi:

[Dora]

14. I work at a publisher.

We're primarily an academic publisher, not trade, but our concerns are the same as the rest of the industry.

Embrace the change. Paper is a limited commodity, production/manufacturing costs are unpredictable, technology is your friend.

Good luck!