Saturday, July 7, 2018

Adventures in Self Publishing

Available July 1st!!!

JENN McKINLAY: Recently, I was having lunch with a couple of author friends. We are all traditionally published but one of us had also ventured into self-publishing. She had written an historical mystery series and sold the first couple but the historical mystery market dried up and the publisher passed on any more books in the series. She was disappointed because she’d had more stories in mind for her character and so decided to write them anyway. This happened to coincide with the rise of e-books and self-publishing so she decided to give it a go. Well, in a few short years she paid off her house and bought another one all with the profit from the mystery series that had been kicked to the curb -- and it’s still going strong.

She is the first to admit that a lot of it was luck and timing and the ability to work quickly and hire good people, copy editors and cover artists, but it was also the first time that she, the content creating author, got the biggest slice of the published book pie. The other author and I were enthralled, like kids listening to a fairy tale at bedtime. The idea of having so much control over your work – wow, just wow!

I mentioned to my author friends that I’d recently gotten the royalties back to my first romantic comedies but I was intimidated by the time and the formatting that would be required to get the books up on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc. The self-pubbing author pantomimed typing and hitting send. She gave me a rueful look and said, “Truly, it’s about that hard.” Mind blown.

All this time I thought self-pubbing was so difficult and time consuming that I pretty much disregarded it as not being for me, especially since I didn’t have a backlist of titles whose rights had reverted to me. But since I'd just gotten my rights back, I had to rethink. I mean I had these books, they’d already been professionally edited, why not get them up and out? 

Well, the first problem was that I wrote them fifteen years ago during the height of chick lit, you know, back when you actually mailed in a paper copy of your manuscript with a floppy disk. Yes, I know, it’s very 2002. I no longer had the computer I wrote them on or any other trace of them save for the final product of a tangible paperback. I thought about retyping them myself and editing as I went. Yeah, no. I’d rather poke myself in the eye with a hot fork. Luckily, I found a typist who was willing to do it quickly for a couple hundred bucks. Sweet.

Once that was done I was off to find some cover art. Thankfully, the other author friend at lunch with us had self-pubbed a YA novel just to see how it did, and she had a fabulous website that is basically a network of cover artists where you can buy one of their covers exclusively and have it customized to your book for anywhere between $70-120. I went looking at SelfPubBookCovers and, lo and behold, staring out at me from a cover was my redheaded heroine and she was even wearing a yellow dress. Perfection!

Next I got onto Barnes and Nobles and Amazon’s self pubbing platforms and all hell broke loose. Okay, not really, but it was a teensy bit more complicated for me than I would have liked. I soldiered on. Finally, it felt like everything was all set but then the book wasn’t appearing on Barnes and Noble’s site like it was on Amazon’s. Huh. I thought perhaps it just needed time. No, what it needed was for me to click the button that says “Publish”. Seriously, that’s what I had missed. (Insert Homer Simpson “Doh!”here). 

I opened the books up for pre-orders and was officially amazed that the book started moving. Now we already covered my dislike of math this week, but let me just say that even with my limited accounting skills, I could see that 70% accrues a heck of a lot faster than the 8% or 12% or 25% I’m used to. Not to be redundant but wow, just wow!

Now I know the world of self-pubbing is rather terrifying. There are unscrupulous people trying to copyright words, page stuff, and all other manner of nefarious misdeeds. Honestly, it feels like the slush piles of old have become sentient beings with really sharp teeth and claws. Gah! And unfortunately, the self-pubbed books that are truly brilliant but can't find a New York publisher because they are beyond the abilities of traditional publishing, get lost amidst all that rabble unless they find a champion. 

In truth, I don’t see how a writer can even make a living at indie writing if they don’t already have a name that people know to look for, but I can absolutely see the appeal of self-pubbing in regards to having all the say about your content, your cover, your price point, and so forth. My problem is that while I didn’t mind picking the cover for this book and uploading the book wasn’t as horrific as I feared, mostly, I had to acknowledge that it’s not what I want to be doing with my time. I don’t want to spend my days haggling over art, devising marketing plans, distribution schedules, blog tours, etc. I just want to write. Period. 

Will I ever self-publish again? Probably, I’ll put up the other two books when I have a minute. And maybe, if I have an idea that I am thrilled about and no publishers want, I’ll consider going rogue (that sounds more badass than indie, IMHO), but until then I’ll wait and see how TO CATCH A LATTE does and we’ll see. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

How about you, Reds and Readers, any interest in self-pubbing, re-releasing old titles, or going rogue? 


TO CATCH A LATTE by NYT Bestselling author Jenn McKinlay is a mystery romantic comedy mashup full of laughs, heart, and suspense. Stop that espresso! Annie Talbot's coffeepot has been turned upside down when her cafe is declared a front for a money laundering scheme and the FBI suspects she is the mastermind. So now her sexy new tenant, Special Agent Fisher McCoy, is sifting through her coffee grounds looking for the real culprit while trying to keep his hands off the delightful Annie. Marriage-phobic Annie is doing her best to ignore FBI hottie Fisher, but he is so distracting, her lattes are steaming over and she's thinking crazy thoughts like marriage and happily ever after.





30 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Jenn!

    This is fascinating because I know next to nothing about self-publishing, but it does sound as if it all worked out perfectly for you . . . .

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  2. My sister is experimenting with self-publishing, and I'm watching over her shoulder, as I have a fairly deep pile of completed manuscripts that weren't conventional enough for the conventional publishers, plus the rights to all of Warren's out-of-print SF. I guess we'll see.

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  3. Congrats on going Rogue!

    As a reader, I am reluctant to dive into the world of self-published books because you truly never know what you will get. I have read some self-published books that hadn't been published before for a good reason. I'm much more likely to pick up a self-published book by an author I already know. Is it fair? Quite possibly not. But there are so many books I am trying to get read I have to draw the line somewhere.

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  4. I agree completely, Jenn, about what I want to do with my time - and how the chances for succeeding at self-pubbing are so much better if you already have a well-recognized (and well-loved) name out there.

    I self-pubbed as rereleases a half-dozen or more of my short stories that had already appeared in juried anthologies or magazines. It wasn't that hard, and I also found good but not break-the-bank covers. The short ebooks are out there if anyone finds them. A few bucks in royalties trickle in every month, and I don't do anything to promote them except list them on my web site. I now have a half dozen more I could do same with - if I had time!

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  5. I have had two experiences with self-publishing. The first was for an anthology for my state's Division of the Arts. My co-pilot was someone who'd put together a couple of books for family, via CreateSpace, so we went that route. The anthology meant working with 22 writers and poets to compile the manuscript, edit it, put together ToC and bios and intro, format it, and so on. We had original art from one of the poets who is also a painter, so we worked the cover around that and ended up with unique cover art. We ended up with a very nice (and award-winning) book, but only because the other editor knew what she was doing on the techy side. I was in my element juggling the writers and the writing, but she had the eagle's eye necessary to make it look like a professional-quality book. No one gets royalties. We allow the venues to keep the proceeds because the goal is to share the work of local writers. My second time was also an anthology, INTO THE WOODS, which Hank and you all generously featured here a few weeks ago. It's a charity anthology, and again I was fortunate to work with people who did the technical stuff.

    To summarize, both of my self-publishing experiences cost me time and money, but both products were for a good cause. It worked well for these projects because we did not need funding per se--we just had to donate a lot of our personal time and cash. For a cause, it's worth it and I am glad that option is available. It was also a good learning experience for me. Some skills you have, some skills you farm out.

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  6. Chiming in from the wilds of Nova Scotia! Very spotty WiFi but it’s 54 degrees as opposed to the 116 at home - gah! - so yay! I think that part of my resistance to self-pubbing was that I’ve been burned by books that sounded great in a blurb but were horrible in the end. It’s such a crap shoot as a reader but a great avenue if you’re a writer who can’t find a home.

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  7. Jenn, your story is so encouraging. I'm more you "before" - feels like Soooo much work. Your friend's story is amazing.

    But over the years I've very much changed my opinion about self publishing. It's a viable path for lots of writers. What I run into a lot at writing conferences are writers who've self-pubbed and now want to pitch to agents/editors and want to know if having self-published is a stripe for or against them. The hard news on that is that it all depends on how many of your self-pubbed books you sold. A few thousand of a title, and an editor or agent might be impressed. For most unpublished writers, that's a tall order.

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  8. Congrats Jenn, and I love your new cover! I have some out of print golf mysteries, but I'm hesitant to put them back out without reading and editing. and who has time for that?

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  9. Regarding your friend and historical mysteries. Historical mysteries haven't dried up. We're desperate for good authors. Traditional publishers, IMHO, are after the blockbuster books just like what has killed movies. They follow the trends like a pack of dogs, not the readers or authors. Lately it seems they don't publish anything unless it's psychological suspense.

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    1. PK, I'm happy to say that a large audience is lapping up my historical novels and I have contracts for many more!

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    2. Rhys, I heart your historical novels!

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  10. I'm interested to know what your traditional publishers feel about this, Jenn. I'm sure I have books I could get the rights to but I feel they are too far from my current brand and wouldn't be helpful. You're lucky that yours fits right in with your current comedy/romance/mystery blend. Good luck with it!

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  11. A traditionally published writer told me that when the copyright on his books returned to him, he started earning 70% by selling the ebooks. Wow! I think it works for him and your friend because they were already traditionally published. I know it will work for you, too. Congratulations!

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  12. Just bought To Catch a Latte this week with no idea it was self-published. Looks totally professional and totally funny and can't wait to catch up on your earlier stuff, Jenn. Congratulations!

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  13. What I am wondering if there is any way to tell if a book is self-published. I've read a few books that the publisher's name looks like it might be something to do with the author. One particular book I heard of and could not find anywhere; I'd read another of that author's books and wanted the newer one. The library never heard of it; Amazon didn't have it. Finally I got it from the author and it was very good so I spread the word!

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  14. I think, as with all things, it depends on what you want to get out of your writing career.

    When I was a co-editor at Level Best Books, that was essentially a self-publishing experience, though we were publishing the works of others. Luckily I had others around me to do the things I'm not great at, like covers and text layout. It was highly educational, and a lot of work.

    I do think that since we all buy books by author name (or author brand, if you will), self-pubbing once you have an audience is an easier road.

    As for me, I've already started and grown businesses as my first career. I have no desire to do it for my second.

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  15. Congrats, Jenn.

    I go back and forth. I did like Edith did, collected all the short stories in "The Laurel Highlands Mysteries" I'd placed/sold after I got the rights back, and formatted them as both singles and a collection (with a bonus story). I don't promote them, their just listed on my website, and I get a couple bucks a month or so for them.

    I also self-published that middle-grade series when I got the rights back, but despite editing and what I'm repeatedly told a great covers, they don't sell much. Kid market is tough.

    Part of me likes the control and money; the other part of me says, "I don't have the time to do it right."

    Mary/Liz

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  16. Congrats, Jenn! I just bought To Catch a Latte and so have a weekend treat to look forward to!

    I've self-pubbed my last three books in the UK--I say "I", but my agent has actually done all the work, from formatting to getting a cover and putting the book up on the sites. We've decided it makes better economic sense in that market, as the traditional publishers no longer want to do paper format, and they are not willing to do any marketing on the e-books. So if I publish myself, I'm getting 75% royalties vs. 12 to 25%. Duh.

    I don't have any books that are not still in print in some format. Whether I would be willing to go to the trouble to publish myself if the rights reverted, I don't know.

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  17. I exited the traditionally published world when my first mystery series was not renewed by Simon and Schuster. I wandered in the wilderness, clawing at the doors of the Big 5 New York publishers for a few years before deciding to try self-publishing. I have never looked back. My Palmyrton Estate Sale Mystery series, which was rejected by every publisher in NY, has been selling like gangbusters since 2013, and I also got back the rights to all but one of my Frank Bennett Adirondack mysteries. Although I haven't made enough (yet) to buy a second home, I make WAY more than I ever did as a mid-list paperback original author. I love having total control, and I promote, promote, promote! Indeed, all you Jungle Reds authors are keywords in my Amazon ads (those books that show up as "sponsored products" on your book's product page.) So far, Rhys has produced best for me--not sure why, as my books aren't historicals, but experiment and learn! And I also have the huge benefit of hiring the talented Ramona DeFelice Long to be my editor. So, welcome to the indie world, Jenn. Start promoting those new books!

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    1. Susan, I was so glad to see your Frank Bennett mysteries come back! I'm delighted you chose to go the indie route rather than let a great series die on the vine.

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    2. Thanks, Julia! Frank has some die-hard fans. I've published one more in the series, and I'm writing a new one now.

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    3. Yes indeed, count me as one of those diehard Frank Bennett fans! Loving the Palmyrton estate series too!

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  18. I have some short-short Millers Kill stories that have appeared on one website or another that I've thought of self-pubbing. I may wait to see what the Smithie's experience is. She has a wonderful YA fantasy trilogy (involving the Norse Gods) that didn't get any bites when she sent it around to agents. Now she has something of a platform (as a newspaper columnist) I suggested she try self publishing them. I warned her she would have to invest money up front - having a professionally edited and formatted product with actual cover art seems to be key.

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    1. YA that ties into mythology is a hot sub-genre now. She should definitely do it. The cash outlay doesn't have to be that great. It's all a trade-off between time and money. Interior formatting is easy--there are so many programs to do that, and a young person can master them easily. A professional cover is a must, so that she'd have to pay for. Four or five keen-eyed beta readers is the equivalent of one paid proofreader (it just takes much longer). Best wishes for success!

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  19. WOW! This is amazing. Amazing! I had no idea. WO! Congratulations.

    But you are so right that what you have in your corner is that you are GOOD. And well-known. AND that you did it right.

    As proof that it's lucrative, people always cite the success stories---but it's revealing that they are always the same ones.

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  20. I think the important point here is the fact that many of the most successful self-pubbed authors already had published books and a readership who followed them to the self-published world. (No worries, Jenn, your rabid readers will find you!).

    As a newbie, it's hard to get noticed. It's hard to find anyone to read/preview your work--to give it a blurb on a blog, a shout-out in a review that isn't just posted on Amazon, for example. You need more than a great story, great editing and cover-art to get noticed.

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  21. Jenn, thank you for explaining self-publishing and the benefits to it. One of my favorite authors switched to self-publishing, and I didn't really understand why. Now it makes sense. I do think those, including you, Jenn, that have given the self-publishing method a go are brave to do so, but if successful, the rewards seem to be very much worth it. Congratulations on To Catch a Latte. I love the cover. Off to look it up on Amazon.

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  22. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Jenn. I haven't considered it myself, but never say never!

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  23. I have a delicate question to ask about self publishing. An acquaintance had to pay $$$$ to have his book published. it is supposed to be self published though it looks like it was a company that prints the books for you. I was shocked by so many grammatical errors that I think there was no editing of the book before publication.

    Thank you for a great post!

    Diana

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  24. It's sometimes more trouble to read on my Nook because I read during the commercials. Now watching some shows on Netflix, and I miss my commercials! I buy e-books that I can't get as paperbacks or that are cheaper but they are mostly from my regular authors. I've tried a few new authors that show up as free on Book Bub. I don't have time to search for new Nook authors.

    Jenn, I bought your e-book. Rhys, is there ever going to be a sequel to Dreamwalker?

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