Long Look at Self Publishing

I never hoped to self-publish. But when my agent said (after 18 rejections), “Let’s do it in-house,” I thought, well maybe I should try myself. I started writing letters, one of which got immediately answered by Jan Scruggs, founder of The (Vietnam Memorial) Wall. He showed great empathy for 3003 Days of Mike & Me / And the Wars Between Us. He wanted to do a podcast and tried, but I wasn’t ready.

I was ready for the attention he paid the book though, and one thing led to another, and a publicist I called sent me a picture of her client’s ARC—Advance Readers’ Copy. She explained I wasn’t ready for prime time. So podcasts and prime time aside, I got a strong, professional edit, printed my ARCs, Then I made a list of influentials I knew or wanted to know, mailed the ARCs out, and, started the feedback process. I was cooking.

But publishing a book is complicated: I needed more editing, and a cover, an interior layout, line editing, permissions. A book printer, first a SKU, an ISBN #, stuff you don’t even want to know about coding for the libraries, and on and on. Now I’m disturbing my husband, Dennis’ sleep brainstorming what the publishing company should be named. Next blog: The Endorsements Come In and The Publishing Company Name.