Danny in a Newfangled World

A Tough but Rewarding Gig: Publishing Alone

// May 3rd, 2011 // No Comments » // Books

Almost a year ago, I decided to stop trying to sway agents and publishers in favour of my kids’ chapter book and take a chance with self-publishing.  I did it partly because I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur and partly because I figured I had as good a chance as any small press author.  I also truly believed in the quality of my book and the market for this kind of kids’ story (and still do, by the way).

Certainly, taking on the small business aspect of selling books has been the roller coaster ride that I’d expected. There are real highs (Val King ordering my books for Chapters Indigo), and painful lows (being told I’m not a real author by literary associations).  I also empathize with publishers more than ever. It’s hard to make a living selling books! Just ask my accountant (also known as my husband).

Not unlike most first-time authors, I’ve had to hustle to book signings at bookstores, cajoled kids and parents to take a chance on a great new book, send press releases to newspapers and blogs, and uh, find additional means for income (jewellery anyone?)

I’ve learned more than I’d ever have imagined through this process and met some amazing authors who must, in my mind, be among the hardest working authors out there.  For anyone considering taking the self-publishing leap, here’s some advice:

• Be prepared to work hard. Really, really hard.
• Believe in your book. If you don’t, you’ll have a hard time convincing others of its worth.
• Get over any fear of sales. You’re not just a writer, you’re a salesperson.
• Get over any fear of performing. You’re not just a salesperson, you’re a performer.
• Do it on a shoe-string budget without sacrificing quality. It is possible, with some creativity and willingness to learn.

I have enjoyed the experience… enough so that I’ve written the book’s sequel, Danny in a Newfangled World: Saving Ivan.  I will publish it myself… unless an agent realizes its fabulousness and chooses to represent me. This time around, I think the odds are in my favour – whatever the outcome.

Write Book, Market Book, Sell Book, TWEET Book?

// November 24th, 2010 // No Comments » // Books

A year ago, I was happy as a robin in springtime to be parked in front of my laptop writing short stories, books, articles, blog posts… Whatever!  As long as I could sit contentedly at my desk, alone and surrounded by silence, working on whatever piece that drove my passion to write, I wanted nothing else.  The last thing I wanted to do was go out and meet people, “brand” myself, or pick up the phone to talk to someone.  Writers, like me, have come to understand that the publishing industry doesn’t want to “hear” from us.  Just email or mail us, they say.  Don’t call us, we’ll call you.  (Although their part of the deal is optional.)  I was okay with that.  I got used to waiting.  And waiting.

However, that bubble of serenity popped the minute I decided to forge ahead with publishing Danny in a Newfangled World.  In the past few months, I’ve been spending as much time talking, marketing, and selling as I used to spend typing in solitude.  There’s nothing like being pushed outside of one’s comfort zone! 

Now, thanks to the innovative advice provided by some serious experts in social media, I’m finding myself back on my butt in front my laptop.  Part of the reason I’m back is that I have begun to write the second instalment of Danny in a Newfangled World, but I’ve also bought into the power of Twitter.  Marketing, it turns out, can be done without getting off your rear end (literally.)  I still need to make those face-to-face meetings with book sellers, distributors, and customers, but thanks to social networking, I can help build my book’s market through the relationships I build online.

My social media strategy now includes tweeting.  A lot.  Over the next 30 days, I plan to tweet 1000 times.  As with just about everything I’ve done with this book, it’s an experiment.  I look forward to seeing how it all transpires, not so keen on turning into a tweetaholic but I’ll worry about that on January 1st – when it’s time to make resolutions.  So if you’re not following me yet, now is as good a time as any!  And if you’re not on Twitter, well what are you waiting for?