market « Robin Writes

It occured to me that I hadn’t mentioned our publishing branch lately, so let me update you a bit on that aspect of our bookstore:

RHP is a division of All on the Same Page Bookstore; you can reach our page through the store website. We are accepting manuscripts as of RIGHT NOW, and we’ve selected our first one to be published in 2013. However, I’m not going to announce it until the contracts are signed….

We are requesting an entire manuscript, accompanied of course by a blurb. The ms will be read by at least two individuals. There may be some changes we request before acceptance, but an author is free to make those changes or withdraw the manuscript. We really aren’t unreasonable, but sometimes things need to be fixed. This process takes about two weeks, or a bit longer given the time of year.

Once that is done, the author will receive an email detailing a potential contract. If all the points are agreeable, and authors may certainly request changes, a contract will follow. This part takes approximately three weeks, depending on how much back-and-forth is needed to agree to terms.

Finally, the manuscript (with changes made by the author) is sent to editing. Editing could take several more weeks, based on the schedule of the editor. After that’s completed, the manuscript will be sent back to the author for final approval. During the time, the author and RHP will collaborate on the cover design.

The estimated time from submission to publication could be as short as two months, or perhaps three to four. Most likely, our first book of 2013 will be available in February in both e-format and paperback.

We do want to stress, again, that we do NOT charge our authors. We handle editing, cover design, formatting, printing, and marketing/sales. Authors receive royalties, and are NOT required to purchase a particular number of their own books. Period.

So there you have it: RHP.

Drop us a line…or a manuscript!

Yes, I turned down a publishing contract. Let’s recap what they were going to do for me and how they were going to sell my books:

Editing – I’d already paid a professional

Put my book on Amazon, BN, Smashwords, Goodreads, their own website – I could do all that, for free.

Use distributors like Ingram and Baker & Taylor – I could do that, too.

What’s left? “Not much” is what I figured, except I’d get paid less for a book that *I* had written and done all the work for and I’d still be doing everything. So I went over to the Dark Side.

In case you’re wondering, the Dark Side, to booksellers, is Amazon. Yes, I’m playing a game – you know, if you can’t beat ’em, join em! I’m not big enough for them to take any notice of me and, while wearing my author hat, they can sell my books. As a bookseller, my store will carry my book too. Now, some booksellers won’t take it simply because I used CreateSpace to print it. That’s okay. It’s their decision, after all and I totally understand why they feel that way. Of course, a lot of small indie publishers use CS to print too, but I’m not going there. Another reason some bookstores won’t carry my book is because, in general, self-published books are garbage.

Not all, but an awful lot. I know. They come into my store and, well, ick. Some I can’t even get through the first chapter. But more on that some other time.

So I made the decision to SP. Copyright, check; editing, check; cover design, check; marketing plan, check. Oh, wait – that last? Yeah, you have to have one. You can’t just expect the Magic Fairy of Sales to wisk your book out and about and bring you money every night while you sleep. You’re an author? Then you’re a business, a commodity, a personality. Be one.

I Tweet; I Facebook; I blog; I have a website with PayPal enabled buttons for readers to buy my book. Yes, I also take advantage of Amazon distribution and sales and yes, it’s available on Kindle. By Christmas, it will be available on other e-readers.Why did I let Kindle have first dibs? They pay me more. Simple.

Friday is the big launch party. Why? Well, why not? I spent six months writing this book, it’s getting really good reviews, and I want to sell books. I’ve notified the press and yes, some will be there. I’ve invited everyone I know – gosh, I hope someone shows up! The point is that yes, it’s a big deal to me and I want to make it a big deal to everyone else. Yep, tootin’ my own horn, but who else is going to do that? Seems like not even that publisher was going to go all out for my book.

I have posters, stand-ups, cards, giveaways; opened a Cafe Press storefront, in case anyone wants to wear my book or drink from it. Sure, some of it cost me a few dollars, but again – you’re a business, remember? Think of a launch party like a grand opening!

Besides, after all that hard work, don’t you deserve a party?