Tips, Tricks and Articles

Author Meg Welch Dendler tells us about her publishing experience and why she chose this publishing route

3/22/2016

Copyrighted Material. Shared with the author's permission.

ARE YOU A WRITER?
Answers for Meg Welch Dendler

1. How did you publish? Please keep out publishing companies names but let us know:

Did you publish through a traditional publisher, self-publishing, print-on-demand?

I have published both ways. My middle-grade alien rescue cat series is self-published through CreateSpace and amazon’s kindle program. The paperbacks are print-on-demand, which is an excellent way to work and avoid having to purchase 1,000 books. Besides the cost of that, you are bound to find errors after the first printing. Smaller chunks are better. My women’s fiction novel, “At the Corner of Magnetic and Main,” went through an independent publisher.

2. Why did you choose this route?

Self-publishing was the best route to go for the children’s books because getting an agent or attention from a major publisher is almost impossible. This is considered the hardest market to write for. I didn’t know that going in, of course, but it wouldn’t have made any difference to me. I did send out many inquiries on the first book in the series, but I mostly never got an answer of any kind. That’s typical. The ease of self-publishing and connections I had made along the way to support me made that a logical next step.

For the adult book, I chose to go through a publisher because I wanted the street cred. It was really that simple. If someone else was willing to invest in my book, that gives it a step up with libraries and other groups. Anyone can self-publish. It’s just the current reality. Having a publisher of whatever size invest in you is a badge of approval.

3. How was the experience?

Did you run into troubles? Did you find it easy?

I’m very grateful that I had already self-published four books by the time I worked with the publisher on my adult book. Being fully aware of every step of the process from my own experience helped me give worthwhile input when necessary. I’d dealt with formatting and cover design and editing. I knew what to expect, when to let them do their job, and when to try to share my own ideas.

Self-publishing in a totally professional way (as in, no one picking up your book would guess it was self-published) is a huge undertaking. You are becoming a publisher. It’s not enough to just stick your book into whatever formatting CreateSpace or Kindle offer. It shows if you do that. But doing it well can get expensive. I had help with my first two books, and each ran several thousand dollars through the whole process of publication. I’ve learned how to do the formatting myself now (for the paperbacks) and have cut down the expenses, but you still need to pay a good editor and cover designer, at the very least. I work as an editor, and I still hire an editor. It’s vital. And don’t skimp on the cover. That is what sells your book.

Publishing any book is not easy. There are always going to be delays and challenges that you never saw coming. Working with a publisher, you can wait well over a year to see the final book in print. That’s totally standard. Even doing it yourself, editing and revising and cover design can take months—and it should. Rushing the process to get your book out there is the worst thing you can do. Let it rest. Work it over until you are so sick of it you want to scream. Seriously. Do it right and be professional. That will help cut down on the drama and problems later on.

4. Would you do it again and why?

Absolutely! I am just getting ready to publish the 4th book in my cat series (self-published) and have a YA biography of Betty White in the works with the same independent publisher. I’m also shopping another middle-grade book to agents and large publishers, again because of that street cred thing. I may end up self-publishing it, that wouldn’t be the end of the world, but I also want to take a try for bigger things. Self-publishing still has a big stigma attached to it of being lesser, and that’s not going away any time soon. By doing both, I keep control of some of my books and also prove the value of my books to a larger audience.

All of Meg’s books can be found at her amazon.com author page
and at her website http://megdendler.com.

Thank you Meg for sharing your honest experience with us and the different publishing routes you have taken! We wish you continued success.

1 Comment

30 Book Marketing Tips

3/17/2016

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1. See how below I have my facebook page, website, other accounts, etc? Do the same in your emails.
2. Part of a group? Add your info including book info in it where you can. Do this in forum posts, etc. to get your book noticed.
3. Hand out those business cards to everyone and anyone. Leave them at coffee shops & restaurants when you sit. Give it to the cashier at the check out.
4. Local businesses have boards to pin things up? Pin up a business card.
5. When you are ready to do a book signing, get a press release, a sell sheet and whatever other promotional material you have. Send them out to the press and media.
6. Blogging/posting - Doesn't all have to be about your book. In fact, it can bore people if it is. Share things that fit with your theme. You write romance so maybe a pretty picture quote with "love" themes. Share other romance books, especially if you have read and rated them. Share love pictures or a little bit of things you love. Share a little personal stuff but not too personal. People like knowing more about the authors they love.
7. Review Trades. Many authors out there (especially in LinkedIn groups) look for review trades (especially if they are placed on Amazon). Read their book and give an honest review for one back. Blog about it on yours while they blog about it on theirs.
8. Get readers to tag your page/account with a picture of them and your book. You could always offer a free e-book contest for them doing this.
9. Make sure your readers know your social links & website address so they can follow you everywhere.
10. Ask fans to post their reviews on Goodreads, Shelfari, Amazon - important book review locations.
11. If you have a lot of fans, you may want to host a hangout on Google or a Twitter chat.
12. Make sure to answer and interact with your fans.
13. Offer fan incentives.
14. Ask fans to post character spottings.
15. Link with an activity that supports your cause and sell books there while donating some of the money to them.
16. Offer free book readings at a hospital, local community college, library, church, retirement community, coffee shop, school, locally owned bookstore, rehab center or the type of place your story is set.
17. Donate books to women's shelters, hospitals, homeless shelters, retirement homes, libraries, doctor's offices, hotels for their lobby, rehab centers, schools, or anywhere else you can think of.
18. Share information about your book on other pages similar to yours on social media.
19. Set up a book launch/reading and make sure to provide enough advertising. Event flyers in malls, libraries, bookstores and other places that would be interested in your genre of book.
20. Attend trade shows, events and sales that are around Christmas and that would benefit your genre.
21. Make sure to keep your testimonials and reviews up to date and go ahead and mention them in your posts. You have every right to be proud.
22. Identify your target audience and create an elevator pitch. This is a brief and focused message about your book and then summarize why it would benefit them.
23. I can't tell you how important it is for word of mouth to get out there.
24. Keep everything professional including you. Remember, it is not just the book and marketing materials that sell the book but you as well when in person.
25. When speaking to someone, be clear, calm and consistent. Be confident. If you have no confidence in your book, yourself or your writing skills, why would anyone consider buying your book?
26. Understand that not everyone is going to be interested in your book. Don't press them. No one likes pressure sales.
27. Always follow up when asked questions or when getting leads.
28. Enter contests.
29. When promoting your book to the media, don't just promote your book. Think of reasons why they would be interested. What makes you and your book unique? Remember, they get stories sent to them every day. It is only the interesting ones that make the cut.
30. Marketing has it's ups and downs. Don't give up hope but don't set yourself up for a let down by having too high of expectations.

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Blogging Tip 7

3/3/2016

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Make sure what you are writing is going somewhere.

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Blogging Tip 6

3/2/2016

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Make sure your content is easy to share.

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Searching for A Publishing Company

3/1/2016

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I've said this before and I will say this again. Always research before you sign on with someone. I've heard many tales of people who were sorry they signed with certain publishing companies. I started out research as well.

Originally, I had sent out a few queries to places that didn't require an agent, need to see a market for my book or wouldn't take talking animals (yes, some refuse). I got accepted by three companies right away. I can't tell you how excited I was. I then thought maybe I should be checking things out more and I was correct to do so. I found a lot of these companies had complaints or were listed as scams. Now I will not mention names but I will tell you that one company was said to make money from the authors who had to buy the books at a high price. The others, they were in it for the money and results weren't always good. One apparently didn't pay it's authors their royalties, many had unsatisfied customers and the list went on and on. It was then that I began looking into print-on-demand services and found one I liked.

It doesn't matter where you go or who you go through, look them up, research (keywords after their names: scam, complaints, etc.) because signing up with them could be the biggest mistake of your life. The same goes for traditional publishers. It doesn't matter who you go through, look into EVERYTHING! Even if there name doesn't show a scam, doesn't mean they are good. Be careful and do your homework.

What kind of things should you look at:

Are they legit? - Do they have a business website, contact name and number?
Are there any bad remarks about them out there (keep in mind that there are some companies out there who will try to hide it. I know of one who sues at any bad mention of their name)?
How much will it cost you to buy books? How many do you have to buy?
How much will you have to sell them for (look online and see what other books that size go for and remember that big places like those who make "Berenstein Bears" etc. can afford to charge cheaper so exclude those).
How many other books do they have out?
What do they offer?
Do you still own the rights?
Is there a contract and if yes, is it for you?
If a person went through the company, did they bring their next book there?
Are the prices to publish the same as others? Do they offer the same?

Never sign up with a company right away. Look into a few. BE CAREFUL! You could be giving away your dream!

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