Why did you go with...

[Kim Smith]

Why did you go with PublishAmerica, AuthorHouse, Xlibris, or another publisher that you had to pay? Did you try other methods first? A traditional publisher, a small press, etc. Tell us what motivated you to use one of these often-talked about publishers!

[Carline Férailleur-Dumoulin]

Hello Dan,
I'm following up on your post from January 25th. Has your book been published yet? So far, what is your feedback on AuthorHouse? Would you use their services again? I am also a first time author and used AuthorHouse to self-publish my book, A Career in Language Translation (ISBN 978-1-4389-4422-7 (SC); 978-1-4389-4423-4 (HC) ). I had a nice experience with them, however, I am finding their marketing packages to be on the expensive end and as you know, it's a challenge to do all the marketing yourself. I plan on writing a second book soon, and am trying to explore all avenues for publishing. I would love to hear about your experience with them and how you are marketing your book, if it's already published.

Carline Férailleur-Dumoulin
Author: A Career in Language Translation

[Ralph L. McNeal, Sr.]

Kim,
I researched the publishing industry: Agents, Pods, Vanity...you name it. I went the route of letters to agents (I picked three) as an initial thrust and waited for their rejections...which I exected. Dealt with an overseas (UK) publisher just to test it out. Dealt with Publish Amer, Xlibris, Athena, Lulu...you name it and I probably researched it. What I wanted was to be able to pick a publisher that I could purchase the services from that I needed. I noted the consolidation of the POD industry (Authorhouse/Iuniverse) and noted some astuteness with the consolidation. I questioned the inside people in AH and got the answers I needed. I didn't want boxes of books in my garage or trips to the post office. I wanted to be able to first, set up a distribution system (which I've done) and then create a timeline that would give me approx six months of "grassroots marketing," four months with some overlap for regional marketing and with overlapping of another four months of national/international marketing. I've been able to place my book "Sleeper Cell" (coming out next month) on all the book selling sites (check out google: Ralph L. McNeal, Sr. - Sleeper Cell. I'm now beginning to set up the mass market for distribution, i.e. Nexcom, AAFES, (the military) which my marketing rep knows nothing about. I've dealt with them B/4 earlier in my career. When my book becomes "alive" next month I will sample it where I think it should go and give one to my clubs and associations for a meeting raffle or distribution. Whether I switch after this experience with AH remains to be seen. It depends on how they deliver upon my expectations. Again, I picked them because I wanted a publisher that could deliver the services that I needed and had an overseas subsidiary operation and had employees to back them (over 350). I have a vision of grandeur that I may be able to do something internationally with my writings. I had to fight for the cover that I wanted. For each of my novels, (three to be written this year) I visualize a concept cover. My first concept cover was not visualized by AH...they sent me what they thought the cover should look like. After three rejections and picking out the things that I needed, they finally agreeded and I got the cover I wanted. This is on the old basis of maketing ratio of 96-4 (96 is what you see, the other 4 is based on feel, taste, touch and smell), I will purchase the other services that I need from AH, i.e the marketing package, PR package, book signing package. My due diligence reflected that people purchase books more on a referral or impromptu basis. My next objective is to get some book reviews lined up. I want to "bootstrap" this first book.

[HOLLIS WILLIAMS]

I got a copy of Mark Levine's excellent book THE FINE PRINT OF SELF-PUBLISHING (The Contracts & Services of 48 Self-Publishing Companies - Analyzed, Ranked and Exposed)
(ISBN 1-933538-56-2)
I found Mark's work to be very helpful in selecting a publisher to work with.
I went with INFINITY PUBLISHING and have had a positive experience.
Now, the challenge is marketing the book on my own little lonesome.

[K Patrick McDonald]

Hollis -

I too, have terrific respect for Mark Levine's research. I almost opted for Infinity - they do have a very good reputation. But when I spoke with all three managing partners at Dog Ear, I knew that was how I wanted to go.

For the record, Dog Ear does not pay out "royalties" of a few percentage points. If your book costs $5.00 to print & ship, and you charge $15.00 - you get $10 per sale. Very impressive. For my $2100. investment, I got a website; a pretty fair marketing effort; 500 press releases out; "Look Inside" features on Amazon & fReado; LSI printing, Baker & Taylor & Ingram distribution. Excellent Customer Service with no crummy surprises. The website comes with a "shopping cart" feature and popped up all over Google within 4 days.

If this helps I'm happy to share it: I'm finding internet radio a fairly easy nut to crack, when it comes to getting telephone interviews. check out: wsRadio.com and then look for somebody who does a show that parallels your subject matter. They always need conversation.

Also, I'm finding independent book stores very accomodating.

Best of luck out there.

[RYCJ]

I went with iUniverse to learn the 'rest' of the business as I've had experience with a traditional press & an agent. They manage too much of the project for me to learn much... albeit, all except for the marketing piece which writers quickly learn, falls squarely in their laps. So, if I'm going to have to do the biggest part of the job... WRITING & MARKETING, I figured I might as well learn and then DO IT ALL!!! -->and so whaala, that's what I'm doing.