Self-Publishing: Notes from the Net

By Yvonne DiVita - Feb 07 , 2008

Today, I’d like to share news from a variety of sources all over the net; news on the growing popularity of Print-On-Demand (POD) as a respectable resource for any and all new authors–along with some marketing advice.

This is not only because POD is what I do –it’s because I’m seeing so much positive reporting on this useful and successful publishing tool. Of course, I also want very much to show my support for all the writers who choose to use POD.

A blog called Brad’s Reader has an excellent article, Publishing Predictions for 2008, which I found fascinating. Some of what he says (and also what he quotes from an article out of Publisher’s Weekly) is that e-books will gain in popularity, that Kindle (new hand-held digital book-reading device from Amazon.com) will help drive that, and that, “Christmas 2008 will be the first one in which sales of customized books—enabled by the Internet and Print-On-Demand—will become substantial.” I don’t know about you, but that makes me think, “Wow!” in a very good way.

PR Web, a press release newswire service, posted this interesting article in late January: National Bestselling Author Asha Tyson Offers Free Self-Publishing Tele-Seminar On How to Publish Your Book in 60 Days! I cannot vouch for her system or approach, but I like her style. The seminar is free and is supported by some excellent credentials. Apparently Asha has been inducted into the Self-Publishing Hall of Fame, alongside Edgar Allan Poe, Virginia Wolfe, and Mark Twain.” (Unfortunately, whoever wrote the press release did not check their spelling – something I advise you to do when you write press releases for your new book – a press release is no place for misspellings, confusion, or creative writing that doesn’t convey the right message to the reader.)

Over at Release Your Writing with Helen Gallagher, there’s an outstanding article on self-publishing, also taken out of Publisher’s Weekly. For those who are not yet aware, Publisher’s Weekly is the 800 pound Gorilla in the room. Being mentioned in their esteemed pages can create enough attention to drive mountains of sales. Helen notes that an interview with J. Kirby Best, the CEO of one of the largest POD companies in the world, Lighting Source, shows how Print-On-Demand is truly taking off in the new millennium. He’s quoted as saying, “It took us seven years to print 10 million books…This year we published 10 million in the first 11 months.”

Another “Wow!” from this publisher. I recommend a visit to Helen’s blog to read the whole post, and to consider her book, Release Your Writing: Book Publishing Your Way.

I was particularly fascinated by her Book Tour link. We do Virtual Book Tours (you can see ours at www.ahablog.com) at WME, but what I discovered at the Book Tour link on Helen’s blog is really outstanding. Finally, a place online that can help drive traffic and book sales, and is freely managed by the author. You should check it out, here.

My final point today is to direct you to a publicist that walks the walk and talks the talk. You may be wondering if you need a publicist, if you’re self-published. The answer is: maybe/maybe not. Aren’t you glad I cleared that up?

Truth is, a publicist is another tool in your marketing kit – you can proceed without one, but having a good one often tips you over the success hurdle. Nettie Hartsock is one that’s worth your time. And, she blogs! In fact, her recent post on “Book Blog Tombstones” is excellent! In a nutshell, she says, “A blog is not the next greatest thing to selling thousands of books!” You need to go to her blog and find out why.

She was also a guest speaker on Toby Bloomberg’s Diva Marketing Talk, at Blog Talk Radio, which is also worth a listen (let me own up: the other guest is a WME author, one of my guys).

These links are in support of POD, they help establish the credibility of true, professional POD firms, and of author services firms, and I hope they help you make your decision if you’re considering self-publishing.

I added Nettie’s info because the big boys in publishing prefer that you do the marketing. They offer very little help, and, if you don’t do a good job selling your book, it will go out of print in short order (Random House, our traditional poster child for that old 20th Century publishing model, will not do a second printing if you don’t quickly sell out the first printing). With self-publishing, you own the copyright and can continue to market and sell your book forever. Then, when you write your next book, you may tip more sales of your first book.

I don’t make this stuff up.

I live it, and I keep informed by visiting sites like the ones I’ve mentioned here. Join me. The more educated you are, the more success you will experience in your publishing endeavors.