Other than people writing to tell me they love my books, the number one email I receive is someone asking how to find a publisher and/or how I became a success.  (Hmmm…nice to know I’m a success.  Some days I’m not so sure.)

     So you want to be a writer, or you’ve already written something and you’re looking for a publisher. I can’t help you much with this; just give you a few tips.  There are a lot of scams, so if you are considering going with a publisher that charges fees, do your homework.  Contact an author who has used them.  I recently had an email from a girl in Texas about to pay twelve thousand dollars to a print-on-demand company that had agreed to give her a contract.  Oh, really?  I’ll just bet they agreed!  Guess they didn’t mention that she could easily find one offering the same service for thousands less.

     I am not opposed to self-publishing.  I self-publish my documentary Tattered Glory.   I didn’t even use a company, just put the manuscript together on CD and had them done at a local copy store using heavy paper stock and laminated covers.  Might be an option to consider if you are doing a non-fiction.

     Of course a novel is different.  I am blessed to have a publishing contract for those. Seven years ago, I sent my first manuscript off to several places and got nice, encouraging rejections (a rejection by any other name is still a rejection) so I know how you feel if you have gotten a few! 

     The publisher I’m with has some authors they don’t charge, and I’m blessed to be one of them.  I think the going rate for the others is about $4,000 per book.  I’m very pleased with the service I receive EXCEPT for one minor detail.

     That leads me to a topic I could go on and on about.  I started to say, I wish someone had told me early on about this aspect of being a writer, but perhaps ignorance is bliss.  I might never have pursued this career, and even with all the negatives, I’m still glad I did.  If you don’t want the cold, hard facts stop reading this blog now and go merrily on your way to fame and fortune!  If however you want the unvarnished truth as I’ve experienced it, here it is:

     Writing the book and finding a publisher is the easy part.  Then comes the real work.  No publisher will do this for you.  It is one word that sounds easy if you say it real fast.  MARKETING. Already you’re arguing, “But my research shows this publisher has an excellent marketing package”.  And that may very well be true, however, the key that opens that package is you, the author.  If you doubt me, pick any successful author and see how many days a year they spend on the road promoting.  By the way, if you think all you have to do is show up at a bookstore, wearing a pleasant smile and people who never heard of you will flock to your table and beg you to sign a book…sorry, ain’t gonna happen.  But more on this on my next blog.  Hope you’ll check back next month.