Gabriel Woods
asked
Lissa Oliver:
Lissa you are contracted to write for a publishing company. Having been in touch with and assisting self-publishers like myself and writers that have a contract with a publishing company what do you think are the pitfalls and advantages of both? If you wish only write comments that you are comfortable with. I am trying to learn from a very successful author the general differences that may not be obvious.
Lissa Oliver
I self-published "Nero - The Last Caesar" initially because publishers had provided excellent feedback, but it was a niche audience and unsuitable for mainstream marketing. Therefore my first piece of advice to self-publishers is to ensure your book is good enough for publication before racing ahead. Professional feedback is crucial. Also ensure it is perfectly proofed and edited, professionally if necessary.
As an "indie" author, you have sent your typescript to a printer and taken possession of a quantity of books (I would recommend just 200 at a time, re-ordering as they sell). Now comes the hard work - marketing. Press releases, interviews, radio, book signings, whatever you can think of. Wholesalers won't touch small volumes, so you must also drive round to every book store, leaving in six copies to each on a sale-or-return basis, arranging to either collect the sales (minus the store's 33% commission) or the unsold books in four to six weeks.
That's the donkey work a publisher spares you, but you are in full control and know exactly how many copies are selling where. I found "Nero - The Last Caesar" sold well in university towns and from museum shops, but not in my hometown, despite 'local author' publicity. It continues to sell well on Amazon.
My next novel was a horseracing-based thriller and very much mainstream. "Chantilly Dawns" was accepted by a publisher and all I had to do was sign the contract. Contracts are tricky and the Irish Writers' Union provides a free negotiation service to its members, so that was invaluable. My publisher offered the perfect contract, however, so no negotiating necessary and I have found Maverick House excellent to deal with throughout our three novel (to date) journey together.
It was hard not having control or direct knowledge of sales, but that's rectified by a statement twice a year showing sales and royalties due. The royalty payments follow the statements. Much easier than physically collecting monies from book sales!
The only pitfall to watch for when getting a publisher is the contract. Ensure the rights will revert back to you after a reasonable period, you are not responsible for libel where the publisher has made changes, and royalties are within Irish Writers' Union recommendations - 10% of gross cover price, at least 25% rising scale on eBooks.
Having a publisher removes much of the post-publication hard work and leaves me free to write the next book, although I am still expected to contribute to marketing by agreeing to interviews and engaging in social media.
I would recommend finding a publisher as a first choice, but not to fear self-publishing, if you take a professional and unrushed approach. Indie authors are currently doing well in the marketplace. Just don't be in a hurry to get your book out there - take your time and do it well.
As an "indie" author, you have sent your typescript to a printer and taken possession of a quantity of books (I would recommend just 200 at a time, re-ordering as they sell). Now comes the hard work - marketing. Press releases, interviews, radio, book signings, whatever you can think of. Wholesalers won't touch small volumes, so you must also drive round to every book store, leaving in six copies to each on a sale-or-return basis, arranging to either collect the sales (minus the store's 33% commission) or the unsold books in four to six weeks.
That's the donkey work a publisher spares you, but you are in full control and know exactly how many copies are selling where. I found "Nero - The Last Caesar" sold well in university towns and from museum shops, but not in my hometown, despite 'local author' publicity. It continues to sell well on Amazon.
My next novel was a horseracing-based thriller and very much mainstream. "Chantilly Dawns" was accepted by a publisher and all I had to do was sign the contract. Contracts are tricky and the Irish Writers' Union provides a free negotiation service to its members, so that was invaluable. My publisher offered the perfect contract, however, so no negotiating necessary and I have found Maverick House excellent to deal with throughout our three novel (to date) journey together.
It was hard not having control or direct knowledge of sales, but that's rectified by a statement twice a year showing sales and royalties due. The royalty payments follow the statements. Much easier than physically collecting monies from book sales!
The only pitfall to watch for when getting a publisher is the contract. Ensure the rights will revert back to you after a reasonable period, you are not responsible for libel where the publisher has made changes, and royalties are within Irish Writers' Union recommendations - 10% of gross cover price, at least 25% rising scale on eBooks.
Having a publisher removes much of the post-publication hard work and leaves me free to write the next book, although I am still expected to contribute to marketing by agreeing to interviews and engaging in social media.
I would recommend finding a publisher as a first choice, but not to fear self-publishing, if you take a professional and unrushed approach. Indie authors are currently doing well in the marketplace. Just don't be in a hurry to get your book out there - take your time and do it well.
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