Self-publish or agent? E-book or Paperback or both? Smaller Independant Distributor or the Amazon Behemoth? These are the questions I had running around in my head after finishing my first novel.
It’s been a while (2014) since I worried about who, how and where I’d publish my first book, but I think it’s important to share my experience with others who are reaching their literary milestones. Of course, things have changed since ’14, but the core issues remain the same, like deciding whether to publish an e-book or a paperback or both, self-publish or find an agent/publisher.
Let me start with the e-book/paperback issue first.
Although I knew I’d sell far more e-books than paperbacks, hard copy has good street credibility. When I present someone with one of my paperbacks and place it into their hand, they believe me. They feel the book and sense its weight. They see its cover, touch its pages and smell the ink. It feels real. People may buy way more e-books, but readers believe in real books (I use hard copy to sell the soft version).
Self-publish or traditional publishing?
I’ve watched colleagues fail at publishing. They prepare a nice cover letter and pay someone to write a beautiful synopsis for agents and publishers. The letters go out, and a form letter response tells the author all that’s needed to know about the book’s desirability. I decided to forego that process and self-publish my work. It worked for me. I’ve got a handle on the behind-the-scenes marketing stuff. Due to the work I’ve put in, there is a small but intense following.
Why Amazon?
Knowing that I wanted to publish two versions of books from the get-go sealed the deal for me. I formatted the text for the paperback version, and the e-book was automatically converted to Kindle. It was easy. Things are different now because so many distributors offer the conversion, too. Back then, only Amazon had that service, as well as the most expansive distribution channels that go with it. They had invoicing and delivery services, too. I just sat back and watched the sales go through.
In 2018, I moved the book to Smashwords. Smashwords had caught up with the tech side and offered greater royalties.
Like many online publishers and distributors, Amazon (and Smashwords) doesn’t edit or critique stories. Instead, it takes the finished manuscript (in finished digital file form) and connects authors’ works to readers through its commerce portal.
–Michael (Author of Dark Fiction)
SEETHINGS promises a gripping psychological thriller that blends murder, passion, and secrets of a sexless marriage. Forman’s vivid prose draws readers into a world where lightning illuminates the skies and hidden truths. As the storm clouds gather, Mitchell’s journey promises to unravel more than just the mystery of the murders.
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‘Forman’s writing style is artful, with the protagonist Mitchell’s warped thought processes masterfully exposed. The author has a powerful and vivid command of language and his word pictures are stark and disturbingly real.’
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Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
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