Mid July my publisher PDMI Publishing LLC
announced that it was closing its doors. I had been with PDMI Publishing for
almost four years, so the news came as quite a shock. All rights were to be
released back to their respective authors.
As it typically happens when a
publisher closes, the authors are all left to figure out what their future
holds; find a new publisher or go self-published.
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There are inherent downsides to being with a
traditional publisher, one is you don’t always have access to the digital files
of your book to just give out to reviewers left and right. Second, if you want
to try something new, like produce an audio book, you have to make sure you
check with your publisher because often times your contract reserves those
rights for your publisher. But say you keep those rights, running an audiobook
without your publisher’s blessing could serve to tarnish your book’s branding
as well.
The upside to being with a traditional
publisher, you write the book and then later help with marketing. The publisher
will have editors, cover designers, layout artists, and sometimes even a
marketing team to help make your book sell. Because your book has to go through
all these people, many publishers have a limit on how often they will release a
new book from you. Depending on your marketing strategy, this could be a good
thing or a bad thing.
I knew that it would be difficult but not
impossible to find a publisher that would be willing to take on a book that had
already been released twice. You see, I started off in the world of
self-publishing before PDMI picked up my books. I knew I also wanted to do
paperback, ebook, hard back, and audiobook editions of my book. As smaller
publishers don’t have the time or the resources to do all of that for each of
their authors, I leaned more towards going the self-published route once more.
In order to keep from infringing on the cover
artist, and the layout designer’s work, this meant I needed all new layouts,
and covers for my book. Having a new cover also helps readers find the new
edition instead of tripping over the edition that is no longer available. I
treated this new edition release as though I would any other release with guest
blog posts, cover reveals, and interviews, just in a bit more subdued manner.
I’m not going to stress about scheduling every day of the month with a tour
spot, but I did want to get the word out there. I also joined instafreebie and
started a newsletter.
For Self Published Authors, you make the
decisions. Sink or swim, your book relies on you and you alone. You could give
away all your books for free if you want because now you don’t have to worry
about a publisher needing their cut of the profits. Go produce that audio… just
make sure the producer does a good job! You find the editor, and cover
designer… and pay them. You are typically doing all the marketing. But now you
have all the freedom in the world to do what you want with your book. The only
thing you have to worry about now is if people will buy it!
The biggest downside to being self-published is
navigating how to upload your book onto all the different types of
self-published sites out there, Createspace,
Lulu,
Nook
Press, KDP are
the main ones that distribute directly to their respective online retailers.
They each have their own requirements and specifications. They each have their
own peculiarities that can make the process a bit frustrating at times, but
rewarding when you finally get it right!
Am I happy with my decision? Sure! I love my new
cover and am thrilled to be able to offer a large print and hardback edition of
my book! Do I miss being traditionally published? Sort of. I do miss being able
to SAY that I have a publisher backing my books. I miss knowing that everything
to get my book published is being taken care of and all I have to do is approve
the final copy.
Being self-published is a LOT of work and
certainly not for the faint of heart. Somewhere amongst all of this I still
have to find the time to go to school and finish going through the edits on my
next book!
To make a long story short, know what you are
getting into before making your decision as to whether to go with a traditional
publisher or self-publish. I choose self-publishing this time around because it
works for me. I can re-release my back list and move on. I don’t have to worry
about rebranding my books again when yet another publisher closes because… I am
my own publisher. I do have to do all the work though. The next book I write,
who knows, I may change my mind. Until then you can now find my book in
paperback, hardback, large print, and kindle. Links to all these editions can
be found here: http://www.virginialorijennings.com/p/the-alien-mind.html While you are at it, feel free to leave me
any questions you might have in the comments here at Writers and Authors! I’d
be happy to hear from you!
When V.L. Jennings isn't traveling to other worlds through her imagination, she calls Dillon, South Carolina her home. She is the author of science fiction novels "The Alien Mind" (recipient of the Readers Favorite Five Star Review Award), and "Visionary From The Stars".
But what motivates Virginia to create, to illustrate, to prognosticate? Virginia is a speculator, the kind of person who always debates the "what if?" of where stories both true and fantastical are leading themselves to, which explains her love of post-apocalyptic fare such as "The Walking Dead." Through her writing, she enjoys trying to figure out what our human potential is, and where our innate desire for a better world could lead us.
Overall, Virginia is just about as real as a person can get. Yes, even authors love to sing along with their favorite local radio station while driving, and Virginia is no exception to this rule. She enjoys watching Doctor Who or Star Trek with her family over dinner, and also watching the latest sci-fi and action movies with her husband. On the weekends, you may even find Virginia and her family at the local comic book store, hunting down more comics to add to their collections.
V.L. Jennings spends her free time writing flash fiction on her blog and working towards her degree in Electronics Engineering. You can find out more about V.L. Jennings as well as join her newsletter at: www.virginialorijennings.com
