Dear Linda, Which Books Are Self-Pubbed?

Dear Linda,

You said recently that you self-pub some of your books. I looked on your website, but I can't tell which are the ones you self-pubbed. Is there a way to tell?

Good question! Yes, there is. I use the publishing title MUSIC AND PRESS. If you see a book with that listed as the publisher, it's a self-pubbed book. In addition, I list the ebook's cost in the description. That also goes for my horror books written under the name of Gail Smith, and my erotic books written as Carolyn Gregg.

Thanks for asking!

Jennifer Turner is my Guest Author Tonight on "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio

Join us tonight on "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio when Jennifer Turner reads from her urban fantasy romance, Redemption.

Show time begins at 11 pm est.
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Half-angel Savannah Mantas smells the sulfuric stench of wrath when it enters her city, Iron Point. Resurrected by the archangel Michael, she's hunting for redemption and half-demon Nico Montenegro is her prey. He comes from the Fringes, the border between the city and the toxic wasteland beyond.

When they meet, Nico tells her a story, one of genocide and confiscated bodies. Not revenge, but justice is his purpose and his target is the most admired family in the world-Commander Hathaway and his daughter.

Hathaway's soldiers are slaughtering Fringers and secretly feeding them to Revenants, mutants who survived the bio-bombing of 2120. They have a twisted idea they can train these clever creatures like dogs and keep them out of the city long enough to mobilize an evacuation for the wealthy and well-connected.

Savannah knows better. Revenants are what killed her. When they attack, the last of humankind may be wiped out completely. Stopping Hathaway might just be enough to gain her redemption and escape a hellish fate.

Dear Linda,

Why did you self-publish one of your stories?

1.  Because it was an older story that had already been with a publisher, and

2.  It was a horror story.  But in the land of romance novels and romance loops, and after being with a primarily romance-focused publisher, it didn't sell well, so

3.  Once the contract was fulfilled, and I got my rights back, I felt it was still good enough not to hide in a drawer.

4.  Therefore, after some research, I decided to go the Amazon Kindle route to sell it as an ebook.  I also got a new ISBN number for it.  Plus I went with Lulu to make it into a print edition, so I can sell it at book signings.

(The results?  It's doing VERY well over on Amazon!)

The Self-Publishing Argument

At my writer's group on Saturday, we had a new member.  A young gentleman who was not yet published, but looking into it.  He had decided, after extensive study, to go the self-publishing route because he had developed a very low opinion of ALL publishers, e-pubs included.  To him, why pay a publisher to put out your book when you could do it yourself and keep all the money?

I know I personally am keeping a watchful eye on what happens with the "traditional" pubs, especially the Big Six, in this day and time.  With all the hoopla going on regarding industry standards and changes.  And I will also admit that my first two books were with Publish America - a decision I don't honestly regret except for the length of contract.  (Hey, my mindset was that I was a crappy writer after being told this countless times.  And PA didn't charge me to pub, so...)

Anyway, back to the argument at hand: 

He was touting iUniverse, and explaining that for $600 he could get (insert list of options I really didn't pay attention to.)  His take on traditional was so condescending, I stepped in and told him how I was with two e-pubs, who also provided POD, and it didn't cost me a penny to become published.  In fact, they pay me.

He proceeded to ask what my royalty percentages were.  I honestly told him around 35%.  To which he replied, "In that case, you ARE 'paying them' to be published."

My reply was that my publishers not only provide my book in many different formats, but they also place my books in other third party venues such as Amazon, B&N, etc.  He said he could do the same thing with his books, but it would cost him $.

"It doesn't cost me to be placed in Amazon, etc.," I told him.

"Yes, it does," he said.  "You pay your publisher 65% of your royalties to do it.  Same thing."

"But a publisher already has a built-in readership," I explained.  "It drives people to their website, which allows me the chance to hook a reader into buying my book.  Not to mention I get a great cover and edits."

"I can also make a cover and have someone check for grammar," he continued.

In short, I felt like I was in the middle of a no-win situation.  No matter how hard I tried to justify being a publisher, he had at least two more reasons why self-pubbing was better.  I've mulled over it for two days now, and that's why I'm mentioning it here.

We meet again next month, and I'm wondering if this will come up again.  If so, what can I say to him further?  I know of at least three authors who have left their pubs and gone independent, creating their own 'publishing houses' and putting their books out on ARe/OmniLit and Fictionwise.

Pros? Cons?  Ideas?