My book just released March 14th and so far it has been a good experience. They go line by line on edits. Then I have to approve or disapprove, depending, and send it back, a few back and forth really. Then they send it in PDF form with images inserted to make sure they are as close to the right spot of what I noted in the text. They do send a nice author guide so it tells you exactly house style etc.
So now I'm into the marketing phase and they are very on top of it. They have their own list of contacts plus ask for a list from the author of local places and newspapers they may not know about. There's a team really.
Marketing Specialist - does all the media out reach and emailed me who they contacted (radio, newspaper etc) She also sends out the review copies to their contacts and any I said I wanted to get a copy (in my case Native America newspapers and magazines were on my list.) And also sets up all the book signings and confirms those with me through email or phone. What ever store is hosting the signing gets sent a package with flyers, bookmarks, posters and the books well in advance.
Sales Specialists - contacts independent retailers the non-chain bookstores, gift shops, museums and sends info. See if they want any books (from their list and mine).
Field Sales Rep - physically comes out to my area, and in my case she will be hitting two areas of the state based on what my book is about. She brings books for those who set up signings, or pre-ordered, plus she has other of my books and hits all the extra places I had on my list. I know this is true because a couple of the stores emailed me with "your rep dropped off books today, look forward to the signing" kind of emails.
And totally another person - not sure of the title, does the chain stores like Barnes & Noble, Books-a-million (if there is any in your area). I don't mean just "available at" which they are online too but physically in the store. And also sets up the book signings for those places. Funny story that. The whole "upstate" NY can be confusing in the book title. They thought I was outside Albany. When the person doing the B & N stores called me I thought she said Pittsford, NY. I get the conformation email and it was Pittsfield, MA which is actually only 45 min from Albany. I'm in western NY. I sent them all a Cindy Map after that so they could see where I am and also circled the areas of the state I was Talking about. But hubby say go anyway, so we're going.
i had a mini update today on how many sold on Baker & Taylor and Ingram so far too. I was told I'll get a more official tally next week. Plus they will email me all the stores that are physically carrying the book on the shelf.
OK that was a bit long but I figured details would be helpful. And no I didn't pay for any publishing stuff. I did donate a few bucks to the historical places that let me use their photos because I'm not a slug and it's tough for them to stay a float.
i did negotiate my royalties up a bit, especially on the ebooks so will see how this all pans out. With this particular book, I'm more concerned that the information gets out to the public and Native American communities and this publisher had the reach I could never get by self publishing. But I still will self-publish some works because I really enjoy the process of that too.
whew!