A bit of background: Having finished my debut novel, which included the input of 6 beta readers; a proof reader; and extensive editing; I set out to find an agent.
After 15 snail-mail queries with a sample of my writing, and 15 rejections plus 3 more without a writing sample, I decided to put the little bugger over in query letter hell (for those uninitiated, it has that title for good reason) to see if anyone could tell me where I was going wrong. That little exercise didn’t work out too well for me. *grins* Bottom line: I was advised to give myself some time off (among other things), rewrite it, and resubmit.
Why I self published:
#1 reason – The title of my novel
Several of the people in QLH, for various reasons, didn't think I would do well to use the title I'd chosen for my novel. However, with all due respect to each one that took the time to respond to my admittedly awful query, the title of my novel had already lived in my own heart for 13 years before publishing. This story is, and will always be “Heart Song’. Anyone reading it would understand why.
#2 reason – The cover
I read over and over that I wouldn’t be given any input on the cover; that the cover decision would be up to the publishing house. Apparently, or so it would seem, that’s just the way it is in trade publishing (not dissing trade publishing; I have utmost respect for it). However, I also wanted control over my cover, which I pictured as a photo of the ocean with a couple of sandpipers on the beach.
#3 reason – Age and health
In the summer of 2010, I was bitten by a spider. My doctor told me she thought I had leukemia; I had 0 white blood cells; and that a common cold could kill me. GET THEE TO THE HOSPITAL. And so I did. Five days later, after extracting what seemed like gallons of blood and putting me through every test they could think of, they still didn’t know what was wrong with me. It would be lengthy and tedious to explain all that went on, so I’ll just say, there was a long season where I couldn’t even lift the sheet on my bed. I lived from bed to chair to couch, even needing assistance to get there. My darling husband did everything for me, and I thank God for him every day. The good news is, I don’t have leukemia.
Long story short, I decided to self-pub because I’m not getting any younger; none of us know where we’ll be tomorrow; and I need all my loose ends tied up. I needed to have my first born published and I wasn’t willing to wait around for an agent to give me the coveted nod.
I found a good printing company; a fabulous photo of the ocean with a couple of sandpipers on the beach (taken by a friend) for the cover; made a quick sketch of how I wanted said cover to look; wrote a copyright page; an acknowledgement page; a dedication page; wrote a blurb for the back of the book; and we were rolling. My printer sent the CD with the cover shot to her designer, who did a fabulous job, capturing my vision to a tee. I had 300 copies printed, and after 2 weeks, have sold 60 copies of “Heart Song” (heehee…just love that name), and am expecting about 10 orders to come in next week. I think that’s a pretty good start. What say you?
If anyone's interested, I would be happy to share the way I went about selling that first 60.
After 15 snail-mail queries with a sample of my writing, and 15 rejections plus 3 more without a writing sample, I decided to put the little bugger over in query letter hell (for those uninitiated, it has that title for good reason) to see if anyone could tell me where I was going wrong. That little exercise didn’t work out too well for me. *grins* Bottom line: I was advised to give myself some time off (among other things), rewrite it, and resubmit.
Why I self published:
#1 reason – The title of my novel
Several of the people in QLH, for various reasons, didn't think I would do well to use the title I'd chosen for my novel. However, with all due respect to each one that took the time to respond to my admittedly awful query, the title of my novel had already lived in my own heart for 13 years before publishing. This story is, and will always be “Heart Song’. Anyone reading it would understand why.
#2 reason – The cover
I read over and over that I wouldn’t be given any input on the cover; that the cover decision would be up to the publishing house. Apparently, or so it would seem, that’s just the way it is in trade publishing (not dissing trade publishing; I have utmost respect for it). However, I also wanted control over my cover, which I pictured as a photo of the ocean with a couple of sandpipers on the beach.
#3 reason – Age and health
In the summer of 2010, I was bitten by a spider. My doctor told me she thought I had leukemia; I had 0 white blood cells; and that a common cold could kill me. GET THEE TO THE HOSPITAL. And so I did. Five days later, after extracting what seemed like gallons of blood and putting me through every test they could think of, they still didn’t know what was wrong with me. It would be lengthy and tedious to explain all that went on, so I’ll just say, there was a long season where I couldn’t even lift the sheet on my bed. I lived from bed to chair to couch, even needing assistance to get there. My darling husband did everything for me, and I thank God for him every day. The good news is, I don’t have leukemia.
Long story short, I decided to self-pub because I’m not getting any younger; none of us know where we’ll be tomorrow; and I need all my loose ends tied up. I needed to have my first born published and I wasn’t willing to wait around for an agent to give me the coveted nod.
I found a good printing company; a fabulous photo of the ocean with a couple of sandpipers on the beach (taken by a friend) for the cover; made a quick sketch of how I wanted said cover to look; wrote a copyright page; an acknowledgement page; a dedication page; wrote a blurb for the back of the book; and we were rolling. My printer sent the CD with the cover shot to her designer, who did a fabulous job, capturing my vision to a tee. I had 300 copies printed, and after 2 weeks, have sold 60 copies of “Heart Song” (heehee…just love that name), and am expecting about 10 orders to come in next week. I think that’s a pretty good start. What say you?
If anyone's interested, I would be happy to share the way I went about selling that first 60.
Last edited: