tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post5271376709415136660..comments2024-01-21T14:37:23.500-05:00Comments on Susan Whitfield's Blog: Making Decisions About Publishing and PromotingSusan Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215871952420224793noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-73245494545081906522010-12-22T10:43:52.035-05:002010-12-22T10:43:52.035-05:00And a Merry Christmas to all of you!And a Merry Christmas to all of you!Susan Whitfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215871952420224793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-85147844337446901532010-12-22T10:23:42.169-05:002010-12-22T10:23:42.169-05:00Hi, Susan! To answer your question about getting a...Hi, Susan! To answer your question about getting all your books with one publisher - I too, like that idea. I'm getting the rights back to my first two books (Double Forte' and Upstaged) next year, and my current pub wants to put them out again. I will definitely rewrite them, because I've matured skill wise and want to incorporate all the new techniques in these books. <br /><br />Then again, there is Janet Evanovitch, who happily publishes with multiple pubs. Or at least that was the case a few years ago. I say, more power to her! However you get the books out there...<br /><br />Also, I find that most readers don't give a hoot or even NOTICE who the pub is. Right? I never noticed before I started writing. ;o)<br /><br />Thanks for a great article!<br /><br />Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!<br /><br />AaronAaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-50870612465660344802010-12-18T14:37:03.270-05:002010-12-18T14:37:03.270-05:00Susan,
I'm recommending your blog on some list...Susan,<br />I'm recommending your blog on some listservs I belong to. Your road to publication has so many good points and reflects today's publishing scene perfectly. Thanks for all you do!<br />Pat Browning<br />author of ABSINTHE OF MALICEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-19889753957033923662010-12-14T09:13:02.473-05:002010-12-14T09:13:02.473-05:00Marta, you are so right that passion is behind all...Marta, you are so right that passion is behind all of us. David, I read Edging Past Reality and you certainly should be proud of it.Susan Whitfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215871952420224793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-63538327219100095832010-12-14T09:11:32.800-05:002010-12-14T09:11:32.800-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Susan Whitfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215871952420224793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-14873802620999840312010-12-14T00:48:52.214-05:002010-12-14T00:48:52.214-05:00Oh Susan, you've hit a home run, my dear! I fe...Oh Susan, you've hit a home run, my dear! I feel very fortunate to have been able to secure a small press to publish my first two novels. Like you, sales for my first novel, "Silenced Cry," shot up after the release of the second in the series, "The Devil Can Wait." I sense it was due to new readers wanting to read both books in sequence. In fact, according to the latest sales report I received from Amazon this past week, “Silenced Cry” (2007) ia still holding its own.<br /><br />The hiccup in my publishing journey happened a couple of years ago when major changes took place at the small press. I decided it would be wise to take on the "wait and see" approach before submitting anything else to them. In the meantime, I began to write the next novel, “Shroud of Lies” with the intent of getting an agent to represent and sell it to a larger publishing house. <br /><br />Fellow writers encouraged me by saying that since I had been previously published, had a strong readership, and both of my novels had won awards, it would be easy to find an agent. Boy, were they wrong! After a while, the multitude of rejections shook my confidence. For the first time in eight years I had to walk away from everything that had anything to do with writing. Worse, it didn’t even bother me to do so.<br /><br />Ironically, several weeks ago, one agent did request to read additional chapters, but no news yet. <br /><br />The thing is, an agent might be able to get me into a large NY publisher, but the deal would only be good as long as the book does well. If it doesn’t, it’s back to square one for yours truly. The question is, do I really want to endure this on again, off again thing each time I finish a book? The two more realistic options for me would be to submit my novel to another small press or to self-publish. Regardless of the choice, however, no option is perfect and each comes with its own set of consequences. <br /><br />This experience has nearly stripped me of my self-confidence and worth. On the upside, it’s also given me time to re-evaluate my purpose as a writer. Nothing brings it closer to home than reading some of the reviews my novels have received and my readers’ comments. So aside from the sales and awards, in the end the bottom line is, and always will be, purpose. So why do I write? The answer is easy. A passion for the craft, and a desire to reach the reader. Nothing more, nothing less.Marta Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-58524415257229615012010-12-13T13:49:23.868-05:002010-12-13T13:49:23.868-05:00So true, Jacquie, and most folks have no idea how ...So true, Jacquie, and most folks have no idea how really tough it is.Susan Whitfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215871952420224793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-50597179148453741432010-12-13T13:36:13.908-05:002010-12-13T13:36:13.908-05:00excellent article, susan. i self-published 'e...excellent article, susan. i self-published 'edging past reality' and am very proud of it. like you, i hired a professional editor. just this morning, i read a review of another self-published book. the reviewer said the the story was good, but the book needed major editing. unfortunately, i'm afraid that will keep the self-publishing stigma from ever going away.davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873769452267700498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-27191811825067931862010-12-13T13:05:24.902-05:002010-12-13T13:05:24.902-05:00I've never self-published, but I can understan...I've never self-published, but I can understand other people doing it. You need a good agent to reach the "big" publishers that have distribution. And it's often just as difficult to get a connected agent as it is to get a publisher--maybe even more difficult. Some people just get frustrated. They want to get their work out there.<br />Publishing is a tough business. There are a lot more people writing than reading.<br /><br />Jacqueline Seewald<br />STACY'S SONG--Young Adult novel from L&L DreamspellJacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-39271274207314508302010-12-13T11:17:30.901-05:002010-12-13T11:17:30.901-05:00While I have had stories and articles published in...While I have had stories and articles published in magazines with national circulation (Reader's Digest, Northwoods Journal, The Tennessee Conservationist, Argosy) my books were all self-published. Most books that have a large number of sales are well written, but this is not always true. A lot of poorly written books climb up the charts, and it can leave the writer puzzled and a little envious. The only solution to the promotion problem is pushing those sales. I sell many books locally through advertising in my area, but it is hard to reach out to the larger markets. Your article is thought provoking. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was some process where a book could rise on its own merits rather than the author having to sacrifice so much of his/her time in promotional efforts?Joe Prentishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01675943725473747843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-7992305217289164102010-12-13T11:16:44.738-05:002010-12-13T11:16:44.738-05:00I agree, Belle. Thanks for visiting.I agree, Belle. Thanks for visiting.Susan Whitfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215871952420224793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-17059112980473526062010-12-13T11:03:27.865-05:002010-12-13T11:03:27.865-05:00Wonderful insight into the different aspects of pu...Wonderful insight into the different aspects of publishing, Susan. I'm happy with my progression to L&L Dreamspell, and being associated with authors like you is only one of many reasons!The Belle in Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16368021976814668783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-91062895135902196232010-12-13T10:48:53.915-05:002010-12-13T10:48:53.915-05:00Diana, this is good to know. Thanks for contributi...Diana, this is good to know. Thanks for contributing, and you're right,the story is of utmost importance, but I've read so many books that even though the story hooked me, I was appalled by the errors.Susan Whitfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215871952420224793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10479189974436584.post-59451128096112513142010-12-13T10:41:18.940-05:002010-12-13T10:41:18.940-05:00I self-published Ninth Lord of the Night with Book...I self-published Ninth Lord of the Night with Booksurge just as Amazon bought them out. I had a great deal of success with that book before I turned it over to another publisher to re-release. (Ninth Lord of the Night was chosen by Houston area B&Ns as one of the best books of 2005). After it was re-released it began to flounder and sales were never the same. I'm very much into the idea of independent publishing because I've SEEN how successful it can be - especially with the new programs Amazon has available for independent writers. As far as I can tell, indie writers can make it to New York, but small press writers never seem to get that golden opportunity.<br /><br />And, yes, while editing is important, it's more important to tell a good story.Diana Driverhttp://www.dianadriver.comnoreply@blogger.com