So here are some top tips.
Research The Market: Is there an established genre into
which your book might fit - or is there a chance you could establish your own?
Fifty Shades Of Grey broke new territory in many respects and now many are
galloping alongside. Jane Eyre Laid Bare looks set to rattle Bronte bones later
this year.
Establish The Team
Editor: Quite a number of freelance editors have previously
held positions in major publishing houses. Source one that specialises in the
sort of book you are writing. A good editor will oversee the whole work, spot
flaws in, and help to tighten the plot, advise on structure and, if necessary,
suggest better phrasing and words. Authors, by nature, have an editorial mind
to a degree, so comments can lead to lively discussions!
Designer: Similarly, like the editor, a number of designers
are now freelance having honed their talents with established publishers.
Designers will help with layout and with the cover. Check out the designer's
style - is it in keeping with what you are hoping to achieve? A specialist in
Disney style illustrations may not necessarily help a book on erotic fiction
for women - or would they?
Find A Printer and Distributor: Lots of stories abound about
'vanity publishers' but there are reputable companies out there. I sourced one
that, in addition to publishing, would store and distribute, had an established
reputation with the major chains and would ship abroad. For a modest monthly
fee this means my spare room isn't stacked out and I can get on with other
things rather than search about for jiffy bags.
Nielsen Book Data. Register with these and add in the book
details. Authors and publishers who supply Nielsen with new product information
"immediately gain visibility for their books on the international
market" including Amazon. The resource is available to booksellers,
libraries and publishers worldwide.
Proof Reader: Proofs will be supplied by the printer for
checking before the final print run goes ahead. An effective proof reader will
spot the minor errors that may have been overlooked and also, like the editor,
comment on structure and plot. They are the attention to detailers who will
make sure the grammar gurus don't go twittering when the book is out there.
PR and Publicity: This, together with marketing, is highly
valuable. A good PR firm will have established contacts, check on lead times
with major magazines and newspapers for previews and reviews, liaise with tv,
radio and online sites and look for potential news angles and hooks as well as
source opportunities such as appearances at literary festivals. Not everyone
feels comfortable behind a microphone but no one would object to being Book Of
The Week in You magazine.
Marketing: Whereas PR deals primarily with the consumer,
marketing agents will focus on the trade and will liaise with retail outlets,
wholesalers such as Gardners and Bertrams, which then sell on to Waterstones,
Smiths, Amazon, independent book shops and library suppliers. Often PR firms
will take on some of the marketing and vice versa. It should be noted that
Waterstones is more than a bookseller. They have a highly effective department
that helps small publishers and local writers.
Website, tags and keywords: Establishing a website is a
great anchor to showcase your work. Reviews and latest news can be featured
together with background to the book and details of you as the author. A good
web designer will not only advise on style but also research the keywords and
tags that will help your title leap out in a google search.
Foreign rights: My foreign rights agent sold the rights to
The Copper Tree within six weeks of publication to Korea and Thailand and there
is more interest from other countries as I write. With stands and meetings
arranged at major bookfairs such as Frankfurt, Bologna and London, foreign
rights agents can be the icing on the cake in the sense that the selling of
rights to other countries can help to undercut the unit costs.
Consultants: Even though my picturebook was a work of
fiction I was dealing with a real and sensitive issue - grief and loss in terms
of how it can affect children. The book was also, in a sense, designed to help
parents, teachers and carers as well. I write from instinct but I asked
bereavement consultants, psychologists, families and teachers to consider my
work and I took on board their comments.
Finally don't lost faith. It might be necessary to maintain
the day job and it may be foolish to invest life savings but with careful
management and constant monitoring publishing your own book can be an exciting
and rewarding venture.
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