Giving my book away

by Marie Wakefield
(Kansas City, Mo. USA)

If I'm expected to promote, why am I giving my book away?

I read everything I could find on getting published from the net and libraries. I accidently found info on self publishing, and researched it too.

It all said this to me – “Miracles happen and, occasionally, unknown writer’s without the “who you know” on their side get published after a few queries, a contract offering a tiny royalty, usually waiting 18 months to two years before the book hits the shelves” and “even if I’m that fortunate, I still have to build a platform and do most of the promoting myself because trad publishers will drop my book after three months if it doesn’t hit best seller status right away.” Why am I giving up control of my book?

The more I researched the more I wondered why any new author would spend much time trying to go through trad publishers.

I decided to give myself 18 months to promote my book rather than sit and wait for a trad publisher to do something with it. It will either carry itself or it won’t either way.

With much prayer and finished book in hand, including the cover I designed, I decided to try both options. In case I might be one of those miracles, I learned how to write queries and proposals before I sent out a couple dozen to agents. At the same time I searched for a typesetter, proof reader and printer that a person living on a limited income could hire.

I found all three within 20 miles of my home. In addition a couple that goes to my church offered to create my web site before I knew what an advantage it would be.

The last of my “Thanks but no thanks” agent returns arrived at about the same time that I got to pick up my first book order.

I started Dodging Her Chariot in the summer of 2006 and, after many critique group meetings and rewrites, finished it in late summer of 2009. It’s the first in a four part series.

It really seems to be taking on a life of its own. I recently found out that it will be in over 30 libraries in and around my city. I didn’t see that one coming. I’ve only held two book signings so far and each had over 20 people come to buy books. My web site is selling a few and four stores in the area are carrying them. I’m still gaining experience (and nerve) in the promotion area.

Am I happy that I self published? Maybe it isn’t that miracle breakout I read about, but I think I’m seeing another sort of miracle happen with it. Yes, and I’m already well into doing it again on the second in this series.

Visit Marie's site, Fields Awakened.