Home
Art & Photography
Biographies +...
Children's
Comics / G. Novels
Genre Fiction
Inspiration/Self Help
Non Fiction
Novels (non-genre)
Poetry
Religion/Spiritual
Teen/YA
Textbooks
Everything Else!
Book Illustrators
About Me
Contact
Increase Your Traffic
Focus on Selling
Author Blogs
 

How a published author expanded sales through print-on-demand publishing

by Fred Edwards
(South Pasadena, Florida)

The Buffie Brigade

The Buffie Brigade

Genre: Humorous Fiction

Before I wrote "The Buffie Brigade," I had sold four books to commercial publishers so I was quite cocky that I could write and sell this small manuscript. After all, wouldn't the big publishing houses jump at the chance to buy a humorous tale taken from a true story of Marines who brought a herd of ceramic elephants (buffies) out of Vietnam before the end of the Vietnam war? (More on buffies shortly.)

How wrong I was. Here are the kind of responses I received from my queries -- if I received anything other than a form rejection:

* From the main stream publishers -- too small to invest the cost of printing and marketing (the completed 6" x 9" book would run only 101 pages).

* From the military houses -- it made us laugh, but it doesn't fit our niche of serious military non-fiction.

Nevertheless, since I'm a retired Marine, I knew the book would sell if I could just get it in print. For one thing, every Marine or former Marine and family always will read anything about the Marine Corps. For another, folks connected with the other services would enjoy a chuckle at the Marines' expense. In addition, any other reader interested in the Vietnam War would be a prospective buyer. I would get "The Buffie Brigade" printed if I had to do it myself!

I didn't take the traditional self-publishing route and have thousands of books printed for two reasons. First, I didn't have a spare garage to store them in; and, second, I simply didn't want to dole out the money it would take.

This brought me to print-on-demand (POD) publishing. I collected so many brochures and sample books from POD publishers that I was beginning to think I would need a spare garage after all, just to store them in.

I prepared a spreadsheet of the companies, breaking out the services they offered that were important to me and comparing the costs.

Because I had published four books, I understood enough of what an editor and a copy editor does that I decided to take on that chore myself. Although this can save a lot of money, I would advise a newcomer to think carefully before embarking on such a torturous journey.

I also decided not to pay a lot extra for a sizeable marketing package that included items such as news releases, business cards, and book covers. Why? The fine print in the brochures told me that the authors still had to set up their own book signings and mail news releases. Again, a newcomer might need this extra help, but I benefited from considerable experience as a marketing specialist. So I decided to do my own marketing.

Thus I was able to contract for a basic package from Infinity Publishing. The company's promotional material, along with that from the other POD firms, helped me select font types and sizes and work out a suitable interior design. If you get a copy of "The Buffie Brigade," you'll find a silhouette of a ceramic elephant between scenes within the chapters. I created this by taking a digital photograph of one of my buffies, recoloring it black, and reducing it to the right size.

Some POD firms offer templates for the cover design, but Infinity was more flexible. For the front cover, I sent a color photo of one of the buffies I had brought back from Vietnam (and which was described within the text). I asked the designer to tie it in with the Marines.

For the result, click on the link to Amazon.com or go to my Web site, "Crosshairs -- Military Matters in Review," at www.milmat.net, and look at the book cover. You'll note that the long-haired individual in uniform is not a true Marine, but I was told that a commercial enterprise must be careful not to clearly identify a member of the armed services in a promotional product.

Although some POD publishers offer a Web site (at a cost), I elected to bite the bullet and create my own. Although the learning curve was excruciatingly difficult, I later capitalized on it by using the site as a template to create another site when I published a book of a different genre through Infinity (see "Genealogy Makes History" at www.frededwards.net for a description of "Amy Utter's Journeys -- TB and Other Tragedies in Rural America's Heartland"). (Visit also the page on this site where Fred talks about that experience.)

Here is important advice for anybody who uses POD publishing (including me). Think carefully about your title and pass it by a lot of people for their reaction. Although I had published four earlier books, I simply forgot a basic marketing tool when I titled my book, "The Buffie Brigade." Always, always, always include a subtitle to show the prospective reader what the book is about. If I republish the book, in the subtitle I'll explain that a buffie is a term for a ceramic elephant -- a Big, Ugly, Fragile Elephant (sometimes another word is used for the "F"). This will not only help all readers, it will eliminate the confusion among some Air Force folks who e-mailed me that they thought buffies were B-52s!

Visit Crosshairs - Military Matters in Review.






Comments for
How a published author expanded sales through print-on-demand publishing

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 14, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Response
by: Fred Edwards

Bob:

Thanks for your comments. I think we both agree that an important aspect about writing is whether somebody else is willing to pay to read what you've written.

Best regards,

Fred Edwards

Aug 14, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
The POD Waltz
by: Bob D. Caterino

I also tried to deal with POD out their. When they are asking for several hundreds of dollars, I just can't seem to do this. Authors get paid, they don't pay. I write for myself, and if someone else finds it interesting, then thats the iceing. My goal for the first book I published myself, was one book sale. Just one sale makes you a pro. That book, sold a half million and although it has been five years, thats not to shabby for someone that had a goal of one.

Youtube is a great way to spread the word. A short clip about yourself and your book can be seen by many.

Jun 27, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Thank YOU...
by: Steve B.

...for writing back and filling in the blanks!

Jun 26, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Response
by: Fred Edwards

Steve:
Thanks for your comments.

The markets for "The Buffie Brigade" were several niches that worked.

For example,I found all the Marine Corps Exchanges via the Internet and sent them a focused news release explaining why they should consider placing "The Buffie Brigade" on their shelves and how to do it.

In addition, I often speak to veterans' groups locally and nationally and I carry copies of the book with me, offering free autographs.

Finally, as you know, the Web site at www.milmat.net provides the opportunity to publicize the book

Thanks again,

Fred

Jun 23, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Old hand takes the reins
by: Steve B.

Fred, you remind us that the surface stuff - cover image, subtitle - is sometimes the most important...at least when it comes to marketing.

Hey: you say that you knew better than the publishers that there was a market - a number of markets, actually - for your book. I think I speak for every visitor to this site when I say it'd be great if you'd come back and let us know if that was the case. (Respond by commenting.)

I like your site! Readers, Fred writes a weekly column/newsletter that he posts to the site and that he also invites visitors to subscribe to by email. This can be a much more effective tool than blogging. And "column" sure sounds more serious than "blog." Thanks for a great post!

Note to readers: The great value of a newsletter is the repeat exposure you get to potential customers. Any professional marketing person will tell you that you're much more likely to make a sale the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time someone is exposed to your message than the first.

I know of at least one webhost that can automate and simplify the whole newsletter process for you, meaning you don't have to learn any code. It's the host I use, and you can learn more and see how it works by subscribing to my newsletter on the home page.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Fiction Genres



footer for self publishing page