Tired of Traditional Publishing Dead Ends

by MJ Daley-Prado

Grandma, What is Cancer?

My decision to self publish was one made merely out of frustration. I really wanted things to happen a lot faster than they were and I was tired of sending endless letters to agents and publishers with no response.

I write for children and there is an expense involved each time making color copies of all the illustrations and also of your full manuscript. I guess the last straw came when I kept coming up against dead ends with Grandma, What Is Cancer? No one would even give me a chance with Grandma. Perhaps it was the serious subject matter, I really don't know. I just knew I believed in this book and I knew this book was an important book for families. I also knew it would be a valuable tool for families with children as well as medical facilities, and other places that deal with cancer on a daily basi s. I made this book after dealing with two experiences within my own family. We couldn't find the type of materials we were looking for and I knew there was a need for this type of book.

I also knew by taking the self publishing route I could also have more control in making the type of books I wanted to make. I want to make books that will help benefit children. I want to make books that have an important topic and a message. I also want to make books that will help to benefit organizations. I am able to split my royalties and donate a percentage to the Dream Foundation and The Johns Hopkins Breast Center for Grandma What Is Cancer? I would not have this control if I had taken the traditional publishing route.

I am still very new to this and it has been a learning experience filled with trials and errors along the way trust me. However, it has also been very satisfying and rewarding. I now have my own editor which I believe is a must. When you self-publish you have to learn how to promote and market yourself, you have to be your number one cheering section as that is how you are going to get the word out. You are a business person, learning many faucets of the publishing world.

Here are just a few ideas to help market your books---

Build yourself a website
Make business cards (and leave them everywhere)
Make bookmarks and posters
Send out press releases
Market your book with places like thebookattic.us and booksinsync.com
Go to schools
Tell friends, neighbors etc
Send out emails (I forward to everyone in my address book and ask them to forward to everyone they know!)
Volunteer your talents
Get your name out there (use the web to your advantage)

I now have 4 self published books through Lulu Publishing. They are Grandma, What Is Cancer?, Baby Duck Gets A New Grandma, Buzz and It's Okay To Just Be Me!

I am also illustrating books for other authors now too.

Visit MJ at MJ Daley-Prado Proudly Introduces...