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| Anna Brentwood |
Anna Brentwood on her road to Self-Publishing
I was witness to all the changes occurring in the publishing
industry over the sixteen year period I made it my business to learn everything
I could about writing commercial fiction and getting it published. I connected,
joining several local writers groups. I saw genres redefined and expanded. I
saw word counts change like the moon as paper and print costs escalated. Like
anyone else paying attention, I waited, observed and learned all I could from my
own and other writer experiences, from reading, author loops and from attending
countless meetings, seminars and conferences. And, from writing. Over and over
again.
Still, if I have learned one thing on this journey, it is
that nothing stays the same and I don’t only know that from looking in the
mirror. After years of writing and all the ups and downs; being agented,
edited, querying, picked up, discarded, etc. I started to see that the once
solid publishing industry; an institution that hadn’t changed much since the
invention of the Guttenberg Press was going to change whether we all
liked it or not.
I was as uncertain as the next person whether this would be
a good thing or a bad one (and I feared for bookstores and books and rebelled
for a bit by refusing to consider using a kindle or a nook) but I saw change a-comin’ and as I said, waited, observed and learned. I also gave up.
I went to work full-time, got paid a lot of money and didn’t
do anything about the books in the drawers or writing. Then, as Fate would have
it, I got laid off from my job and decided to query every agent, editor and
publisher out there again. I resolved that I “had” to try and if I did not find
another agency, editor or publisher in one year to publish my book, I would
self-publish.
Well, one year turned into two because I got held up with
agent exclusives and many almost deals but when time kept passing, I decided
enough was enough. I wanted to be published while I was still sentient and
could walk without a walker. So, I went about learning all I could about self
publishing, and doing. I made lists and a timeline. I had a plan. I shopped. I got
a website. I designed and worked on it myself over months. I created a mailing
list of media and people to contact. I had several artists helping me design my
book cover. I took a Twitter class. I got active on social media.
In the meantime, digital options were exploding as the walls
of the publishing empires were coming down. Like every other business in the
world, they were re-evaluating—downsizing. Editors were being laid off and
agents and publishing houses were scrambling to keep up. They still are.
Once upon a time when you were conventionally published, you
had a whole team of editors and marketing people working to get your book
distributed and sold. You just had to show up and look smart and/or pretty and
talk about your book. Or not. The reality today is that unless you are a proven
bestselling author or a celebrity writer, while you do have some of the support
behind you when signed with a large publishing house (and every little bit
helps) you still have to do the lions’ share of your own marketing and sales.
That fact and the impact of social media have leveled the playing field just a
little bit more for those authors who are not big names yet but want their
chance to shoot for the stars. Or even just a career.
Technology (which I love) has a way of incorporating itself
into changing industries and people. This happened in my original chosen field
with graphic arts. Back in the day, I even field tested for Apple. I was
certain the new technology would never duplicate the quality of the old. I was
right, but no one cares because desktop publishing makes everyone a graphic
artist and it is so accessible. Technology or change isn’t all good, there are
things we lose, yet it isn’t all bad either.
So, the same was/is happening here with books and authors.
On the reading end, while I still love holding and reading a book, I now also
can enjoy the convenience of a kindle and a nook. Rather than books being
controlled and selected by a small group of people in New York or Chicago, we
can go onto our digital devices and discover great new writers. We can download
free books or books that cost less than five dollars. And this all from the
comfort of our living room chairs.
With low cost and choice and changes to staff at large
publishing houses, books will not always be as properly vetted, edited and read
as they used to be conventionally published, but self or indie published
authors bear this responsibility solely.
Are there risks—yes! Negatives—yes! Quality has certainly taken
a hit in this new age without the scrutiny of countless editorial staff. The
old adage you get what you pay for often is true when you download a cheap read
and find it littered with grammatical and spelling errors and a sagging plot. I
feel very strongly that an author considering self publishing should always pay
attention to the quality and preparation of any book that will bear her/his
name. They should have put the time and dedication into being published as if
there were no self publishing option. You learn by entering contests, having a
critique partner or partners, sending out queries, pitching and getting requests
and rejections.
But, as I see it, if you have paid your dues and have either
tried other avenues and failed to get a certain story you feel strongly about
published or succeeded as a multi-published author but want more control over
your backlist, self publishing is a great option that offers the author a
chance and flexibility, control and accessibility to readers. Also, unlimited
access with no expiration date!
Nothing about writing is easy and self publishing requires
even more effort with marketing because you don’t have anyone else doing it for
you. No one will know who you are or anything about your book unless you find
ways to tell them but if you are willing to work hard, learn, do and/or hire
the help you need to make all of it happen as it should, there is more
opportunity than ever before to have your work seen, read and appreciated by
others and also, nothing quite as rewarding.
Why an author signing circuit?
Why not? I attended my first RWA National this year, and was
so inspired by all I’d learned and all the other writers I’d met. The classes I
took had to do with the business and marketing end of publishing and digital
marketing. As a former businesswoman and someone with a publishing and
marketing background, I began to see publishing as a business and not just as
something I wanted to do.
I attended every signing that weekend. I studied every
author, every promo item and saw what worked best or not at all. I was a
sponge. Being part of RWA and Rose City Romance Writers, the help and guidance I
received from other writers was invaluable and crucial to my being able to do
any of this. I wanted to give back too.
An author signing circuit was a simple and natural
progression though not really formal enough to even have a title. It is just
about authors helping other authors. Let’s face it, most of us hate having to
sell ourselves, but the reality is it IS all about selling books. And, isn’t it
little easier to do with a friend or two?
Planning to self publish, I’d already made the
commitment to self market and once I started sending out press releases and
calling on bookstores and other venues that might be amenable to hosting signing author events, including and helping promote my fellow authors seemed a
natural extension. Many bookstores liked the idea of hosting several authors at
once. While my primary focus remains my own career, if and when I am out there
marketing, it is nice to be able to suggest options to have multiple authors
for some events.
We keep it simple. If one of us manages to book an event and
either the venue or author wants other authors to attend to make it more
interesting, we keep one another in mind. Whoever is interested and responds
first, usually gets included. If the author cannot attend, no worries, I just
keep them in mind for the next time.
As a reader, I read lots of books, lots of authors and am always up for
a new favorite. Surely, your readers are too?
I am fortunate in that I have a marketing pal helping me and we have
tried to make these events more than an author sitting at a table hoping
someone comes over to talk to them. Why not make these events more fun by adding
different elements like décor, raffles, costumes, themes, refreshments, etc
I see authors sharing knowledge and expertise and experience as a great
strength that benefits us all. Sharing and inclusion can help make us all
successful. Your success does not take away from my success! We are not
competitors in the sense that if one person reads me, they won’t read you. In
fact, we are the opposite of that as authors and I think the more creatively we
can come together and get people interested in reading and books, the bigger
and better our industry will be.
Author Bio: Anna
(which is her real first name) was a bookworm almost since birth and was
recognized as a writing PRO by Romance Writers of America in 2002. An active
professional member of Willamette Writers, RWA, the Rose City Romance Writers
and NIWA, Anna grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Philadelphia’s
University of the Arts where she majored in Illustration.
Anna's debut novel, ‘The Songbird with the Sapphire Eyes’ first began
as a series of dreams that so haunted her they became a personal quest to
explore possible past life memories. The journey was both eerie and exciting
and the manuscript finaled and won second place in the Women’s Fiction category
of the 2006 Tara Awards. Anna is inspired to write about interesting characters
whose lives take them on journeys we can all enjoy and perhaps learn something
meaningful from. She is busy working on a sequel to 'The Songbird With
Sapphire Eyes' which will take readers on a journey through the 1940's with
Johnny and Hannah's son, wartime hero, playboy and New York mobster, Anthony
Gallo.
A wife, mother and doting new grandmother of two, Anna lives in a log
home on 45 wooded acres on Oregon’s coast range with her former Navy-Seal
husband and a menagerie of animals that include one pug, one cat, one horse,
two wolf-hybrids, a red-tailed hawk named Lucky and a feisty but lovable
African grey parrot named Warlock.
You may contact Anna at annabrentwood@ymail.com
or through her website at www.annabrentwood.com.
Anna appreciates your feedback and would love you to friend her on
facebook.com/annabrentwood or follow her on twitter at @annabrentwood.
Paty Jager on Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing
I became serious about writing a
novel in the early 1990’s. I wrote two mysteries, which never saw the light of
day. When I started writing romance, I was directed to Romance Writers of
America and I believe joining that writing organization was the reason I
eventually became published. The workshops on craft and promotion given at the
meetings and conferences helped me to hone my craft and realize the bad habits
and writing blunders I did.
Over the years sending my stories to
editors at publishing houses and agents, I received the same rejections
letters. “Loved/liked it but it doesn’t fit, or isn’t something that we feel
there is enough interest in.” When my critique partner told me about a new
electronic and POD publisher looking for romance books, I sent the sixth
romance I’d written to them. They contracted it. And from there went on to
contract nine more books and one novella.
I wouldn’t pass up the experience I
had by working with my hands-on publisher. I learned the ins and outs of
writing, editing, revisions, and making a story ready for the reader. But when
the new revolution of Indie Publishing began to take off and the reports were
coming in that it was a way for a writer to make money off their books, I
started getting my rights back to my books from the publisher(when the
contracts were up). My daughter designs my covers, and I have a group of author
and editor friends who help me with critiquing, edits, and revisions on my new
books and I format them to put up on the ebook sites.
This new venture has allowed me to
find new readers and finally make money with my writing that I hadn’t done the
six years I was with a publisher. My husband now takes my writing seriously
because it makes the car and house payment. I plan to keep writing books and
self publishing them as well as have a few books at publishing houses. I
believe in diversifying and by having several options where my books can be
found and I can learn more about the publishing industry and writing, I feel I
will always put my best book out there for readers.
Bio: Wife,
mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; award
winning author Paty Jager and her husband currently ranch 350 acres when not
dashing around visiting their children and grandchildren. She not only writes
the western lifestyle, she lives it.
She is a
member of RWA, COWG, EOWG, and EPIC. Her
contemporary Western, Perfectly Good
Nanny won the 2008 Eppie for Best Contemporary Romance, Spirit of the Mountain, a historical
paranormal set among the Nez Perce, won the paranormal category of the Lories
Best Published Book Contest, and Spirit of the Lake, the second book of
the spirit trilogy, was a finalist in
the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.
For example, if I need to know what music people listened to in
1930, I google, YouTube or iTunes it. If I need to see what women wore in 1940, or
the kind of hats available to men in the 1920’s, I pull up images from Pinterest
or Google images. Instead of having to dig, I can immediately see and describe it
from actual visuals. 
Mermaid’s Treasure (MT), a prequel, happened differently, from
an assignment to develop a story based on my book and incorporating a holiday
theme. I didn’t think I had another book in me, but I wrote it in six months to
deadline and it follows an object—a brooch with mystical properties that is one
of the threads now tying all the characters and books in the series together.
It takes place between 1893 to 1921. 
Compared to the roaring 1920’s, before researching AA, I
considered the 1930’s drab, the 1940’s and the war years dull, but Bee’s Knees,
was I a dumb dolly—it is anything but dull. 
