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Hi everyone.
B. A. Binns here, back for a December round with the genre-ista's.

In honor of RTG's focus on self-publishing this month, I thought I would share the highlights of my 2012 journey. Two years ago I would have sworn I would never self-publish. My debut novel had been picked up by a traditional publisher. Pull was published in Nov 2010, won accolades including a National Reader's Choice award, and won spots on School Library Journal's 2011 Top Picks for Youth in Detention and YALSA's 2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers lists.  But sales were not what the publisher expected. I never found out their target, only that my book did not meet that target.

Still, by the end of 2011 I was still determined to stick to the traditional publishing route. My publisher was no longer accepting new manuscripts, and preparing to close up shop. My agent could not find anyone interested in my next three manuscripts because of the less than stellar sales of the first one. I began thinking about self-publishing, but still felt it was something for my far-distant future.

Then, early in 2012, by publisher declared Pull out of print, and, after some goading, returned my rights. Yet, people were still asking for the book. I received inquiries from a school who wanted copies for one of their classes, and from a Library Services Wholesaler who said they had orders, could I fullfil them.

So I became a self-publisher. For me, that meant going into things full-throttle. I chose CreateSpace as my printer and as one of my distribution channels. I do not consider them the publisher and purchased my own ISBN's to ensure the company I created, AllTheColorsOfLove, would be listed in Bowker and Books In Print as the publisher of record. When my attempt to purchase rights to the origional cover from the former publisher were ignored, I rolled up my sleeves, purchased a new photo of the same cover model to preserve continuity, and taught myself Photoshop. With a few tries (okay, lots of tries) I created my own new cover. By the end of October, I was up and running. Since then I have sold paperback copies on Amazon, eBook copies at Amazon's Kindle store and on Smashwords, sent copies to that classroom, and fulfilled three orders from the library services wholesaler I signed a contract with.  And it's only December 12.

Then I grabbed a number of short stories I had written, and bundled them together in a new book, Die Trying and other stories, used my new Photoshop skills to create a new cover, and self-published that in mid-November. Die Trying has sold on Amazon and Smashwords. Last, but certainly not least, I have a local bookstore carrying physical copies of both books, just in time for Christmas Shopping.

I couldn't forget marketing, even though I am lousy at it.

• I put together a Facebook page for my publishing company, please LIKE me at Facebook/allthecolorsoflove. There you can find information on a contest giveaway for Die Trying on Goodreads. Three winners of autographed copies will be selected on December 20, so enter soon.
• Being God is now in the hands of a final editor that I hired, and will be available once final changes are done. You've heard the saying, the quality goes in before...  My name will be on that book, it will be the best I can make it.
• I have updated my website with a new page just for teachers, librarians (and any other interested parties) and access to teacher's guides  for Pull, something my old publisher promised, but never delivered on. Both the guide for Pull, and now for Die Trying, can be downloaded for free from the site.  I would love having teachers and librarians and parents give me feedback on the contents.
• I am trying my hand at creating a newsletter. Wish me luck, I truly don't know what to say, but I want it out this month.
• I am arranging a book tour for next spring to publicize these books. So far, that includes judging a teen writing contest in Illinois and providing a workshop for students, presenting at an RWA conference in Luisiana, conducting two workshops on Diversity and Multicultural Books at a conference in Ohio, and speaking on Reluctant Teen Readers at the American Library Association's convention in Chicago. (I'm ehausted just thinking about next year) I'm on the lookout for other locations, stops, and potential blog-hops.

My follow-up books are no longer gathering dust. In addition to the tour I am finalizing the third book, Being God. While I have ARCs printed and going out to reviewers now, the final book will not be available for sale until the end of January, 2013. I really wanted it out this year, but it's still in the hands of an editor I hired to take one last look.  As the old saying goes, the quality has to go in before...

And my name will be on that book.

It's a name I want readers to remember in a good way. Because I have already started book number four, Minority Of One.

My life grows more full every day. And I'm loving it.

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2011 – What happened in the world of publishing…

Gosh it’s January 2012 already! I don’t know about you but I’m excited about the coming year. When I look back on 2011 I’m pleased it’s over. It wasn’t the best year for me personally, or for New Zealand. The earthquakes that destroyed Christchurch and killed so many rocked our little country. And don’t let’s forget the devastation in Japan, tornadoes in USA , and other natural disasters around the world.

Also, in 2011 the world of publishing changed.For the better if you ask me...

I’ve a feeling 2012 will be a great year. I’m not really one for New Year resolutions, but I do set myself goals. My 2012 goal is to gear up my writing so that my output doubles or triples even.  I’ve set myself weekly targets, realistic weekly targets, so that I can publish three novels and at least three novellas this year (and still work at my other job twenty hours per week). I know, it’s a big task, but if I work hard enough I may be able to give up the other day job.

The real driver is that I want to move to a rural part of New Zealand where jobs are not prevalent and will therefore have to rely on my writing income. I have bought a one acre section, with my sister, in the Hawke’s Bay wine region. Here’s a photo of my section – see the view. We want to build a huge house with swimming pool on the site, and move in Christmas 2012. Sigh – I need my writing career to take off to achieve that dream.My section is a huge incentive

That’s a lot of writing, I hear you gasp? I need this output because of the word SELF-PUBLISHING. I’m traditionally published at present, but I’ve decided I’m not sitting back and letting a traditional publishing house tell me when my books can be published. My current contract allows me one book a year. You can’t make a living off that. In fact, I have learned that to make money in publishing you have to publish at least 4-8 books a year.

So I’m going to self-publish this year. I’m not sure if I shall also traditionally publish, that will depend on my contract obligations. I have decided to look at the self-publishing model for several reasons:

1.       Book runs are diminishing. A new author is no longer building their brand through book-store distribution. If that is true, then why do you need a traditional publisher?

2.       Digital books are outselling print books about 4:1 in the romance genre and an author owns their online marketing space not a traditional publisher

3.       I can put books to market when I want, and when it’s right for me

4.       I can price the books competitively. Currently I’m a debut author with a book priced at $14 and an e-book at $8 – how do I compete and build my brand at that price? I can’t.  Ebooks are setting the price at around $4.99 (Avon’s new ebook price)

It also means I have to find time to do the marketing, but I had to do that anyway.

My first self-published book, a novella, I’m releasing in my favorite romance month, February – ready for Valentine’s Day. I love the whole concept of making time for romance. It’s the little things we do on Valentine's day to show someone how special they are to us. Breakfast in bed, romantic picnic lunches (remember it’s summer in NZ), the candlelit dinners, and romantic cards from anonymous admirers.

So, watch out for my first self-published novella, due out on Valentine’s day (14^th of February 2012). It’s a 35,000 word novella called, To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. Here’s the blurb:

Caitlin Southall’s temper has finally got the better of her. She’s challenged Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, the most notorious rake in all of England, to a wager. She wants her house back. The one her destitute father lost to Dangerfield in a card game. But if she doesn’t win their bet, she not only loses her home, she loses her dignity and pride and damn it all, maybe her heart... For the handsome Duke has decreed, when he wins, she must spend the night in his bed.

Harlow Telford is amused by his hellion neighbor, Caitlin, or Cate to her friends, who seem to encompass everyone on earth except him. When she bursts into one of his private gatherings, he mistakes her for the entertainment. Her slap across his face sets him straight and raises the absurd desire to seduce the unconventional beauty into his bed. When she issues her daft challenge to win back her father’s pile of rubble, the terms are set.  And he’ll do anything to win—except fall in love...

I’m looking for reviewers. If you’d like a free copy of To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield in exchange for a review on Amazon then contact me on romance at bronwenevans dot com.

Happy New Year! I hope you achieve your goals this year.