Responses
Gravatar teddlesruss said:
Some special cases perhaps? I developed a diet to deal with my own prostate cancer which worked for me within seven months and was so effective, my doctor and my urologist suggested that if I had the notes, to put together a book of it.

I've done that, got zero interest from dead trees book publishers, but decided it was too important to just give up, so I self-published as an e-book.

As you say, we're not publicists, we're not publishers, we write. So my options are to let my book languish on a website until some kind benefactor picks it up and helps publicise it; or else, I can email everyone I know and ask them to pass the URL forward for me.

Do you have a suggestion for this, a real-life situation and not some figure passed out by organisations whose interest would be best served if the Internet didn't exist? Because I assure you, the future of publishing, while it may include paper books for many decades yet, is moving to e-readers like the Kindle, to online sites, and to all the thousands of writers whom that publishing industry isn't game to take a punt on but who never the less want their works out among the readership....
Date: 12/23/2008 7:23:42 PM

Gravatar Julie said:
First, thanks for stopping by!

As I said, I didn't mean to paint everyone with the same broad metaphor. Or something like that. ;-)

There are exceptions, as I noted. E-books, in particular. Perhaps there's one out there that would help you distribute your book?

Without knowing more about your specific situation and the book, it's difficult to give specific advice. I do know there's a market for that type of book. The shelves at my local bookstore are practically bursting with them.

I do believe the publishing industry is changing, but it's a slow, lumbering best and it's not going to happen overnight.

May I suggest a web site where you might find some help? The forums at AbsoluteWrite.com have over 20,000 members. I suspect you'll find someone who has written a book in that area and can help you out.

I wish you the best!
Date: 12/23/2008 7:42:56 PM

Gravatar Julie said:
Ted, I took another look at your site today and I see you're not in the US. Some of my advice may not apply. There are things that just aren't done here that are accepted practice in other countries, and vice-versa. I'm going to amend my post to reflect that.

Second, I should have mentioned that what applies more to fiction authors. I'll also take care of that omission. But I stand behind my statement that spam is the wrong way to market your book. Is contacting your friends and family spam? That's subjective, and depends on how you approach it.

Third, I just noticed I messed up the link in my previous comment. That's been fixed. The site is AbsoluteWrite.com. There. No link to mess up. ;-)

I'm also going to write another post with this extra information so people will be more likely to see it. The last thing I want to do is spread misinformation.

Again, thanks for stopping by!
Date: 12/24/2008 12:27:43 PM

Gravatar teddlesruss said:
Some special cases perhaps? I developed a diet to deal with my own prostate cancer which worked for me within seven months and was so effective, my doctor and my urologist suggested that if I had the notes, to put together a book of it.

I've done that, got zero interest from dead trees book publishers, but decided it was too important to just give up, so I self-published as an e-book.

As you say, we're not publicists, we're not publishers, we write. So my options are to let my book languish on a website until some kind benefactor picks it up and helps publicise it; or else, I can email everyone I know and ask them to pass the URL forward for me.

Do you have a suggestion for this, a real-life situation and not some figure passed out by organisations whose interest would be best served if the Internet didn't exist? Because I assure you, the future of publishing, while it may include paper books for many decades yet, is moving to e-readers like the Kindle, to online sites, and to all the thousands of writers whom that publishing industry isn't game to take a punt on but who never the less want their works out among the readership....
Date: 12/23/2008 7:23:42 PM

Gravatar Julie said:
First, thanks for stopping by!

As I said, I didn't mean to paint everyone with the same broad metaphor. Or something like that. ;-)

There are exceptions, as I noted. E-books, in particular. Perhaps there's one out there that would help you distribute your book?

Without knowing more about your specific situation and the book, it's difficult to give specific advice. I do know there's a market for that type of book. The shelves at my local bookstore are practically bursting with them.

I do believe the publishing industry is changing, but it's a slow, lumbering best and it's not going to happen overnight.

May I suggest a web site where you might find some help? The forums at AbsoluteWrite.com have over 20,000 members. I suspect you'll find someone who has written a book in that area and can help you out.

I wish you the best!
Date: 12/23/2008 7:42:56 PM

Gravatar Julie said:
Ted, I took another look at your site today and I see you're not in the US. Some of my advice may not apply. There are things that just aren't done here that are accepted practice in other countries, and vice-versa. I'm going to amend my post to reflect that.

Second, I should have mentioned that what applies more to fiction authors. I'll also take care of that omission. But I stand behind my statement that spam is the wrong way to market your book. Is contacting your friends and family spam? That's subjective, and depends on how you approach it.

Third, I just noticed I messed up the link in my previous comment. That's been fixed. The site is AbsoluteWrite.com. There. No link to mess up. ;-)

I'm also going to write another post with this extra information so people will be more likely to see it. The last thing I want to do is spread misinformation.

Again, thanks for stopping by!
Date: 12/24/2008 12:27:43 PM



 

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