stringbean
New Member (Welcome me!)
Posts: 4
Registered: 11/18/2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Publisher purgatory
Hi there,
I'm a first time author and I've had a memoir-type book accepeted for publication by a small, independent house. Unfortunately relations with my
publisher are getting a little strained and I'd like some advice on my options.
Firstly, I know the book market is in a dire state at the moment becasue of the economic crisis (I am UK based). As an unknown author should I be
grateful that anyone has agreed to sign me, and stick with what I've got?
Secondly, how small is the publishing world? If I start looking around for a new publisher what are the chances that my current publisher will find
out before I have any other offers? If I do then decide to stick with my original publisher this could strain our relations even further.
All advice gratefully received!
|
|
|
RobertArend
Literary Master
Posts: 2290
Registered: 10/19/2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
If this is a legitimate publisher: absorbs all costs to produce and distribute the book, with at least a modest advance payment to you; then swallow
it.
If the strain is caused by the publisher making frequent requests or demands on you for money, abandon. ship.
|
|
|
itzrissa2u
Literary Master
Posts: 3543
Registered: 2/19/2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: Procrastinatable...wha? it's a word because I say it is
|
|
If you are under contract you might be out of luck. You can't shop around once you have a contract.
As for how small is the publishing world- pretty small. However, if your publisher is pretty small then it shouldn't matter. In the US most publishers
won't take submissions directly without an agent. Did you try finding one first?
Also, did you do a search of the publisher before going with them? Places like PublishAmerica use writer's desires to be published to rip them off. So
no, you shouldn't just smile and be happy that anyone wants to publish you.
It depends on what you want- do you just want to be published no matter what? Do you want to be on a best sellers list?
|
|
|
stringbean
New Member (Welcome me!)
Posts: 4
Registered: 11/18/2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Well obviously the bestsellers' list would be nice, but maybe not realistic!
The publisher is definitely legitimate and not simply a rip-off. I'm just getting frustrated with nebulous publication dates and a general lack of
communication, but perhaps this isn't sufficient reason to jump ship. How bad do you think the book market is at the moment?
|
|
|
Michy
Boss(y) Lady / Site Owner / Admin
Posts: 7431
Registered: 1/15/2008
Location: Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peaceful
|
|
Stringbean, nebulous publication dates and lack of communication is, unfortunately, common in the publishing world. That's one of the reasons being
representated by an agent is so important - they will give you the communication you need and the advice and information.
My first contract on a book went all the way into giving me an advance, and then eighteen months into it, they killed the contract (which they had the
right to do in writing), let me keep my advance, but they retained the rights to my manuscript for another 6 months after that. Six months later, I
got a registered letter thanking me and releasing the rights to the manuscript back to me. I still haven't done anything with it. I almost quit
writing professionally over it - it was a real blow to me.
If the publisher is a micro to small press, delays and problems with communication are the norm.
you say they are legit, but let me ask you a few questions - do they have distribution? If they do, what discounts do they offer? If they aren't
offering at least 50% discounts for orders through distributors, they won't sell any books. Do they accept returns? If not, they won't sell books
through major venues.
The most important question to ask at this point is: are you under contract? If you are, can you get out of it? If the answer to the first is yes and
the second is no, you're sunk - unless they are willing to allow you out of your contract, you can't shop it around to anyone else.
If you aren't under contract, and you do shop it around, you run the risk of them finding out - the publishing world is vast in one respect and small
in another - if they are a PMA member, and you shop it around, chances are, they will learn about it sooner or later.
I'm not trying to be negative. Just trying to show you that your options are limited by whether or not you are under contract.
As to your question about how the book market is... I don't think the book market is bad, as long as you get a progressive publisher who knows how to
market you and your book. These small presses aren't them - and some of these small presses can hurt you career while others can really benefit it and
help you get kick started.
Chicken Soup for the Soul was rejected by ever major publisher and they ended up going with a small health communications publisher - and just look at
them now.
Grisham sold copies of his books through Windham press out of the trunk of his car (that was his warehouse) and now he's a best selling author many
times over.
I think a publisher is only as good as you are, though the bigger and more well known the publisher, the 'easier' it is for you as an author to
promote, but even the big publishers can hurt your writing career if you get an advance and don't make it up.
I'm sorta rambling now... but my point here is this: if you have a contract in hand for a publisher that has distribution and accept returns while
offering at least a 50% discount through distributors and you're getting both an advance and royalties, and you're getting at least a couple free
copies of your book without any obligation to buy more - stay put.
If you're not getting an advance and royalties, aren't getting free copies of your book, it's cost you anything at all to publish and they don't have
distribution, returns and discounts - run away.
If it's the latter, we'll help you find a legit publisher with all the things above, or help you get your query done to send to agents.
If it's the former, congratulations... and have patience.
Love and stuff,
Michy
~~Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations~~
Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again." James R. Cook
-----------------------------------------
|
|
|
stringbean
New Member (Welcome me!)
Posts: 4
Registered: 11/18/2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Michy, thanks so much for your long reply.
You've given me some good stuff to think about, and I'll be back in touch soon once I've made enquiries of a couple of contacts..
|
|
|
stringbean
New Member (Welcome me!)
Posts: 4
Registered: 11/18/2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Michy,
Having digested everything that you've said and taken advice from a friend of mine in the business I've decided to stay put with my current publisher.
It's not great, but it could be a hell of a lot worse..
It's nice to know that other people have gone through the same stuff as me and it's been good to get some perspective on the whole thing. Thanks for
your time!
|
|
|
Michy
Boss(y) Lady / Site Owner / Admin
Posts: 7431
Registered: 1/15/2008
Location: Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peaceful
|
|
you're very welcome! I look forward to you sharing your book with us in the near future!
Love and stuff,
Michy
~~Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations~~
Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again." James R. Cook
-----------------------------------------
|
|
|
![[*]](images/engage/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
Don't make me go all Ninja on yo ass! 
