I had my book, “Run For Your Life!” written and ready to go, now all I needed was a publisher! Let me say here that I had read everything I could get my hands on and I just knew that this was a good book. It was fast paced, like I preferred to read, and it started off with a murder, just like Hawaii Five-O. (Why didn’t I write a TV show instead?)
Suddenly, I was the one doing the research. I found several articles telling me that a publisher would not talk to you without an agent. I found out later that this applied to the larger publishers, the smaller regional publishers will welcome your query letters. I found a list of agents listed in New York and information on what type of books they were interested in as well as how to submit a book to them. Some wanted only a letter and some wanted a letter and the first few chapters; each publish their own rules on how to submit to their web sites. Everything is electronic, no snail mail, so I started to submit letters. At first I checked all the thank you notes and dedications in my favorite books, thinking to query my favorite authors’ agents. ( No news is good news, they don’t know what they are missing.) Next, I started randomly sending out queries. In the end, I had submitted thirty to forty letters. I got some form letters and they all explained that they were not taking clients at this time. (At least they hadn’t told me I sucked at writing.)
I could not give up, I just felt all the way to my bones that this book was good, so what next? I found an article on self publishing. I have already told you in part one that I was poor but I wasn’t stupid. I never considered those publishers who charge you to publish your book. Maybe that works, I don’t know, but since I didn’t have the money to spend I decided to check into Amazon. In the end, I decided to publish through both their ebook and physical copy programs. Now my daughter became my computer guru. She put my manuscript in the correct formats and helped me design my book cover. I was convinced I could take a picture and we could do the graphics. (I thought it turned out pretty good. Someone I have met that works for a real, live publisher has told me it is awful!) Once finished, I was able to go to Amazon and see my book advertised for sale. A local store also offered to let me do a book signing and you can not imagine my pleasure when I unpacked the box containing my book. To be able to pick up MY book and hold it in my hand, it was a dream come true!
(Watch for part 3 – How to promote yourself.)
Happy reading, Linda
Leave a Reply