UPDATE: Spellbound cover reveal and why I chose to self-publish

I now have the rights back for "Spellbound by Fire" from my publisher. I have to say, it's quite a relief. In my last post, I didn't clarify many of the reasons why I withdrew it from the publisher aside from wanting to self-publish "Spellbound."

It might seem hasty to withdraw a book two weeks before its release date just to become one more author who has turned away from a publisher and set a foundation in self-publishing. It might seem rash.

But to tell the truth, I had been considering self-publishing as an option for "Spellbound" before it was accepted by the publisher. I recall saying that if it was rejected "one more time:" I would self-publish it. But behold, it was accepted. That was in April. The first release date was quoted for Sept. 15, 2011. A few weeks before that date, I was told the release got pushed to Nov. 16, 2011 because of a "production schedule."

That means I waited almost seven months for my book to come out. I spent that time waiting on a publisher while I could have had it released back in the summer. Don't get me wrong- my experience with the publisher was a good one. I don't have a bad thing to say about them. What finally convinced me to self-publish the "Spellbound" series was learning that there was a possibility that my release date might have been changed again. It was a hunch, not a for sure thing, yet I couldn't stand that though. Instead of waiting on the publisher to release it, I decided to delay my own release and withdraw it to self-publish it.

The publisher would have paid me a 10 per cent royalty for print books and 35 per cent for eBooks. By self-publishing, I'll be making 80 per cent royalty on eBooks and upwards of 100 per cent royalty on print books. That is a huge difference, especially with a book that might have some promise of success.

"Spellbound by Fire" will still be released in 2011. I am hoping to have it released for the end of November. On that note, I reveal to you the new cover art for "Spellbound by Fire." The stunning image was designed by frenchfox on deviantart.com, and he so generously allowed me to use it for the cover. He calls it "The Stake of the Witches."