Going Forward

For a long time and for various reasons, namely the phenomenal success of an author with whom I'm acquainted online, I have been considering dipping my toes into independent epublishing. To that end, I've written a series of six cozy mysteries set in a small mythical Arkansas town:


Penelope Pembroke and the Bogus Biker
Penelope Pembroke and the Stubborn Schoolhouse Spirit
Penelope Pembroke and the Feedstore Floozy
Penelope Pembroke and the Possum Hollow Hullabaloo
Penelope Pembroke and the Larcenous Legacy
Penelope Pembroke and Sam's Song

Right now, I've rewritten five of the six and am working on a new twist for the final book which winds up the series. I'm also working to learn about the New World of independent epublishing--mainly how to do it! I have a fat folder of information in My Documents as well as several ebooks downloaded to my Kindle.



Books on Kindle


Format Your eBook for Kindle in One Hour by Derek J. Canyon
eBook Cover Success: A Step-by-Step Process to Create Your eBook Cover  by Shelley Hitz
How to Sell More Books on Amazon: Top Strategies for Selling Books and Kindle Books on Amazon and Maximizing Your Profits by Dana Lynn Smith (The Savvy Bookmarketer)
The Beginners Guide to eBooks by Gary McLaren
The Newbie's Guide to Publishing by J.A. Konrath
Smashwords Book Marketing by Mark Coker
How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months by John Locke
The Complete Guide to SELF-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Own Book by Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier

I have read some--not all--of these books and have found something useful in each one. So far, I wouldn't say I've wasted my money.



Links  


BookBaby  
Smashwords
Publish Your Own eBooks (free weekly newsletter which I recommend)
The Savvy Bookmarketer Newsletter (free--highly recommend this source for all types of publishing information--you can check the archives for articles on epublishing)

I am NOT a fan of self-publishing--i.e. the vanity publishers who will publish anything if you fork over the big bucks. They do, I know, on occasion publish some excellent books, but whenever I see a display of books published locally, I check the imprint. If it is a pay-to-publish book, I don't buy it. It may be a great book, but there's no guarantee.






I AM a fan of small independent publishers who do POD for print and have an eBook catalogue. I've had a happy association with The Wild Rose Press for four books and hope someday to have more. (If you write romance, check out this author-friendly publisher with wonderful editors and savvy business practices--they are flourishing!)



So why am I experimenting with independent epublishing? Consider:


Penelope Pembroke doesn't fit the romance guidelines for TWRP, which is where I'd send them if they did.
Six books equates to AT LEAST six years of queries, submissions, edits, galleys, and all those things which give birth to the finished book. By the time #6 came out (assuming I found a publisher for them), those who had read the first ones would have forgotten them. By independently publishing them, I can have all six up at the same time...offer the first one free...and hopefully hook the readers of #1 to want the other five!
 In addition, I have a whole series of stories geared for children, teens, and young adults, which I can offer in small increments--half a dozen per volume, for example;and I have one full-length adult novel which doesn't seem to fit any subgenre.

 It all makes sense to me, and it won't cost me anything except time and hard work. Time I have; hard work I don't mind. And, with some venues, I can get print books if I wish to have some on hand for conferences and other events.



Again, I don't expect to become rich and famous--just enjoy myself--and perhaps make some good sales along the way...