Carole’s Comments (group member since Oct 19, 2016)

Carole’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Congrat Anita, Nancy, and Margaret!!

Sounds like it was fun.

Can't wait.

Good luck, Anita. Can't wait to read it.

hahahahaha

Aislinn wrote: "I'm really glad that self-publishing has worked for you, Carole, but it's not for everyone. And I get very frustrated with people saying it does. Particularly when they imply I don't work hard enou..."
I want to say I didn't imply you have no hope of a trad deal- I stated quite clearly that all you need is one. That is the one publisher to publish it. Which to me meant keep trying until you find that one.
I also don't know where you get the idea that it's so successful for me- I've stated time and time again that I am no longer self-publishing children's' books because they don't financially pay . The amount of work and the profit are too small.
Again, I am sorry if you perceive what I wrote as preachy- I was comparing pros and cons, as well as sharing my personal experience with both of the publishing mediums.
I also don't know where you got the impression that I felt you were not working hard enough or that I didn't support you?
Perhaps you didn't understand my sarcasm when I compared the author's book with my cultural book on "Hungary."
What I was stating was that trad publishers are not the be all and end all- success comes in the perfect storm. I haven't found it and indie publishing has been relegated hobby territory for me, personally- hardly what I'd consider one of my more successful ventures.

Let me know when your going Alexis. I always wanted to go there

Aislin in no way shape or form was I criticizing anything you or any indie does. Writing from my phone so it’s harder but I didn’t want to wait till I get to a computer. The only thing I have excess today is exuberance. We - My son and I generated income as indies but didn’t make money. At least any money to justify quitting our day jobs. I cautioned about rejection but don’t think I dissuaded anyone from trying the traditional route. I merely retold our experience with it. Michael got picked up by a publisher and we haven’t seen anything from it. That is our experience. Each experience is selective to the author. What works for one doesn’t work for the next. I don’t preach anything but encouragement for any enterprise. I share my resources voluntarily thinking we are all in this together, but make no mistake. I don’t judge anybody. I can’t. The jury is judging me as well. And I’m convinced this field is fluid and changing everyday. I appreciate everything you or any author does. and am in no way finding fault with anyone. I’m sorry u perceived it that way. Dale's comments have the right of it

I'm waiting!!

You have to be prepared for rejection. It's like anything else, though- all you need is one. I read on Medium yesterday about a woman who got 180000.00 in three payments for her debut novel. The wrote the novel and it had dismal sales, and they didn't ask her for a second book. Now she's living off the money and complaining it is almost gone.
I looked at her book- it had lukewarm reviews- I don't remember the name- but I think I have more reviews on If You Were Me and LIved in...Hungary.
People think if they publish with a publisher it will be instant income. From my experience with Michael, I can tell you we made more money with self-publishing. The publisher did little to nothing to sell the book and still took out "expenses." The best benefit was he had to be "traditionally" published for the film agent to send the book to producers- (that's another story- let me know if you are interested- crickets, anyone?)
Also, I felt Amazon 'respected' the book more in the marketing. They left up more of the reviews than on our Createspace ones.
The publisher got him about eight radio spots- I did everything else oh- and he edited the book way better than I ever could. I loved his editing staff. If you read the first version of the book and then the second- you can't believe the differences. It made the story shine.
I am working with other small publishing house and I think I spend more on marketing than any of them and I SLASHED the budget for the last two years. Since I cut the fund- his (Michael's books have stayed in the top 200 to 300 hundred of his genre. vs spending nothing made them soar into the thousands guaranteeing NO reads. )

I was recently contacted by a group asking who does Michael's marketing- they want to hire them hahaha. I told them I did everything and they asked if they could send authors my way- now that is not my business- I don't mind doing all the stuff I do to help- but what I'm saying is when I invite people to be in the newsletter or ask you to write articles for the magazine and each other- I do it because I think it will help you sell.
I have never sent any of my books to a publisher and today is my first meeting with my new publisher and the professional they hired to help me with parts I didn't feel confident about. My point is- push through- get your name in as many places that will take you- write on Medium and get noticed using the resources you can- Any publisher is going to look up your "history" and when they see you are marketable- it won't matter what you write.

Nice cover, Amy. I miss Track.

Elina- that's wonderful news - 2500 page reads is exciting.

Self- publish it.

The book was really useful

Glad you enjoyed. ;)

Great news, Dale.

I KNOW that feeling. I didn't realize it was a goldfish thing.

I think his books are more "thinking" books. I am a scaredy cat and couldn't read them either if they were scary- I think that's one of the complaints for die-hard horror fans- is that he writes horror that is not scary.

However, I wrote Bulwark and didn't think it was scary at all and a few people thought it was horrifying. Go figure.

He's actually more funny- I think than scary- His scariest and least humorous book for me was The History Major. That book was really horrifying-but addictive. It got really mix reviews- I loved it- others absolutely hated it.
Sometimes I get so lost in his work I forget he's my kid when I read

Book 2 of this series is more apocalyptic and they are both rated YA.

Check out my blog http://caroleproman.blogspot.com/

Interview with my biggest fan- my grandson.

Also, a rare treat, actor Dan McGowan recorded my book Captain No Beard.

I got the Arc on Michael's new book Monsterland Reanimated.
It will be released this Friday the 13-
Anyone who wants a copy, let me know- I'm happy to share.
No pressure, though. I think it's a fun read- but I'm his mom, I might be biased.

Glad to see old friends back!!