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The Lounge > Another self-publishing success story - Darcie Chan

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message 1: by Sabine (new)

Sabine Reed (sabineareed) | 24 comments Another self-publishing success story of an author who sold more than 400,000 copies of her e-book that was rejected by big publishers and agents.
http://sabineareed.com/another-self-p...


message 2: by Shawn (new)

Shawn Davis (shawndavis) | 11 comments I read that book and recommended it to several people who like the genre.


message 3: by Mary (new)

Mary Findley | 48 comments It's still being rejected! She shopped it around again, with her agent, and they said, "We think it's run its course." Unreal! But she has offers from other countries, movie proposals, and still, she wants it traditionally published in this country.


message 4: by Sabine (new)

Sabine Reed (sabineareed) | 24 comments Can you believe the publishers? I mean, if 400,000 e-copies can be sold...I am sure at least the same people will buy in print also. If people are recommending it then it's a popular book...weird!


message 5: by Mary (new)

Mary Findley | 48 comments I have a blog post coming up expressing my belief that traditional publishing contracts are fast becoming mythological. I don't know what this woman is holding out for.


message 6: by Sabine (new)

Sabine Reed (sabineareed) | 24 comments Give the link to your post here, and I will check it out. I agree that print publishing contracts dont offer much to writers now...except a chance to see your books in store.


message 7: by Mary (new)

Mary Findley | 48 comments Still working on the post, Sabine, in the middle of finding new promotional sites, etc. Sigh. Here's one on the whys and hows of e-books, though.
http://elkjerkyforthesoul.wordpress.c...


message 8: by Sabine (new)

Sabine Reed (sabineareed) | 24 comments Nice post! Perhaps you should do another on how to convert word to html or pdf...most people would not know that. I guess I am just assuming that because I don't know how to do it.


message 9: by Mary (new)

Mary Findley | 48 comments When you upload your book to Amazon they provide you with an HTML you can download to check to make sure the active links work, but I don't use it for anything else. PDFs I create with Open Office, and the versions of Word more advanced than mine (I have Word 2000) can also do the pdf conversion. Smashwords creates these as part of the meatgrinder process. I don't do conversions myself, except for the PDF to upload to Scribd. People have said Calibre does all that, but I'm not smart enough to figure out how. btw. the latest post on proofing and promoting is out now. Thank you for your interest!
http://elkjerkyforthesoul.wordpress.c...


message 10: by Meg (new)

Meg X (sirens) Mary wrote: "I have a blog post coming up expressing my belief that traditional publishing contracts are fast becoming mythological. I don't know what this woman is holding out for."

I think that many authors still like the feel of a book in their hands.


message 11: by Shawn (new)

Shawn Davis (shawndavis) | 11 comments Meg wrote: "Mary wrote: "I have a blog post coming up expressing my belief that traditional publishing contracts are fast becoming mythological. I don't know what this woman is holding out for."

I think tha..."


I know I do! I use my kindle for almost everything, but my favorites I still buy in hardback. Our house is decorated with books (and tchotchkes from world travels - it kind of looks like a Middle Eastern Applebees in here), and I LOVE having tons of full bookcases.

That being said, I go through many books a week on my kindle. I find I can read a lot more new books than I did pre-ereader, as I don't have to make cumbersome library trips or spend tons of money at the book store.


message 12: by [deleted user] (new)

That is awesome! It's so nice to see another author doing so well. :)


message 13: by Mary (new)

Mary Findley | 48 comments Meg wrote: "Mary wrote: "I have a blog post coming up expressing my belief that traditional publishing contracts are fast becoming mythological. I don't know what this woman is holding out for."

I think tha..."


Meg, with 400,000 sales, even at 99 cents each, she could afford to put her own book in print and get it in Ingram's distribution network through many avenues. I agree that some people still want print. I repeat, what is she waiting for?


message 14: by [deleted user] (new)

Mary wrote: "Meg wrote: "Mary wrote: "I have a blog post coming up expressing my belief that traditional publishing contracts are fast becoming mythological. I don't know what this woman is holding out for."

I..."


Hmmm...I wonder. I love print more, too, and if she is a best-seller, then she should do print as well. Maybe she's having formatting issues?


message 15: by Mary (new)

Mary Findley | 48 comments The article said she wants the marketing apparatus behind her. I don't blame her, but Ingram has a marketing apparatus, don't they? I haven't done print, and I know the author still has to self-promote, but she has a weird perspective, at least what I read.


message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

Mary wrote: "The article said she wants the marketing apparatus behind her. I don't blame her, but Ingram has a marketing apparatus, don't they? I haven't done print, and I know the author still has to self-pro..."

It does seem strange...I guess we will see...


message 17: by Sabine (last edited Dec 13, 2011 10:45PM) (new)

Sabine Reed (sabineareed) | 24 comments Alexandra wrote: "That is awesome! It's so nice to see another author doing so well. :)"

The amazing thing is that big publishers still don't want to touch her, although she is one of the top ten sellers at Amazon in 2011. Here is the link to passive guy blog, which shows her in the fourth position:
http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/201...


message 18: by [deleted user] (new)

Sabine wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "That is awesome! It's so nice to see another author doing so well. :)"

The amazing thing is that big publishers still don't want to touch her, although she is one of the top ten ..."


Well, I guess that's how it is sometimes. But if she is doing well enough for a long period of time, then maybe the publishers will change their mind. And if not, well, she still has a good standing. :)


message 19: by R.P. (new)

R.P. Dahlke (rpdahlke) | 43 comments Mary wrote: "It's still being rejected! She shopped it around again, with her agent, and they said, "We think it's run its course." Unreal! But she has offers from other countries, movie proposals, and still, ..."

yeah, sounds like masochism to me>>>LOL.


message 20: by Mary (new)

Mary Findley | 48 comments R.p., the mindset is still that you are not really published until you have a traditional paper book contract with marketing and all the trimmings. I know an author who is trapped in one of those, can't get her first book in a series of three into e-readers, can't even get brick and mortar stores to carry it because it's a year or so old. Her publisher can hold onto it forever, can charge her $300 to put it into e-book format, can do whatever the company wants and she has no say.


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