Standing Out in A Crowded Publishing Market by Jenn LeBlanc

Today I have a special treat for you guys--Author Jenn LeBlanc. We're all told that we're supposed to stand out, to think outside the box, and to provide the "same but different" in order to make it in the world of publishing. And Jenn has taken that advice and has run with it. I can't wait for you to read about what she's doing. And don't forget to leave a comment on today's post with your email because Jenn is generously offering up a copy of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE as a prize!

Take it away, Jenn...

When I started writing The Rake And The Recluse, I never thought to finish it. When I did, I never really thought to publish it. When I started working on that, I realized I really needed a good hook to get people to pay attention. I thought it was a great story, as did my editors and beta readers, but convincing a stranger of that was pretty important. 

Romance is the number one selling genre last time I checked. That means there are a lot of books, and a lot of readers, and as a new author I really needed to stand out in order to survive. 

I decided to put together a package for my queries. Something that would set me apart from the crowd. I thought, as a photographer, shooting a great cover for my novel might do it. (What can I say, as a newb it sounded like a good idea.) Besides, I could always use it on my writers blog and try to get some buzz going. 

I started casting for a cover model, and found Derek Hutchins and we set up a photo shoot. It didn’t take long once we started shooting to realize there was something special happening. I called him in for a second shoot and started playing with some other scenes from the book. This was about a month before the release of the first iPad. As the shoot became more involved my brain kicked into overdrive and I wondered about shooting illustrations for the entire novel. I talked to Derek and he was game so I started doing page layouts and, well the rest is history. 

I queried my idea but most of what I got in response was ‘we love your voice, but we don’t know what to do with this.’ By then I already had the book, and the images. I was not turning back so I learned how to layout and export to ePub on my own. I designed five versions of the book so it could be read on any reader, and I self published it. 

It’s a fully illustrated romance novel. I suppose you could call it a cover on steroids. Romance covers are such an iconic 20th century thing, and it’s time to move on with the possibilities of the digital age of books. This book in print is expensive. The full color volume, of which there are exactly four copies so far, is about $140 retail. The trade paperback, with images, is $21.95. It’s beautiful, but if you want the true experience, it’s in the ebook. That is what it was made for. 

I have always tried to think outside the proverbial box, always wanted to have something different. That carried over into my book project. I wanted something new, something more, something eye-catching, an experience and not just a really good read. I wanted to utilize the new media to its fullest potential. 

My novel can be read on any reader--video and flash are not part of the book. The images are embedded in the text, so it flows properly and you don’t need special plugins or video to read it--that was important to me. I’ve seen the vooks and thought that the video might pull the reader from the story, particularly on readers where they would have to move to a computer or something else with video capability. 

I actually loved every minute of this project and as it gains momentum I’m having even more fun sharing it. I think it’s worth it just for the pictures or the story independently, but together you get a more lush and involved reading experience. 

I have done all my own marketing and promotion, and managed to catch the eye of the editors at Avon. We are still talking, but I’m not entirely sure I want to go that route now that I have done all the work myself. I truly appreciate the big publishers, and what they can offer to a writer, especially a first time author like myself, and weighing the benefits of a big publishing house, including their editors and experts and reach, against my own hard work and expectations has been monumentally difficult. It comes down to numbers and how much they would get from all of my hard work, considering it is complete, and would only need minor edits and modifications for them to publish it.

I think it’s fantastic, and it makes me feel great to be told the writing is on, and they would love to be involved, particularly since a year ago I couldn’t convince anyone to look at it. It’s a bit like my own personal Marilyn in the ice cream shop experience. 

In the meantime I’m working on restructuring the book to its original format, a six part serial novel. Something else nobody was interested in. I’m finishing edits on the second book, and preparing to shoot that in September or October for a February release. 

I’m also doing illustrations for other wonderful authors, and a few covers as well. I have found this great community that I love being a part of, and my own little niche to rest in- not that I get any rest. 

Standing out in the publishing market is difficult. There are very few people who can do what I have done. I happen to be a professional photographer, and that really helps. That is what gave my my niche, and what makes me who I am in the writing industry. You have to find yours as well. It isn’t easy. I did not plan this. I fell into it a bit backward, but here I am and I plan to keep going because this is quite honestly the most fun I have had in my entire life. Learning everything I can from other authors, both new and seasoned, has helped immensely. Now that I’ve done all the work the next one will be simple for me to get done.

Now it’s just a matter of staying on top of the new media curve. I have a few short stories coming out soon, and some free reads going on my website to help promote. Actually there is a hidden scene on my website, and you have to play around to find it. It’s pretty randy so fair warning. :) It’s an outtake from The Rake And The Recluse.

My book is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks and on iBooks from your iThingy. 

If you read it please track me down on Twitter, Facebook, or my blog to let me know what you think! I LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear from readers, both the good and the bad. That way my next book will only get better.

Thanks, Jenn! So what do y'all think? An illustrated romance novel, sign me up. :) What ideas have you had that you were afraid were too outside the box? How do you think your book will stand out? 


CONTEST: And don't forget to leave a comment with your email addy to enter the contest to WIN a copy of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE!


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All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren 2009-2011 |Copyright Statement|

Going Digital with Author Stephanie Haefner

Today I'm happy to have the lovely Stephanie Haefner here to talk to us about her experience with digital-first publishing. With all the talk and excitement going on with self-publishing sometimes it's easy to forget that there is another great option that falls somewhere between NY Publishing and self/indie publishing. I'm a big fan of digital-first publishers and have discovered a lot of great new authors that way, especially in the romance genre, so I'm excited to hear what Stephanie has to say about her experiences with an e-publisher.

Take it away Stephanie...

Going Digital!

I'll admit, digital publishing was not my first choice. But once I signed that contract and started the journey to publication, I really felt like I was getting in on something fabulous!

Technology moves so fast and consumers seem to always want what's new and cool and better than what is already out there. And digital book readers were another new gadget to have. Things have changed a lot since I signed my first digital contract, but only for the better! I think people are reading more than ever and partly it's because of digital media. People can read books on their iPhones and other Smartphones. EReaders make it convenient to take a book anywhere. And many libraries are even jumping on board, offering members free downloadable books on their websites!

There is lots to love about digital publishing! Here are my reasons why being published by a primarily digital house is awesome:

     - No need for an agent. Most digital publishers are rather small and accept unagented submissions. (Though my publisher says they are starting to receive a lot of submissions from agented authors.) But this by no means implies that the quality is less. Yeah, they may have to sift through more junk, but they are just as picky. The Editor in Chief fills us in monthly on how many contracts they've offered....which isn't many. The majority are established authors within their house, with only a few newbies. But bottom line, I don't have to share my earnings with anyone!! Well, maybe my hubby! I treat him to a nice dinner every once in a while...it's the least I can do! ;)

     - Prices are great! Digital book prices by primarily digital houses are far lower than print publishers, even those who offer their titles in digital. But that doesn't mean I make less! Oh no! Royalties on digital books are waaaaaay higher than print books! :) I make 40% on every digital copy (net sales). And if my math is correct, 40% of $5.50 is a good amount more than 10% of a paperback that costs $14.95.

     - There is a home for short pieces! Not every story can be written in novel-length. But what do you do with a 30,000 word story? For a newbie, it's nearly impossible to get into a print anthology. And those are far and few between anyway. But digital publishers, they do publish short works. My newest release, Soap Dreams, is the perfect length to read on a smartphone while carpooling to work, waiting at the doctor's office, or while you kid's at practice!

     - Readers who use the Nook and Kindle can buy my books instantly. If they finish one of my books, and love it, they can buy another of my other titles immediately!

And there are some drawbacks too, unfortunately.

     - Primarily digital houses are small and most do not offer an advance on royalties.

     - Books are not on bookstore shelves for people who love to just browse bookstores.

     - You can't really do book signings.

     - Some, but not all, digitally published books are made available for print. My debut was, but there's no guarantee anything else I publish digitally will be.

     - Readers who do not have an eReader are unlikely to buy my book.

A huge thank you to Roni for having me!! All commenters will be entered into a drawing for a digital copy of my newest release, Soap Dreams! And all commenters from every post on my blog tour will be entered in a fabulous grand prize drawing for a signed copy of A Bitch Named Karma and digital copies of both Paradise Cove and Soap Dreams!! Please leave your email address!

Paradise Cove is now available at Lyrical Press and Amazon.
www.stephaniehaefnerthewriter.com

Traditional or Self-Publishing: Defining Your Dream

Photo by H.T. Yu

So I planned on blogging on something else this morning and then agent Rachelle Gardner tweeted this post by Phil Cooke on How Much Did It Take To Buy You Away From Your Dream? Go read it. It's not publishing specific, but really can be applied to anything.

He sites the line in the movie Up In the Air where George Clooney's character asks someone he's firing that question: How much did it take to buy you away from your dream? (Because the guy at one time wanted to be a chef and went into whatever he business he was getting fired from instead.)

We all at some point probably give up on or modify our dreams. I know I wanted to be a writer when I was in high school--even started college with a double major in English and Psychology. But then as time went on, I decided I needed to be more "practical" and focus on the psychology so I could have a stable, decent-paying job. I absolutely DON'T regret that decision. I loved what I learned and enjoyed my masters program in social work. The jobs and experiences I had were invaluable. I wouldn't have been able to write CRASH INTO YOU without it. So I got to my dream, albeit via a convoluted path.

But once you've decided you're going to pursue that dream of being a writer, you now have a couple of different versions of "the dream" to choose from. Once, not too long ago, you had one option--get an agent, pursue traditional publishing. But now you have traditional publishing, small press, digital-first publishers, vanity publishing, and of course, the hot topic of the last few months--self-publishing.

So what's the right path for you? Obviously there are success stories in each venue. And one method isn't mutually exclusive of the other. You may pursue digital publishing first with the intent to eventually move to a more traditional publisher. Lots of people have used digital (especially in my genre) as a stepping stone to a NY contract.

How do you figure out which to pursue? And here's what I think--you need to define your dream.

What is it you are seeking from being a writer? When you let your mind wander, which parts get you all giddy inside? Big readership? Big paychecks? NYT Bestseller lists? Getting fan mail? Holding your book in your hands? Seeing it on a shelf?

And then consider which method of publishing feeds the core of your dream.

Here's what my dream consists of:

• The chance to share my stories with others and (hopefully) entertain them.
• The ability to at least make a similar salary writing books as I was making as a  management recruiter (The job I had before I had my son.)
• Validation from professionals that my writing is good and marketable.
• To hold my book in my hands and see it on the shelves of bookstores.
• Okay, and having some fans and a big readership wouldn't suck.

So when you analyze the main components of my dream, you can probably see why self-publishing an ebook wouldn't have been the total fulfillment of my dream. I could have accomplished some of these, but not all of them. And some people may scoff at the validation piece, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could land an agent and a big publisher. Maybe it's bad to look to others to measure if I'm "good enough" but that's how I'm built when it comes to my writing.

Now if you don't need that validation and your main goal is to get your stories out there in whatever format you can so that you can get in front of readers, then putting your book up on Amazon may be a great option. It may fill your personal dream well to the brim. Or maybe you want that validation, but holding the book in your hands isn't that big a deal--then maybe an digital publisher is the best option.

The key is figuring out what is going to fulfill you. If traditional publishing is where you've hung your hope, then fight for it. Don't query a few agents, get a few rejections, then throw your hands up and say "Oh I'm going to self-publish this as an ebook.  Some people are making all kinds of money doing that. Screw New York!" Because then what will you be able to say if someone were to ask you that question in a few years: How much did it take to buy you away from your dream?

Did you sell your dream for instant gratification or lack of patience? Did you sell it so you wouldn't have to tuck away a book and start something new and keep working to get better? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe you've gone on to be an ebook millionaire. I don't know. But it is something to think about.

I don't think there is anything wrong with alternatives to traditional publishing. Obviously, it's going to be a huge part of the future of publishing. But I think it's important to know what's going to feed your writer's soul and work as hard as you can to accomplish whatever your personal dream is.

So what do you think? What are the essential components of your dream? Which method of publishing do you think is the best fit for you?


WINNER: Thanks to all of you who asked me questions and entered the contest last Friday. The winner of the 5-page critique is Strickland! Congrats!

Guest Blog: E-Publishing Myths and Advantages from Author Christine Bell

Today, I'm happy to turn over the blog to the lovely Christine Bell, whose first novella Pray releases today from Cobblestone Press!  Let's all give her a squee to celebrate her first release!  She also has another title upcoming from Cobblestone and one from Carina Press (Harlequin's digital first publisher). She's on a roll!

Now, I've made it no secret that I'm a supporter of e-books. I heart my Kindle and regularly buy titles from digital-only/digital first publishers. I've discovered some terrific stories and some new favorite authors that way. However, I know there are a lot of misconceptions out there about digital publishing. So, I thought I'd have someone "in the know" discuss her experience so far with e-publishing since she can give us the nitty gritty information.  So, Christine, take it away...

I want to start by thanking Roni for inviting me to guest blog!  It’s a real pleasure for a couple of reasons. First, because her crib is way more glam than mine.  If blogs were dogs hers would be a bichon frise and mine would be a basset hound (and by that, I mean sad looking).  Second, because it gives me a legitimate excuse not to work on my current WIP.  Since I prattled on for a long (long) time, we’ve split this into two parts.  Part one is here and part two is on my blog, so come check it out. I’ll try to clean up before you get there, but try not to judge me too harshly.   

Myths and Commonly Offered Advice That I (and think you should) Ignore and Why, Part One (catchy title, no?)

E-Publishing is Less Valid Than Print Publishing 

I’m going to have to disagree with this one.  I know there are going to be some doubters out there who think because I’m strictly e-pubbed, I’m just fooling myself here.  Making excuses because I haven’t managed to grab the brass ring; *cue lights and choir* New York.  Truth is, I’ve never even tried.  

So far, I’ve written novellas, which are far better served in a digital format.  One is a steampunk novella that begged to be written, so I wrote it, never thinking, “Who’s going to buy it?”  I knew exactly where I wanted it to go; to Carina Press, where no great story goes untold.  So when Angela James called me to tell me they wanted it, there was no reservation. I was 100% elated.  I cried, I laughed. I never thought, “Well, this doesn’t really count” or “It would be better if it was a print publisher.” 

When I got my first contract offer from Cobblestone Press for my wolf-shifter novella, Pray, I felt the same way.  I know that some people feel that anyone can sub just about anything and get e-pubbed.  I have a pile of R’s to refute that. Most reputable e-pubs only accept about 3-5% of their submissions.  Per a recent post from the Carina Press website, of the 1600+ submissions they’ve received, only about 160 of them were acquired and of those, only 80 of them came from the slush pile. That seems pretty choosy to me.  

I think if any good e-pub is going to invest time into editing, cover art and marketing (and from my experience so far, they do) they have to feel you have a good product. Since my first contract offer, I have sold five manuscripts and gone through the editing process with two of them. I can promise you, it’s the real deal.  The process is rigorous.  My editor for Pray (Hi Darcy!) was completely sans ruth, and I love her for it.  My dealings with the cover art department have been nothing but professional and wonderful.  All in all, it has been fabulous.  

And, given the fact that print books will likely be all but obsolete in the next 50 years, I think aspiring authors should take advantage.  That’s not to say that I’m anti-print.  I totally understand the desire to want to have your name on a physical book.  And when I decide to write a full, I may choose to submit it to a print publisher.  But if and when I do, I will never stop e-publishing.  It’s the wave of the future, the antidote for the instant gratification junkie and I think it's really fantastic medium. 

5 Reasons I love E-pub

 1. The wait times are shorter and I'm impatient.  

I hate waiting on pins and needles to see if a publisher wants my book, and once I find out they do want it, I want to get it published.  I want my cover art.  I want to start edits.  I have friends who are contracted with big print publishers that have been waiting longer from submission to publication than I have been writing.  That’s just depressing.  Send your partial and wait three months.  Get a request for full.  Six months later, get a revision request.  Nine months later, the full is accepted.  Publication date?  12 months after that.  Ack!!!  I could make a toddler from scratch in that amount of time. 

2. No messy mail. 

I use my computer for everything.  It's how I connect with family around the world, how I pay my bills, how I get my news.  The idea that I have to print out hundreds of pages on paper, go to a post office (I haven't been to a post office in this millennium), and mail something is a hurdle for me. 

3. More options.  

Not many print publishers accept unsolicited ms’s from un-agented writers and actually reads them, unless it's category romance.  E-pub isn’t just erotica anymore.  Pubs like Carina are offering to read and publish all types of stories, almost any genre, almost any length, and some are even branching out into audio-books. 

4. Your backlist is easily accessible and (almost) never goes out of “print”.  

Once you have a few books under your belt, fans can easily go back and find your earlier books and download them.

5. I buy e-books, therefore I want publish them.  

When I'm in bed at night, looking for excuses not to write, I can go online and get just about any book I want, RIGHT that second. 

So, to sum it up, I’m thrilled with how things are going for me right now in e-publishing.  And if you’re on the fence about it, while you're waiting for your New York dreams to come true, I encourage you to try it too.  If you want to become a published author, build a fan base, write something erotic, something mainstream or even something that doesn’t fit perfectly into an established niche, and make some money while you’re at it, e-publishing might be for you.  Come on in, the water's fine!

Thanks again to Christine for her insight and be sure to click over to her blog to read the second part of this post AND to enter her contest where you can win all kinds of fab prizes!

So what are your thoughts on e-books? How do you feel about some of these points/myths, pro/cons, etc.? Do you read e-books?  Are you considering e-publishing for your own work?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Who Knew" - Pink

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Question of the Day: E-books

How do you feel about ebooks?  

If you have a reader, how do you like it?  If you don't have one, do you want one or are you opposed to the idea?  Have you read any ebooks--what did you think?  Would you be open to publishing your book with one of the epublishers if you can't find a home (or your book doesn't fit) with a print publisher?  Do you think getting e-published is a good way to jumpstart your career?


**This week I'm am on a cruise, so I apologize for the short posts and the lack of responses to comments.  I look forward to reading all of your answers when I return!**

Face Off Friday: EReaders v. Traditional Book

First off, I would like to apologize for my slacker status this week. On top of being busy with revision stuff, I have had a super cranky toddler who is suffering with a painful ear. So I have gotten ridiculously behind on blog reading and commenting. So if you haven't seen me around your blog or I've let super short comments, that is why. Hopefully this weekend, I will get some time to catch up. I miss reading all of your great posts.

Alright, so on to our Friday Face Off ...

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently purchased a Kindle. I did this with the utmost reluctance. I couldn't imagine enjoying reading on an electronic device. Books are so, well, perfect. Some people use retail therapy, I have book therapy. If I've had a bad day, a few hours in a library, Borders, or the used book store will rejuvenate me like a soak in a hot tub. So how could I possibly like some plastic box that claimed to be a book substitute? *places my nose high in the air*

However, my closets were starting to tumble over with piles of books and my husband kept mentioning that those Kindle things look pretty cool--HINT HINT YOU FRIGGING PACK RAT. So, when I received some money for a holiday, I decided that maybe I should give one of these new fandangled devices a try. I checked to make sure there was a return policy (there is) and then put it in my Amazon cart. I literally closed out the order three times in the matter of two weeks before I got myself to hit the purchase button. Then, I finally did it.

And now.

*ducks book-loving head in shame* I'm a convert.

So I thought I would give my opinion about the pros and cons of each method for those of you wrestling with the decision like I did. I know there are many other ereaders besides the Kindle, but since I have no experience with those, I will speak specifically about Amazon's Kindle.

Traditional Book v. Kindle

For those who sniff books and say ahh....

• Looking for books in a store/library is half the fun
• A book won't break (although it may fade, get worn, etc.)
• Books are relatively inexpensive
• You can check them out from the library
• You can buy/sell them used
• Friends can borrow them after you finish
• You always have a physical copy if you want to save it
• Covers are pretty to look at
• Shelves of books in your house makes you feel warm and fuzzy
• Anytime you want to flip back through a book, it's there

For the progressive...

• One device can hold hundreds of your books (mine holds 1500), saving your closets
• What we love about books is the story not the paper and that stays the same
• After the initial cost of the device, ebooks are often cheaper, hardbacks are 9.99
• You can take your library with you anywhere
• You can read books with covers or titles like these in public and people are none the wiser. You could be reading Chaucer for all they know. Not that I ever do this, *ahem*.
• 
• There is a whole world of ebooks (some very good) that are only available in e-format. I was totally missing out.
• Not printing all those paperbacks is more friendly to the environment
• Instant gratification--you want a book, you can download it in 60 seconds wirelessly
• There is a built in dictionary, which I didn't expect to be so helpful, but is great
• You can upload word documents onto it--so you can read your own manuscript or your crit buddies' on it
• There are tons of free ebooks and promotions available
• Your purchases are saved online, so if your reader breaks or you get a new one, everything you bought is still available to redownload
• The battery life is ridiculously long
• You can highlight and bookmark passages, which is super helpful for me with reviews. If I run across a quote I love, I just highlight it and it saves it in a file for me.

To be fair, I'll also point on some of the concerns about E-readers.

• The upfront cost ($299 or more) is steep
• You can't lend/sell your books after you've read them
• You lose the library option (although they are looking at ways of incorporating this option)
• They can break and eventually (like any electronic device), you'll want to buy the newest version of it
• Some are concerned about straining their eyes--I will say this worried me, but the e-ink technology really does read like a book, not a computer screen. Most of the time I completely forget I'm not reading a paper book.
• You don't get to see the cover/back copy and there are no page numbers (just percentage done), which I hope they change in the future.
• Not all books are available as ebooks. This was a huge concern of mine, but all but one of the books I've wanted lately were available. The selection is huge.

So that's my take. I ♥ my Kindle. I still hang out at the bookstore, but I just make note of what I want then look it up when I get home. I never thought I'd be such a believer, but my experience has sold me.

So how about you? Would you ever consider getting an Ereader? For those of you who have one, what's been your experience? And am I the only one who's sniffing books?

**Today's Theme Song**

"I'm A Believer" - The Monkees

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen)