Welcome Mat Wednesday: Gina Conroy returns!

Hey friends! I’m so happy to welcome author Gina Conroy back to Tag(g)lines today. Gina first visited in December, soon after the release of her novel, Digging Up Death. Her book released in ebook format in late 2012 but as of just last week, it’s now available in soft cover too!

Now one sad thing: My internet has been freaking out in the past week or so, especially when it comes to videos.* This means a) I’ve had some really, super fun conversations with my internet provider tech people [insert sarcasm font] but also b) no intro video today. Boo!

However, to make up for the lack of video, here’s something fun: Gina has offered to give away a copy of her book. Yay! So just leave a comment below to enter. The giveaway closes next Tuesday at 5 p.m. CST at which time I’ll use a random number generator to determine the winner.

Gina’s topic today is a fun one: indie and epublishing. Take it away, Gina…

Breathe New Life into Your Dead Manuscript Through Epublishing

So you’re manuscript has made the rounds at traditional publishing houses and has been rejected. You’re ready to give up, call it quits with this one, bury it in your hard drive never to see the light of day. It’s dead. What other choice do you have?

You can breathe new life into your dead manuscript through epublishing. 

Actually, writers today have more choices in publishing than in the past. Though in days gone by, self publishing has been considered a four letter word, today’s Indie authors, as they are now called, are earning respect as a group of talented authors who’ve studied the craft, polished their manuscripts, and either can’t find a home for their work or have chosen to self publish.

While Indie publishing is an option for authors who aren’t going the traditional publishing route, it is not the only option. Instead of Indie publishing, many authors are choosing to sign with smaller epublishers which can help an author establish themselves in the market place and make a name for themselves. 

That is the route I chose with Digging Up Death published by StoneHouse Ink. But before you decide either way, here are some things you should know and questions you should ask yourself before you make your decision.

Anyone can Indie Publish, Not Everyone Should

It’s true. There are authors who haven’t studied the craft enough and become impatient to get their books on Amazon. And they do. Before long, the bad reviews come pouring in. Poorly written, no plot, stupid main character, you get the idea. And they fizzle out with not enough books sales for their efforts. So before you throw your novel up on Amazon, here’s a check list to see if you’re a candidate for Indie Publishing.

1) Study the Craft and Write the Best Book you Can (Okay, that’s a given)

2) Get your Novel Professionally Edited and Hire Someone to do the Cover Art: This doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does require cash. Make sure your editor covers content and line edits and that your cover artist is not your uncle Jimmy who took graphic art in community college and can’t hold a job. You get the idea

3) Build your Platform and Market your Book: No one is going to sell your book for you, so be prepared to market your book 24/7. Yes, it is possible via social media and you might need to for the first three books of your career to build a following.

4) Be Patient: All those authors who were impatient to go through traditional publishing channels before they Indie published are in for a rude awakening. Indie publishing is a slow way to build a business. It takes constant work. But it does work. A lot of work.
Discouraged yet? Don’t be! There is good news for Indie authors and many support groups who can help you navigate the process and offer encouragement. Let’s take at why you might choose to Indie publish over an epublisher.

Indie Authors Have Full Control
Having full control of your novel can be a good and bad thing. Here’s why:

·      No Editorial or Marketing Team

This means you are responsible for everything. The manuscript, the edits, the formatting, the cover art, loading it on Amazon, B & N, Smashwords, marketing, and doing the accounting. No one tells you what to do, but no one helps, either.


·      More Money In Your Pocket

Going the DIY route, also means more money in your pocket, but it doesn’t mean selling more books. Sometimes partnering with an epublisher can give you more exposure and help you sell more books than you can do on your own. You also get to set our own price for your book, which affects your profits. But you need to spend more of that money on promotion, edits, book covers, etc. Is it worth it? That’s for each individual author to decide.


·      Access to Sales and Profit Information

The epublisher I work with sets the price for my book, issues a sales statement twice a year, as does most traditional publishers, and does my sales accounting, which I’m grateful for. This means I have no idea how many books I’m selling or how much money I’m making, but I’m freed up not to worry about the business end of thing so I can write more books. (At least in theory!) With Indie publishing, you set the price, see the sales, and do the accounting.

So what do I like about my epublisher and why would I choose that route over Indie publishing?
·      I like having a team that is invested in me and my book

They have a stake in whether my book succeeds or not and have helped me through the entire process. All I really had to worry about was edits, backcover copy, and approving cover art. They take care of the rest and are always available for a quick email or more in depth conference call.


·      I’m working with an established epublisher who knows the business

There are a lot of things that goes on behind the scenes that I know nothing about, and that’s comforting because it frees me up to concentrate on writing that next book. I don’t have to worry about all the details, and I have more credibility as an author with a publisher backing me and my work.


·      I didn’t have the money or time

Would I have liked to keep more of my money by Indie publishing? Sure, but my writing account was tapped and when it came down to it, I couldn’t afford to Indie publish. So I sacrificed a percentage of sales and dove in without an advance. And I’m still waiting to see that sales sheet! But that’s okay, I know I’m selling books from my reviews and Amazon sales ranking.

Whether you choose Indie or go with an epublisher, one thing is certain, it’s going to take a lot of work. But the good news is if your novel has been rejected by traditional publishing houses,  you don’t have to bury your book. You can breathe new life into your manuscript through epublishing.


*****

Gina Conroy used to think she knew where her life was headed; now she’s leaning on the Lord to show her the way. She is the founder of Writer…Interrupted where she mentors busy writers and tries to keep things in perspective, knowing God’s timing is perfect, even if she doesn’t agree with it! Digging Up Death is her first full length mystery. On her blog Defying Gravity she chronicles her triumphs and trials as she pursues her dreams while encouraging her family and others to chase after their own passions. Gina loves to connect with readers, and when she isn’t writing, teaching, or driving kids around, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter or on the ballroom dance floor!

Thank so much, Gina. This post was definitely eye-opening for me…there’s so much that goes into publishing decisions! 

Readers, if you’re a writer, did you learn anything new from Gina’s post? Have you ever considered epublishing? If you’re not a writer, do you have any Indie or epublishing title faves? Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Gina’s book!

*Proof that the Internet situation is dire: I’m behind on the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Nooooo! Anyone else addicted?

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    Comments 41

    3. Thanks for hosting Gina again, Melissa. I love this solid epub information from someone who’s walked the road. I’m saving this post for future reference. Thanks so much, Gina!

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    5. As a reader, I’ll admit – I often overlook titles I know are self-published because I’ve seen too many that REALLY could have used some outside input! I think Gina gives some excellent points for both sides of the issue. Great advice for those considering their options!

      Reply

      1. Yeah, there can be a lot to wade through when it comes to self-pubbing, but there’s really some great finds out there. One of the eye-opening things for me in Gina’s post was the difference between pubbing with a smaller epublisher or going the indie route. I feel like I’ll never stop learning about the publishing process. 🙂

        Reply

      2. One thing I didn’t have a chance to mention in the post was that my particular epub doesn’t do extensive edits on the manuscript. Only a proof. I can’t speak for other epublishers, but it’s important to do your homework and ask questions. Another thing you should ask if the epublisher will offer the book in softcover. Mine did since it went through Amazon. Boy, finding lots of things I need to work into this article!

        Reply

    6. I first met Gina at the 2011 ACFW conference and she was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside! (And it was fun to see her again at last year’s conference! Love those curls BTW. But I digress… LOL!)

      Digging Up Death sounds like a blast! I love Gina’s cover and title, and especially the tagline.

      Thanks for the encouraging words today and the wealth of info!

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      2. Everyone needs a cheerleader like Cynthia, in fact, some days I wish I had a recording of her in my head! You ROCK, Cynthia! And in all honesty, I don’t think I came up with that exact tagline. I think it was a brainstorming effort!

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      1. Hehe, I loved that post, Cindy. It’s funny, actually, because several times in the days since you wrote it, I’ve had to laugh when I’ve heard “I LOVE…” come out of my mouth. 🙂

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    8. Thanks for the tips, Gina! I decided to e-publish my first book, “Take That, Mayans!” exclusively on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing. Glad to see Digging Up Death is now available in softcover. Congrats!

      Reply

    9. Thanks for the tips, Gina! I decided to e-publish my first book, “Take That, Mayans!” exclusively on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing. Glad to see Digging Up Death is now available in softcover. Congrats!

      Reply

    15. I’m an indie myself, but I know others who use small e-publishers. They’re a great compromise between indie and traditional publishing, imo. I don’t have any desire to go that route, but I sure appreciate the fact we authors have so many options these days. We authors are so different and varied in our interests and skills that it’s nice to have options that fit us all. 🙂

      Reply

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