To novice authors, it still seems easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to get their work published.
The good news is that there are a lot more needles than there used to be. After two decades of maneuvering through a consolidation of the traditional white-shoe publishers and their book lists, the growth of desktop and digital publishing, and the record growth in self-publishing, authors may be seeing a fresher publishing environment, though the rancorous battle continues between the traditional publisher/bookseller model and online bookseller Amazon.
Self-publishing is the option many are choosing.
In 2012, more than 458,000 books, including e-books, were self-published. That’s 30 percent more than rolled off traditional publisher presses.
Beat Barblan, a director of identifier services at Bowker, a publishing industry stat-keeper, said last month that, “Our general conclusion is that self-publishing is beginning to mature. While it continues to be a force to reckon with, it is evolving from a frantic, wild-west style space to a more serious business. The market is stabilizing as the trend of self-publisher as business-owner, rather than writer only, continues.”
Bowker found in 2013 research that more than 75 percent of self-published titles came to market with support from just three companies — Smashwords, CreateSpace, and Lulu — that provide author publishing help.
The journey to getting the presses rolling is daunting. For Island resident and novice author Jay Henry Kaufman, taking the traditional road to publishing with The Mystery of the Cliff House, was “an introduction to the Darwinian side of publishing.”
Mr. Kaufman is a bright guy, a doctor who’s headed the ophthalmology department at Newton-Wellesley Hospital outside Boston. He loves to write and describes his maiden publishing voyage with a particular humor and whimsy.
“Those who run fastest and have a head start generally win,” he said referring to self-publishing. “I have friends who are published authors who gave me access to agents and publishers. Many of the people I contacted were very nice, but it was like being turned down for the prom by the prettiest girl in the class. I got no response from others.
“Look, I wasn’t naïve. I’m not God’s gift to publishing and I wasn’t thinking that someone should want to publish this book.”
Mr. Kaufman’s prior publishing experience included medical writing, the staging of two of his plays, and a short story published in an anthology. He decided to self-publish his adventure mystery book about three children who closely resemble his three grandchildren. He’s glad he did it and is planning a sequel as his grandchildren/protagonists grow.
“But there are two sides of publishing,” he said. “One is getting published. The other is what happens after you are published.” Mr. Kaufman chose to list his book on Amazon.com, which is often pilloried by the writing, publishing, and bookselling communities for a long business reach and short royalties.
Mr. Kaufman has enjoyed keeping track of his sales success online at Amazon. “One day I was 62nd on the bestseller list, then after all my friends and family had bought their copies, I dropped by thousands of places,” he said. If Walmart buys 10,000 copies of a book one day, you fall fast. Keeping track of your sales can become addictive, probably not a good practice for manic-depressives.
“I can see both sides of that bookstore vs. online controversy. I grew up loving books and bookstores, just being in a bookstore and talking to people whose lives are embedded in their profession. I understand their dismay. Amazon is seen as a bully, but it can also be an avenue. Bookstores have told me they won’t carry titles that are on Amazon. You have got to market yourself. I’ve noticed that if I speak about my book to people, sales go up.”
Longtime Edgartown resident Tina Reich was an impatient author. This summer, after completing her first novel, Shores of the Heart, she quickly abandoned the traditional publisher route. “It’s almost impossible to get an agent or a publisher for someone who’s unknown” she said. “Maybe my second book will get a look, but I recommend self-publishing. It met my needs: I wanted to see it in print.”
Ms. Reich lists her love story on Amazon. “Their system isn’t so good,” she said. “When someone buys a copy, Amazon contacts me and I have to send a book. I also have a digital version and that seems to work well. I’ve sold 30 bound copies and maybe 25-30 digital copies. I fought the electronic book initially, but now I see the benefit. It’s portable and handy to use.”
Ms. Reich found Mira Digital, a publisher in Missouri, that was willing to collate her chapters, help her with cover design and arrange for a Library of Congress number. “I chose them because I could talk to a real person,” she said. “For $2,000, I got all that help and 250 softcovers and 25 hardcovers which arrived on time. My e-book was a separate charge of about $1,000.
“The real expense is getting edited. That costs about $5,000, so I self-edited. And maybe that shows. I will use self-publishing unless someone has interest. I think more marketing can help me. A few self-published books have been discovered.”
The route chosen by Mr. Kaufman and Ms. Reich may be the best for new authors, said Jan Pogue, owner of Vineyard Stories, a publishing house here. “My sense is that David McCullough will always have a publisher but Tom Dresser had to find his place,” she said. “Jib Ellis decided not to wait for a publisher, to do it himself. Michael West has marketed his books well.” Mr. Dresser found a small, niche publisher for his local history specialty as did Frank Partel who writes 20th century historical naval novels. Mr. Ellis and Mr. West launched themselves.
“Self published is the biggest trend in books, and Amazon — regarded as the monster — makes it available,” Ms. Pogue said. “There is pent-up demand. People who have been waiting for years are deciding they are going to discover themselves. I think it’s great. Look at number of literary events we have. Our libraries don’t have to reach (for events). Authors are editing themselves or asking for peer reviews. We have lots of writer groups on the Island with people comfortable showing their work. There is so much talent here.
“Michael Blanchard (author of Fighting for My Life) is a Facebook phenom. He’s got 40,000 followers. He’s not self-published because he used my company, but he operates like a self-publisher.
“It’s hard work, but there are always going to be books. France has just declared books — and bookstores — to be a national resource. We have bookstores on this Island who are doing fine.
“Books are back, baby, and so is the economy.”