I usually hang out in the screenwriter's lounge, but this is a book... I figured I ought to post this in it's proper place :)
I've written three crime novels, all with the same characters (basically). I was challenged by several readers to write the main character's back story (Sean McGee). I took up the challenge, but it turned into a book in it's own right--actually the first in the series.
I have been indie-publishing for 10 years, though I did go the traditional route once. I publish myself through Amazon (both ebook and paperback) and with Smashwords ( aggregates the document into pretty much every known reading device).
If you buy it, let me know what you think. If you want to self publish and have questions for me, please ask me. I'd love to help.
Good for you! Us indie authors need to stick to together.
So, you use a publisher? How do they get paid?
Here is a resource. https://www.bookbaby.com/partner-referral/Tasha-Lewis
Okay, BookBaby is NOT an "indie publisher." They are a vanity publisher. Authors buy services from them to print a book. And if you feel the need to pay someone for services, there are better and less expensive alternatives, not the least of which is Amazon's KDP.
True "indie publishers" operate pretty much like the Big 5, but on a smaller scale: they accept submissions, assign an editor, design a cover, do some marketing, etc. They typically pay a better royalty than the Big 5, but generally don't pay any advances.
And they never, ever charge authors for anything. Only vanity publishers do that.
I've use a vanity publisher twice in the last 20 years. I've used KDP a half dozen times. I come down somewhere in the middle: I will NOT ever use a vanity pub again, but I WILL pay for professional editing, design and formatting (ebook) when I pub my next novel (assuming it doesn't get picked up by a true indie press). But I will do the research myself on editors, designers and so on - I won't ever again just throw money at some vanity press.
If I really believe in my novel, I'll take the time (and spend some money cost-effectively) to publish it right.
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Yes, John, I agree... stay away from vanity pubs. You can do all of this stuff yourself. You can pay a Fiverr person to design your book cover, format your manuscript, and even find a voice over artist. Or you can design it yourself and format it yourself. I format my manuscripts for Smashwords myself. They have an excellent and free style-guide for the process.
I paid $35 to have my document prepared for the more complicated mobi format, so I could have a paperback created for free at KDP. When someone orders my novel, KDP prints it and sends it to them... no box of books in my garage.
I paid $30 for a book cover which fits audible, paperback, and ebook.
I contract with Jim Foster for all of my audiobooks. Sometimes a VO will agree to wait and get their royalties until the it's purchased... ask.
Once I have my cover design, then I go to my Canva App and start playing around to create posters like the one you see above and this one for one of my reviews.
Back to Fiverr... you can also pay someone to make short videos for book trailers or screenplay trailers. They even have animators. The bottom line is you can do most of this stuff yourself and retain much more control. Trust me, unless you have one of the big five, you will be doing all the marketing yourself anyway.
If you are smart enough to write a novel, you're smart enough to publish yourself.
Thank you John Ellis for your input. Book Baby's Partner Program allows you to share your personal link. Earn commission and use it for book purchases or income. Just a resource.