My Author Journey: From Indecisive to Indie
One of my major goals for this year decade is to create my own indie publishing company and make my books available in print, digital, and audio versions. That will involve re-releasing the first three novels of the Flowers of the Field series under the Words are Forever imprint.
Sounded simple enough. Until I started digging into all that was involved.
My first self-published venture, forty years ago, was my Self-Publishing Guide, in 1979. This initial project involved creating camera-ready copies on an IBM Correcting Selectric typewriter and recruiting a friend to design a cover. I worked with a local printer and ordered 300 copies, which he produced on an offset press. I then set up book signings and mostly sold them in person to friends and colleagues and through a few local bookstores.
How the industry has changed.
I found myself in a dilemma. Should I turn to traditional publishing? Hybrid or self-publishing services? Stick with print only? Add e-books? What about audio? So many choices. So much new technology.
I finally decided to make the plunge. If I’m going to successfully sell books in the digital age, it means learning all sorts of new technology in order to produce, market, and distribute the finished product. Progress is slow, but numerous online sources provide information (and misinformation) for every step of the process.
Stay tuned as I report on more steps—and missteps.
An interesting aside:
As part of my marketing research, I check online from time to time to see if any used copies of my books are available for sale. Recently, I found a few of my first novel, Fireweed Glow. From there I clicked to my Amazon author page (which I have not filled out yet) and found this:
I may be in the early phase of my online writing adventure, but at least I’m in good company.
Very good company!
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