Publishing Journey

Like almost everyone that has optioned to get their first, second and more books published using a self-publishing company, figuring it out wasn’t easy. And, having had a successful career in public relations, I worked on getting the book published by one of the traditional, “top 5” book publishing houses that dominate the industry. That didn’t work.

I also tried attracting the attention of book agents, what few remain in the industry. Again, to no avail.

I wasn’t surprised by either of these outcomes. I’m nobody. For “the little 5” to get interested in publishing a first-time author’s book, she or he would have to have done something extraordinary to get their interest.

While I have no regrets with the effort – the added time to get to the publishing line allowed me more time to refine a couple chapters, add a story or two, I don’t recommend other first-time authors to try and get traditional publishers to notice their manuscripts. It’s a waste of time.

That doesn’t make me an expert on self-publishing, and I am not about to start a fee-based consulting business to help others get their first books published, but I encourage other writers and would-be writers to write their books and get them published. Do your research on the self-publishing industry. And while I have not done it so far, I believe there are conferences and seminars where you can learn more about the publishing industry, and to help people get their books published.

Lastly, self-publishing is to the book publishing industry what social media has become to traditional media. The gatekeepers have been removed! Fired! Writers, speakers (with podcasts), free speech, we can now publish our work without the vetting process of what others believe to have sufficient merit for getting published as the written word, or in speech.