poets | Sheree's Warm Fuzzies

IF YOU’RE A NEW AUTHOR, WANTING TO PUBLISH A BOOK, PLEASE READ THIS!

Monday, I felt motivated to clean out the file cabinet in my office.

I ran across this document from a publisher from 2013. I have removed any information that identifies them.

If you’re thinking about PAYING a publisher to publish your new book – DON’T.

Luckily, I didn’t fall for this trap and relied on the wisdom of my author friend Sandra Carrington-Smith. She mentioned this correspondence threw up red flags and suggested I ask them a series of questions. They never responded to ANY of my questions.

This publisher wanted me to PAY them half of their cost (or so they say) or $5,000 to publish my essay collection with photos, Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits, and store the books in THEIR warehouse.

I’d have to pay them another $5 per book to get them out of the publisher’s inventory. WHAT? I’m suppose to do all this, and sell retail on my website. RIGHT!!

Look at the font in the first paragraph. It’s totally different than the font in the rest of the email.

This tells you I WAS NOT special. This publisher cut and pasted the body of the letter after the first paragraph.

Please, new writers, I implore you, don’t fall into this trap. Do research before signing any contracts.

You shouldn’t have to pay a publisher to release your book into the world.

I’ve published four books – all award-winning. Two were traditionally published – Mondays in October, and Midnight the One-Eyed Cat. Folly Beach Dances and Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits were published under my imprint.

With that said, in 2014, I released Folly Beach Dances to the world. It went on to win a 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award and Art Category Finalist from the Eric Hoffer Foundation.

After receiving print samples from printers all over the country, I used a wonderful printer in Chicago (Publishers Graphics), a kickbutt designer (Kristy Makansi), and even planned an AWESOME LAUNCH PARTY at a really cool venue in historic St. Charles.

In less than 5 months, I recouped ALL the printing costs ON THIS BIG BEAUTIFUL coffee table book, designer, marketing and launch party fees and had turned a profit. And…it was my first book!

I relied on my network of smart, wise and creative people along the way to nudge me forward.

Looking back over the last six years, I can’t believe I’ve published four books!

You can do this! Just don’t fall prey to people that are just out to make a buck, and have no interest in investing in your welfare!

Any questions, feel free to connect with me at oceanspiritpublishing at gmail.com. Feel free to share this post.

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