I'm short on "the funny" today (arguably, I'm short on the funny every day, but let's not debate that). So instead, I thought I'd direct a post at my fellow e-publishers. I'd call myself an "Indie" publisher, but that sounds wannabe Williamsburg hipster, like I'm auditioning for an episode of Girls. So e-publisher it is.
In any event, there's a slew of marketing options out there who go the e-publishing route, which is wonderful, but also daunting and confusing. I thought I'd share my backstory on getting my book published, which marketing venues have worked, and which have been a waste of money. And, because I'm also short on "the pride" today, I'm willing to give you the hard numbers.
THE BACKSTORY
I've been trying to break into traditional publishing for a long time. Less than a decade, but pretty dang close. Granted, my early efforts read like . . . well, like early efforts. I did manage to write a nice historical novel for a middle grade audience, set in the 1920's Southwest. But while agents and editors had kind things to say, they were also unanimous that it would never, ever sell.
So what's a girl to do? Write something brashly commercial, that's what. Thus was born The Grave Artist: my paranormal murder mystery for young adults. Yes, it has ghosts and a teen romance and rather lurid thrills and chills. But it also has a protagonist with a genuine voice and a story that makes you think, besides just keeping those pages turning.
The Grave Artist received offers from two well-respected literary agents, and strong interest from a third. I signed with an agent, who gave me excellent advice on honing my manuscript. Months later, when it was polished up, she pitched it to the big New York houses. Twelve of them were eager to read my book! I was in the catbird seat, what with competing offers of representation and so many editors willing to take a look. Surely, I was on my way now!
(Cue sound of the mirthless, embittered laughter of disillusionment.)
Yeah, I was clueless. A few rejections came in within a few weeks of the pitch, tempering my optimism. However, the rest took months. As of this blog post (nearly a year from my pitch), I still haven't received an official "no" from two houses. I thought with an agent, I'd at least get the courtesy of an answer. However, submitting even an agented manuscript these days is like that scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey, after HAL cuts that astronaut's lifeline:
YOU SEND IT OUT, THEN STAND BY HELPLESSLY AS IT HURTLES INTO THE VOID
The rejections I did receive were along the lines of "not quite right for me" and its bastard child, "didn't fall for it". Now, if you attend writer's conferences, you know that the standard advice given to one in my situation is to suck it up, lock your manuscript in a drawer, and move onto the the next project.
But the thing was, rejections aside, I still felt my book had merit (I am delusional that way). I had written a perfectly good paranormal thriller. It might not appeal to legions and legions of twelve year old girls. But I had a hunch it would appeal to some readers -- maybe a hundred, maybe more. I never was crazy enough to think I could actually make money off my book. But -- and call me crazy if yo