First days
First days of school are mystical. A few are memorable. The most memorable one for me was not my own but my son’s. Tyler’s first day of kindergarten was a landmark: our first child going off to public school for the first time. Excitement, anxiety, and hope for the future filled the air at our house.
After the obligatory photos that would become a family tradition (Tyler with Mom, Tyler with Dad, Tyler with the dog), I drove Tyler the two miles to school. We talked easily on the drive, about the fun he would have and about the games we would play when school was over.
The school was buzzing with cars and busses and parents and kids. Tyler and I walked hand-in-hand to his classroom. He looked around, wide-eyed at the activity. As we neared his classroom our pace slowed. When we were about 10 feet away from the door, Tyler dropped to his knees on the ground and pulled me with him.
“Whatsa’ matter, Tyler?” I whispered in his ear.
“I’m a little scared,” a small voice replied.
I let that sink in.
“Me, too,” I told him.
We stayed frozen a while then Tyler turned to face me. His blue eyes glistened as he wrapped his arms around me. Then he stood up straight, walked past the parents that hovered outside the classroom door, and into into his new world.
What "First Day" stands out for you?
Publishing #4
Producing a book with a publisher has advantages...and disadvantages.
The major advantage that I see is that the publisher takes the financial risk of producing the book. They are responsible (and pay) for everything: the artwork, design, editing, printing, and marketing. That's quite huge, and there's more. They pay for your words, too. They may pay you a flat fee or a royalty, a percentage of the sale of the book. My preference is a royalty and, if possible, a royalty on the retail cost of the book rather than the "net" (what they sell it for, which is usually less than retail). I feel much more a part of the "team" when getting a royalty, and I operate on the hopes on many different printings, which will yield more money. Reality check-in: This does not always happen.
Finding a publisher willing to take on your book in this highly competitive market is very challenging. If you are fortunate to get one, I see two main disadvantages. The first is that, since the publisher has the main responsibility for producing the book, they also are going to make most of the decisions about the book (size, what it looks like, number of copies, hard or soft cover). My experience has been that most are open to feedback from the author, but the ultimate decisions will be theirs. It makes sense, though, given they are the ones taking the risk.
However, the decisions publishers make can cause repercussions for authors. Case in point: I wrote a beginning bio of Christopher Columbus. In it, the editor had cut out some of the text about when Columbus and his crew landed in the "New World." The deleted text had to do with the people (Tainos) who were already living. In addition, the illustrator did not show any of those people in his artwork. Result: I was criticized for the oversight. Was it my fault that this happened? No. But people assume that the person whose name is on the book is responsible for all its contents. Lesson learned for me.
The other main disadvantage of working with a publisher is that the author only makes a small percentage of the price of each book. With self-publishing, all the money goes to the author. However, much of that money will be going to pay the costs of producing the book.
My personal preference has been to work with a publisher in producing books, but to keep an open mind and be willing to "put your money where your mouth is" when appropriate. I am grateful to have had positive experiences in both realms, and I am very pleased that the stigma of self-published books (low quality, unprofessional) has improved over time. Some highly successful authors are now choosing to self-publish despite lucrative contracts offered by publishers. The popularity of e-books is making a huge impact on the publishing industry and I would suggest exploring that avenue as you consider options for your work.
In the end, as in the beginning, anyone can get a book published. It's all about how you want to do it. And I hope you will. Good luck!
Hard at work on the next book.
Publishing #3
Self-publishing may be for you if:
You have a book that HAS to be published, no matter what.
You want total control of the final product.
Your book will have a clearly defined market that can easily be reached.
Self-publishing in not for you if:
You don't have the financial resources to pay for the project (i.e. illustrations, design/layout, editing, printing).
You are not detail-oriented (since you will be responsible for overseeing the project).
You do not want to take the time and energy to market your book.
Believe me, self-publishing is risky. You put up all the money to complete the book, then spend the next few years trying to make your money back, and maybe even a profit, by selling the books. If money is not an issue, you can just give the books away and all is well. Your ideas, stories, and/or information is out there. If, on the other hand, you need or want to make money on the book, you can do it if you work hard and have a bit of luck.You can also have someone else distribute your books (although that takes away a chunk of the money that would otherwise be going to you).
An example: A few years back, I wrote a children's book about the Lewis & Clark expedition. It was an interactive book in that kids completed drawings and colored in the book as well as wrote the answers to questions. Publishers did not show much interest due to the interactive nature of the book. I had a defined market (8 to 11 year olds) and the topic was timely since it was during the lead-up to the bicentennial. So, I self-published. I worked really hard, driving the Lewis & Clark Trail, stopping at bookstores and museums along the way. Those places ordered, two or three, maybe five at one time, but it was slow going. And then I got lucky. The state's National Guard decided to develop a Lewis & Clark program and present it to schools. They wanted to hand out my books to their student audiences. Bingo! They ordered 2,000 books, which required another print run which I was more than happy to do since the books were presold.
There are many other self-publishing stories, both inspiring and frightening. The key is to have an awareness of what you're getting into...before you get into it.
Next time...working with a publisher.
Market Update
In case you were wondering about the health of the publishing industry. Note the stats on e-books:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/books/survey-shows-publishing-expanded-since-2008.html?_r=1&hp
Publishing #2
Okay, write first or sell first? It's a huge question, and one that needs to be addressed. How you answer could make a difference in months or years in your life. In honor of full disclosure, I have tried both ways. Additionally, the only things I have sold that were not already written were books that were part of a series.
Write the entire book first if it's something you HAVE to write and, either it never has to be read by others, or you will take personal responsibility for seeing that the work gets published (= self-publishing; more on that later). If your life can go on without writing the book, you're not willing to put the resources into self-publishing, or you don't really want to spend the next six months to ten years working on something that most likely (yes, the odds are against you) will not see the light of day, try selling the book first. Or, at least try to get some interest from agents or publishers abut your project that will inspire you to write on.
If you're going to write first, get going. What are you waiting for? Remember, checking out the marketplace first for your book can be helpful, so that you don't replicate something already done and so you can see what publishers might be on your target list when it comes time to send out a query. Some good resources, in addition to similar books in libraries and bookstores, are The Writer's Market, which list hundreds of publishers and is updated every year, and periodicals like "Writer's Digest" and "The Writer Magazine." If you're writing for kids, check out The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Childrens Writer.com.
Next time, self-publishing. Bring your unbridled energy, and don't forget your checkbook!
Publishing #1
I've recently received questions about publishing, so I thought I'd address the topic here in a series of posts. While I have been having my books published (24) during the past 20 years, I DO NOT consider myself an expert on publishing by any means. Just when I think I have it figured out, something changes and I'm back at square one. And changes are happening now more than ever. As a result, I am a continuous student.
The fact of the matter is, anyone can publish a book. That's pretty much a good thing since it means big publishing houses have less than total control of the market, but it can make it challenging for consumers to sort through an increased number of books of varied quality (which we have always had to do, so no big deal!).
Here's my thinking process when approaching a publishing project: First, I start with, What am I interested and curious enough about to want to spend a good deal of time with and write about it? When I have something in mind, I think about the market. Will other people be interested in the topic and want to read what I write? If the answer is "yes" I'll write with a particular audience in mind. If "no" I'll write it for myself and not bother to market it for publication.
Checking the market is a very important step. Are there similar book on the market? Who is the publisher? Knowing this is especially important if you have a specific genre (e.g. biography) or topic (e.g. teaching autistic children) in mind. Knowing what's currently available and who publishes what can save you a lot of time and effort later on when it comes to marketing your work. It can also help you decide whether it's worth it to pursue a project.
The first manuscript I completed was called Positively Peppermint and was a nonfiction book for children all about...yes, peppermint, it's history, how it's grown, what it's used for, etc. I was so excited when I discovered there were not kids' books on the topic. None! However, as my rejection notices from publishers piled up -25...30...50...75 - I realized that maybe there was not much interest (read market) for this topic. What I did, though, was take a slice of that manuscript (peppermint oil is used to flavor chewing gum) and use it as a spark for another project, which became my first published book, The Chewing Gum Book.
Next post will be cover "Do you write it first or do you sell it first?"
Stay tuned.
Farewell Borders
The news became official this week - Borders book stores are closing for good. While this announcement does not come as a complete surprise (Borders has been "on the ropes" for quite some time), it does bring sadness. I have enjoyed shopping at my local Borders since it came to town. I know, my preference for Borders helped bring about the demise of small, local bookstores, and I'm truly sorry for that. But dang it, driving downtown to the small, indie bookstore, trying to find a parking spot, feeding a meter, and forever watching the clock to make sure you weren't ticketed took something away from the experience. And the selection? No contest.
Sure, Borders wasn't my ideal bookstore - that be Powell's in Portland - given that its kids' section, especially the nonfiction area, has dried up over the years, the cashier lines could be ridiculous at times, and their book buying became directed by headquarters, eliminating local decision-making and thereby drying up the a good market for local authors, but the store was convenient and comfortable to hang out. And the words, surrounded by millions of words and, with them, endless possibilities. I'll miss the place.
Summer!
Summer has arrived, and with it, rain. This should come as no surprise, this being Oregon and all. Yes, we've have some beautiful, warm sunny days. This particular day happens to be a reminder of the long, squishy-damp winters we have here. A perfect day to stay inside and write!
This wonderful day finds me happily working away in my writing office. I'm fine-tuning a couple of e-books that will be put up soon on eReadia (www.ereadia.com/publishing), getting out specs for artwork on an educational activity book I'm working on, and doing some groundwork on an update for my Game Day book that's 10+ years old. You know, getting a licensing agreement with Major league Baseball, things like that.
While I'm not actually doing writing per-se (well, right now I am), I'm doing a lot of writing-related tasks. Do I count these things as writing? Absolutely not! But each of them is necessary nonetheless. After recently completing my picture book bio of Yogi Berra, now I'm trying to find it a publishing home. I scour my contacts file as well as my publisher catalogs, notes, and market surveys done by various groups. Right now I have seven different publishers targeted. Now I need to go onliine to make sure the info is current (hopefully their websites are updated), then start sending things out. And yes, I have a query letter all ready. Yes, I'll send the complete manuscript when asked for, and yes, I'll send it to more than one publisher (and tell them what I'm doing) unless they specifically forbid it, in which case I'll wait and send to them later.
Enough talk; it's time for action!
Book signing
A.C. Gilbert book signing
A middle-aged woman, wearing graying hair and a jeans jacket, sidled up to the table where I sat. I told her a little about the book, what it's about and how I came to write it. The woman picked up the book, examined the cover, then opened it up and began reading it to herself. No skimming it, or paging through and scanning. She read it, every page of it.
As she read, I sat there uncomfortably, much like at a garage sale where someone is examining one of my prized (although I'm willing to sell it) possessions. But a book - my book - is harder. It is not merely a possession; it's a creation. My creation, from start to finish.
After what seemed like a month, the woman finished reading, closed the book, and set it back on the table. What was she thinking:
"Gawd, what a boring book!"
"I could have written this myself."
"I already read it, so why buy it now?"
Patiently, I waited for a critique, a comment, a question. But, I got none. The woman just turned and walked away. What did she think of the book? I'll never know.
So it goes at book signings.
Happy June!
And a very happy June it is! Although rain and clouds dominate the Oregon skies, there is good in the air. My sixtieth birthday is creeping closer (the 9th) and I'm given to a bit of reflection. Having once said, "I can't ever imagine myself being thirty years old," in a week I'll be double that! How curious. I am absolutely amazed at how the time has passed so quickly. I can still remember sitting in high school wishing for time to go faster, wishing for my driver's license, wishing to go off to college, wishing for my own car. Fortunately, my wishing disease healed over time, and so I've chosen to make my adult life about "doing" rather than "wishing." Oh, there's been a lot of dreaming, but that's what often powers the "doing." I am grateful for the friends, family, and colleagues who continue to touch my life as the journey continues.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention another June happening. I'll be retiring at the end of the month. I have been working in education since graduating college in 1973. I've worked as a classroom teacher in grades 2 through 8 as well as a language arts staff development specialist and grant director. I'm pleased I chose the route of education, and I leave proud of the work I've done.
I won't be going far, though. I'll continue to do consulting work with schools around writing. I'll keep doing author visits, too. And make no mistake about it, I'll be writing as well. All the projects I've put "on hold" for past ___ years, I'll be pulling out of the files, evaluating them, and choosing to develop the ones in which I'm most interested. This will be hard. But, who said writing was supposed to be easy!