SELF- PUBLISHING THE NEXT BIG THING

The NO FLY ZONE over northern Europe and UK affected far more than holiday-makers. Kenyan farm workers were laid off, German car production was suspended due to a lack of spare parts, British fencers were stranded in Beijing ------- and for anyone involved in publishing, the 2010 London Book Fair, forecast to be the best ever ----- was little short of a disaster.

One publisher told me that 70% of his meetings had been cancelled. American and Spanish agents were conspicuously absent but also unable to make it, the South African contingent held a `Not the London Book Fair’ in Cape Town. Good for them!

If anything the LBF was awash with aspiring authors. Writers are always lurking among the exhibition stands, but this year with the rising interest in self published works, they were out like a swarm of bees.

I listened to an excellent talk on the merits of DIY by Siobhan Curham, a successful young self published author who provided useful advice to any writer considering this route.

The strongest argument for self-publishing is that as publishing houses expect authors to do most of the marketing, why not go ahead and publish your book yourself.

All very well, but like any business, self publishing requires investment and not just the cost of paying a printer, or one of the many companies who specialise in this field. You must employ a competent editor and while family can be helpfully picky in pointing out typos - better to pay a professional proof reader.

Ditto advice for the cover design. Don`t ask your best friend who is a dab hand at art to do it. There are people specialising in book design and irrespective of the old adage --- don`t judge a book by it`s cover -people do, and if the cover is less than exciting - it will likely inhibit sales.

So just as digital cameras have revolutionised photography, self publishing is coming into its own but it must be total commitment.

Writing is only part of it - marketing and distribution follow on - so unless you`ve the time, the will and the means to invest in your project - don`t touch it. Otherwise go for it, best of luck and see you at next year`s London Book Fair.

Recommended reading: Dan Poynter`s Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book ISBN 9 781568601427.

http://findingtheplot.co.uk/ Siobhan Curham

Images: www.copix.co.uk

www.blurb.com

www.authorhouse.com

www.booklocker.com

SELF PUBLISHING SUCCESS STORY

Congratulations to Australian writer Trish Clark! The 63 year old's self-published book, Good Night & God Bless featuring Christian accommodation in Europe, has won the USA National Best Book Awards 2009 -Travel Guides.

Tall and attractive, the former Qantas stewardess discovered the idea of staying in monasteries and convents while backpacking in Europe. 'I found them to be cheap, well located and preferable to an hotel, and while not especially religious myself, I like the serene atmosphere of an ecclesiastical presence,' she told me in a café beneath St Andrews Presbyterian Cathedral, in central Sydney.

As the outside temperature topped 39c, she explained how she began writing in 2003, but on becoming depressed by a negative response from editors, she read everything she could on publishing and marketing, before plunging into DIY.

Printed in Hong Kong in the format of a bible, Good Night & God Bless features spiritual places to stay in Austria, Italy and the Czech. Republic. 'I personally visited 100 and a further 200 recommendation were supplied by others interested in the project,' she said.

Volume I which was picked up by Dymocks (the Australian equivalent of Borders) has sold out. Volume 2,covering the UK, France and Ireland, will be published by US based Paulist Press in February 2010. And Trish, a mother of five, is planning a third volume on Spain.

'I hope to make the Santiago pilgrimage and can't wait to be on a strange road, on my own, with nothing around me, but the horizon.'

However she has taken her children on trips abroad.

'Wanting to take the two eldest somewhere really special while they were still young, I chose St. Etienne-le-Laus whose 16th century Benedictine monastery is built 900 metres up on a peak in the French alps.'

'Legend says it used to be so tough to reach, that the Pope declared whoever made it to the top would be guaranteed eternal life.'

Trish Clark's advice to any author considering the self publishing route is to read the Amazon book on self-publishing, to get an eye-catching cover, a really good website, a competent marketing agent and just go for it!


www.goodnightandgodbless.com
See also: www.religious-tourism.com