Comments on: Self Published Authors – before you send me your book bear this in mind… http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/ opinions free from chains Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:38:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: W R Armstrong http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2191 W R Armstrong Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:00:52 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-2191 Hi Vanessa, I have self published three novels and a book of short stories in downloadable form on Amazon Kindle and am on the verge of self publishing the book of short stories in hard copy with Grosvenor House publishing. I find your views extremely interesting, albeit a little off putting and can't help wondering what your opinion of my writing would be if you checked it out? If you're at all interested you can read the blurb and sample chapters of any of my books free on Amazon Kindle. Simply type in my name and take your pick. Enough said, I think. Oh, one other thing: you mentioned book covers: well, good or bad, mine are all my own work. All the best, WRA. Hi Vanessa,

I have self published three novels and a book of short stories in downloadable form on Amazon Kindle and am on the verge of self publishing the book of short stories in hard copy with Grosvenor House publishing. I find your views extremely interesting, albeit a little off putting and can’t help wondering what your opinion of my writing would be if you checked it out? If you’re at all interested you can read the blurb and sample chapters of any of my books free on Amazon Kindle. Simply type in my name and take your pick. Enough said, I think. Oh, one other thing: you mentioned book covers: well, good or bad, mine are all my own work. All the best, WRA.

]]> By: Coleen Sosa http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-1273 Coleen Sosa Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:23:00 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-1273 Bless you, Vanessa. It's important for authors to understand how the "other side" sees their works. It's not some evil conspiracy to tamp down writers, but that the work really is quite dreadful. Bless you, Vanessa. It’s important for authors to understand how the “other side” sees their works. It’s not some evil conspiracy to tamp down writers, but that the work really is quite dreadful.

]]> By: Vanessa http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-876 Vanessa Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:20:57 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-876 Oh and Karen, I tried to copy that comment in to you but you gave an incorrect email address. Plus no link to your website so that people could judge your books for themselves. Shame. Money where mouth is and all that... Oh and Karen, I tried to copy that comment in to you but you gave an incorrect email address. Plus no link to your website so that people could judge your books for themselves. Shame. Money where mouth is and all that…

]]> By: Vanessa http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-875 Vanessa Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:13:46 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-875 Actually Karen, I would describe my attitude as dismissive or scathing but not arrogant. As I stated I'm more than happy to consider stocking self-published books, it's just that so few decent ones arrive and the vast, vast majority are utterly appalling and a waste of good trees. And it isn't as though there isn't stacks of advice out there for writers about how to self-publish and make it work for them - it would give me huge pleasure to see more self-published books of a high enough standard for me to put on my bookshelves but the majority are so bad that customers would think I was taking the proverbial. I'm sure your books are doing very well, especially as you seem to be working very hard to build an audience via schools events etc. However, they don't appear to be held in stock at the main wholesalers and the discounts they're offering for these special order titles will hinder their chances of getting into many shops. Also the Amazon reviews do read as though you've written them yourself. Why not send a copy to Jane at http://theselfpublishingreview.blogspot.com/? She's a writer and editor who really knows her stuff and her opinion is valued by many professionals in the trade. Although many self-pubbed authors think that they know better than everyone else... Actually Karen, I would describe my attitude as dismissive or scathing but not arrogant. As I stated I’m more than happy to consider stocking self-published books, it’s just that so few decent ones arrive and the vast, vast majority are utterly appalling and a waste of good trees.

And it isn’t as though there isn’t stacks of advice out there for writers about how to self-publish and make it work for them – it would give me huge pleasure to see more self-published books of a high enough standard for me to put on my bookshelves but the majority are so bad that customers would think I was taking the proverbial.

I’m sure your books are doing very well, especially as you seem to be working very hard to build an audience via schools events etc. However, they don’t appear to be held in stock at the main wholesalers and the discounts they’re offering for these special order titles will hinder their chances of getting into many shops. Also the Amazon reviews do read as though you’ve written them yourself.

Why not send a copy to Jane at http://theselfpublishingreview.blogspot.com/? She’s a writer and editor who really knows her stuff and her opinion is valued by many professionals in the trade. Although many self-pubbed authors think that they know better than everyone else…

]]> By: Karen http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-871 Karen Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:12:39 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-871 Wow. How arrogant are you? Your tone of voice in this piece is shocking. My experience has been very different to yours thank goodness. Wow. How arrogant are you? Your tone of voice in this piece is shocking. My experience has been very different to yours thank goodness.

]]> By: The Fidra Blog » Blog Archive » Self-Published Books – another plea to budding writers http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-230 The Fidra Blog » Blog Archive » Self-Published Books – another plea to budding writers Thu, 20 May 2010 15:00:54 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-230 [...] I love being a bookseller but I never expected unsolicited approaches to stock self-published books to become the bane of my life and I feel inclined to issue some suggestions based on my own experiences. Vanessa has blogged about self publishing previously here: http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bea... [...] [...] I love being a bookseller but I never expected unsolicited approaches to stock self-published books to become the bane of my life and I feel inclined to issue some suggestions based on my own experiences. Vanessa has blogged about self publishing previously here: http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bea... [...]

]]> By: Georgia Twynham http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Georgia Twynham Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:33:17 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-163 Hi Vanessa, My self-published title has just been put on the shelves of 75 Waterstones stores. So as excited as I am I have to agree with you. I paid good money for an Editor; we worked hard to find a strong cover. I spent time building a fan base then I went to Waterstones with proof of sales and audience. So on the one hand it can be done but on the other you had better be prepared to work 24/7 until you get it right and that’s just the beginning! I must add that I couldn’t have done any of this without the constant help of my local Waterstones staff. Now I have to prove I deserve the 74 position! If there are any grammatical errors in this document my editor doesn’t work on a Sunday night. Best Wishes Georgia Twynham Hi Vanessa,

My self-published title has just been put on the shelves of 75 Waterstones stores. So as excited as I am I have to agree with you. I paid good money for an Editor; we worked hard to find a strong cover. I spent time building a fan base then I went to Waterstones with proof of sales and audience. So on the one hand it can be done but on the other you had better be prepared to work 24/7 until you get it right and that’s just the beginning!
I must add that I couldn’t have done any of this without the constant help of my local Waterstones staff. Now I have to prove I deserve the 74 position!
If there are any grammatical errors in this document my editor doesn’t work on a Sunday night.
Best Wishes
Georgia Twynham

]]> By: Dark Puss http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Dark Puss Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:39:49 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-82 So you won't be wanting my new kidult novel "Carmilla the Lesbian Vampyr Discovers Harry the Higgs Boson in Geneva" then? Oh well back to writing for The Physical Review I suppose. So you won’t be wanting my new kidult novel “Carmilla the Lesbian Vampyr Discovers Harry the Higgs Boson in Geneva” then?

Oh well back to writing for The Physical Review I suppose.

]]> By: Susanna http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Susanna Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:58:34 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-81 Pelotard - that was my response in the end! Pelotard – that was my response in the end!

]]> By: Lynn Price http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/2010/03/self-published-authors-before-you-send-me-your-book-bear-this-in-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Lynn Price Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:18:13 +0000 http://www.stateofindependents.co.uk/?p=145#comment-79 Bless you, Vanessa. It's important for authors to understand how the "other side" sees their works. It's not some evil conspiracy to tamp down writers, but that the work really is quite dreadful. Bless you, Vanessa. It’s important for authors to understand how the “other side” sees their works. It’s not some evil conspiracy to tamp down writers, but that the work really is quite dreadful.

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