Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Self-publishing

I'm thinking about going the indie route.

I've sent my writing to publishers and agents and all I get are big fat No's.

I got some advice from my new friend Britney Jensen, author of Risen.
(If you also follow Chapterhouse Lane, forgive this redundancy.)

She published her book through createspace.com. It only cost her the isbn number.

So that's very little investment on my part.
And to tell you the truth, I'm not in it for the money.
Okay, maybe a little.
I'd love to earn enough money to support my family while my husband is in school. Or to earn enough to pay down his student loans after he graduates.
Or to, ahem, go back to England.

But getting rich isn't my whole motivation. Nor is fame.
In fact, if I do get published, you'll never actually see my name on the book. I'll have my picture on it, but it'll be a vague picture. Yeah I'll do signings if it were to ever actually come to that, but as Hero. Not as Amy. No, I'm not doing the Hannah Montana thing. No disguises. 
I guess what I'm trying to say is I just want to write books and maybe have some success at it.
Not J.K. Rowling success or even Stephanie Meyer success.
Maybe Shannon Hale success. :)

Anyway, so it's looking like self-publishing is my only option. Through createspace.com, I could publish my books online so you could purchase then for a Kindle or a Nook reader, etc. And if you wanted it in book form, you can buy it from createspace in a paperback.

This feels like a good decision. I'll be in charge of my own product. No agents or publishers ever pressuring me to "spice things up" in my stories.

What do you think?

12 comments:

Saimi said...

I think that's a fantastic idea! Heck I even have a Kindle so get publishing girl so I can get reading!!!

Good luck!

Saimi said...

Amy I was just reading another blog and found it something you might be interested in. Head over to

http://stephie5741.blogspot.com

She's a writer to.

The Clawson's said...

I'd bu it. You're amazing, I wish I had a talent like that!

Heather said...

I say go for it! Chase down your dream and the rest will just be icing.

Lindsey Smith said...

SO excited for you!

Unknown said...

Best of luck! The current writing market os both a scary and exciting place right now.

Chess said...

I totally love you enough to spend money on something you wrote!!

What I Did Today said...

Shannon Hale success would be very good indeed! I'm rooting for you! Let us know as soon as you can. I'm on pins and needles.

KC said...

Well I'm not exactly a "reader". I know. Please don't hate me for saying that. I TRy... SOMetimes.... to like it. I do. Like maybe every couple of years I tell myself I'm actually going to try reading a book... you know, other than a cookbook, or a picture book, or... don't hate me!!! But if your work ever gets made into a movie I'm TOTALLY first in line to watch it! ORrr even put on CD... I can handle that!! I will listen to it in my car or where ever! Anyway.. I say "go for it!" I mean, can't you STILL be sending your stuff to other publishers if you want even after youve self-published?

KC said...

Just have to tell you something funny. Just clicked on your "Im a mormon" button. Didn't realize it actually lead to your profile. Uhhh Yeah they still don't have mine up yet. They said there was a problem with my pic, so I "fixed" it, and they still don't have it, but anyway, my husband's says: "We have a cute little boy. He likes to run a play. He is also a great missionary like his dad. UHHHhhh OKAy. I think he just put "run and play" as a joke, and then forgot to take it off!!

Unknown said...

You have an Australian buyer of your book already :D Though not knowing how it'll all come together, I know you can do it so I say go for it!

Jennie said...

Thank you for commenting on my blog yesterday. As much as I hate that yet another person has lost a child, it selfishly makes me feel less alone. But then I cry because there are too many of us just waiting to hold our angels again. I love Ella's nickname of 'ladybug'. I relived so many memories while I was reading your posts during the pregnancy. I remember being told the chances of survival for our baby, and thinking 'it will be okay, everything will be fine. she will be our miracle' Anyways, I'm starting to ramble. Thank you for commenting so I could find your blog.