tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post2503180826604407532..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Ann Voss Peterson Interviews M.J. RoseJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33599930752878318122011-09-14T14:17:37.517-05:002011-09-14T14:17:37.517-05:00Thanks for this post. I still worry I am making a ...Thanks for this post. I still worry I am making a mistake with self publishing my works as ebooks rather than seeking a traditional agent/publisher. I've heard that many of them still will not consider a previously self-published work. I don't want to close the door on the possibly of going the traditional route in the future but I thought it best to try to build a brand for myself before I did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23808837999007224042011-08-25T17:45:51.630-05:002011-08-25T17:45:51.630-05:00Great interview.Great interview.Ellie Greathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03801920885701699849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50355355450217024202011-08-25T14:04:42.147-05:002011-08-25T14:04:42.147-05:00Joe, what was it you said before about you'd b...Joe, what was it you said before about you'd be willing to pay an agent or other for packaging your ebooks, formatting etc. I've been trying to find it in your posts. Did you say you'd be willing to give 15-25% if an agent of other did all covers, layout, formatting, uploading, updating as new tech came along. Or did i dream you said that not too long ago?<br /><br />I wonder if that applies to ebooks you own rights to, but a publisher owns the print rights on same books?<br /><br /><br />thanksArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-38583375315681932592011-07-18T09:32:34.617-05:002011-07-18T09:32:34.617-05:00I almost feel I'm reading about myself here - ...I almost feel I'm reading about myself here - with a few changes. Several years ago I was dropped by Random House UK because Historical Fiction wasn't selling - and also dumped by my ex agent because she wanted me to write my specifically written for adults pirate-based adventure for YA boys. I had no intention of changing what I'd written. I found myself a small "indie" company and republished my back list with their even smaller mainstream imprint - and launched my Sea Witch Voyages. I did OK, but not very well - because the company was, being tactful, not very good, the books were not produced very well. The company went bust in March this year (2011). I am traditionally published in the US - and have even managed to climb onto a bestseller list. But that's for my straight Historical Fiction. Tha US publisher does not want my Sea Witch Voyages because they are a mixed genre, hard to market blah, blah, blah. Historical Adventure Fantasy novels, it seems, are classed as Round Pegs and are not acceptable to Square Peg Publishers. So with no UK publisher for the second time, I was faced with giving up or going self publish (well assisted publish, no way can I do all the technical stuff required) I found a fabulous company www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk - it has cost quite a bit, but quality does cost, and the result is beautifully produced books. But there is still the stigma of I am now a self published author here in the UK. The big associations will not accept SP for awards - why is this? SP books can be just as good as traditional - and don't say because a lot of them are rubbish. I've come across more than a few rubbish mainstream books! The other excuse is "we will be inundated with submissions". Sigh.<br />This interview has hit the nail on the head though - if we want our self published books to be taken seriously, and to become as respected as any mainstream author it is up to us to ENSURE that our books are correctly edited by a professional editor and are produced and published to a high standard. Then we market professionally. I am in the middle of a fabulous blog tour at the moment - at least one review blog a day for an entire month. Fantastic reviews, wonderful exposure - and all by lovely Bloggers who have offered me their support and enthusiasm.... why? Because, although I say this myself - I write damn good books. Despite what my ex agent said. Proving people wrong is a great incentive isn't it? :-)<br />Thanks again for the article! Very inspiring!Helen Hollickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292983846350273039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-7941273478710734842011-07-17T08:42:58.283-05:002011-07-17T08:42:58.283-05:00covertpr.wordpress.com has very interesting things...covertpr.wordpress.com has very interesting things to say about the new discipline of covert pr, which is used to support dictators, criminals and corrupt nations world wide.<br /><br />konrath, do you think this is a legitimate area for a writer to work in, as they are recruiting writers to create blogs, movements, make comments and infiltrate group forums.<br /><br />I have struggled as a writer but have been offered paid employment with themAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25311768462055725952011-07-15T21:02:01.922-05:002011-07-15T21:02:01.922-05:00Thanks again for all the new comments... and esp t...Thanks again for all the new comments... and esp to everyone who is reading the books - I really hope you like them!!MJRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01691203521957093189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17478416237538213892011-07-15T11:52:41.609-05:002011-07-15T11:52:41.609-05:00@nick
just bought your book--looks eerie and awful...@nick<br />just bought your book--looks eerie and awful and fantastic.kathleen shoophttp://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Letter-ebook/dp/B004XR50K6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304519936&sr=8-4noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49917486821687482372011-07-14T18:25:53.047-05:002011-07-14T18:25:53.047-05:00This is a really great interview. It's nice t...This is a really great interview. It's nice to read from someone who really was out there struggling in the trenches . . . e-publishing back in the late 90's? M.J., you deserve a medal for your hard work. I'm glad to see it's paying for you now.<br /><br />I put my first novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Day-ebook/dp/B004P1IZY8" rel="nofollow"><i>One More Day</i></a>, on Kindle because I knew that this was a good book first and foremost. It did help my decision that back in 2005 Wizards of the Coast bought the rights to publish it, opting ultimately to cancel their entire line of speculative fiction. <br /><br />I knew I had a good book. I just didn't have a buyer.<br /><br />No agents would touch the book after I was dropped from WOTC. Book publishers sent me back a nice rejection letter saying, "It's well written, but we don't know how to sell it." <br /><br />Somehow unfair. Isn't it supposed to be about presenting good books to the public, not about how each can be packaged like a Big Mac? <br /><br />The result has worked out well for me. I'm nowhere near any kind of meaningful success, at least not financially, but it is gratifying to see people buy it and enjoy it. I even got a great review for my trouble.<br /><br />It's not fair that people look down at self publishing so much. There are so many great books that have been rejected for the most artificial and ridiculous reasons. <br /><br />Sink or swim on your own merits -- that's what self-publishing allows us. That's the way it should be.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br /><a href="http://nicholaslasalla.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Nick</a>Nicholas La Sallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00672628766188470171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27613588745675621782011-07-14T13:44:38.525-05:002011-07-14T13:44:38.525-05:00Well I've put my first book Old Habits out as ...Well I've put my first book Old Habits out as an e-book on Amazon to start with. I hope I got the basics right, I've had the book carefully proofed by several people including a professional. My biggest concern is the cover and the description; you can be a bang up writer but be lousy at writing ad copy.Christopher R Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03104605722684911443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31757045567797125062011-07-14T12:16:39.345-05:002011-07-14T12:16:39.345-05:00I've been reading on your blog for a while, an...I've been reading on your blog for a while, and it seems like self-publishing is a lot easier than traditional publishing. But self-publishing has got to have its cons, and I was just wondering what they were?Gabriella Gilbertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85035736364939479762011-07-14T08:08:46.655-05:002011-07-14T08:08:46.655-05:00The Halo Effect gets your juices flowing. Really e...The Halo Effect gets your juices flowing. Really enjoying it.<br /><br />ScottAuthor Scott Nicholsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09778999586794284457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43654018469536731662011-07-14T01:03:49.893-05:002011-07-14T01:03:49.893-05:00Thanks, M.J. Of all the things I wasn't prepar...Thanks, M.J. Of all the things I wasn't prepared for when I self-published was how to balance my time despite my love of David Allen's GTD.membership cardhttp://www.plasticcardonline.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-16723263093983839062011-07-13T18:06:56.997-05:002011-07-13T18:06:56.997-05:00Congratulations on your much deserved success. And...Congratulations on your much deserved success. And that cover is just gorgeous.ReadLisaScottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29499215910253454322011-07-13T07:10:34.909-05:002011-07-13T07:10:34.909-05:00Great interview! Very inspiring. Thanks for shar...Great interview! Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing with us, MJ.Shéa MacLeodhttp://sheamacleod.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-44909002509857314522011-07-12T22:43:41.633-05:002011-07-12T22:43:41.633-05:00M.J.,
I remember reading about your success stor...M.J., <br /><br />I remember reading about your success story years ago in Writer's Market. Great to hear; thanks for sharing your story with us. <br /><br />Thanks to Ann & Joe also.P.J. Hafnerhttp://www.amazon.com/P.J.-Hafner/e/B004MSHV6C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61511648269582319742011-07-12T11:10:23.825-05:002011-07-12T11:10:23.825-05:00J.A., love your blog, your unvarnished opinions, a...J.A., love your blog, your unvarnished opinions, and all the great information you share. Thanks much for taking the time to give back. However, I'm wondering if you might consider bolding the questions when you post interviews. Doing so would make the posts sooo much easier to scan for pertinent info. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832782604769370695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64342745905442589782011-07-12T11:07:19.352-05:002011-07-12T11:07:19.352-05:00Really interesting read. Seems like, as always, th...Really interesting read. Seems like, as always, the biggest nugget of wisdom here is - write a great book(s) and keep plugging away. e or p, you will get your work into the readers hands if you keep at it.Silver Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015890050567898629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88321750142370801672011-07-12T11:04:53.067-05:002011-07-12T11:04:53.067-05:00Nice to hear about an indie author doing well ... ...Nice to hear about an indie author doing well ... kinda like reading about a lottery winner ... but even when I know the odds are horrendous, I keep buying tickets.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69864019602157860972011-07-12T06:59:21.810-05:002011-07-12T06:59:21.810-05:00Congratulations on being one of the pioneers in ep...Congratulations on being one of the pioneers in epublishing. Great post. There's always the question of time management, but I'm also interested in the psychological aspects of splitting yourself between writing and marketing. They seem like they come out of such different parts of my brain that I have trouble gearing from one to the other and sometimes feel as if I'm doing a compromised half-assed job of both.Kim Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41826327854257645332011-07-12T06:30:09.649-05:002011-07-12T06:30:09.649-05:00Thanks everyone. It's nice to be "redisco...Thanks everyone. It's nice to be "rediscovered" as one of the people who started all this mess:)<br /><br />And thanks for the kind kind words about the books!<br /><br />And yes we take self-pubbed books at Authorbuzz - in fact next week we have 4 - but there are certain packages I don't want self-pubbed authors to waste money on b/c they go primarily to booksellers and they won't buy enough to make it worth the $.<br /><br />Also that bookseller is still there and now carries my fiction but to this day I don't think she ever connected up me with me. I don't think she ever heard me say my name - she certainly never looked at the book:)MJRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01691203521957093189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67751616061185253652011-07-11T19:38:23.076-05:002011-07-11T19:38:23.076-05:00MJ - thanks for the time. We corresponded a few ye...MJ - thanks for the time. We corresponded a few years back. It's great to see you doing so well. I just got Halo Effect and look forward to the read!Stephen Prosapiohttp://www.prosapio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33563423661438994642011-07-11T18:40:06.077-05:002011-07-11T18:40:06.077-05:00Thanks to M.J. Rose for blazing the trail. It'...Thanks to M.J. Rose for blazing the trail. It's a steep and rocky path, but worth the climb. <br /><br />I wonder if M.J. has been back to that bookstore?Mary Anne Grahamhttp://www.quackingalone.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-63870181663663611352011-07-11T17:14:51.620-05:002011-07-11T17:14:51.620-05:00Thanks for posting this interview. I had no idea ...Thanks for posting this interview. I had no idea MJ Rose was a pioneer in self pubbing. Who knew? <br /><br />I really enjoyed the Reincarnationist series and so it's a no brainer to buy the Halo Effect. <br /><br />It sounds like you enjoy self pubbing but honestly don't mind giving up a lot to unload some of the work involved with it. <br /><br />Thanks Joe, Ann, and MJ.<br /><br />Kendall Swan<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Q9TYNA" rel="nofollow">NAKED Vampire</a>Kendall Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187117992380108891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45387743867403945792011-07-11T17:01:13.667-05:002011-07-11T17:01:13.667-05:00You've always been an inspiration to me! Thank...You've always been an inspiration to me! Thanks for being a pioneer.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5217007531924218582011-07-11T16:48:21.806-05:002011-07-11T16:48:21.806-05:00Great Q&A -- we talk a lot about the "pio...Great Q&A -- we talk a lot about the "pioneers" in the industry, but you truly were/are a pioneer. Congrats on all of your success, MJ.<br /><br />Question -- I'm probably totally reading this wrong, but is AuthorBuzz just for traditionally published authors? I was checking it out and interested in some of the packages, but then saw a note about the books needing to be traditionally published. If yes, is there a chance you'll be releasing some packages for self-pubbers in the future? :)Idiot Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865748428499401466noreply@blogger.com