tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post9168686695056590201..comments2024-02-09T19:43:19.860-05:00Comments on DEFENDING THE PEN: PITFALLS & OPPORTUNITIESYolanda Renéehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-77088163942864197502019-10-28T04:16:44.125-04:002019-10-28T04:16:44.125-04:00Nice post!Thanks for sharing.
egg wholesale price ...Nice post!Thanks for sharing.<br /><a title="egg wholesale price in namakkal" href="https://sriselvalakshmi.com/egg-wholesale-price-namakkal-products.html" rel="nofollow">egg wholesale price in namakkal</a><br /><a title="egg manufacturers in namakkal" href="https://sriselvalakshmi.com/egg-manufacturers-namakkal.html" rel="nofollow">egg manufacturers in namakkal</a>sriselvalakshmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11120900944752597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-10116803192461031392015-11-25T10:50:42.149-05:002015-11-25T10:50:42.149-05:00Congratulations, Shawn! That's fabulous! Not a...Congratulations, Shawn! That's fabulous! Not all indie publishers are cut from the same cloth (just like not all self-published books are awful, or not all big publishing houses are money-starved Scrooge magnates that'll sell your soul for a buck), so I'm glad to hear your small-press experience is working out so well. Yes, the involvement is really amazing; I was surprised by how often my opinion was not just sought but actually taken into account. I think we all dream of that big-house publishing contract (and the huge advances, haha), but it's sort of like those childhood fantasies of being a princess... The dream is way better than the actual reality of it :) For all practical purposes, the small press is the option that works best for me. I'm glad you feel the same way about it, too.<br /><br />Thanks so much for coming by—and much, much success with your upcoming release!Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-71964050115304163662015-11-25T10:41:44.637-05:002015-11-25T10:41:44.637-05:00You touched a key point, Lynne: the validation tha...You touched a key point, Lynne: the validation that comes from having someone, not a fellow author or one's mom, that believes in us and our work enough to—quite literally—put their money where their mouth is. For many authors that validation is nice but not a deal-maker (or -breaker); they believe in themselves enough, and I envy them that. For me, though, that leap of faith from a stranger—and a business-oriented stranger, at that—has been the single most important milestone in my life. The day the editor at Truth Serum Press said he though MIRACLE was worth publishing is a day I'll remember forever (and an email I go back to often, haha).<br /><br />Thanks so much for coming by, Lynne! It's always great to find your name in the comments :)<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Quiet Laughter </a>Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-71971635698282855202015-11-25T10:34:16.772-05:002015-11-25T10:34:16.772-05:00Thank you, Nilanjana! You're right, poetry is ...Thank you, Nilanjana! You're right, poetry is a tough, tough sell any way you publish it... Which, by the way, is shameful, but perhaps not quite surprising... In a world where 50 Shades can be a bestseller, what room for poetry then? *Sigh* Don't give up on indie presses, though... As I said, they're not in it for the money, which means they have the freedom to publish what they want to publish—the books (and poems!) they're in love with. It'll take a bit longer to find the publisher you want, and who wants you, but the wait might be worth it for the extra help in marketing, which is especially valuable for "hard sells" like poetry. Chin up :)<br /><br />Thanks so much for the visit, Nilanjana, and for sharing your thoughts. Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-25218006848211512822015-11-25T02:50:38.661-05:002015-11-25T02:50:38.661-05:00I've been picked up by a small publishing hous...I've been picked up by a small publishing house, so I love hearing your thoughts here. I've often wondered if I made the best move, but as I'm starting the editing process, I'm certain I did. The involvement and the help has been great. I've often thought that being picked up by an agent and then one of the big houses would have been ideal, but hearing your comments and seeing the others comments here, makes me think twice about that notion. Then there's the self-publishing route, but it's not respected due to the many poorly edited books out there, and there are a lot!! Yes, I'm thrilled to have been picked up by a small publisher. :) StepmomShawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12853176933886434836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-37823169449336383822015-11-24T14:56:29.585-05:002015-11-24T14:56:29.585-05:00Hello Guilie and Yolanda,
Good, thoughtful post ...Hello Guilie and Yolanda, <br /><br />Good, thoughtful post on the small press option for publishing. For those with all the skills needed to self-publish, that option is opening up so many doors, and forcing the industry to rethink itself--and that's a good thing. For me, the small partnership-publisher route was most appealing. I've loved the experience of working with an indy, full-partner publisher. The attention to detail in editing, cover design, and layout ensure I put out a high quality, professional product, but as you say, I get to work closely with them through that, so it's personalized for me and my book. It's also important to me to know my publisher believes in me and my work enough to take the financial risk of publishing my novels. It's nice to know they see me as an investment that will pay off, rather than just another way for them to make risk-free money (as, I'm sorry to say, too many of the vanity presses and "pay-to-play" publishers do. Although, as Bob pointed out, not all of them are scams.) <br />Lynne Hinkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361943728649912762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-77693311989945057392015-11-24T05:05:07.693-05:002015-11-24T05:05:07.693-05:00Hi Guilie and Yolanda,
Interesting read. And '...Hi Guilie and Yolanda,<br /><br />Interesting read. And 'The Miracle of Small Things' sounds awesome. Best wishes for its success!<br /><br />If you are into poetry then no publisher is going to touch you with a bargepole :) the readership is too small, the numbers just don't stack up. So self-pub is probably the only route, but not sure that it's for me - that one woman writer/editor/marketing team business is seriously daunting, and not for anyone who doesn't understand the first thing about social media.<br />Nilanjana Bosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656370320322301943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-89931679100827685232015-11-23T22:23:07.431-05:002015-11-23T22:23:07.431-05:00Guilie, you are a dream come true for a blogger. I...Guilie, you are a dream come true for a blogger. It's always a pleasure to host a guest that is so actively involved with the readers, thank you! I have one more task to complete and then I can read your book, I am so looking forward to it. Wishing you all the best with this wonderful informative tour!Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-5561675664173828612015-11-23T22:14:28.333-05:002015-11-23T22:14:28.333-05:00Peter, I'm so glad you stopped in! Like I said...Peter, I'm so glad you stopped in! Like I said to Bob, I love the fact that there are other takes on this, and I think it's important, for readers of this post (or of any discussion on how to publish), to get a well-rounded-out vision of the possibilities. I've benefited enormously from working with my publisher/editor, but you and Bob are great examples of the fact that mine is certainly not the only way... And I love that :)<br /><br />MIRACLE is available in e-formats already; I just realized we didn't update this post in time, and I apologize for that. Yolanda, my gracious host, has just let me know she added the links into the post — thanks, Yolanda! Again, so sorry about the confusion.<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Quiet Laughter </a>Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-34665264805206707302015-11-23T21:52:55.237-05:002015-11-23T21:52:55.237-05:00Hola Guilie,
Excellent post. I would only add tha...Hola Guilie,<br /><br />Excellent post. I would only add that for me publishing myself through Smashwords and Kindle and Create Space is more advantageous than using an independent press. And I am delusional enough to think that with the help of my first editor (in-house), my local writer's group and IWW, I do not see the need to pay an editor. The one I tried with a sample edit, added so many filters to my opening chapter that it read like someone else's novel and not for the better. Let me know when your novel is available in ebook format so I can download it. I would like to read it. Peter. <br />Peter Bernhardt, Author: The Stasi File, 2011 ABNA Quarter Finalist; Kiss of the Shaman's Daughter [sequel]; Red Romeo; <br />http://tinyurl.com/a7rnpql - http://sedonaauthor.com - http://tinyurl.com/nef7wlpPeter Bernhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02430590332511641572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-21831005415107833612015-11-23T20:15:14.114-05:002015-11-23T20:15:14.114-05:00Glad to hear it, Sue—and thanks so much for stoppi...Glad to hear it, Sue—and thanks so much for stopping by :)<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Quiet Laughter </a>Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-3508862378145424912015-11-23T20:08:14.801-05:002015-11-23T20:08:14.801-05:00Bob, I'm so glad you came by to share input fr...Bob, I'm so glad you came by to share input from a different perspective. It's only through opposing views that our thoughts transcend mere opinion... It's enriching. I do apologize for the misunderstanding; I never meant to imply all subsidy presses are scams, and you're absolutely right: a good majority provide excellent services, and many authors find them not just useful but the perfect fit for their needs. What I wanted to point out is that smaller presses come with their own share of risks, one of which might be the scam thing. I didn't mean to disparage all subsidy publishers, or paint them with the same brush, and I'm sorry if it came across that way.<br /><br />Again, thanks so much for sharing your experience! Whatever decision we make in how to get our work out there, there's one thing that's key, and that's the support of fellow authors. You've gone above and beyond for me, Bob, and I'm eternally grateful.Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-54501661555433111792015-11-23T18:32:25.803-05:002015-11-23T18:32:25.803-05:00I enjoyed the read! I enjoyed the read! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257872092688931117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-87875150658802005742015-11-23T17:40:21.717-05:002015-11-23T17:40:21.717-05:00Hi Yolanda and Guilie, this is an important post f...Hi Yolanda and Guilie, this is an important post for authors. I take small exception to calling all of the subsidy houses "scams," although there's some truth there. I had used iUniverse and was ultimately dissatisfied with them, but I never saw them as shady. They provided good services but in the end weren't worth the money, especially when I realized I could do it mostly by myself. Selling mostly ebooks through Kindle was good for me for a while, though they took a 30 percent cut, which they of course call 70 percent royalty.<br /><br />I actually like doing the grunt work of editing, proofing, polishing, layout. Between that and the help of sharp-eyed friends, I will not hire an outside editor again. Since I have no design skills, I hire a graphic artist to create the cover art.<br /><br />Guilie, you have an excellent book. May you sell so many copies it makes you dizzy!Bob Sanchezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08350825385315155962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-69289123411840349842015-11-23T15:01:47.310-05:002015-11-23T15:01:47.310-05:00Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Donna! We don'...Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Donna! We don't celebrate it here in Curaçao (or in Mexico, where I'm originally from), but I love the concept of the holiday, and have great memories from the few Thanksgivings I've spent in the US. I envy you the feast and the warmth and the family... Enjoy! And thanks for visiting :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-47415047712418815182015-11-23T14:59:53.763-05:002015-11-23T14:59:53.763-05:00That's probably the key thing for most of us p...That's probably the key thing for most of us publishing with small/indie presses, Alex: we feel like we matter. In this age when everything seems to be on fast-forward, I really value someone taking the time to make my manuscript the best it can be. Thanks for the comment, and for the vote of confidence for indie publishers :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-63717547770748261932015-11-23T13:39:42.017-05:002015-11-23T13:39:42.017-05:00Hi Guilie. All excellent points. I've been loo...Hi Guilie. All excellent points. I've been looking at small presses myself.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving Yolanda :) And Guilie, if you celebrate it.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-50010810589461791882015-11-23T12:16:13.398-05:002015-11-23T12:16:13.398-05:00I know I've enjoyed the experience with my sma...I know I've enjoyed the experience with my small publisher. As you said, we're all more involved. I feel like I matter.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-14700322972640584442015-11-23T12:11:26.009-05:002015-11-23T12:11:26.009-05:00Yolanda, can't thank you enough for being a pa...Yolanda, can't thank you enough for being a part of the MIRACLE tour... It's fantastic to be here! And I love what you did with the post; it looks great! Thanks so much for your support and your enthusiasm; blogging friends like you are hard to come by :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-87457526584631169882015-11-23T11:54:52.470-05:002015-11-23T11:54:52.470-05:00Too right, Pat... After half a century, I suppose ...Too right, Pat... After half a century, I suppose we were overdue for a change, but I don't think anyone expected it to go this far. Now, of course, there's no turning back—and, like you say, it's only going to keep changing. Which is disorienting, but it can also be very, very good.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Quiet Laughter </a>Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-49801001014882723622015-11-23T11:52:16.263-05:002015-11-23T11:52:16.263-05:00I'm so glad to hear that, Susan! Thanks for th...I'm so glad to hear that, Susan! Thanks for the visit and the comment, and here's to more and more success—for you <i>and</i> your publisher :)Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-87469677084480659082015-11-23T11:40:18.073-05:002015-11-23T11:40:18.073-05:00Oh, wow, Sia; your take on this, as someone who...Oh, wow, Sia; your take on this, as someone who's worked "on the inside", so to speak, is so valuable. And I think it's really smart of you to want to try it both ways (or all three: self-, traditional, and indie?)... And why not? Hybrid authors seem to be finding all sorts of success, so who's to say that's not the answer to everything?<br /><br />Sunny greetings from Curaçao :) And thanks so much for coming by!<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Quiet Laughter </a><br /><br />Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-69625861612963348882015-11-23T11:30:14.688-05:002015-11-23T11:30:14.688-05:00Glad you enjoyed it, Michelle! And glad you felt i...Glad you enjoyed it, Michelle! And glad you felt it was upbeat, too... Much of the publishing-related stuff I've seen recently have such an end-of-times feel to them, haha... Which absolutely does *not* match my own experience. So I'm glad I was able to contribute another perspective :)<br /><br />Thanks for coming by!<br />Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-43469678283630329432015-11-23T11:27:40.721-05:002015-11-23T11:27:40.721-05:00Glad you liked this, Denise! In the end, indie pre...Glad you liked this, Denise! In the end, indie presses are just another option—one which worked really well for me, but which might not for someone else. That said, I'd love to know how your experience goes if/when you do find one that you like :)<br /><br />Thanks so much for the visit!<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Quiet Laughter </a>Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794648014067102242.post-89471587423399735562015-11-23T09:49:37.993-05:002015-11-23T09:49:37.993-05:00Good take on independent publishers indeed. It sur...Good take on independent publishers indeed. It sure has changed a ton and probably will keep on a changing.Pat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.com