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Paula reflects on a
life-changing event.
4 weeks ago, just before I was about to set off for a day in
London, I received an email which turned my world upside down. Rebecca, my
publisher, who has had some serious medical problems, had very reluctantly decided
to close down her business. Everything will be wound up by the end of October,
which means that all books will be removed from distributors at the end of
August, so that the ‘final’ royalties can be calculated and paid.
I know I don’t need to tell you how devastating this news
was. Although I tried to enjoy my day in London (including the show we went to
see in the afternoon), my mind was working overtime all day as I wondered what
to do.
And it has continued to work overtime. Without really thinking
it all through, I sent a query to a UK traditional publisher, explaining the
situation and asking if they were willing to re-publish my novels. They asked
me to send the synopses of my first Irish novel and one of my other
contemporaries. I haven’t written a synopsis for about 6 years as Rebecca only
wanted a two paragraph summary of the story, so that was my first headache.
However, once I sent the synopses, they asked for the full ms. In one case, the
request for the full came just 90 minutes after I emailed the synopsis.
However, I now have to wait at least 2 months, because every
submission is sent to a panel of 10 readers. It seems that all the positive reviews for these books on Amazon USA and UK (plus several thousand sales!) don’t count for anything.
All this has made me feel like a newbie author trying to get
my first acceptance, and has left me feeling very depressed. If (the big ‘if’) they
accept my first Irish book, I will probably have to go through the same process
with the next 3 books in the series, which means it could be 2 or 3 years
before they are all re-published. I was part way through a 5th book in the
series when all this kicked off, but now I have no motivation to continue it.
Several people have suggested self-publishing, but that is a
total no-go area for me. Mainly because I have never yet paid anything ‘to be
published’ and don’t intend to start now, by having to ‘buy’ cover art etc.
So do I hold out in the hope of being accepted by the
traditional publisher, mainly because it gets its books into stores,
supermarkets and libraries? Or do I try another indie publisher, in the hope
that they will re-publish my novels more quickly? That’s my dilemma at the
moment, and I honestly don’t know what to do.
I'm so sorry you're going through this and I feel your frustration. You might want to simultaneously submit to some indies. You don't have to accept any offers you get, but it might make you feel good while you decide what you want to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen :-)
DeleteI'm holding back on submitting elsewhere until I hear from the trad publisher, also it makes more sense to leave my books on Amazon as long as I can (i.e. until August) as they are all selling steadily.
I know how difficult a time this is for you and how depressed it has made you. Hopefully the traditional publisher will see sense and decide to acquire all the Irish books and get them out on shelves soon.
ReplyDeleteSending hugs and good wishes
Thanks, Carol. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed at the moment!
DeleteThanks for all your support xx
I'm so sorry to hear of your situation, Paula. I hope you can work out something quickly.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Nancy. At the moment I don't really know what to do for the best :-(
DeleteI'm right here with you, Paula, as Rebecca was my publisher as well. My mind has been in a total muddle since hearing the news, and I have yet to decide which way to proceed. At least you took the bull by the horns and a first important step!
ReplyDeleteI've been in the same muddle, Vicki, and am still not sure I should have rushed into something so quickly, but now it's a case of waiting to see what happens. Hope you can decide what you're going to do. xx
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear this, Paula. You sound so devastated (and rightly so!). Hang in there, hon. You're a great writer, and I'm a firm believer that when God closes one door, he opens another. Fingers crossed that the publisher wants your book! And (((HUGS))).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne xx At the moment, all the doors seem to be locked and bolted - plus I don't really know which one I want anyway!
DeleteI'd do both. No publisher expects an author to wait anymore.
ReplyDeleteBe up front about it.
The two publishers who asked to read Stormy Hawkins understood that I was submitting to both. They asked to be notified if I decided to withdraw from consideration.
Publishers want you to have regained your rights to previously published novels before you submit to them, and I don't want to withdraw mine from Amazon yet because they are all still selling steadily. The big crunch will come in August when Rebecca withdraws all her books from the distributors.
DeletePaula, I am so sorry reading this. How terrible for you. We invest so much in our writing and to those who work on our behalf, it is like a bereavement to lose their support. I can imagine how lost you feel, but am confident you'll find a new home soon. Sending you positive vibes for a successful submission to those who really deserve to have you <3
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jane. I think only other writers can truly understand what a devastating blow this is, and you've summed it up perfectly as a kind of bereavement. xx
DeletePaula, whatever happens, if you haven't already done it, go everywhere you have reviews and COPY/PASTE them for future reference. A lot of publishers like you to have 'kudos' posts at the beginning of the books.
ReplyDeleteI hope the publisher accepts your book and loves it enough to demand you send in the rest in the series. Please, don't give up.
Thanks, Sherry - I hadn't thought of doing that, so thanks for the advice :-)
Delete