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Paula’s novels are being re-released – gradually!
Last April, I received the shock news that my publisher, Rebecca J. Vickery, was closing down
due to ill-health. Of course I understood why she had (very reluctantly) made
this decision but I was still devastated. I’ve been with her for over 5 years,
and she and her team have been the most supportive and friendly people any
writer could ever wish to work with.
My major problem, of course, was what to do with my books. Several people
encouraged me to self-publish them, but for various reasons I didn’t want to do
that. My first reaction was to try a British publisher and I sent two books to
them. However, when I discovered it could take up to a year for each one to be
re-published, I withdrew them. No way was I going to wait for up to nine years
for all my books to go online again!
To cut a long story short (including three months of
uncertainty - and despair at times), I was over the moon when, with Rebecca’s
help, I linked up with a new publisher. It was still a sad day when all my
books were taken down from Amazon on July 19th, prior to being transferred to
their new home with Fire Star Press,
an imprint of Prairie Rose Publications, but I received a wonderful welcome
from Cheryl, Livia, and Kaye.
They decided to re-publish my Irish novels first, as the ‘Mist Na Mara’ series. Anyone who has
read the novels will know exactly what Mist Na Mara is! A flurry of activity
followed, and I’m thrilled to report that the first two books in the series
went back up online yesterday, with stunning new covers designed by Livia.
The
cover of the third in the series is already done, and the fourth will follow. My other five books will be phased in after this – and at
least it has given me the opportunity to do some re-editing – I can never
resist tweaking and tightening, although without changing any of the actual
stories.
So I am entering a new chapter in my writing life. I will
always be grateful to Rebecca, who became a friend as well as a publisher (and
we’ve both said we will continue to keep in contact) – and I look forward now
to working with Cheryl, Livia, and Kaye.
My books are currently featured on the Fire Star Press blog https://firestarpress.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/new-release-irish-inheritance-and-irish.html (please pop in and leave a comment for me!)
and if you find my photo on the Prairie Rose website and
click on the Q&A, you’ll see my answers
to Livia’s interesting questions: http://prairierosepublications.com/
So excited for you, Paula! I know it was a rough road, but there's something to be said about breathing new life into 'old' books! It's like a whole new beginning!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Deb - it does feel like a new beginning - and having to start again with promo etc!
DeleteThey look fantastic and I love how they're tied together. So happy for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen. I like the 'series' look about the covers too.
DeleteIt's so exciting to see new covers that highlight the Mist Na Mara series.
ReplyDeleteYou went through an emotional wringer but this bummer turned into a blessing!
I'm loving the new covers - and am now waiting to see if sales will pick up from where they were when the books were taken offline last month!
DeleteHi Paula! I am so sorry that your publisher had to close down. If that happened to me, I probably would self-publish. I wish you all the best with the re-launch of all of your books, and I'm glad your publisher was able to help you get a new one. That was awesome of her to do. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know I hope this all works out for you. You deserve it. x
ReplyDelete