Jackie Houchin
I was going to write this post on “how to make $1 million on your first book” and follow the story of paranormal-romance writer Amanda Hocking who actually sold 1.5 million eBooks in 2010 and made $2.5 million. “All by her lonesome self. Not a single book agent or publishing house or sales force or marketing manager or bookshop anywhere in sight.”
Following tips she’d gleaned from the blog of JA Konrath (an internet self-publishing pioneer, who boasted of making $100,000 in three weeks), she also uploaded to Smashwords to gain access to the Nook, Sony eReader and iBook markets. “It wasn’t that difficult. A couple of hours of formatting, and it was done.”
Then… she got a $2 million contract from St Martin’s Press and… yada, yada, yada. Here’sHerStory
Today the self-published book market is flooded with books, and unfortunately a lot of them are inferior in quality in one way or another. Authors in a rush to publish don’t take time to write a quality story, edit, format, proofread, and design a cover professionally. And less than half of them make even $500.
So what’s a newbie author like me to do?
I’m currently working on a middle grade children’s book manuscript. It is a collection of twelve stories from the POV of seven kids who are the children of Missionaries in Africa. The kids take turns writing emails to their friends back home, telling of adventures, mishaps, mysteries, and lessons learned. In the process they reveal amazing bits of African culture, as well as showing how kids anywhere can use the Bible to help them in life.
Because it is unabashedly a Christian book and might be difficult to market, I decided to self-publish. I’m also determined to make it the best possible book I can.
Okay. No problem.
I’m a journalist and a reviewer. I’ve written tons of stories for my granddaughters over the years. And these twelve stories have been “kid tested” to more than a dozen children at my church. (They loved them.)
So all I have to do is a minor rework so they fit together smoothly, check for typos and grammar errors, and ask a friend to help me upload it to Kindle and Createspace. Right?
WRONG!
As I began to read blogs about self-publishing and downloaded PDFs like “Checklist for Publishing Your Book” and “Which Format Should I Choose” and followed marketing blogs with tips on using social media, launching your book, advertising, newsletters, and websites, I discovered there’s a lot more to consider.
I bought and read “How to Self Publish Your Book” by Craig Gibb, which details about titles, pen names, and blurbs, as well as editing, cover designs, formatting, promoting and marketing options.
“Word by Word, An Editor Guides Writers in the Self-Editing Process” by Linda Taylor describes in detail the process of content and copy editing, proofreading, formatting, and all the front and back matter I would need to write for a complete “up-loadable manuscript package.”
My take away, if I am determined enough to do it:
- Write/rewrite my stories so they are polished to a mirror shine and have a kid-compelling first chapter.
- Get my manuscript professionally edited. (I sent in a sample 750 words to be edited free to one publisher, and was aghast at all the track changes suggested!) A proofreader is also high on my list.
- Get professional help in formatting my manuscript for the various eBook and print options. (There are just too many things that can go wrong, and I know from a dear friend on this blog that the learning curve is steep.) This is especially important because I want to include photos or illustrations.
- Get a cover designer/illustrator who can format for both eBook and Print, and who can portray the vision I have for the stories.
How much is this going to cost me? A lot.
Can a middle grade children’s book with a Bible slant recoup that in sales? Only God knows. I’m really NOT out to earn $millions. Any profit I make will be channeled back into the Africa ministries that I love.
But… I DO have a person who has promised to read the book and write a foreward for it. He’s worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators and travels the world as a Partnership Facilitator. He’s been to Malawi many times. Who knows where THAT contact might lead.
And YOU might even know a 7-12-year-old who thinks it would be fun to grow up in deepest, darkest Africa! And want to read my book.
The Writers in Residence 