Self Publishing

I have been writing novels since 1994. In 2000, Andrews/Mcmeal published a humor book of mine, "The New Millionaire's Handbook" and, I thought, set me on the path towards making a living as a writer. Ha! Despite several excellent agents, including Kris Dahl at ICM and Tom Wallace, also in NYC, I couldn't get past the publishing committees that decide such weighty matters as readership demographics, political correctness and the "fact" that humorous novels don't sell. ("What about Carl Hiassen" asked I. "He's an exception." "Chris Buckley? Elmore Leonard?" Also exceptions). So here I am,with several novels collecting electronic dust in my computer, and no readers. I do have readers for a weekly newspaper column I publish (greenwichrealestate.blogspot.com)and my publisher sold thousands of copies of The New Millionaire's Handbook in my home town, Greenwich, so I've decided to put my money where my book is and self publish through Book Surge, a division of Amazon.

I made the decision with a pretty good knowledge of the hurdles - no book reviews and no self-respecting book store will stock it (except, I hope, in Greenwich)but what the heck.Highly regarded literary agents liked my writing enough to agree to represent me. Several editors at major publishing houses have read and liked the book, they just couldn't get it past their committees - and when did a committee ever have a sense of humor? My point is, objective readers agree with me that I've written a good story. So there's hope. I am going to attempt to break out of the conventional book marketing model - book reviews, radio interviews etc. and try alternative methods. I'll flog the book in my own column, send it along to friends of mine in the blogosphere in the hope that they'll recommend it, and whatever else comes to mind as this develops. And I've decided to write a blog about my progress so that other self-publishers can either be encouraged or warned off by my mistakes.

So here, at the inception of this blog, is my status: book is completed, I've given it a final editing, proofed it a final time, and signed on with Book Surge. I've decided on the format - standard 5.25 x 8" paperback - who's going to risk $25 on a hardcover from a self-published author? - and am awaiting a painting I've commissioned for cover art. When that arrives, I'll submit everything to the company and set about seeking publicity. I'll have a book signing party at a local coffee shop, conveniently owned by a book store, write about the book in my column and, when they arrive, send copies to my I hope influential friends. More as developments merit.