Self-Publish and be Damned?

This article was first posted in August 2009, after my husband Steve and I decided to self-publish our science-fiction novel, “Einstein’s Question”. Reading it again, five years later, I can't fault my enthusiasm and optimism, but having learnt so much more about writing and publishing, it really warrants a rewrite.

Once the book was finished, we did our research and drew up a list of agents who specialised in science-fiction. There were various factors that meant we weren’t an immediate choice:

• First-time novelists
• No follow-on book and definitely not the first part of a trilogy
• Joint authors
• Some heavy scientific content including equations

Only one agent requested the full manuscript and in the event, he offered to represent us, but unlike traditional agents, he also charged a management fee. Perhaps that should have rung warning bells, but we were so thrilled someone wanted to take us on.  After 3 rounds of submissions to science-fiction friendly publishers, we were still without a publisher and rather than wait, we discussed it with our agent and he suggested we self-publish with AuthorHouse. This too had its challenges, in particular, how to handle the graphics and equations.  In the end, I had to generate the final PDF file from our manuscript because I had the appropriate equation editor.   AuthorHouse produced softback and hardcover editions, both of which look really impressive and the paper quality is excellent. Working with a self-publishing organisation gives you an enormous amount of freedom over the manuscript and the cover. There was a painting we wanted to use for the book jacket, so we supplied photographs which were then converted and cropped.

Unfortunately, when you self-publish, you have total responsibility for the marketing as well as the book content and cover. We commissioned a website: http://www.einsteins-question.com/, sent out press releases to press- release websites and registered on various book-focussed social networking sites. We publicised the book to our facebook and LinkedIn contacts and tapped into all our personal connections. Through Steve’s involvement with Theoretical Physics, we approached Physics World and New Scientist and took out a Star Product advertisement with Physics World. We also posted the book release on the British Science Fiction Association website (http://www.bsfa.com/) and had a full page colour advertisement in Interzone.  People bought the book through Amazon - US and UK and there were some nice reviews.

We still haven't been able to attract a really large audience. AuthorHouse handle the retail book distribution, either from their own website or through Amazon, Waterstone’s etc. Unfortunately, that is bundled into the cost, so an AuthorHouse paperback retails at a considerably higher price than a mainstream publisher, albeit slightly less if you buy it direct from them. There was no question of handling storage and distribution ourselves - that would have been far too much hassle. Luckily, we retain the publishing rights, and as a result were able to produce and upload our own Kindle version, which is much more affordable and accessible.

Periodically AuthorHouse call and ask us either if we would be interested in a marketing campaign, or a discounted bulk order.  Every time I explain, sometimes patiently, sometimes peevishly, that we only buy copies 10 at a time, and it's cheaper to buy them direct from the AuthorHouse UK retail outlet - if you buy in bulk, they are shipped from the US and it costs a fortune.  Anyway, where would we put 200 copies, even if we had the market for them?  As to marketing, they would no doubt run an excellent campaign, but at our expense and with limited results.  I'm tired of being told it could be the next best-seller: of course that would be fantastic, but I really don't think it very likely.  And if I get the Harry Potter speech again, I won't be answerable for my actions.  I'm very proud of "Einstein's Question", but I don't see it as the starting point of a multi-million pound franchise.  For a start, we have no plans for a sequel, and I'm not sure about turning it into a movie, although I know Steve would disagree.

I don't regret our decision.  Nothing can take away the amazing sense of achievement of holding a properly published copy of your own work.  We learnt a lot and met some incredible people and we're both still writing.  But next time, the next book - will be different.