Highlights from Linda Kuhlmann’s Presentation: The Pros & Cons of Self-publishing

By Ashleigh Rousselle

Print on Demand Publishing:

• Print on Demand (POD) means your book is printed as it is ordered.
• How to find a self-publishing house: look in the books that you read. Check quality and price of the book.
• Contracts are a balancing act. Be aware of which rights you’re giving up. Attorneys can looks at contracts and help you navigate.
• Some places will literally judge your book by its cover.
• Pay for editing! Published mistakes are embarrassing!
• A galley is a pre-publication copy of your book, a “tell-me-what-you-think-of-this” copy. Once your book gets reviews, you can put them on the back cover or inside your book.
• The best thing you can do is network. Be nice to everyone, you never know where contacts will lead you.
• Have a promo copy of your work wherever you go. Promote yourself. Go into bookstores and talk to people. Get them to order your books. Don’t take “no” for an answer.
• Types of editors: Line (grammar), Content (location, time line of story, consistent eye color), and Story (actual storyline—does it flow?). However it’s your story. You don’t have to make changes.
• Become your own publisher to combat discrimination against POD. Purchase ISBN numbers at www.Bowker.com. Create Business name, and Logo—register you publishing business with the state, and send manuscripts to book finishing service.
• Define your audience: think of places outside of the bookstore where your book could be sold. For instance a book about a horse for sale in a horse supply store or at the race track.
• Create contact lists: independent and chain bookstores, librarians, book club members. Start event mailing lists.
• You have to take yourself seriously. Self-publishing is a business not a hobby.

Traditional Publishing:

• Can possibly be 2-10 year process to get a book published.
• Get an agent, then agent gets a publisher. Possible advance, editing rewrites, cover design, and text formatting, marketing advantages, large bookstore chain support.

POD Publishers List (examine initial set up costs):

www.llumina.com

www2.xlibris.com

www.lulu.com

www.createspace.com (through Amazon

Additional Services/Fees: Editing services, marketing packages, galley costs, time, cost of books to writer, return policy costs (optional)

Independent Book Publishers List:

Independent Book Publishers Assn. (www.pma-online.org)

Book Marketing & Book Promotion (www.bookmarket.com)

You can learn more about author, Linda Kuhlmann at her website.

Sunday, November 16th at the Wilsonville Public Libary: The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing with Linda Kuhlmann

Join Linda Kuhlmann for a discussion on the world of publishing today and how it may impact a writer’s decision to publish. She will discuss her experience with print-on-demand publishing and the process and results of promoting her novel, Koenig’s Wonder. During this seminar, the attendees will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of traditional vs. self-publishing, hear about the types of self-publishing, find out about print-on-demand publishing, learn the basic steps for self-publishing, receive marketing tips, and glimpse the possible future of publishing.

Linda Kuhlmann recently retired as a Systems Analyst with the Oregon Judicial Department, where she taught computer software classes for over ten years. Since her novel, Koenig’s Wonder was published in the fall of 2004, Linda has held numerous presentations on her experience with writers’ and book groups. She has also conducted writing workshops in middle schools and high schools across the U.S. More at www.lindakuhlmann.com.

Date is Sunday, November 16, 2008. Time is 2:30-4:30 p.m. Location is the Wilsonville Public Library in the Oak Room, 8200 SW Wilsonville Road. Wilsonville, OR, 97070.

Cost is five dollars at the door. Seniors and students are $3.00. Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author afterwards. The series is created and hosted by Wilsonville author Christina Katz in partnership with The Wilsonville Public Library, the Wilsonville Arts & Culture Council, and the Friends of the Wilsonville Library.

Everyone who attends will be entered to win two out of three of the following door prizes from Writer’s Digest Books: Subscription to Writer’s Digest Magazine for one year, Subscription to Writersmarket.com for one year and/or $25 gift certificate to purchase Writer’s Digest Books. Starbucks coffee and refreshments from Lamb’s Thriftway will be served.

The next Northwest Author Series featured speaker is Christina Katz, the series host and author of the recently released Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform from Writer’s Digest Books. Katz will offer a Platform Primer for aspiring authors. Don’t miss her on Sunday, January 25, at the Wilsonville Library from 3-5 p.m.

There is no speaker in December.