Self publishing the way to go?

by Katrina Mandrake-Johnston
(BC, Canada)

A Doorway of Mirrors #1

Self published, print on demand, Trafford

After doing some research in whether or not self-publishing was the way to go or not, I finally decided in favor of it. I've spoken to other authors that have done the same and they also agree that this is the wave of the future.

The horrible overwhelming process of trying to market the books is a big factor of course. With the internet, self-publishing is becoming larger, it seems. Yes, every author would love to go into a book store and see their book on the shelf, but when someone inquires about a book not in stock, the bookstore turns to the internet to obtain it.

So it basically comes down to how much a traditional publisher is willing to do to promote your book and whether they think there is going to be a market for it. If anything, self-publishing is great for getting your book in print, even if it is only a few copies, and then you are able to show to a traditional publisher that there is in fact a market for it if later you choose to go with one.

Royalties are far greater than a traditional publisher would give and you keep full rights to your own work which appeals greatly. Most people don't write just to make a quick buck, and if you have that frame of mind, you'll become very disappointed.

It is all about being able to share your work with others and self-publishing is great for this and for being able to pass along a little bit of yourself down to family members and others in the form of a book. It's wonderful if your book happens to take off and make money, but it shouldn't be the main focus.

I've had luck with donating my books to schools and with ebook versions of my books. I still enjoy a paperback that you can hold and transport around to bus stops and coffeshops etc. However they have a device now call a "kindle" which looks like it might eventually replace the paper book with it being much like one in the reading but being electronic.

Visit Katrina's site, World of Zaylyn fantasy novels.