| Cindy
Vallar
Author,
Columnist,
& Editor |
 |
| Cindy
Vallar
Author,
Columnist,
& Editor |
|
E-Books
When the seed sprouts, an author nurtures it until the idea becomes a story. After writing, revising, editing, revising, editing, and revising once again, the novel that was once a seed is ready to be submitted to a publisher.I began work on The Scottish Thistle in 1990 while attending a faculty meeting at the school where I taught. I don't remember the topic being discussed, but I do remember I wasn't listening. Instead, I played with the image of a stormy night and a caped rider illuminated by a streak of lightning. Sound a tad familiar? That idea became the opening paragraphs of my first novel. Over the next ten years, I researched Scottish history, geography, culture, and many other topics in order to recreate Scotland during the Rising of 1745. After numerous revisions and listening to what others had to say about my writing, I knew it was time to begin my research into where to submit The Scottish Thistle for possible publication.
Initially, I looked at traditional publishers and encountered two problems. First, most publishers shy away from historical fiction unless it can be marketed in another genre, i.e. mystery, suspense, or romance. Second, many publishers prefer to work with literary agents who represent the author. Many agents, however, prefer to represent authors who can prove their writing is marketable and that they can meet deadlines. Also, once a manuscript is accepted for publication, it can take upwards of two years for that novel to be published. Should it be one of the lucky ones to actually make it onto bookstore shelves, it will probably only have a shelf-life of six weeks. This time line fails to include how long it takes to find the publisher who wants to publish the book in the first place.
Faced with these realities, I turned to the world of electronic publishing. E-publishers are more amenable to publishing novels that cross genres. The Scottish Thistle is historical fiction, but it's also romance. Yet it's not a traditional romance because I emphasize history over love. While reading an issue of Of Ages Past, I came across a review of Carolan Ivey's Beaudry's Ghost. Intrigued by the story, I took the plunge and bought my first e-book. Then M. J. Rose offered free copies of the book she co-authored with Angela Adair-Hoy entitled The Secrets of Our Success: How to Successfully Publish and Promote on the Web. I also read Leta Nolan Childers' e-Lectrify Your Sales: a Writer's Guide to e-Publishing Success and Karen S. Wiesner's Electronic Publishing: The Definitive Guide. E-publishers prefer to receive queries directly from authors rather than agents. They also accept historical novels. My second e-book purchase was Trace Edward Zaber's Civil War novel Sins of the Father, a fascinating historical that blends mystery and romance with fiction. This purchase also allowed me to sample Pulsar Books' product. In the end, this publisher became my first choice to submit to, and I was delighted when they asked to read my manuscript, then offered me a contract.
E-publishing, however, isn't without perils. By the time my book, The Scottish Thistle, was first published, Pulsar Books had merged with the other publishing houses under the Romance Foretold umbrella to become RFI West. The company I contracted with no longer existed and while some of the people in charge remained the same, others left. Six months after the release of my book, I terminated my contract with the publisher for cause. Although a bit depressed and wondering if I had erred in my judgment, I still felt e-publishing provided the best opportunity for me as an author.
A fellow author, Dorice Nelson (The Gunn of Killearnan and Unlawful) recommended a new publisher, NovelBooks, Inc. Once again I researched the company and its founder and CEO, Penny Hussey. Impressed by the company's professionalism and Penny's enthusiasm and plans for NovelBooks, Inc., I submitted The Scottish Thistle for their consideration. In April 2002 NBI released my novel in both e-book and trade paperback formats. I stumbled along the path, but I landed on my feet anyway.
On 1 January 2005, unforeseen circumstances caused NovelBooks, Inc. to close its doors. In June 2006 Amber Quill Press asked me to submit a manuscript for their consideration. AQP doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. Rather they are a "submit by invitation only" publisher. They hand-select writers "who not only possess enormous talent, but who...excel at their chosen craft." They released The Scottish Thistle in e-book format in November 2006, and the paperback edition came out shortly thereafter.
What is an e-book? by bestselling e-author Leta Nolan Childers
Interview with Cindy Vallar on the pros and cons of being e-published by Lee Masterson
Great site. So much to offer an e-book author!
- Rita Y. Toews, founder of Read An E-Book Week
More information about E-books and E-publishing
(Updated 2 July 2010)
© 2009 Cindy Vallar
