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Does A Self-Published Book REALLY Put Publishers Off?
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Wirralauthor
 04 Jan 2011, 01:27 #107994 Reply To Post
Does a self-published book REALLY put a publisher or agent off?

I am contemplating publishing my first book of my own horror stories via Lulu, with a view to perhaps eventually selling a novel directly to a publisher. However, there is a fear lurking in the back of my mind that if I tell them that I have self published, it may dissuade them from even looking at my manuscript.

What do you all think?
LoopyLou
 11 Jan 2011, 08:51 #108283 Reply To Post
I asked this question to agent Carol Blake at one of her conventions and she said, she didn't care where the book came from. If it was excellent, she'll take it on. However, she looks for reasons NOT to take it rather than vice versa, so hard lady to convince.

I know she's not a publisher, but I'm sure it'd be similar.

Oh, but why Lulu? I haven't seen many books from there, but those I've seen I haven't been impressed at all. Here is much more professional.

___________________________________________________
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Wise/e/B003FW6RKM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1Romance by Louise Wise
pam123writing
 11 Jan 2011, 11:19 #108291 Reply To Post
Quote: Wirralauthor, Tuesday, 4 Jan 2011 01:27
Does a self-published book REALLY put a publisher or agent off?

I am contemplating publishing my first book of my own horror stories via Lulu, with a view to perhaps eventually selling a novel directly to a publisher. However, there is a fear lurking in the back of my mind that if I tell them that I have self published, it may dissuade them from even looking at my manuscript.

What do you all think?


Lulu books are really expensive to purchase. I've seen writers trying desperately to flog their wares on Amazon self pubber forums. I wouldn't pay £12.99 for a 150 page book and most buyers would run a mile at that sort of price. I couldn't afford it. Go the YWO route instead or try loading as a Kindle first to garner a few sales and get your name out there. It's free and gives you a chance to try the market first. Good luck, whatever you choose to do.
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'Til I Kissed You
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A rock'n'roll romance series by Pam Howes all available on Amazon in paperback and e-Books.
Visit my website for details.
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Tommi
 11 Jan 2011, 12:14 #108294 Reply To Post
I've used Lulu now for 3 books, ranging in length from 120 to 230 pages, and have been able to sell them for £6-£8 and make a profit of £2 on each. The quality has been excellent, and delivery time has never been more than 3 days.

Songs from the Other Side of the Wall is just £0.70 on Kindle
pam123writing
 11 Jan 2011, 12:22 #108296 Reply To Post
Quote: Tommi, Tuesday, 11 Jan 2011 12:14
I've used Lulu now for 3 books, ranging in length from 120 to 230 pages, and have been able to sell them for £6-£8 and make a profit of £2 on each. The quality has been excellent, and delivery time has never been more than 3 days.



That's really good pricing for Lulu. A friend of mine is trying to sell hers at £12.99, for a couple of hundred pages and I do know of others whose books are very overpriced. This put me off and I stuck with Ted and YWO.
Three Steps to Heaven
'Til I Kissed You
Always On My Mind
A rock'n'roll romance series by Pam Howes all available on Amazon in paperback and e-Books.
Visit my website for details.
Fast Movin' Train - A stand alone love story.
Amazon links on:
website

"And, in the end, the love you take / Is equal to the love you make." Lennon and McCartney 1969
Wirralauthor
 11 Jan 2011, 13:30 #108301 Reply To Post
Quote: LoopyLou, Tuesday, 11 Jan 2011 08:51
I asked this question to agent Carol Blake at one of her conventions and she said, she didn't care where the book came from. If it was excellent, she'll take it on. However, she looks for reasons NOT to take it rather than vice versa, so hard lady to convince.

I know she's not a publisher, but I'm sure it'd be similar.

Oh, but why Lulu? I haven't seen many books from there, but those I've seen I haven't been impressed at all. Here is much more professional.


Hi. Thanks for your advice. You recommended trying YouWriteOn for self publication of my book of horror stories. But don't they only offer this service occasionally? And when they do, exactly how much would it cost to self publish a 6x9 80,000 word paperback with them?
sulcus
 11 Jan 2011, 17:13 #108309 Reply To Post
Bit confused whether you mean will self-publishing your book make it hard/impossible to interest an agent for that same book or subsequent books.

If you mean the same book, I'm fairly certain agents will take the view that it's had most of its sales and will be more likely to ask to see your next book.

If you mean will it prejudice them against a second, unpublished novel, I would gauge it will prejudice some but not others. Some will discount anything self-published, which after all affects their own livelihoods, while others will judge a submission on the merits of the text - ie your previously self-pubbed book won;t have a great affect one way or the other for them.

If your self-pubbed book sells well, it will suggest to agents that you have a readership, that you know how to promote yourself and you can deliver a product in a professional manner. All strings to your bow.
This post was last edited by sulcus, 11 Jan 2011, 17:14
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dancingsue
 11 Jan 2011, 18:00 #108312 Reply To Post
Wirralauthor, I'd recommend you get your work professionally edited before self-publishing. Make sure it's the best it can possibly be before you put it out there.
the long and the short of it

Allan Mayer
 11 Jan 2011, 22:52 #108327 Reply To Post
Really not wanting to rain on your parade Tommi, but how many books of that length did you sell for that price and how many were to people you did not know? Not being snarky here, just wanting to learn.
Read my Blog at:
http://allanmayer.wordpress.com
Tommi
 12 Jan 2011, 10:15 #108339 Reply To Post
No snark assumed, Allan Always happy to be transparent

So far my sales for Songs from the Other Side of the Wall at £7.98 have been 72 copies, about half to people I don't know, about half of those being sold online (I hope as a result of the reviews I've had), the rest at live events. I stopped really marketing the book after 6 months because I have moved into different genres and I'm not 100% proud of it as a calling card for my work - it's way too muddled.

The ebook, as you know, was available on Smashwords as a free download for a year, during which time I got 7092 downloads. I've recently made it available on Kindle for 99 cents but not plugged it and had 16 sales.

The other two books aren't mine, they are the first two books from the anti-press I started late last year. it's too early to talk about sales meaningfully but I'll be happy to in November. I can say, though, that we brought out a limited edition of 30 copies of The Dead Beat with extra material, whcih sold out within a week of going on sale.
Songs from the Other Side of the Wall is just £0.70 on Kindle
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