I’ve just discovered another self-published romance author…one who shares my general outlook on the maze that must be navigated in order to get one’s first book into print. Talk about jumping through hoops! Susan Rose’s debut, Confessions of a Frog Kisser, looks–as far as I can tell–just like any other book. Imagine that! It has a great cover, an attention-grabbing title, and appealing concept. I’m anxious to give it a try. The author used booklocker.com and so far is very pleased with their support and happy with her decision to self-publish. I’m very happy for her—she seems like a really nice person, and it’s inspiring to see someone make it outside the “establishment”. Publishers really have a lock on the industry, and I’m curious to see how long it will last.

Just recently I decided to pursue offering my book as an e-book. After all, the book is already written. It just needs some formatting and then–voila!–more promotion. Of course I’ll offer it on my own site, but I’m also going to find out what is required to offer it on Amazon as an e-book. One of those little advantages to owning the rights… Then I suppose I’ll pursue getting it reviewed and mentioned on e-book review sites. I myself have never even seen an e-book reader, and so obviously never tried to read a book that way. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has…particularly someone looking to experiment with a new Regency author (wink wink).

I’ve self-diagnosed myself as a closet Anglophile. One who wishes she could dedicate more time and money to the pursuit of this all-abiding interest. Certainly it affects my book selection: Mary Stewart is one of my all time favorites, and I’m a great fan of Regency historicals. I love to read modern novels set in Great Britain as well, but I always feel a little wistful after I’ve finished. I’m always thinking…how exciting it would be to live there, to go on holiday somewhere on the Isles.

I’ve been once for work. I flew into Birmingham and immediately flew out and into Glasgow. I was sick for the better part of a week, until, still feeling quite under the weather, I ventured out on my last weekend day. I took the train to Edinburgh, thoroughly enjoyed the countryside, and came up out of the station onto a city caught between yesterday and today. I absolutely loved it! Including the banana ‘milkshake’ I bought that ended up only being banana-flavored milk. That was years ago, and no opportunity has since presented itself for me to return. My husband is much more interested in the Caribbean than in wet, windy, chilly Britain, and now he worries about terrorist attacks. One day, I’ve promised myself, I’ll go back. I’ll visit London and do all the touristy things, see for myself all those landmarks mentioned in all the Regencies. I’ll tour the countryside and visit the castles, take a walking tour and whatever else strikes my fancy.

Until then, I can but read about it….I just finished the cheeky Cinderella tale
The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne and thought it was top-notch. Now I’m reading Cecilia Ahern’s If You Could See Me Now. It’s pulled me right in. I also occasionally watch the British-set home and garden shows on HGTV. I’d watch more if I were more conscientious and looked at the guide. (And if my husband ever relinquished control of the remote). I love to hear the quirky phrasing, proper accents and lilting rhythm–I even imagine it all as I’m reading. Friday I bought myself some tea to eat with biscuits, but I’ve yet to buy the biscuits. For now the lemon cooler Girl Scout cookies I bought will have to do.

Well, I’m not exactly finished with Book #2 yet, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about which publishing route to take. Of course self-publishing is a definite option (and certainly a fall-back), but I wonder whether I should go the road less traveled and try for an agent and publisher so that I don’t have to do all the work myself.

Both have their advantages. Self-publishing my first book required a large financial investment up front (for ISBN’s, packing supplies, business checks, etc.), and a good portion of that would be deferred this time around. Also, I’ve learned a huge amount from this first book, doing it all on my own. Timing is the name of the game, and contacts are invaluable. So you could say, I’d be prepared this time around. But it’s so much work! You are everything: author, publisher, publicist, shipping clerk, administrative assistant, a regular gal-of-all-trades. And guess how much writing gets done while you’re wearing all these other hats? Not so much.

Now to go the other route, I’d have to start with an agent search. And if I managed to pique one’s interest, she would then start off on the search for a publisher. Of course, at that point I’d be a little out of the loop, but that would be prime (if nerve-wracking) writing time. If I were to sell, then someone else would be in charge of my cover, the editing, the placement, and a portion of the marketing and promotion. I’d still have to shoulder some of the burden of “selling yourself”, but that’s life as an author.

Tough questions…no definitive answer yet. My husband is all for self-publishing which is a little surprising because we’re still warehousing boxes of Unladylike Pursuits, but then…he’s a prince.