Think of all the stories never shared because an agent or a publisher thought they weren’t good enough or wouldn’t make enough money. Or the theme wasn’t relevant, or the story didn’t fit a predefined genre.
The vast volumes of books sold by Amazon these last two decades have created a cataclysmic and welcome change in the publishing industry. Books have shifted from being stored in warehouses to existing as digital files on computers ready to be printed the moment someone orders them. Everybody wins. The publisher only pays for one print run (the first one). Everything is then printed on demand. Any idle time the printers have is taken up printing books for the public.
This ability for the public to print and sell their own books has not so much flung open the gates of traditional publishing but knocked a great hole in the wall next to the gates. We can now share our stories in the biggest storefront of all, and it turns out that a good story is universally appreciated regardless of genre or theme.
I first published independently for myself in 2012. A combination of luck, attention to detail and a good story resulted in Chasing Innocence becoming a best seller in the UK and US. My second book was more of an experiment, it did hardly any business, and I love it just as much as the first. These products of my creativity will endure, for my daughter, my family, for any future reader looking for a good story.
Along the way, I’ve published books for others. I’m technical, and the skills for independent publishing have come fairly easily. I’m not a graphical designer, but I have a visually creative bent which means I’ve come up with a few personalised and much-loved cover designs too.
If you’re thinking about independent publishing, whoever you publish with, make sure you check the guides here on preparing and what to expect during and after.
If you’re interested in seeing the books I’ve published, the bookshelf is a good stop. If you want to support the authors or me, you could buy a copy or two. At least you’ll then know what to expect when your book arrives on the doorstep. 😊
💡 Before You Publish
💡 The Publishing Process
💡 A Book in Hand