Self Publishing

After making the decision to self-publish I had to select one from numerous self-publishing companies. I looked at reviews, the type and cost of packages each one offered, as well as their marketing avenues, and the one thing that everyone loves, but can't get enough of.....ROYALTIES.

I decided to go with Create Space because I though that they provided the cost effective services I wanted, and they were associated with Amazon. Perhaps not the best reasons for selecting them, but I'm pleased with their service thus far.

They had several different packages and I selected the all inclusive one. The top drawer, top model, blue ribbon program that included: two edits, cover design, interior page design, press release, book trailer. If I signed up today, I would receive 50 free copies of my book. A deal that I couldn't resist.

For the first edit of my manuscript I had to upload to my Create Space account. I was informed that they had received the upload and it would take three weeks for an editor to review it. Immediately upon reading the three week blurb I thought to myself, "Lordy, they must be a slow reader, my book is less than 200 pages, and that includes pictures and maps. I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

The edit was completed right on time and I downloaded that sucker immediately! I immediately opened it and read the editor's evaluation first. The comments were rather positive! She made a few changes so that the story flowed better, and corrected spelling as well as punctuation errors. But overall it was cool and I didn't have the heart attack I was expecting.

After accepting or rejecting the editor's changes, I uploaded the revised edition for the second edit. Again it would take three-weeks before I would receive it.

The second edit was performed by a different editor and she made a few additional changes, which gave me pause because she was editing another editor's edit. I found the second edit interesting since it corrected what the first editor changed on the original; at least when it came to the proper way of writing World War I or should it be World War One.

It was a copy of the second edit that I gave to Judy to read, and she only took a week to edit it. Writing this got me thinking, Judy edited the second editor's edit, which was an edit of the first editor's edit.

Judy really made war on commas, and slicing and dicing sentences. If this wasn't enough, she suggested that I move the chapter on the promise to the front of the book. This didn't surprise me because those that read earlier versions suggested the same. So the old adage of be careful or what you ask for came to mind when I realized I was in for a complete rewrite.

Prior to the rewrite I researched on how to market a book. It was suggested that the author find an expert on the subject they wrote about in order to give the book credibility. From some of the forums I had joined I knew a couple of experts, not on a personal basis, but by name. So I came up with a couple of names and sent out my requests. One answered within a day or two the one I really wanted took several weeks to reply.

My problem was the timing. Both agreed to taking a look, but I couldn't send either one a copy. When I finally had the manuscript ready, it was over a month later so I had to ask each if they still willing. One answered within a couple of days, the other never responded.

My hopes were dashed because the one that didn't respond was the WWI expert. I had hopes that he might eventually come around since he lives in the UK, which would have been perfect because my grandfather server in the British Royal Field Artillery. But life moves on and I couldn't wait forever to submit my manuscript.