It's Alive! Esprit de Corpse

 

I've written a total of eight novels, but today I see my first published novel come to life, and I can't begin to say how thrilled I am. I want to run shouting in the streets and pull everyone out of their houses to see it, read it, and dance with me. Sadly, I can't because I'm currently sick with my usual every-six-weeks bronchitis.

The publication process is fascinating, and I wish I had taken time in my younger years to learn it better. Danielle Ackley-McPhail literally wrote the book on getting a book into print, but as a passenger on the journey, I've been amazed by the step-by-step path to publication.

Most readers probably assume an author sends a manuscript to a publisher, someone on that end reads it and decides whether to buy it, someone else checks it for mistakes, it gets dumped into a printer, and voilà. Out pops a book.

This is not the case. The finished, final edit of a book will first go through a period of introduction with the printing of Advanced Readers Copy (ARC). That's where I am now. From here, the ARC will go out to our Kickstarter backers and to various review publications before printing a final edition. 

In my case, for example, the ARC has a temporary cover, and as lovely as it is, it doesn't reflect my publisher's desire to have consistent portraits of the characters across the series. I can't wait to see what's in store! There are a few errors we found in the digital e-books that will be corrected for the print version. Once reviews are in, the back cover or an inside page may feature the best of them. In the meantime, pre-orders will be set up so we have a good idea of how many to run.

Unlike giant publishing houses, independent presses do not have the budget to gull the public into thinking a book is a best-seller because it's on a best-seller's list. Some books are bartered onto the list by major publishers who say, "For every *major author's name here* book you buy, we will send you a free copy of *book by a new author we hope you'll like.* The New York Times doesn't look at actual sales numbers, only shipment numbers, so there's an instant best-seller that may not sell at all.

I'm almost 68 years old. I don't have time for marketing silly-gamesmanship. I write really good stories, and I have three more books in this steampunk series completed, but I have to depend on the success of the first book to see the others get to print. 

So, if you're one of my Kickstarter backers, I hope you enjoy your digital copy and please send me your reactions and comments! 

Watch this space for your opportunity to order the book.

Meanwhile, dance with me!