Monday, October 27, 2014

Leap of Faith

Almost five months ago, I spend many an hour thinking about my writing career. I had dabbled in self-publishing my epic fantasy series that I'd required the rights back from Medallion Press. My heart wasn't in the commitment needed to be successful as an independent publisher of my own books. A chance comment overheard at my local writers' meeting led me to Musa Publishing. After some investigation and contacting an author I knew personally who had a book reissued through them, I submitted the first book on The Futhark Chronicles. Shortly thereafter, an editor asked me to send her the complete series before they made a decision. A contract for each book in the series followed. The professionalism and organization of Musa impresses me every step of the way. The first book will be reissued in February of next year and the others shortly thereafter.

I also had one romance novel with an excellent publisher while all my other romance books, including two in that same series, were with New Concepts Publishing. That single book with the other publisher had earned very small royalties from the very start to my disappointment. Though NCP doesn't normally do reprints, I contacted them and asked them to take on this book and reissue it. To my great delight, they not only took it on, but also decided to reissue the other two books in the series with new covers.

New cover for reissue

In today's publishing landscape, it is important to take charge of your career. In my first example, I evaluated my strengths and comfort and realized I would be happier if my books were with a small publisher even if I didn't earn the high percentage royalties as I would if self-published. When my book wasn't doing well at one publisher, I made the decision to take back my rights and then trust the book to another small press. In the second example, I retrieved my work from a place where it languished with virtually no sales and put it with a publisher where my books have had moderate to bestselling success.

The amount of relief I felt after taking that leap of faith to pull my books from one venue and entrust it to another can't be described. My books were being given a second chance at life and success. There are so many options for writers right now, it is important to keep searching until we find the best place for our books' success. I could have allowed my books and all the work I put into them to wither and be forgotten while I continued to work on new novels, but the effort to find them new homes was more than worth it.

Have you ever had a book reissued? Do you work with more than one publisher? I only have three now and that's enough for me. Have you ever taken your rights back from a publisher and for what reason?

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20 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan .. seems like things are working out - isn't that great news. Picking up on a comment or a thread of conversation - can up our game or change our thought processes ...

Good luck ... cheers Hilary

Liza said...

I'm happy to hear of your success. Persistence is a lovely word, isn't it?

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Three different publishers - whoa! But if that's what it takes, then that's what it takes. You took the steps necessary.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Evaluating our strengths and weaknesses is an important step in taking charge of our careers. Good for you - and thanks for the reminder. :)

Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

Maria Zannini said...

I hope to reissue all my books once I get the rights back, though I'll probably self publish them.

Pat Hatt said...

Have to keep trying until you get there, my have took 3 but now you are where you want to be.

Bossy Betty said...

No books here but I am happy for you and the decisions you've made. Sometimes we just have to trust that inner voice!

Crystal Collier said...

Yikes! No, I'm not that far into my career, but way to go--finding the right medium for you. I'm stoked both publishers picked up your books.

Unleashing the Dreamworld

Jemi Fraser said...

Good for you! That feeling of relief shows you that you made the right choice! :)

Arlee Bird said...

If one venue is not working why not go through another channel? Makes a lot of good business sense to me. If you have something you believe in then it's best not to let it languish and die.

Lee
Wrote By Rote

Nicki Elson said...

It is so great you took the initiative like that. My third novel is coming out w/ a different publisher than my first two did and it's really made me realize how important it is to explore all the options - we don't have to settle for the first one to come along.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's fortunate you were able to pull your books and find another publisher who would take them on.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Glad you got it back. They are our babies after all.

cleemckenzie said...

Very interesting and I was impressed that you evaluated what you needed to be successful and comfortable in this business.

Stephen Tremp said...

I'm going to start querying again as soon as my editor and I are finished. I'd love to get a publisher. But it has to have some clout. I'm not going to go with a small one just for the sake of publishing.

I'll also give Amazon's new publishing program a try too.

Unknown said...

That's impressive, I probably would have given up a while ago.

The Happy Whisk said...

Sounds like a lot of work but well worth the efforts.

PS: I laughed at your step in poo comment. You win for funniest of the post.

Two carcass bookends, coming your way.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thank you so much for sharing your journey! I went indie first with my first novel, which is the first of a trilogy, and currently I'm floundering in the marketing department. It's been making me wonder if anyone would reprint an indie book . . . if I could get some help from a small press in the marketing department.

Again, I really appreciate the fact that you've shared your journey. :)

Melissa said...

So far, I'm happy with self-publishing, but I believe writers need to do what works for them. Every person's situation is different. Good luck with the changes.

Christine Rains said...

I've not had anything reissued nor do I work with more than one publisher, but it would be something I would try. It's wonderful you took that leap and it worked out so well. :)