I have written to several (well, a lot, to be honest) publishers and agents about my self-published books, and the response is always the same; interesting, but not for me ... I was under the impression that self-publishing would prove beneficial in approaching a traditional publisher if the story was intact. …
he other day I wrote a book proposal for a collection of my stories. Yesterday, I sent it to a publisher who once gave a review of a Chicken Soup for The Soul book that I had a story in. The publisher gave the book a bad review, but singled out my story as a shining point in the book. I figured she'd be a good start to send my proposal to. This morning she requested a copy of my completed manuscript and my marketing plan... …
I found a market to sell a personal paranormal experience story but they buy all rights. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with never being able to tell the story to anyone else again. If I were to tell the same story in a different way, so that I am not reselling the same writing, is that in violation of the rights they buy? Would I be allowed to do that? …
Do you publish many titles - fiction or non-fiction - by African American authors? Or books of interest to an African American audience? Has there been much success with these? …
I am still considering the book but unfortunately I am wracked with fear. I can't live off my savings and can't afford the health insurance to allow me to quit my depressing job where the morale is at ground zero. I am making some extra cash as a freelancer but am losing my creative spunk. In addition, I have developed a myriad of health issues. MY MD told me yesterday to retire, but I help support a handicapped relative. At this point, I just don't know where to turn. …
I recently heard from "Foreword Digital Reviews" that our book won't be reviewed by ForeWord Magazine since they only have space for a few book reviews...but that there's plenty of room at Foreword Digital Reviews on-line. Their fee for writing and posting the review is $99.00. What are your thoughts on this? …
For years, I've been dealing with the editor of a pub. who has always paid me. Sometimes, she needs to be politely "reminded", but things have worked out in pretty timely fashion. In Nov., she published my work and I got paid. In December, the trouble started. She published my article for her Dec. issue, and even emailed me telling me around Dec. 13 that the issues/payment were being sent, which is actually early for her, as she usually pays late in the month. I got nothing from her, and didn't get any email replies over Christmastime. Right after New Years, she emailed me saying it would be taken care of. Nothing, and she didn't respond to my emails after about a week of waiting. I called her on January 12. She was nice and again said she would take care of the payment. Nothing again. I called her again on January 20, and she took my call and acted "surprised" that I've gotten nothing yet, claiming to have sent it Priority Mail, and again said she'd take care of it last week... …
I have a screenplay I wrote a few years ago that may have some market value. Do you have a position one way or another on publishing screenplays? …
I terminated my contract with my POD publisher a couple of years ago. This week, Amazon once again has my book listed as available, meaning somebody can buy it directly from Amazon (not one of their resellers). What is going on? …
My publisher wants to charge me extra to register my copyright and to obtain a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN). Aren't those free? …
I saw your post on the WritersWeekly board and I see that you were able to help other writers in a similar situation. Yesterday, I became aware that a publisher used a short story in their anthology without my knowledge or consent. …
Just a question. I am getting a lot of email from (an online marketing firm) regarding book fairs, library shows, putting my book in front of appropriate people through magazines, and access to overseas rights. What is your opinion of these avenues of marketing? …
Can you tell me anything about (a new freelancer's bid-for-work site)? (Another bid site)'s fees are adding up to way more than I'm happy about so I'm trying to find some other freelance writing job sites. Tried yet another one, and they do have a free level, but you can't bid on any decent jobs unless you pay for the higher levels (sneaky!). I also tried (another bid-for-work site) and it's sickening how little the clients there are offering. Plus, every time I was on that site I got flooded with spam. …
I received an e-mail from Get Book Reviews.com suggesting I go with them to receive a book review. Do you know anything about them and if so what? Any advice? …
Angela, I'm ready to publish my book now. But, I believe I need a LOT! of help marketing it. I am not at all good on the computer.I don't know where to get a computer email list of potential buyers, or how to go about comtacting them if I did. Are the marketing packages these other self publishing companies offer really working? …
How long does it take Ingram to pay POD publishers? My friend bought my book from Amazon last month and it's still not showing up in my earnings. And, how fast is Apple paying publishers for their iBookstore sales? …
What do you think about Demand Studios? …
How much should I charge as a reprint rate? I received $175.00 from the original zine for each published article, so is a reprint rate a certain percentage of what I had received originally? …
I have been repeatedly frustrated that I cannot get books on big box or independent bookstore shelves. My book is "up" on many of the store websites for online sales (including many of the top independent booksellers), BUT I still can't get the actual book in front of potential readers. I have a big radio interview coming up and I have no place to direct people (other than my publisher's and other websites) to go buy a copy. I can't even wiggle into the University bookstores and I can't help feeling a bit embarrassed about it. …
Angela answered this week's reader question in her feature article today. …
I purchased artwork for my book cover. Nothing was agreed between myself and the cover designer. Do I own the rights to the artwork so I can use it to publish my book? Do I need to ask for permission from the artist? …
What is the best website to locate an Agent? …
I had an exchange with an author this week about email marketing... …
I'd like to play with the words in my title, using Whole instead of Hole. Even though it will be grammatically incorrect, it implies a double meaning to readers. I am afraid if people try to order it they will not know what to type in, or may misspell the real title. What should I do? …
A writer friend told me a story and I'd like your take on it. She said she was told by a prominent publisher that her book had merit, but they didn't have room for it and suggested that she self-publish the book to see how it does. If it sells well, then they would reconsider it as long as she was taking all the risks first. She lives in the UK and maybe that's how they do business, but this seems wrong. Is this what publishers are doing now, expecting the writer to take the risk before contracting a book? Just curious.. …
Hi Angela, I want my ebook listed in Apple's iBookstore but the ePub file conversion and submission process looks really confusing. Is anyone offering a service to help people with the process? Janet …
After reading your articles about content mills, I am now left wondering what place is suggested to get started in freelance writing. Writing sites give a lot of info., pro and con, but........what is the answer? What places are the best? …
I got a call from an online company selling website optimization. The caller promised first page advertising for my books on 100 plus search engines...for a fee, of course. I didn't bite. What's the story on these companies? …
We decided on a title for our book but there is another book from 1994 (with the same main title). One of the co-authors thought we would have a problem with copyright infringement. I thought we would only have a problem if we used the exact same title of another published book. Do you think our title would be okay? …
Does using a writer's work in a work-for-hire project mean the person or company who hires the writer can claim it as "original"? What rights can writers/researchers of articles claim? What can the buyer of those articles rightfully claim about the writer's work? Are the pitfalls the same for a ghostwriter who writes a celebrity book? …
