Today is a big day for our little press. The first box of books arrived from the printer. There have been a lot of important first-time events since Sarah and I announced our plans to add publishing to our accomplishments. We held our first business meeting, drew up our first business plan, announced our first anthology, did our first book cover, and put together a list of books we were going to do this year.
Along the way to publishing those three books we announced for 2013, we have had to make some difficult decisions. One of the hardest was the day we sent out our first acceptance and rejection messages. We made mistakes, ruffled a few feathers, and got rapped on the knuckles a few times by folks who thought we were out of our minds.
Maybe we are. There's a rumor that writers, publishers, editors, and just about everyone else involved in the book business is crazy. The publishing industry is in the Wild Wild West of business. Which is why we are starting slow and keeping our day jobs. We may be crazy, but not entirely foolish.
Everything we've done so far has been a first. But today is a little different, because today I am holding the finished product in my hand, not a proof, the actual first box of books is stacked on the sofa beside me. Tomorrow, I'll be shipping those first books out to authors and people who ordered copies. Hopefully, they will be as happy with the results as I am. I think we have put together a great book. This is not to say it is a perfect book, but we've given it our all.
I have learned a few things the hard way. I expect All Hallows' Evil to be better for the education Strangely Funny has given me. By the time we announce next year's, publications we might have a clue or two about what we're doing. Who knows, we might convince a few of our critics that two dedicated people can create books worth reading.
4 comments:
I can't stress how important it is for people like you to take the reigns and provide opportunities for writers and readers alike. The world of small press publishing has taken a huge hit these last few years and I think the world is suffered for it.
I have no illusions that your road will be an easy one, and I suspect you harbor none as well. But I thank you for taking the risks involved and sincerely hope you reap a few of the rewards. People who love to read as well as people who want to write already have benefited from your efforts.
I wish you great success.
Ms. Mayo: You and Ms. Glenn have taken on a major task. Appreciated by all of us, I'm sure. You two represent the vanguard of what's happening in publishing today. It reminds me of what occurred in the middle 1800s when newspapers would publish the efforts of writers like Charles Dickens and Samuel Clemens. Then there was the pulp fiction era of the mid 20th century where many authors honed their skills. The big guys had better be wary, because there is a lot of talent they're ignoring. To be picked up by appreciative small press enterprises like yours. Someday, you just might surpass them in relevance. By the way, just this bit of advice from a retired teacher which you have every right to ignore. Members of SMFS seem unable not to brag about their successes. I would suggest that, in the future, you hold off on notification of acceptance or rejection until they can all be done at the same time. Otherwise, it's too much like giving students their grades piecemeal. And you realize the stir that would cause. I do understand your need,however, to secure authors approval so you can do your formatting, etc. Yours truly, Toe.
This books are amazing to read.
ghostwriter
I was so excited to get my first copy to read. Such wonderful stories. I was just as excited to get the ten books I ordered so quickly, too. I have one with a small bookstore near me, I've given several away, and as soon as it is officially autumn, I'm going to arrange to have some author events with book signings. You did a fantastic job with this book. I haven't spotted one even minor glitch yet.
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