At long last, the publishing journey is coming to a close.
Silent Manifest (which was, for the longest time, titled Caretaker) has entered the preorder stage--the book can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes and Noble for their e-book systems (Kindle and Nook, respectively).
I hope my benefactors at EDGE Publishing will forgive me, but this was not the smoothest of roads. Despite a very quick acceptance, and therefore a very quick offer of a contract by the folks at EDGE, progress on the novel stood in limbo for a very long time. I must admit, I was considering informing the publisher that the many delays would force me to withdraw from the contract, as I felt they were in breach thereof.
At the eleventh hour, however, communication was restored and the project moved forward. The editor assigned to me was meticulous in her attention, and she and I worked together to tighten the manuscript. Also, my publisher put me in touch with the cover artist, and after a few false starts, arrived at the final product.
All in all, my experience was a series of give-and-take discussions. Sometimes I made demands which my publisher met, sometimes they made demands which I met. I know there is a somewhat romantic vision of writers: we are wizards, operating in mystery but more importantly solitude, and that we brook no interference with our arcane plans. In my case--and I suspect most writers' cases--this is not so. The relationship between the writer and her or his publisher must have a degree of flexibility. As much as we might think that nothing can or should compromise the writer's vision--no jot nor tittle nor title can be changed--that's not how it works out. Oh, I'm sure those writers at the very top of their field can make more demands: Stephen King probably can dictate terms to his publisher without fear of being dropped. But for the rest of us who have not reached that level of influence, we have to work with those on the business side.
I don't go in for self-publishing, but I suspect that one of the aspects that makes that approach so attractive is the idea that one does not need to answer to anyone else. There are no concessions, no compromises--the writer's word is the final law. Perhaps that is something that makes people publish their own work. It's not for me, but I can respect those who make that decision.
I am looking forward to completing the last bits of business for the novel--EDGE Publishing favors Facebook launches. Those are generally a good time: the question and answer sessions are fun and interesting. As always, I will keep on writing, hoping to grow my readership and improve my craft.
Be seeing you!
Silent Manifest (which was, for the longest time, titled Caretaker) has entered the preorder stage--the book can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes and Noble for their e-book systems (Kindle and Nook, respectively).
I hope my benefactors at EDGE Publishing will forgive me, but this was not the smoothest of roads. Despite a very quick acceptance, and therefore a very quick offer of a contract by the folks at EDGE, progress on the novel stood in limbo for a very long time. I must admit, I was considering informing the publisher that the many delays would force me to withdraw from the contract, as I felt they were in breach thereof.
At the eleventh hour, however, communication was restored and the project moved forward. The editor assigned to me was meticulous in her attention, and she and I worked together to tighten the manuscript. Also, my publisher put me in touch with the cover artist, and after a few false starts, arrived at the final product.
All in all, my experience was a series of give-and-take discussions. Sometimes I made demands which my publisher met, sometimes they made demands which I met. I know there is a somewhat romantic vision of writers: we are wizards, operating in mystery but more importantly solitude, and that we brook no interference with our arcane plans. In my case--and I suspect most writers' cases--this is not so. The relationship between the writer and her or his publisher must have a degree of flexibility. As much as we might think that nothing can or should compromise the writer's vision--no jot nor tittle nor title can be changed--that's not how it works out. Oh, I'm sure those writers at the very top of their field can make more demands: Stephen King probably can dictate terms to his publisher without fear of being dropped. But for the rest of us who have not reached that level of influence, we have to work with those on the business side.
I don't go in for self-publishing, but I suspect that one of the aspects that makes that approach so attractive is the idea that one does not need to answer to anyone else. There are no concessions, no compromises--the writer's word is the final law. Perhaps that is something that makes people publish their own work. It's not for me, but I can respect those who make that decision.
I am looking forward to completing the last bits of business for the novel--EDGE Publishing favors Facebook launches. Those are generally a good time: the question and answer sessions are fun and interesting. As always, I will keep on writing, hoping to grow my readership and improve my craft.
Be seeing you!
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