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Self publishing a children’s novel
An ongoing article by Fred Watson
Part 1
So you’ve toiled for two years and finally finished your masterpiece. Now what do you do? You can package up your manuscript and send it, or more likely the first three chapters, to an agent or a publisher. In three months, six months, twelve months or maybe never, you will receive a reply, for the lucky few a letter of acceptance, for the vast majority a rejection slip.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the book you have written is no good, or that publisher’s aren’t interested in finding new books to publish, far from it. Book publisher’s are in the business of publishing, books are their lifeblood, and while they have a whole stable of established money spinning authors, the need to discover new talent is always there. After all, without new authors they would stagnate and eventually die.
With over a million manuscripts sent in each year and maybe 150,000 published – a lot of them by existing authors, celebrity chefs, celebrity anything, historians and educators, etc – and few hundred books actually making it onto the bookshelves, you can understand why it is hard for a new author to become a published author.
If you have tried and failed, or have simply been put off by the horror stories, but you still would like to see your work published the alternative is to self publish.
Why self publish?
There are many reasons, the main one being the inability to attract the attention of a mainstream publisher, either because your treasured tome – perish the thought – is not a good bet commercially, or the publisher is inundated with manuscripts and your precious prose ends up on the slush pile.
Maybe having written your book, you just want a few copies for family and friends.
Maybe you’ve written a local history and want a few hundred copies to sell locally.
Maybe you’ve researched your family history and want a dozen copies for family member.
Maybe you are like me, you have written your novel and would like to publish to a wider audience. (I should warn you that everything I have read on the subject suggests that the best sales to expect from a self published book, are three to four hundred copies, not enough to make a profit, but maybe, just maybe, enough get your investment back.)
Oh yes, if I haven’t mentioned it before, you have to pay to self publish your book, and have a lot of work to do besides, but more of that later.
First things first, for smaller quantities, print on demand seems to be the answer, i.e. copies only printed as required. (No stock to carry) For those who think they can sell more than 500copies – and make no mistake, as a self-publisher you are the one who will have to sell those copies – it is cheaper per book to have a print run done.
How much will it cost?
Well, I might be telling my granny how to suck eggs, but in for a penny in for a pound. (How’s that for a pair of clichés) Simply type self-publishing into your search bar and you will be inundated by a great mass of companies wanting to help you self-publish your book. If you click on to several of them you’ll get some idea of what it will cost.
Warning, a lot of them will do you a full package that includes the ISBN number, if that number is in their name, they and not you, are the publisher of the book and you have not self-published your book.
So what? So After your initial outlay you will still have to pay for and sell each copy of your book yourself, but will receive somewhere in the region 10% –15%. instead of pocketing the full balance, i.e. the selling price less cost of printing.
Need more information before making a decision?
Sorry I can’t tell you what to do, but what I can do, is tell you, warts and all, (Another cliché) why and how I am going about self-publishing my book FINDING ROSY.
It will be an ongoing exercise as I am only halfway through the process, but as each stage is reached I will add the information to part 2. Not only that, once the book is printed, I will list the total amount I have spent and as sales are made, (or not.) I will list those, so that you can work out for yourself whether I succeed in covering my costs, or fail miserably.
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Part 2
There are several reasons why I decided to self-publish, but the main one was time. At my age time is precious, so I like to crack on with the job in hand. Not for me a year or more trying to find a publisher and even if successful having to wait another year to see it in print.
Having decided to go ahead and since the book had to be typeset and a cover designed, ready for the printers, I needed professional help. So I went back on the Internet and the self-publishing websites. It took a while but I found what I wanted. A company that would, copy edit, design both the layout and cover of my book and quote for and carry out the printing, either print on demand or offset litho for larger quantities. They would do all this and more, or if I wanted to do the other work myself, would give a quote for printing only.
I opted to have them design the layout and the cover, plus print and bind the book. I also decided against print on demand, despite the fact that I would risk less money. This was mainly because I wanted to bring down the print costs per book. After all I reasoned, if a book by an established author were selling at £5-99p would I fork out £8-99p for a similar tome by an unknown, I don’t think so. Saying that no one may buy my book, or they may not buy enough copies to make it worthwhile, but hope springs eternal and I am enjoying the challenge.
Right, I’ll cut the cackle and get to the progress so far.
First I contacted the company and was sent a very informative and honest information pack. After reading through it, I did a word count of my manuscript, divided it by 300 to give a rough guide to the number of pages in the book and filled the quote request form. I received back a print quote, for a book in two different sizes and 3 different lengths, also a summary of costs, which included, the page design and layout, the cover design and bar code.
Having made a decision on the size of the book, the next stage was font style and size, both of which can affect the length of the book and therefore the cost. A couple of weeks later sample pages showing the layout and fonts in book size, arrived, I made my choice and also gave them some ideas to work on while designing the cover.
I now await a bound copy of the book minus cover, which I must check over and approve.
That’s it so far, on the print side, for the moment.
However I have been and continue to be busy on the other side.
I have applied for and received 10 ISBN numbers – you have to buy them in minimum batches of ten. Cost £94-00p. If you intend to sell your book in the shops or on the Internet, you need one, If not, you don’t need one. (See Links page)
I have applied to be listed in Neilsen Bookdata. (See links page)
I have applied to, Bibliographic Data Services, for a CIP Library listing. This allows you to print on the reverse of the title page:
British Library Cataloguing in publication Data.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. (See links page)
If you are reading this page you know that I have set up a Website. I also intend to do a limited amount of advertising, to direct people to the site.
And that’s it so far. However, I will add more as things progress.
If you are wondering why I haven’t mentioned the name of the company I am using, there is a simple answer. While I have found them to be honest, helpful and reliable in their dealings with me, I prefer to wait until the whole process is complete and I am satisfied, before I recommend them to others. At which time I will place the details on the links page.
Continuation 31 - 10 - 2006
It must seem like forever since I began this article, but the truth is that I have had little to add, other than the frustrations of an impatient man, and I am impatient. Despite the feeling – and this is probably only my lack of patience – that the whole process has become mired in treacle. I have some progress to report. Just over five weeks ago I received, through the post, a fully typeset manuscript. This I checked and sent off by email, agreeing that the corrected manuscript would come back to me in the form of a PDF file.
A few days later the file arrived and I opened it to find that in correcting two of the words, someone had hit the change all button – an easy mistake to make – and I admit to an attack of the panics. However one phone call, and a few days later, I received another manuscript to check. After few more corrections, I sent this one off and received – you’ve guessed it – another corrected file to check. This file, I sent back with final corrections and finally I received a plain bound copy of Finding Rosy.
It looked great, but – there is always one, isn’t there? – I had asked for short synopsis to be included inside the book and it needed removing. I also found four more words to correct. Now I knew why they sent everything to be checked again and again.
I now finally had the book and the cover, and was hoping to go to print, but it was then suggested that they could come up with a better cover. A week and a half later and I am still waiting.
Continuation 20 - 11 - 2006
The first batch of books arrived today and (I have already posted out several copies to buyers) I must say it was worth waiting for, the new cover it looks excellent, in fact I'm highly delighted with the whole book. Now comes the hard part, I have to sell them, but at least I've broken my duck, and sold a few copies
in advance.
Continuation 25 - 3 - 2007
Sorry for the delay folks, But since I was last on this page, I haven't had time to turn around. In addition to sending a lot copies to book sellers, ( to date, only one has replied.) I have been calling into the children's sections in the libraries and leaving them copies to check out (one sent back their copy without even opening the cover), another has promissed to order 25 copies when they receive their new buget in April, and a nameless library has bought one copy through a wholesaler. A local museum has taken 5 copies S.O.R. to try in the childrens section of their bookshop and I hope to get some into the bookshop of a children's book museum. Add to this my sales of 40 copies and you will see that I'm a long, long way from covering my costs. Still it is early days yet, and I will continue to battle on. I'll be back again when I have more news.
Continuation 23 - 5 - 2007
Another 4 copies sold since last time, not a lot I know, but the good news is that the book is now in the Seven Stories childrens book shop and the childrens section of the Discovery bookshop, both are in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Hopefully they will help increase sale. At the moment I am busy creating an E-book of Finding Rosy and should have it available shortly.
Continuation 20 - 7 - 2007
Sorry, it's 2 months since I last posted anything here. I've been busy writing short stories for the website, for the writing group that I attend each week and running the Blaydon Writers Web site www.blaydonwriters.org.uk that it has slowed me down. However, progress is being made. I have received my first check from the Seven Stories, The Discovery Museum has sold their copies and reordered another 5. Finding Rosy is now available from 5 addional outlets:
So as you can see sales are building and things are moving, but slowly.
In addition I have created the ebook version.
I did originally say that I would let you know the costs involved and the income from sales. So here goes, I ordered 1200 copies = £2377.00p
Design & page layout = £ 425.00p
Total = £2802.00p
Now comes the hard part, sales. So far, allowing for various discounts, nett income from sales to date has covered one tenth of that amount. There is still a long way to go. However I am ever the optimist and bearing in mind that I am only now starting to get the book into independent book shops, (unfortunately I can't afford the discounts the big outlets demand.) I think sales will continue to grow. How long that will take and whether cost will be covered remains to be seen. I will keep plugging away and let you know how things pan out. (return for the next episode of a story that moves at the speed of treacle.)
Continuation 4 -10 - 07
Back again. Not a lot to report.
5 more book shops to add to list.
3 more books sold.
14 e-book downloads.
Read out some of my work onstage at The Sage Gateshead.
Website continues to grow.
Started history page.
Publishing articles on the internet.
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Continuation and Ending, 23 - 12 -2007
With five more book sales and eight more ebook download under my belt, the sales are so slow that you are in grave danger of dying of boredom. So I have decided to wind things up. While the book continues to sell, without a advertising budget It is slow and will take forever to recover my outlay.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and my next book will be either an ebook or I will go for the smaller outlay of print on demand. What ever happens I will continue to write and I have to say that I have enjoyed writing and self-publishing my book.
Bookworm
43 Queen Street, Amble, Northumberland, NE65 0DA.
Telephone: 01665 713444.
Opened in 2003, family run, packed with paperback and hardback fiction, biographies, books for children and books on Northumberland. A small friendly bookshop, with a large range and a free search facility for those hard to find books.
Amble
A small town on the Northumberland coast, 9 miles southeast of Alnwick. Known as “the friendliest port” Amble is situated at the mouth of the river Coquet and is built on a promontory that juts out into the North Sea. The town combines an extensive beach of golden sand with a harbour that is shared by a small fishing fleet and a modern marina. During the summer there are regular boat trips to Coquet Island bird sanctuary. Market day is Sunday and Warkworth castle is only a few minutes away.
Cognito Books
5 St Mary's Chare, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1NQ
Telephone: 01434 602555
The double fronted shop has a small play area and carries a good range of children's books. The shelves are packed and Adult stock tends towards non-fiction. The owners are friendly and helpful and there is a loo for customers.
Hexham
With the 7th century Abbey at it’s heart, stand on the top of a hill that sits in a beautiful area of countryside close to Hadrian’s Wall.
The ancient town is steeped in history, visit: The Old Goal, (now houses the border history museum). The Moot Hall, once the administrative centre for the medieval county of Hexhamshire.
The town has a good range of shops and a market in front of the Abbey on a Tuesday.
Forum (Books and Crafts)
8 Market Place, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5AW
Telephone: 01434632931
The double fronted shops, sits in the very heart of Corbridge and carries an amazing range of books and craft items. On of those friendly shops, with helpful staff, where nothing a customer wants is too much trouble to find. What more can I say?
Corbridge
Lies just off the A69, Newcastle to Carlisle road, 18 miles west of Newcastle and was called Corstopitum by The Romans. It was the supply town for the troops on Hadrian’s Wall. A wealthy town in the 13th century it had to pay heavily to support Edward 1st’s Scottish wars. A small town with a medieval street plan and the vicar’s fortified Pele Tower, facing the market square gives some idea of how bad things were in those days. In fact things were so bad that Corbridge was burnt down several times.
The Guisborough Bookshop
4 Chaloner Street, Guisborough, North Yorkshire, TS14 6QD
Telephone: 01287 610 179
A not so small bookshop, carrying an amazing range of books, a goodly portion of which are in the large children's section. Helpful and informative staff and a search facility that can find that out of print copy you have been looking for. What more could you want?
Guisborough.
Ancient capital of Cleveland the market town of Guisborough is the gateway to the North Yorkshire Moors. A pleasant tranquil town with a good selection of speciality shops, Take a stroll around, the main street is called Westgate and off it runs Chaloner Street, Chaloner Mews, Bakehouse Square, Church Street, Walton Terrace, Fountain Street, Bow Street and Market Place. In addition to the normal market, every 2nd Saturday of every month there is a speciality market. Places to visit: The 12th century Gisborough Priory, The beach and racecourse at Redcar and of course the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.
Summit Bookshop
2 Market Place, Kirkbymoorside, York, Yorkshire, YO62
Telephone: 01751 430033
Situated on a corner at the beginning of the market place, this small well lit shop is filled not only with a an amazing range of books, but with the delicious aroma of fresh coffee. Browse, buy a book, or enjoy an excellent cup of coffee in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Kirkbymoorside
Located at the foot of the Hambleton hills in the North Riding of Yorkshire, Kirkbymoorside is Rydale’s market town. The market is held on a Wednesday. Situated midway between Pickering and Helmsley the town is an ideal base for touring the North Yorkshire Moors and the magnificent coastline nearby.
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