The Ins and Outs of an Author/Publisher: One Writer’s Experience

by Diane Kessler

After five years of work on my novel Conflicts of Interest, in 2020 I became an author/publisher—an empowering choice that entailed significant responsibilities.

The protagonist is a Boston lobbyist who agrees to help a seedy developer, a decision that pits her against a grieving widower whose clients want the land for a wildlife sanctuary.  

How does a retired Protestant minister who directed the Massachusetts Council of Churches end up writing a book about the intersection of government, ecology, friendship and community?  Religious concerns intersect with public policy far more than one might think.  I had had enough experience with legislative affairs to tackle the subject with some confidence., and I had been itching to tell a story about the power of relationships to change one’s life.   

Because I was new to this process, I decided to get help.  A friend put me in touch with Leah Abrahams. (See Leah’s website: “Getting into Print (And Digital) by Self-Publishing at MixedMediaMemoirs.com”; leah.abrahams@icloud.com)  Leah was infinitely kind, patient, and encouraging.  I am a meticulous writer and editor, yet she found things I had missed.  Next time I will hire an outside editor to scrub the manuscript.

She said it was important to get at least three endorsements for the back cover to add credibility to the book.  This required some thought.  I turned to former colleagues who had visibility in Boston political circles, and I was heartened by their willingness to help.

At Leah’s suggestion, I added questions at the back for book clubs, as well as contact information for authors’ readings and discussions, initially confined to ZOOM because of COVID.  

I considered using Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (kdp.amazon.com), but also looked at IngramSpark (www.ingramspark.com).  Both cater to self-published authors and offer print on demand.  Because IngramSpark is used by libraries and independent bookstores, I chose IngramSpark.  Through their website, I learned how to get ISBN numbers for print and e-books from BOWKER, the official ISBN agency for the United States.  These unique numbers enable a book to be easily located and ordered.

Then Leah put me in touch with a tech-savvy colleague who designed the cover and navigated the layout both for paperback and e-book.  I faced a flurry of decisions about paper specs, cover template generator, weight and spine width calculator, pricing, etc.  Out of three possible covers, I selected one, then mulled over background colors to make the book “pop” on bookstore shelves.  

The process took about three months—remarkably speedy when compared with the traditional route, which can take a couple of years.  In anticipation of the holidays, I set an October 7, 2020 launch date and crafted a brief announcement, including a picture of the cover, which I emailed to over two hundred friends and colleagues.  The announcement gave a preview of the plot, told how to order online or at local bookstores, and invited readers to offer comments on Amazon.  So far, fifteen reviews have been posted.

Although I could have hired a marketer, typical costs run between four and five thousand dollars--well beyond my budget.  To my detriment, I have long avoided social media, though I took a helpful on-line class with Sandra Beckwith on “Book Marketing Without Social Media.” The course was non-threatening and insightful (writingblueprints.com).  When one of my short stories is published, I mention my novel in the accompanying biographical sketch.  

So far I have spent more than I have earned--about the cost of two ten week novel-in-progress classes I have taken at Grub Street, the Boston center for creative writing. Small amounts of money from sales continue to dribble into my bank account.  

Whatever the art form—painting, sculpture, music composition, writing--the creative process is a reciprocal loop. The writer writes out of her/his experience and imagination, and the reader responds from his/her experience.I am fascinated by the stories my novel has evoked.Occasionally one of my readers wants to talk with me. The words “I couldn’t put it down,” have been a particular delight.