First, a disclaimer. I’m not an attorney and the following is what I’ve learned through personal experience and shouldn’t be taken as legal advice.
The first step in asking for reversion of rights from a traditional publisher is to carefully read your contract, determine the expiration date, and also look for clauses that state the conditions under which the publisher could grant early termination. For example, if your contract is for five years, there might be a clause that states you can ask for reversion of rights after three years if certain criteria are met.
Criteria might be things like not making X number of sales in a given length of time, or not making a certain dollar amount for so many quarters in a row. Bottom line is knowing the ins and outs of your particular agreement. And, even if you cannot find a clause for an early-out, it never hurts to simply send a courteous and respectful request for the reversion. The most they can do is say no.
How extensive of a rewrite do you do on these books prior to re-publishing?
How extensive of a rewrite do you do on these books prior to re-publishing?
When I got the rights back for my books I didn’t have to do extensive rewrites. I had to fix a few errors here and there and also write new back-cover blurbs as the publisher had written those and wouldn’t let me use them.
How much design input did you give the illustrator for your covers?
I’m not at all artistic when it comes to visual things like cover making, so I leave that task to the pros. I met one of my cover makers years ago when I was still on Facebook. She’s fantastic and comes up with ideas with very little input from me. She did the Unlikely Love and Forever a Soldier series, plus a few stand-alone books. I also use a couple of other cover makers and usually ask for very few revisions.
What’s the hardest part of publishing and marketing your own books?
One of the hardest parts of the publishing process is knowing when the product is ready to launch. I’m riddled with self-doubt. Does my storyline have holes in it? Is the editing as near to flawless as humanly possible? Releasing a book is as terrifying as it is exciting.
Marketing is a time-consuming endeavor for sure, and I spend quite a few hours each week researching new ways to promote my books. It’s also not cheap to advertise, so I’m constantly evaluating my methods to determine how to get the most bang out of each dollar spent.
Marketing is a big part of increasing book sales. What venue have you found most successful in not only getting clicks but sales as well?
I have a list of promo sites that I use regularly. My new favorite is Faithful Reads, which is only for free and bargain Christian eBooks. I also like ENT (Ereader News Today), Robin Reads, Book Cave, and Book Doggy.
I’ve participated in group promotions through BookFunnel and Story Origin, and I’ve done swaps with other authors where I advertise their books in my NL and vice-versa.
Out of those two options (paid ads VS group promos and swaps), I have better success with clicks turning into buys with the paid ads.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Starting a book has its challenges. There’s so much to accomplish on those first few pages, like setting the stage for time and place, introducing a character or two, and maybe igniting a few sparks for conflict to come. That’s a tall order for an author to deliver. I’m thankful for my critique partners who don’t pull any punches when it comes to telling me if I’m missing the mark.
I’m not at all artistic when it comes to visual things like cover making, so I leave that task to the pros. I met one of my cover makers years ago when I was still on Facebook. She’s fantastic and comes up with ideas with very little input from me. She did the Unlikely Love and Forever a Soldier series, plus a few stand-alone books. I also use a couple of other cover makers and usually ask for very few revisions.
What’s the hardest part of publishing and marketing your own books?
One of the hardest parts of the publishing process is knowing when the product is ready to launch. I’m riddled with self-doubt. Does my storyline have holes in it? Is the editing as near to flawless as humanly possible? Releasing a book is as terrifying as it is exciting.
Marketing is a time-consuming endeavor for sure, and I spend quite a few hours each week researching new ways to promote my books. It’s also not cheap to advertise, so I’m constantly evaluating my methods to determine how to get the most bang out of each dollar spent.
Marketing is a big part of increasing book sales. What venue have you found most successful in not only getting clicks but sales as well?
I have a list of promo sites that I use regularly. My new favorite is Faithful Reads, which is only for free and bargain Christian eBooks. I also like ENT (Ereader News Today), Robin Reads, Book Cave, and Book Doggy.
Out of those two options (paid ads VS group promos and swaps), I have better success with clicks turning into buys with the paid ads.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Starting a book has its challenges. There’s so much to accomplish on those first few pages, like setting the stage for time and place, introducing a character or two, and maybe igniting a few sparks for conflict to come. That’s a tall order for an author to deliver. I’m thankful for my critique partners who don’t pull any punches when it comes to telling me if I’m missing the mark.
At the start of each of our books we usually trade “what ifs” with one another. “What if, instead of starting with the heroine’s POV, you go with the hero’s… Or, or, or, how about starting with the car wreck instead of all the backstory leading up to it…” It’s great to have people to brainstorm with!
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
My husband is the great encourager in our house, and believes I can do anything I set my mind to. After each book is launched, he asks me to read it to him in the evenings. His enjoyment of my work spurs me onward.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Writing a full-length novel, or even a novella, is a lot harder than I’d thought it would be. And, it’s not just the writing, but everything that follows once THE END is penned. Sometimes whole scenes or paragraphs need rewrites. Then there are the seemingly never-ending edits. It’s worth it in the end, but during those clean-up stages, it sure doesn’t feel like it.
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Read everything you can about the craft of writing.
When I first started out, I wrote an 80,000-word novel, paid to have it professionally edited, and shopped it to several agents. While the book wasn’t entirely without merit, a couple of the agents graciously took the time to tell me what I needed to do to make it marketable. I bought book after book on the subject of writing. Stacked one atop the other, the pile reached my hip. (No exaggeration!) After reading and studying the wealth of information in each one, I set out on the task of rewriting my novel. I later submitted it directly to a couple of publishers, and one of them offered me a three-book contract.
Can you give me a short synopsis of your latest book?
My most recent release was The Street Magician and the Librarian which was book #3 in the Unlikely Love Series.
A chance encounter with a street magician throws librarian Carolyn Lambert a curve ball. What starts as a friendly attraction for the winsome and irresistible Eric Sinclair and his magic tricks turns into a bond Carolyn wasn’t expecting.
Sounds like a good lead in for a page turner. If you'd like to learn more about Irene's works, here are some links to get you started.
Website: https://ireneonorato.com/
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
My husband is the great encourager in our house, and believes I can do anything I set my mind to. After each book is launched, he asks me to read it to him in the evenings. His enjoyment of my work spurs me onward.
Writing a full-length novel, or even a novella, is a lot harder than I’d thought it would be. And, it’s not just the writing, but everything that follows once THE END is penned. Sometimes whole scenes or paragraphs need rewrites. Then there are the seemingly never-ending edits. It’s worth it in the end, but during those clean-up stages, it sure doesn’t feel like it.
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Read everything you can about the craft of writing.
When I first started out, I wrote an 80,000-word novel, paid to have it professionally edited, and shopped it to several agents. While the book wasn’t entirely without merit, a couple of the agents graciously took the time to tell me what I needed to do to make it marketable. I bought book after book on the subject of writing. Stacked one atop the other, the pile reached my hip. (No exaggeration!) After reading and studying the wealth of information in each one, I set out on the task of rewriting my novel. I later submitted it directly to a couple of publishers, and one of them offered me a three-book contract.
My most recent release was The Street Magician and the Librarian which was book #3 in the Unlikely Love Series.
A chance encounter with a street magician throws librarian Carolyn Lambert a curve ball. What starts as a friendly attraction for the winsome and irresistible Eric Sinclair and his magic tricks turns into a bond Carolyn wasn’t expecting.
Sounds like a good lead in for a page turner. If you'd like to learn more about Irene's works, here are some links to get you started.
Website: https://ireneonorato.com/
Blog: https://ireneonorato.com/blog/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Irene-Onorato/e/B01EI7QE9G
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Irene-Onorato/e/B01EI7QE9G
What a gifted author. Thanks for sharing her gems of wisdom
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you appreciate her hard work!
ReplyDelete