Either an author or a publisher be

Well in an ideal world, that would be my preference. Because while Thornberry are publishing A Kettle of Fish on Kindle (out now, dont’ya know!) I’m publishing the print edition myself using Feedaread, as recommended by a number of writing buddies. So as well as being a published author I ‘ll now be self-published too, and if that makes sense.

More puzzling is the fact that I’m really not enjoying this process much, and have been very scratchy all week as a result. Why should this be? I’m all for self-publishing.  I have read loads self-published novels which more than cut the mustard and with the Big Six doing their best to keep new MOR writers at bay, the democratisation of publishing is a good thing. Nor, as a rule,  do I come unstuck with techie stuff.  In the past I’ve helped others grapple with files and templates. I’ve told them it’s all straightforward, which basically it is. In fact if someone asked me to do this on their behalf, I would probably say yes. So why  have I dithered over everything from margins to page numbering, asked people for help I didn’t really need, and grumbled incessantly when the decent people at Feedaread don’t jump to attention as soon as I want to get on with it?

I think the problem is one of decision making. Through several drafts and just as many stages of editing, proofreading and cover design, I have made many, many decisions about this book. But even though I’ve always been fascinated by the printing process I somehow don’t want this responsibility for myself, with my own book.  And even though Thornberry have relieved me of lots of the work by providing good clean files to start with, I just feel in some deep-down part of me I should not be doing this! Not now, not when I am the author. Of course there might be a quite different reason for my being out of sorts: I probably need to do some actual writing! Either that or I could just join forces with my Designer Daughter and a local printer and become a publisher full-time. Either occupation would do, both seems to be the problem. (And they say women can multi-task!)

Well there we have it. I have learned why publishers exist (which I knew anyway) and I daresay they are  delighted that I am granting them their place in the world. And I am hopeful that A Kettle of Fish will be with you soonish in satisfyingly solid form and certainly in time for your Christmas stockings.

Over the next few weeks as I shall be flitting hither and thither as we new authors do. If you join me I’ll try not to repeat myself too often or mention that book more than is absolutely necessary (which may still be quite a lot!)

First stop is tomorrow (Oct 15th) with crime writer  Rebecca Bradley, whom I met through the wonderful Ether Books (where those of you with i-phones can still catch some of my short stories) where I’ll be talking about  Nailing the Plot.

See you around!