The Perils Of Self-Publishing
aka Greene vs. the Predators
As a self-published author I have forgone the chance of a first edition coming out from an established publisher in favor of sharing my work as widely as possible. I love to write, however my name isn’t Stephen King. As such, I can’t get an agent (essential to deal with publishing houses) and my direct submissions get no replies. It’s not so bad, but it marks me as a sucker, prime game for a malignant herd of “book promoters,” who lurk out among the electrons.
Their approach has evolved due to AI technology. In the past I received phone calls and email queries telling me how wonderful one of my books is. All I need to do is “promote” it, which can mean anything from online advertising to letting them “republish” my work (relieving me of my copyright). They will mount a “campaign,” present it at a book fair, share it with a book club (be sure to send rewards to the members who read and review). One such club posted a reviews on the wrong book.
The Perils of Self-Publishing, aka Greene vs The Predators
It’s my fault. Self-publishing is called the “Vanity Press” for a reason, and I’m guilty as charged. I’ve been told I write well, and I love writing. In retirement it fills my spare time and keeps my brain functioning (I hope). I also enjoy jousting with wannabe promoters. Their adaptation to modernity is sophisticated. They now use AI to write a precis of a novel that is accurate, perceptive and flattering without overdoing it. If I didn’t know the environment I would believe that someone has lovingly consumed one of my works and felt compelled to share the good news of how timely, intriguing, authentic, etc. it is.
The latest is a person with Amazonmarketingteam@gmail.com, who, of course has no relationship with Amazon and uses a woman’s name for the query. It is a clever name that combined two European companies, Liora and Cavell. Of course, his real name is Harry. After I cut through the persiflage he pitched a complicated marketing scheme that will win me fame and explode my book sales at a cost of a mere $2400 US (he’s in the UK or Nigeria). This is my record, but it’s still a cut and paste equivalent of the last dozen or so pitches I’ve received.
I worked in direct sales years ago. (It’s in two of my novels). I like to decipher a sales pitch and see how it works. In these instances the jargon is strangely familiar, obsequious affirmations of my honesty and candor, how they “respect” my concerns and want to win my trust. And BTW, do I have a price in mind if $2400 is too much. Blah, blah, blah.
I suspect someone sells a correspondence course on scamming self-published suckers.
Here are a few tells:
1. Any direct contact is suspect. No agent or “promoter” runs down business. They make us beg for attention.
2. Anything unsolicited or any contact via gmail.com is a scam.
3. If it’s overseas it’s a scam. It’s quite difficult (impossible) to recoup money or sic the law on overseas fraudsters. A bit of digging online can identify an origin in the UK, Nigeria or the Middle East.
4. If the description of your work would embarrass your mother, it’s a scam. They want to sell your hopes and dreams back to you. Their actual performance is nil. If you want to gamble, try a casino.
5. NEVER send a screen shot of your payment. First, they should send you a receipt not vice versa. Secondly, screen shots can be reverse engineered straight into your bank account. Their book promotion scam is cover for theft. A double whammy. BEWARE!
Yet I write and publish because I love the process of writing. My books look lovely. I don’t want to change my name to Stephen King. Moreover, he has his oeuvre and I have mine. I have a publisher (SBPRA) that is fair and honest. (Thanks Lynn). The price is affordable, and their editing is excellent. Gene always has good suggestions (at a fair price). BTW, only Lord Byron published without edits and rewrites. Writing is rewriting.
(I’ve heard that Palmetto does a good job for self-published authors, but I’m happy where I am. Don’t take my word as an endorsement of a company I don’t use).
It’s a big step to self-publish (not to wealth and fame). You give up any chance that a publishing house or agent will take on your work. Nonetheless, it is rewarding to write something new and original or a new take on old stuff. You can find ways to expose your work to the public and sell some copies, but if you’re in it for money, fuhgeddaboudit.
Rex
