to publish, or POD, that is the question...

[Breandan]

So, it seems I am no longer allowed to procrastinate on some novels and another publishing project I am working on, and the cold, hard reality of becoming a published author hangs over me like the Sword of Damocles. This then presents a conundrum I did not face when I first started writing 20 years ago, because the technology did not exist then- do I go through the hard work of finding a publisher who will print these things, as has every self-respecting author I admire from Heinlein to Salvatore, or do I take the easy way out and self-publish?

Now, the other project may work better self-published, but what I am at a loss for us whether to do so with the novels. I know we have some authors here, and maybe some printers, so I hereby humbly ask for your advice

[renfairephotog]

If you find a publisher they will promote the book and place it in stores. If you use POD. You have to promote it yourself. The suggested way is to start a blog in a related field and get followers.

I may use POD for a photography calendar.

[Lady Christina de Pond]

depends on how hard a time you have finding a publisher as for one who has looked at getting published before I have found that most publishers won't publish you without an agent who gets 15% but the other side of the coin is too that self publishing is very time consuming and expensive. but it's also a way to get your name out there. One of my favorite authors paul richard evans first self published his book the christmas box and they even have a tv movie based on that book.

[groomporter]

In terms of other pods...  There is a growing number of authors now who have presented stories first as audio fiction in the form of serialized podcasts and have developed enough of a following to get their work published in to print versions.
Scott Sigler is one of the most successful http://www.scottsigler.com/

Mur Lafferty is another http://www.murverse.com/

Lafferty is said to also have successfully manipulated Amazon.com.    When one of her books was coming out she encouraged all her podcast followers to order it on the day it was released on Amazon and as a result it reach highest sales lists for a time in several categories on Amazon http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/08/playing-for-keeps-launch-results/