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 ;D
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.
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.
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. ;D 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/