My Road from Self-Published to Published Author
By Sharon Lathan, author
Sharon’s published and future release dates are:
Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One – in Target Feb 2009; full release March 1
Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley – September 2009
The Darcys at Year’s End – January 2010
I blame it on being a nurse in an ICU environment. For some 25 years I have thrived in a world where STAT really does mean NOW, and decisions are made instantly and then carried out instantly. Patience does have its place here and there, but for the most part the expectation is for immediacy. Additionally, being a nurse means trusting your instincts, your critical thinking skills, your logic, your gut.
Writing a novel took me completely by surprise. Science and the arts do not usually mix; yet once I accepted that my story should be shared with the world, I set out to get it published with the determination, urgency, and faith in my judgment that is ingrained within my cells. Books were read and articles all over the Internet were studied. I applied my tenacity and thoroughness to learning everything I could about how one gets a raw manuscript onto a bookstore shelf. However, I quickly realized that internal resolve, theory, and personal conviction may not translate into prompt and overwhelming love from literary agents! I’ll gloss over the disappointment and tears when the rejections rolled in but trust me, it wasn’t pretty. Still, I am a stubborn individual at heart. Eventually I began to accept that traditional publishing did not seem fated to be – after all, nurses also must accept the natural order of things and sometimes relinquish control – but the fixed vision of my words in a bound format was deeply rooted in my brain.
I honestly believed that my Internet fans, which had been following The Darcy Saga for over a year by then, deserved to have something they could hold in their hands. Moreover, I firmly believed that the Darcys deserved to be given the opportunity to reach a broader audience no matter what the rejection letters said. See, stubborn and opinionated!
During my research I had read about self-publishing. I went back to Google, searched further, and read everything I could on the subject. I considered the pros and cons, studied the various companies, eventually deciding that I would pursue this avenue now and then maybe later give the whole query process another go. Ironically enough, one of the great success stories from self-publishing to publishing is Linda Berdoll who wrote the best-selling Pride and Prejudice sequel, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife. Ms. Berdoll’s story would prove ironic on numerous levels as time went on, but at this stage of the game I simply figured if she (and others) could self-publish and have moderate success, perhaps I could as well. But primarily it was just that raging drive to see my novel in print. I wanted it so badly I could taste it!
So I threw myself into getting the job done. Utilizing my typical absorption, it took me slightly over a month to wade through the steps and have a real book in my hands. Once I was pleased with the finished product, I clicked the final computer buttons on Lulu.com, and viola! Two Shall Become One was now a buyable print-on-demand (POD) book. And in no time it was selling like hotcakes!
But get ready for more irony: Unbeknownst to me, as I was completing the self-publishing procedures, a dear friend of mine was doing research of her own. She owned a copy of Linda Berdoll’s novel. One day she opened it up and read Ms. Berdoll’s acknowledgments to Deb Werksman at Sourcebooks. Then she did a bit more digging, learning more about Berdoll’s pathway to publishing after the success of her original novel as a POD, eventually going to the Sourcebooks’ website itself. There she discovered that manuscripts were accepted without the author needing a literary agent!
When she first shared this fantastic news with me I rolled my eyes. Honestly! I mean, after having received so many rejections, my hopes were fairly dimmed. It wasn’t that I did not think my story spectacular and the agents missing out, but merely that I did not believe it could be that easy. Nevertheless, partially to placate my friend, I shot off a new query letter and my manuscript to Deb Werksman, promptly forgetting the whole thing!
OK, that is not entirely true. I did think about it in the far recesses of my mind, hoping that maybe this was my break, but I did not dwell upon it or hinge all my dreams on it. I was very proud of what I had accomplished with my POD. I had worked so hard, lost more than a few hairs or turned others gray, all in an effort to provide something wonderful to the world. I did not and still do not regret taking that step, even if it was precipitous. Nevertheless, I am not a fool and I knew that my options were limited. I am not a salesman, so marketing was a dead end for me. The best I could hope for was word-of-mouth and the popularity of Austen fan-fiction.
Therefore, I quietly prayed.
On the day that Deb called me, I was beside myself with glee! The POD had been out for a month almost to the day, was selling well, and receiving great reviews. But I have to confess that nothing compares to the glorious feeling of professional accolades. To be told by the editor of a prestigious publishing company, who certainly knows her Austen sequels, that my story is excellent is a feeling that defies description. Now I have a version that is truly perfect with a stunning cover, and it will be given the proper treatment. I could not be happier.
In conclusion, let me say that I still have a positive opinion of self or POD publishing. Despite how hard it seemed to be for me, I know I am very fortunate. This is a rough business to get into. And it stays rough even once you get the contract! We live in an evolving world. Conventional publishing is the standard and probably always will be. But other options are out there; choice and competition always a good thing!
Who is Sourcebooks?
Here’s info about Sourcebooks right off their Web site http://www.Sourcebooks.com
In 1987 Dominique Raccah cashed in her 401K and launched a publishing company from her upstairs bedroom. She called it Sourcebooks. Within ten years Sourcebooks had grown to the point where it no longer qualified as a small publisher. Now, twenty-one years after building a foundation on finance titles, banking books, self-help, and reference, Sourcebooks is the largest independent, woman-owned trade-book publisher in North America.
What does independent really mean? It means a passion for books and a dedication to the belief that books change lives. It means innovative publishing where every book is personal and every author’s voice has a place. Sourcebooks is a group of passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic book lovers. They are committed to helping readers experience each book. With six imprint divisions and numerous New York Times bestsellers under their belt, Sourcebooks is a true American success story.