My Self-Publishing Journey

My Self-Publishing Journey – Self-Publishing truly is a minefield. Ron Pramschufer’s lead article addresses the “so what” nature of the number one Vanity Press buying the number three vanity press. If you are serious about publishing as a business, you need to avoid many obstacles along the way.  I would like to share the following follow-up letter I sent to Ron at RJ Communications at the completion of my first title, Requiem for a Redneck.  I hope that reading it will help guide some of you authors who are new to the business of had a bad experience with your last title. (Click here to read more)

Hello, Ron and Bob
Ron, you may not know it, but you and Bob Powers have been my mentors for some time.  I want to thank you for all of the good things you have done for me.

I started writing my book Requiem for a Redneck, about three years ago at the age of 60.  I just thought that there should be a market out there for a well presented, well written novel about true rednecks. I thought it should be something besides a collection of jokes.  I decided that I could be like Nick Carraway and narrate the Redneck Gatsby and the thought made me laugh a lot, so I started writing.  I drew from my experiences with rednecks while being a landscaper in rural Georgia. After about a year of working halfheartedly at the project, I started looking at the possibilities of publishing.  I couldn’t see me submitting query letters and such to agents/publishers and receiving lots of rejections.  I couldn’t stand the idea of losing control so I started an online exploration of self publishing.

People would say, “hey John, check this out, they will publish you, They are called Publishamerica.”  I checked it out.  Then I checked out all the other “self publishing companies”.  I have been around in the business world and in the redneck world and I am known as a big time scam spotter.  I went to site after site.  I couldn’t believe these people.  They wanted me to send them bunches of money for nothing and then overprice my book so they could send me a pittance of a “royalty.” I kept clicking on the sites as I found them, though, and then one day I lucked up on a guy named Ron Pramschufer.  That would be you.

Sir, you really set me straight.  I read your articles over and over and over trying to spot a scam.  I tried hard to find something wrong.  I tried hard because a Georgia boy generally has trouble taking a New York Yankee at face value.  I tried hard, but I couldn’t find anything but good information and wise advice.  You helped me to see where I would go and how I would get there.  I finally had a plan.  I never wrote the first query letter.

I was living by myself and was rather lonely at the time, so I attacked the writing project single-mindedly and with determination.  The writing became more and more fun as I learned to get pictures in my head and make them come out in words.  Any time I lost momentum, I went back to your articles, read them, and cranked it back up.  Then I started looking for an editor.  I joined a writer’s group, met a nice looking young lady, Dekie Hicks,  and hired her to help.  When I argued with her about some of her changes, she replied, “You ain’t Faulkner.”  I listened to her after that.  Then I fell in love with her.  She is now my wonderful companion.

We finished the manuscript together–me doing the writing, she keeping me straight.  We explored and tried twice to beat your prices.  That’s when I found out more about you. I found out I couldn’t beat you.  My friends asked who would print my books and I told them Ron Pramschufer and they asked, “are you sure?  You’ve never met him”.  I replied that Ron had taught me more than any college professor I ever met and that I would go with him for that reason as much as any other.  I met Bob Powers on line.  He answered all of my questions and addressed all of my concerns in a quick, precise, and sage manner.

My lovely editor and I followed your instructions, bought a block of ISBNs and set up Wheredepony Press.  We put all of our extra money in it.  We contracted for a cover and for graphics.  We learned about formatting.  Then we sent everything to you with an order for 3,000 books.

Everyone we worked with in your organization was first rate.  The service and advice was first rate.

MY BOOK IS HERE and it is perfect.  I have never been more pleased with a project. I haven’t really gotten serious about selling any books, but with a little publicity and a couple of successful signings, the books are jumping off the shelves of the library gift shop and a few other stores. In three weeks we have already recovered at least half of our investment.

But something else has happened.  I am now the president of the Rome Area Writers and I showed off my book at a meeting. Everyone was amazed with the quality.  Now a number of members and non members have asked if Wheredepony Press will help them with their book.  It is beginning to look like we will quickly use up the rest of the ISBNs that you told me to buy, and to do it without ripping anybody off. Your company, of course, will do the printing. Serendipity?  If you have any further help or suggestions in this area, I will listen.

Thank you again, very much.
I am one highly satisfied customer.  I am looking forward to selling out and ordering a reprint
You may use this letter in any way you see fit.  If you need a testimonial, just let me know.

John Schulz
Author
Requiem for a Redneck
www.requiemforaredneck.com