I recently moderated a discussion at PMA University on this subject. Since printing is probably the largest single expense a small publisher faces I thought I would share it with you here today.

Most authors shudder at the thought of writing a book proposal. I did when I was just starting out in this business. As soon as I realized that publishing IS a business, however, I understood the importance of writing a book proposal. A book is a product, after all, and a book proposal is a business plan for that book. But what if you’ve written a book proposal and, still, you’ve been rejected by eighty-five publishers

So you are thinking about Publish America? – Are they a traditional publisher? Are they a vanity press? Are they a POD Publisher? Publish America is a very unique publisher in that a simple Google search will lead to entire websites devoted to the demise of Publish America, while at the same time lead to people who love them. Lively discussion with Jenna Glatzer, the head of one of the largest writers groups in the country regarding feedback she has received from her members regarding Publish America. There is no gray area in her opinion.

Although I am a gung-ho proponent of self-publishing, I would still advise new authors to first submit their manuscripts to traditional publishers before venturing into the bold world of self-publishing simply because of the cost.