Author Ward Howarth (Photo by Jay Paul)
All would-be authors dream of getting a book published by one of the major publishing houses, the so-called Big Six.
But in an age when publishing has never been less stable, and alternatives to traditional publishers have never been so plentiful, more novice writers are turning to self-publishing, in which the author bears the cost of producing the work or “cooperative” publishing, in which the cost is shared between the author and publisher.
In Richmond, one of the most attractive options for self-publishing is Belle Isle Books, an imprint of Brandylane Publishers. The cost of self-publishing varies, depending on how much work the writer has done editorially and with design, and how many copies are printed, says Robert Pruett, the owner of Brandylane, which also does cooperative and traditional publishing. With self-publishing, writers can expect to pay between $3,000 to $10,000 for 500 to 2,000 books (the company produces both paperback and hardback).
Titles that are published cooperatively must go through a submission process to be accepted and released under the Belle Isle or Brandylane name. “And if we feel confident we can sell it,” Pruett says, “we’ll invest in half the cost.” While self-published authors choose services a la carte, Brandylane provides step-by-step guidance, editing and design work for its cooperative and traditional books, says spokeswoman Christina Kann.
Another appealing option for would-be writers is Amazon. Ward Howarth, a brand manager for a local broadcast chain, turned to the company’s on-demand service CreateSpace to help him publish his first novel, “River City Blues,” a police procedural set in 1940s Richmond.
After six months of rejections from publishers (“I had a spreadsheet of every query and rejection and people I didn’t hear from”) he sought the help of Charlottesville-based publishing consultant Jane Friedman, who advises clients about traditional and DIY methods.
With her guidance, he turned to a software called Scrivener for book formatting and purchased his own set of ISBN numbers, which allows a book to be listed with national wholesalers. He even designed the cover.
Finally, it was time for printing. CreateSpace charged him $4.81 per book, allowed him to order as needed and shipped within 10 days. He started in May of last year, with seven books that he took to Chop Suey for consignment sales.
“Next to marrying my wife and bringing my son into the world,” Howarth says, “it’s my finest achievement.”
