Peaks and Valleys

When I first entered into contract with Strategic Publishing back in early 2010 I had no idea what I was getting into. That is a massive understatement. In nine short months of working with this company I had a copy of The Canticles of Andurun: Dragonsong ready to print and in December of 2010 the literary world saw the release of the first installment of my series. Sufficed to say, it didn't make much of a splash.

I learned several things during my time spent with Strategic, both before and after Dragonsong's launch. Be careful who you publish with and make sure they are genuinely interested in taking care of the author. Also, be sure to groom your manuscript with a fine tooth comb, and when you are finished, have a third party do likewise to find and correct the many pesky errors that stay hidden. The first treatment of my manuscript was a trifle rough because of lack of communication on behalf of my publisher. Be sure to also keep lines of communication open.

The numerous blunders exchanged between Strategic and myself left me frustrated, so I launched the novel sooner than I should have. I could have drafted a second edition with corrections but that would have cost me money I didn't have, so Dragonsong from Strategic does not have scene breaks or several grammatical revisions I instated upon preparing the second edition for Kindle. Consequently, if you want a paperback edition of Dragonsong go with the Kindle edition. It is revised and $9 cheaper!

Advertising was new to me as well. Marketing my material was highly intimidating, and while I met a number of helpful people who lent a hand getting the word out I was walking blind, so to speak. Intensive research and word of mouth go a long way, and finding a marketing gimmick sometimes means lots of time and nuisance making that I don't have the ability for. I was (and am still) unprepared for the devotion it takes to make potential readers aware of my novel's existence. Facebook has helped, as has the ability to create a blog devoted to Andurun.

My advice would be to find a publisher, even a small press publisher whose name and stability can help you become established as a presence in the massive field of literature. If you go self-publishing, be prepared to devote time, money and endless energy chasing open doors to present your work in. Find friends, family and acquaintances to read your work and post reviews of it where the book can be found for sale; potential readers can be swayed to take a chance if they hear what others have to say concerning the novel. I am still working on this one: it is difficult to find willing reviewers!

In the end I terminated my partnership with Strategic and went solo; self publishing to set a better price, correct errors, and have a little peace of mind about the matter. My second book in The Canticles of Andurun series: Dragonmarch, has already launched at the selling price of $16.99 and I took what I learned from my time with Strategic to ensure that book two was in better condition from the start. Progress is slow but steady as word of mouth slowly proliferates and Andurun is brought to a larger audience, one person at a time.

My thanks to readers who have read my story, and my gratitude. If you have read and enjoyed either Dragonsong or Dragonmarch I would ask if you would be so kind as to post a review about it on Amazon.com? For good or for bad, tell about your experience so future readers know what they're getting into. Again, thanks for your interest in Andurun, and for listening to my rant. God bless!