Self-Publishing
Maybe I've read too much historical fiction, but when I hear the word "self-published" I immediately think of a dressed-up dandy from the early 19th century, sporting a monocle and handle-bar mustache. He is always a filthy-rich fop, churning out bad poetry that he reads at gatherings in his smoking parlor.
Until a few years ago, this description might not have been too far off. Only those with a lot of extra pocket change could afford to self-publish their works through a vanity press. But the world as we know it is a very different place today from the way it was ten years ago. The face of publishing is changing and with the advent of new technologies self-publishing is no longer something only the wealthy can afford.
"Print-on-demand" (POD), the term that has replaced self-publishing, means aspiring writers no longer have to pour hundreds of dollars into the production of their books. They can simply upload their formatted PDF file to a POD publisher's website and go! Generally the publisher charges a set price for each book dependent upon format and page number, then the author can set a profit margin and make however much s/he likes for each book. For example, if the publisher charges $10 for a particular book, the author can decide to sell the book for $15 and make a $5 profit on each book sold. No books are actually printed until they are ordered, so no one loses any money.
POD publishing is great news for many unknown writers because it means they can finally realize their dream of holding a book with their name splashed across the cover. POD authors even do pretty well for themselves if they have a specialized market and know how to reach their potential readers. Of course, the down side is that they don't get the support of a traditional publisher which means the author is solely responsible for every aspect of the book, including all editing, formatting, and marketing. I think most people agree that they'd rather be published by a traditional publishing house, but considering the number of hopeful writers versus the number of conventionally published books each year, that just isn't a possibility for everyone.
Readers are in a pickle when it comes to buying POD books as well. It's hard to choose a POD book because there is absolutely no guarantee that it will be readable. Of course, no book comes with a readability guarantee, but at least traditionally published books had to be enjoyed by someone before they hit the stands. Reviews are helpful, of course, but there is no way to know who reviews such books. Moms and spouses don't necessarily make the most objective reviewers.
I like to support my fellow artists, including POD authors, which means I'm willing to take the risk of buying POD books by people I know. I've just recently enjoyed three such books.
Marie Lundgren, our goddess of all things crafty, has written a sweet little book of children's rhymes. Happy Day Poems is described as fun and uplifting, and it really is. It may not be Dr. Seuss, but my eight-month-old son loves hearing the original rhythms of Lundgren's poetry. Many of the poems just beg to be sung to a tune of my own making, giving my son and me a little extra fun interaction. If you have kids, I really think both you and they will enjoy Lundgren's volume of happy poetry.
Jolene Dawe, a regular contributor to our creative writing section, has produced a volume of short stories based on her love of Poseidon. Though I am not a big fan of Greek mythology, I am a huge fan of Dawe's writing and enjoyed every single story in Treasures from the Deep. You'll find retellings of classic Greek tales along with brand-new stories of Poseidon in modern times. My very favorite story was completely unexpected--a sci-fi treatment of the Greek god. When I finished the book I e-mailed Dawe and demanded a full book based on that one story. If you enjoy Dawe's writing (and you can preview it for free in most of our issues of Mosaic Minds!) or if you have an interest in Greek mythology, Treasures from the Deep is a must-read.
long the same lines, Laure Lynch offers up a book of short stories devoted to Odin in Odhroerir: Nine Devotional Tales of Odin's Journeys. I started the book with zero knowledge of Nordic mythology, which made a few of the stories a little difficult to follow, but I really enjoyed the writing despite my lack of full comprehension. I am a raving fan of modern treatments of all things traditional, which put this on my "gotta have" list. If you're a fan of Nordic mythology, this book belongs on your gotta have list as well.