Author: Texas Poet
Date:   09-25-05 13:23

The members of this board are beyond terrific in reaching out and helping new authors in attempting to get their books published. On my last several trips, I have been blessed in avoiding contracts (even though each company which I felt was a \"mill operation\" offered me each a contract) thru PublishAmerica and Tate Publishing Company because of the overall advice I have been rendered. The current company I am looking into is the Jenkin Group. Is there anyone out there familiar with this company? I have decided as a senior citizen at age 63 and not knowing for sure if I will live to a 100 to wait for a traitional publishing company to print my book, I have elected to self-publish. The odds for an unknown to get published in this market is slim and none, especially with a book of poetry written by an author over a twenty year period. Any help I can get in the open and sincere advice of this board would be appreciated.

Author: Richard -
Date:   09-26-05 06:22

Hi Texas Poet,
IMO - if I were you, I'd bring out a private editon by using http://www.Lulu.com/ . Then I would send free copies to every poet whom you admire and all the poetry journals. Lulu is free, by the way. Also, if you attended college, I would ask for an appointment to talk with the editor of the University Press. And you might even consider a publicist -- and I mean a real one. Instead of spending $4000 for a vanity press book (which will label you in a negative way), use your money to hire a publicist. the one I talked to cost $200 an hour, or a flat rate of $7500. These are just my ideas, Tex. I hope they can help in some way. I admire you for being a poet.

Author: Texas Poet
Date:   09-26-05 11:06

Richard,

Thank you for response. I have looked at your suggestion prior to your board response. Lulu looks like a great way to go. When you say private, does that mean that I should avoid the marketing programs they offer, like having the book listed on various sites to offer prospective customers, the opportunity to order? Should I get the catalog numbers (codes) for the book? In other words, how far would you go with the services of Lulu other than their third party sellers (which they make a point of saying they are not responsible for)?

Grateful thanks for your response,

Texas Poet

Author: Carol O
Date:   09-26-05 12:34

An excellent issue to consider, Texas. Poetry is traditionally self-published (it doesn't sell enough to interest commercial publishers), so you'll need to decide how you want to market your book. If online, then places like Lulu are a good way to go. The downside is that POD is expensive for an author to buy in quantity to resell. So, if you expect/intend to sell at poetry readings, etc. (which is where poets make the vast majority of their sales, by the way), then I recommend cutting out the middleman and contacting a local book printer for a small press run (true self-publishing). Not only will the cost-per-book be significantly less, but you can negotiate hands-on to get the product you want. And once you get your books, you can still purchase an Amazon listing, etc., or just sell from your website.

Author: Roy Abrahams
Date:   09-26-05 15:15

(it doesn't sell enough to interest commercial publishers)

Neither will it sell well enough to recoup any amount of money spent on publicists. I'd put money on the line that if one asked a famous poet of today how much money they've made off their efforts, the answer would be discouraging.

As Hamlet said: Vanity, thy name is poet.