Publishing A Novel

Last Edit October 21, 1999

First, your decide, by some mystic brain system computation or integration, or just plain lightening bolt, to just "do it".
Right. Only took 25 years to get to this point.
Actually, first, I open negotiations with a cover model. Troy Sutter. Yep. HIM!
And send him to get an agent.
Then I need a photographer.
How about the one I used to work with - shooting chips? - OK - he's done other work too - and I have seen it.
Now - Illustrator? I check out a few.
Too little time.
Not what I have in mind.
I want the model front and center. Anything else is extra.
I meditate.
I see lovely stuff.
A later book. I tell Woody Coleman. The agent. On the web.
I like what I have seen - but it just doesn't fit.
Cover art? Or photographs?
Photo manipulation.
I go look at the store shelves. Star Trek. Next Generation. Star Wars. They dominate the shelves.
And they are head shots - lead characters.
Little else.
Fine.
Assembly? Background?
Photographer has shots. I want angry sky.
Men buy black and red books. Like laundry detergents. Check your store shelves.
Text?
I can write that.
Someone to set up the master file for the cover total - front - back - and spine art.
Need dimensions form the printer first. Book is 400 pages plus lead and end sheets 410-420.
Printer?
Use the one I've used for manuals. In Utah. Call him.
They did 10,000 manuals. They can do 20,000 books.
Yep.
20,000.
Starting number.
Sell them - recover the costs in material. Won't pay for all my time. What will?
Need to make a budget. $40,000 - 50,000 is a ballpark.
I need to register the book with the national library. Get a code number.
Need to finalize the edit first I think.
Need to find the process and the form.
It's government - it's on line somewhere.
How did we live with out the web?
I have five things listed with them so far.
This will be number six.
Text?
What copy on the back?
I'll think of something.
And the slug line for the ad?
"He broke all the rules to save her...."
Sounds good to me.
Need a dedication page. A printing history page.
Title page. Copyright page.
Something at the back.
Besides "To be continued..."
Yep. It's part of a trilogy.
Orders?
Well, transfer my website to a commercial level ($70 a month more) and set up an order page - after I get a merchant account.
But first, find a fullfillment house. I've used one before. For direct mail response.
OK. Put it on the list.
I am not stuffing envelopes from home!
Need an 800 number too.
Again, fulfillment house.
Need to set up the roll-out plan.
Poster? You betcha! Need about 750? 1,000 to give away to promote the book.
Sell others.
Book marks?
Yes.
Ads?
Definitely.
Romantic Times - 1 page - 4-color - one insert is about $1,800. Not really my market - but promotes me and my model so I'll do this.
Starlog?
Call them.
Creation Entertainment - they run the ST conventions now.
e-mail and call them. Maybe flyers. Maybe go to the conventions. Have a booth. Sign the books. Hmmmm.
Other magazines?
I'll think about it.
Where are the Trekkies hiding now? Oh, we are around! They are my main market.
Some smaller ads in other magazines. Pick key cities.
I can lay out those ads.
Done it before.
Need my G4.
Even done one for my own technical book.
Date for publication?
Pick Feb-March because January - everyone is broke (Christmas etc) - and April - everyone is broke (taxes). So get them in between.
Books on the web do not die.
EPublish? Check with Microsoft - they are driving a standard. Meet it. Have the book available both ways. Soft and hard copy. Find a floppy/CD duplicator. Maybe.
Photo shoot?
ASAP. My model may be working out of the country within 6 months.
Studio? Makeup?
My photographer books a studio, has a makeup person.
We have a date.
November 9th.
Publicity? I am sending a story to Dateline. I am submitting the article idea to RT.
Dressing the Model? Poses?
My shot. I get to dictate what I want. I want the book cover to say "hero" - so use a military-like vest - keep those arms exposed - and get a big weapon.
Ad for RT and the poster - I want that to say "Just breathe!" with the book cover on the side. Promote the model and the book. That's efficient. I like that. Take the shirt off!
My model is working out.
Book mark?
I'm thinking.
It will come to me.
I have another week.
Background photo?
Photographer (Phase Infinity - Ron Jones - San Diego) has a sunset that Chrome Digital can tint angry red. Good for PhotoShop.
Need a bright vest for the model - or I need to make one - in velvet (saturates the color). I have his dimensions.
I need to figure out where to get the gun.
Manuscript? Someone is proofreading for me - I just did all 28 chapters. Need to punch up the last chapter - wrong man got the girl - need to punch up two love scenes and a death scene - this is an action book. Decided today to add another scene - bridge two incidents - build the romance angle (I had killed it before). The spell checkers and the grammar checkers have gotten better! So have I! (Haven't toughed this book in 11 years - or longer! I had forgotten how good it was! Nice surprise.)
Set a limit. DO IT.
Don't take forever - don't touch it too much. It is a ripping good read! I like my book. (Actually, I can't believe I wrote it!)
Tell my CPA and my stock broker what I am doing.
CPA says keep records - so I use a specific credit card.
Stock broker says "10 9 8 7 6...." His mother publishes children's books - did 6 that way - now has a contract.
Good.
Press release?
I've written those before......
Need to see how to reach the wire.
Should I pay $10,000 to someone to do this for me????
I don't think so. I need to consider this.
What about QVC? Amazon.com? Barnes and Noble.com? Borders? B. Dalton?
Need to see about them - they do use independent publishers I believe.
The web has changed the ground rules.
More players.
I book airline, car rental, and hotel rooms. My son goes with me. His request.
Waiting for the model's contract. The shoot will run between $3,000 - 4,000.
What have I missed?
Call Kathryn Falk - she told me to.
She likes my model.
Oh yes, I told him to sign up for the Mr. Romance contest next year.
I'll sponsor him.
Good PR.
What have I missed?
I'm sure it will come to me.
It usually does.
Move over - Momma's on a roll.