Rebooting the Book

One thing that happens to authors sometimes is that their books, for one reason or another, drop out of publication. What do you do with a book that's already been published? Unless you're a household name, odds are, no major publisher is going to lift a pinkie finger to snatch it up, no matter how awesome it is.

The options left are limited:

1. Stuff it back in your shelf and forget about it: Once upon a time this was really the only option authors had. 
2. Self-publishing: Though the vanity press has existed for centuries, this has become so much more a thing during the digital age. It does, however, make the author responsible for every single aspect of the book--artwork, formatting, editing, and promotion, in addition to the actual writing. This gives you lots of control, and all the profits, if there are any, go straight back to you. But each aspect of the book can cost you hundreds, leaving the idea of profits slim, unless you're very good at the promotion angle.
3. Small Press: There are a bunch of publishers out there, primarily e-first companies that are perfectly willing to look at previously published novels, novellas, or short stories. You have to be careful though. Not all of them are honest and some of them couldn't care less if your book sells or not.

I'm at a position with my career where I have a lot of out-of-print material to handle, due largely to the dissolution of my largest pubisher. I've been really slow at getting the 30 or so works they had of mine back out, but I've taken a multi-prong tactic, basically including all 3 of the options above.

Why different options for different works? Here's a few things for anyone with that kind of backlist to think about:

• Cost and cost/profit analysis: These are not the same. Cost is straight up, do I have the money right now to pay a good cover artist? An editor, if the original wasn't that great (I'm lucky that way--most of my editors have been good.)? Promotion?  Cost/profit is figuring out if the book is going to eventually make back what you paid out. Both are important.
• Branding: Does the book still fit the brand you've established or are hoping to build? If not, the back of your hard drive might be where it belongs. At least one of my stories will not be going back up for sale, because it's just not where I want my readers to go.
• Series: Do you intend to write more, or is it being returned to you as a complete series? One reason I chose a publisher for my newest re-release is that I want to add more books to the series, and want an editor and cover artist, which I simply don't have the cash to pay out of pocket. It's a publisher I trust, run by people with both good romance pedigrees and good business sense. Yes, they take a chunk of the profit, so I am paying for all those things out of my sales. But their distribution department will help make sure my book reaches a wider audience than just my current readers.
• Updating, or putting it out as-is. I have a series of books which involve a lot of tech. Now that tech is 10 years out of date. So do I self-pub? The updates might actually change the plot. Would a publisher help me with that? I haven't actually made that decision yet.

At this point, I want to give a shout out to my newest publisher,. This coming week (Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019) one of my favorite novels is coming back out into the world. You'll be able to find it in e-book and print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Google Play. I'll come back in and post the links as soon as they're up! Hopefully a sequel will be scheduled later this year! It's so good to get back on the horse--or dragon--or dolphin again! Happy 2019, everyone!

Supernova distributes to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo and Google Play.

Dead! Well, not quite. Yet.

Heidi’s day started out well enough, studying dolphins with best friend and research partner, but things took a turn when they got caught in the middle of a drug exchange. Her friend is missing, probably dead, and Heidi was shot at and left to die, too.

Girl meets…guy?

Then the hottest boat bum she’s ever seen rescues her. Tall, dark and handsome, Jake is every girl’s dream. Still, the last thing on her mind is romance. The drug dealers figured out pretty quick she wasn’t dead. Now, they want to finish the job, and her mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous rescuer might not be able to save her—or himself.

Cursed!

Jake’s got a fishy secret of his own—complete with fins. He’s exiled from his colony and cursed to shapeshift with the moon. As a merman, Jake can’t afford to be around humans, especially a marine biologist who might discover his species. But he can’t throw Heidi to the men after her. He’ll fight drug lords, pirates and even the gods to protect her. Piece of cake, right? It’s easier than the other problem, the biggest problem of all: the massive attraction growing between Jake and Heidi, an attraction neither can deny.

A centuries-old merman and an air-breathing, very human scientist might fall in love,  but where would they live? And can that love even survive?

Autumn: Earthly & Unearthly

First, I wish you a delightful autumn. Drink in the scents of fall, feast your eyes on the bejeweled colors, and savor the tastes of the season.

Autumn stories tend to fall into two main categories: earthly and unearthly. 

 

Earthly autumn stories are much the same as those written for any other time of year, with only seasonal, weather and holiday changes. These provide backdrops for wonderful themes and plot twists. 

Unearthly stories are cut from a very different cloth. Usually the world of the paranormal – whether light or dark – comes into play. For those who write in this genre, there are few ‘musts’ or restrictions, and just about anything goes as long as the integrity of the story is sound. We can indulge in exotic world building, travel on an alien space ship, use stone circles to pass through time portals, and allow witches to brew potent magic potions.

The standards for authenticity vary depending on which genre we choose to write in. Some authors have a passion for research and accuracy, and express it in their novels. Loops exist where an author who writes thrillers or murder mysteries, for instance, is expected to have impeccable knowledge of FBI guidelines, morgue procedures, CSI skills, ballistic expertise, as well as knowing just about everything a practicing attorney would know about wills and child custody. 

This is not the only genre where an author is held to an extremely high factual standard. Historical romance can be just as demanding. There have been many heated debates about how historical fact should be woven together with a fictitious story.

The paranormal writer, on the other hand, can get away with – murder. Of facts and procedures, that is. Mermaids can steal humans away beneath the sea, only to find the human can breathe by way of magical infusions, time travel can be a mode of transportation, curses can turn people into insects, and a mischievous djinn or ghost can interfere with life and love. Humans can even mate with extraterrestrials and vampires are immortals.

To many, the paranormal world may seem delusional or a haphazard product of author fantasy. While it can be, much of it is based on ancient legends and tribal teachings that morphed over time. It is not as haphazard as it may seem. The beautiful painting below is of the goddess Night, painted in the 1880s.

There is a genre suited to everyone’s style of writing, and stories to entertain every reader. 

Where does your writing fall on the scale of absolute fact or fantasy? Earthly or unearthly? 

As a reader, how do you feel about the different degrees of factual accountability depending on the genre?

For this author, as long as a story is compelling, well written and structurally intact, it can be enjoyed.

GEMMA JULIANA is a multi-published author who lives in an enchanted cottage in north Texas with her handsome hero, teen son and a comical dog. She loves making new friends and hearing from readers. Exotic coffee and chocolate fuel her creativity. You can buy Gemma’s books on Amazon and visit her website http://www.gemmajuliana.com. To follow on Twitter: @Gemma_Juliana https://twitter.com/gemma_juliana