Ebooks and even self-publishing COULD earn authors millions
YOU do not need a book deal to get your first novel published. There are selfpublishing and ebook options aplenty.
Novelist and writing tutor Roz Morris says selfpublishing is not just for amateurs as many professional authors also use it.
The bestselling erotic thriller Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James began as a self-published ebook in 2011 before being snapped up by a mainstream publisher and turned into a film. The author is now worth £40 million.
Morris says: ‘The selfpublishing route gives
writers independence and freedom of choice. But it should not be seen as an easy way out. You still need professional guidance and editing to ensure the book is of the highest quality.’
Morris, whose selfpublished works include Lifeform Three and Not Quite Lost, believes a good starting place is the Alliance of Independent Authors.
This association can provide guidance on reputable firms which can help you self-publish in print and online as well as provide editorial support.
Hiring a professional editor to go through a manuscript can cost more than £2,000 but Morris believes it is money well spent if it transforms a rough draft into a wellcrafted novel. Joining a writing group can also help.
You can fork out £200 or so for software that puts a book into ebook form and allows you to choose an off-the-peg front cover. An independently designed cover may cost £400.
You might consider selfpublishing providers such as Amazon, IngramSpark, Clays, and CPI. Amazon – through its Kindle Book Publishing arm – charges £790 for a package including software, proofreading and cover design for both print-ondemand and ebooks.
Kim Nash of ebook publisher Bookouture believes companies like hers are also worth contacting because of the expert support they provide. She says: ‘Producing a book does not cost the author a penny with us – though you are only accepted if we believe the book has potential. ‘We offer editing expertise and help with marketing and the cover. You get no advance but receive 45 per cent royalties of any income from selling your ebook.’ Despite the price of online books being between 99p and £1.99, Nash points out that its bestselling author Angela Marsons has sold 2.8 million books online. So ebooks can also be lucrative.