Estelle Tudor
I was an ambassador for a fairy door company, and I began to wonder what would happen if a child went through the door, thus Octavia
Bloom and the Missing Key was born.
I soon realised that what I was writing was perhaps not current enough for today’s agents so after a lot of deliberation, I decided that I would self-publish. I wanted to show my children that anything is possible if you work hard and believe in yourself. A theme that runs throughout my series.
I hired freelancers to get my manuscript print-ready. I then uploaded to Amazon KDP, which is extremely affordable and easy for self-publishing authors to utilise. I use them for their paperback and ebook options. I also have hardcovers and paperbacks produced through Ingram Spark because they offer wider distribution to bookshops. Their hardbacks look very professional – mine have each character printed on the cover beneath the jacket.
Amazon also have an audio book company, ACX, where you can audition narrators to get your books into audiobooks on a royalty-share basis. Currently, I have the first three out in audio too, brought to life by an amazing narrator, Deryn Oliver.
I spent time researching how to get the look of a traditionally published book and hired an editor, formatter, and cover designer. I also hired a mapmaker and character artist through Fiverr (www. fiverr.com). I found my freelance editor, formatter, and chapter header artist through the writing community on Instagram. My cover designer came through the recommendation of a fellow
author. I have used the same creative people for all five of my books to get a cohesive look for the series.
I also purchased ISBN numbers – it’s more cost effective to buy a pack of ten, rather than one at a time. At the moment, I haven’t earned back the money I have so far spent, but my books will continue to earn now that they are out in the world.
My books are available on Amazon and thanks to the wider distribution channels offered by Ingram Spark, all other major online vendors too. Bookshop.org is a great way to support independent bookshops too. Locally, Griffin Books in Penarth have copies also.
Best single piece of advice: Write a list of pros and cons and decide ultimately which route is best for you. I hope to still be able to pursue the traditional route with new material, but for these specific books, self-publishing was best.
Top tips
• Buy your own ISBN numbers from Nielsen. This assigns a code to your book saying it is registered to you. You will need an individual code for each format of your book. For each of mine, I need three – paperback, hardcover, ebook.
• Connect with other experienced self-published authors who are happy to support. Do reciprocal promotions.
• Take part in interviews and enter Indie Book Awards. Octavia has been shortlisted in The Wishing Shelf Book Cover Award and is currently in the final of The Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Awards.
• Send a copy to the British Library. In accordance with the
Legal Deposits Act 2003, all publications printed in the UK need to be sent there. (Also be prepared to get requests from the five other main legal deposit libraries too) More here: www. bl.uk/legal-deposit/about-legal-deposit And if you get your books into public libraries, you can also earn a small fee every time it is borrowed. www.bl.uk/plr/about-us
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