As I hinted last week, it's not an entirely comfortable decision, to publish one's own work. It's definitely been seen as the second cousin three times removed to meticulous trade publishing, and all too often the home-grown product is immediately recognisable. However, with the current turmoil of publishing, the scene is changing. Knowledge is available to anyone with an internet connection; there's no reason why the diligent author shouldn't put her work through the same stringent processes that a publisher would, and establish his own sales and marketing base. And I think that's the key: stringent processes. If an author is prepared to seek and pay for assessment/s and editing (their writing apprenticeship is another topic), then find designers who know what they're doing, and oversee the final product, then they can produce a book – hard copy or digital – worthy of their writing efforts.
So, am I apologising or what? I'm very proud of Elena's work and I'm prepared to say that mine is happy in the company of hers. We certainly had a great time working together, and continue to do so. Anyway, we have a publisher: Rosa Mira Books.
The decision to publish with Rosa Mira means that we can produce an edition in which English and Spanish versions sit side by side. Not page for page (most devices are more comfortably read with a single page open, and anyway, our translations are not word for word) but with links at the end – and possibly the start – of each chapter so that the reader can switch between the two versions if they wish to.
Okay, that's enough for now. It's Saturday morning: the garden beckons, so I'll leave Ratty contending with the bird. More soon. Suggestions, questions and comments are welcomed.
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2 comments:
Such an enterprising bunch, Ratty and Co., full of travels, adventures, marketing inspirations.
If one has the means in place to publish one's own work, especially with a level of quality already established, I say, go for it. That may be what this has been about from the start. Wishing you well. xo
Thank you, Marylinn. They behave haphazardly at times but at least the Rat keep reappearing.
I've always seem my own work and RMB as quite separate entities but here, I allow, the threads cross, and who knows if they will again in the future.
Thanks for visiting. x
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