Arriving at the Last Chapter

My third novel, The Nelson Inheritance is ending. It has been like a long journey with a good friend. It has become a way of life and the thought that it will all end soon was unimaginable even a few weeks ago. Now I have only a few pages left of Josiah's adventure to write. Of course, as one friend suggested, I could carry on by taking my hero into yet more fields of glory and shades of reflection, but I feel enough is enough.

Beyond writing - meeting your readers is one of the joys of the author journey

Before I say goodbye to my favourite characters and their world of the early nineteenth century, I have more work to do. I must return to the beginning of the book and begin work editing. This will keep me engaged for many months and of course I must produce the final version of the manuscript as well as the foreword, afterword and cover selection. This will start with a phone call to the team who will publish it for me and their demands will keep me busy.

I am looking forward to the process of returning to the beginning of the book to ensure all the elements of plot and character still correspond realistically from beginning to end. After all, the issues that I grappled with at the beginning are not necessarily those issues that preoccupy me now that I am at the end. Is the “feel” of the story at either end of the ten years covered by the tale still the same or has it changed?

The Publishing Dilemma

After my ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) interview on Nightlife

What is tougher, but still essential, is submitting the completed manuscript to the scrutiny of others. On the way through I have shown passages to my writers’ group who give me feedback and then I digest those opinions and adjust the text. I simply can’t ask my writer’s group to re-read the whole thing. They have already helped me enough so now I must find another willing and qualified ‘somebody’ to give me that ‘structural’ review, before everything is cemented in place.

I have deferred the question of whether to keep striving to find a publisher or to follow the same course I adopted with my first two books – to self-publish. On the one hand, it is far easier to self-publish. Amazon and the other big retailers have made it seductively easy. When I consider publishing houses I say to myself that I am an oddity – too long in the tooth for a publisher who wants a writer who will last a lifetime or is keen on pandering to popular tastes, yet too inexperienced in the ways of the new literary world to develop new directions. I don’t have a gay character in my book; there’s no frantic boddice ripping and I am not qualified to present a female worldview.

The publishing industry these days from top to bottom seems to be run by women, which is no bad thing given that eighty percent of books are bought by women, but this can limit variety. My genre is read largely by men and many women are also interested in factually-based fiction that focuses on history more than romance. Are there any publishers out there willing to consider that a male point of view is still able to attract a significant readership?

Agent vs Publisher

Find out what I learned by Speed Dating Publishers in my blog

On the other hand, I am offering a trilogy of over 350,000 words. A publisher worth its salt will surely want a writer like me who has more of the same on offer. If they like the first one, they will love the second and the third is amazing, after all.

Somehow the thought of all those negotiations and conditions and legal documents and the waiting in line makes me want to take the self-publishing option. Is there any alternative? Get an agent?  It’s harder to find an agent than a publisher these days.

Nothing stands still in the world of fiction publishing. A few years ago, when I published Nelson’s Folly it was impossible to get a newspaper to review a self-published author. The publishers were somehow able to enforce that. By the time of my second novel a review industry aimed at self-published authors was in operation – but in the vast majority of cases, you had to pay upfront. If you didn’t like what was written, then you could ask the reviewer to cease and desist – using the review for personal feedback only.

Meanwhile, the online book promotion giant ‘Bookbub’ opened in the USA, offering a book to its extensive database if the author was willing to offer it as an e-book for around $1 or even free for a limited time as well as paying for the privileged of being ‘featured’. That turned out to be so popular that it has become harder to be selected even for a free offer. Now there are dozens of small businesses that scan your books using AI using key words used in the descriptions of the book. Improving that word selection, they claim will make all the difference. Others will “feature” your book on social media – Instagram, FaceBook or Tik-Tok or introduce your work to their book clubs. It’s all a bit complicated and takes your time away from writing if you get too absorbed. And the people involved in these businesses are usually making a lot more than the authors they are ‘helping’.

The Other Side

I met an author a while ago at a party. She was very interested to talk to me. At first, I didn’t understand why. She was a successful writer, had produced six or seven books which were well enough liked by the critics. She was unhappy. She didn’t sell enough books to justify the time writing them and she felt she was over-controlled by the publishers she used. She “envied” my freedom of action. I also have kept my books for sale online for whoever is interested – no one can tell me that they are not selling well enough so will be removed from publication. And I can choose how much bodice ripping to add.

However it would be much easier and very edifying to have someone else make appointments, organise distribution to book stores and libraries, scout for speaking opportunities and select advertising avenues. If anyone has any suggestion of innovative publishers – please share!

Choosing the Next Step

I haven’t thought of these considerations for three years. I have been busy writing. I realise what I write isn’t for everyone, but for some, well-researched adventures on land and sea with realistic characters who are facing genuine historical and human struggles, are of interest. After all, once you finish a book what else is there to keep you occupied – other than finding new and cost-effective ways of sharing the news that it’s available – and trying to find the genuine opportunities amongst the scams, as well as giving talks and writing blogs? Yes it’s time to start planning all that …. Or perhaps I will start a new novel instead. Something that needs more research in exotic locations sounds like a good start. Any suggestions anyone?

Where to next?

To find out more about my novels and future book launches, sign up to ‘stay in touch’ on my author home page. My first novel in the trilogy, Nelson's Folly, is also available as an audiobook.