Self-publishing reflections

I’m republishing some of my social media content - this was posted on LinkedIn earlier this year.

It’s been nearly six months since I self-published I’m Tired of Racism. Here are my reflections on the process.

1. I’d self-publish again. I like the control and the increased royalties. And even those who publish traditionally are still doing the same amount of promo so there’s no reason not to. I’d also get professional cover design and editing services - it makes a huge difference to the quality of the finished product. Props to Dan Walker and Dragonfly Editorial.

2. Publishing on Draft2Digital isn’t worth it for the sales alone (95% of my sales are on Amazon) but it probably IS for access to the Apple store and the library lending services. Plus I like the easy short link. Next time round, I’ll probably reduce the number of outlets, and only publish where I've had sales in the past. Right now, that's B&N and the Apple store, plus Overdrive for lending.

3. Since most of my audience is in the US, it would have been good to get into an indie bookstore. That comes with its own challenges but also opportunities, so it’s something I’ll consider for future books.

4. Amazon doesn’t allow me to set a bulk discount price (as far as I can tell). So, I’m thinking of a workaround (having folx place an order with me and then having me ship them). A little more work for me, but I’m going to explore it in case it can work.

5. I’ve been considering getting a local/regional publisher - wondering if a Barbados/Caribbean edition might be a good idea. I’m thinking of it mainly because shipping the book here is so darned costly. I’ve got someone primed to run a local launch for me, but no actual books! I know two local publishers, so it’s something I’ll explore. I think given current sales and my network, it’s a good bet for them.

Got any questions about the process? Drop them in the comments.