on Build Book Buzz:
I noticed recently that an author I’ve purchased from before has just self-published another book. Although the book is on a topic I’d like to know more about, I didn’t click through to read the Amazon description or to check the price.
Why?
Because the first book of this author’s that I read was profoundly disappointing. It was the length of a long magazine article and lacked depth, detail, and specifics.
Ugh.
I should have known better. There were several warning signs, including a do-it-yourself cover. The “product details” noted the (short) length. But the book’s excellent description hit all the right buttons — it promised the specifics I needed — so I took a chance.
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
I also have read several disappointing self-published books since I published my own. It’s especially frustrating for me because I also self-published and will likely continue to do so unless a publisher comes to me. I know that, in the big picture, sending out 50-75 queries doesn’t seem like much, but it’s time that could be spent on other things.
Plus, I personally fear that several editors could really change my story into something else. I did my due diligence. I read at several reading groups and kept revising, ad nauseam. I hired a good editor and cover designer. I even had to pay someone to format & upload the manuscript.
On the other hand, I’ve also recently come across several books published through a publisher and found them disappointing too.
In my opinion, it’s always been hard to get noticed. In the “olden” days, you were ignored by the publishers. Today, we get ignored by the readers because there’s so much stuff out there that is nowhere near ready to be published.
We just have to keep writing and hope that someday, your books get noticed, I guess.
Thanks for this post.
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
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Reblogged this on Plaisted Publishing House and commented:
Some great information
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The problem of quality content isn’t restricted to self-published works – there are also many trad published (fiction and non-fiction) that look good for the first 25% or so, but then drop off dramatically. Are the trad published works learning that the good stuff only needs to be ‘the best foot forward’ for as long as a potential preview?
Thanks for sharing this – it was interesting.
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Good points, Cage
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This is good stuff. Thanks for sharing, Chris.
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Glad you found it useful, Amy 🤗
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Perhaps the most helpful thing I’ve read about self publishing, ever. Definitely gonna keep this close to mind while I’m considering the option. Have you self published anything on Amazon?
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Yes, my Mum’s book – my Vibrating Vertebrae: and other poems see: https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2018/07/02/a-shameless-promotion-of-my-vibrating-vertebrae-by-agnes-mae-graham/
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I am so curious to finish reading this til post – going there now
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Good stuff – thanks for thisn
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