| Author |
Message |
    
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
1
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 07:48 am: |   |
Hello everyone,
I am a new member here and I hope I am in the right forum for my introduction.
In March of 2006, I had 1st book published titled; "Keeper of the Arts" by Trafford Publishing (Canada).
The genre is Historical Fiction book but it can easily list as a Action/Adventure as well. The story is about five different martial arts styles from Japan, Korea, China, Africa & Brazil.
I wrote it as a stageplay back in the early 80's. Feel free to check out my website at; www.KeeperoftheArts.com
Yes...it is a POD book.
In doing my research on "Getting Published for the First Time" and the road I traveled to reach that goal, I found Trafford has a good reputation in the Industry. Not to mention that I didn't want this book to wait out the denials letters or delayed response denials that I was getting . At first, I found that there were very few interested in martial art fiction writing. That's when impatience took over and I choose Trafford. As always, my writing skills have improved from my 1st book with the energy to dive into the second that has a added challenge for me.
I found this writers community through a search I was doing on Goggle a few days ago. I am thinking about writing my next book in 1st person and I was looking for some books to read. There were some threads that the Goggle search engine picked up and thus brought me here.
Anyway, thanks for being here and if you check out my website or pick up a copy of my book...Thank You Very Much!}
P.S. I see that no threads can be accepted. Sorry but like I said, I am new here and I might make a couple of mistakes.
Jackie Grant Miller
Author/Martial Artist |
LA
Unity Member
Post Number:
2194
Registered: 12-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 08:34 am: | |
The note of no new threads can be accepted on this page simply refers to the fact that someone cannot start a subtopic underneath your heading. Too many folders inside other folders gets things lost; you're only allowed to branch so many times. Etc. I think you can figure it out from there.
Welcome aboard, and I'm sure you'll find lots of information here.
LA
Available now: Gloria Davidson Marlow: THE BUTTERFLY GAME, SHADES OF SILENCE, FLOWERS FOR MEGAN. Joyce Sterling Scarbrough: TRUE BLUE FOREVER |
Mike Manno
Wandering Member
Post Number:
110
Registered: 11-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 08:35 am: | |
Welcome Jackie,
I think you'll find it warm and welcoming here. I don't know much about Trafford, it seems to me there was mention of it somewhere, but I don't recall what was said. I know of a number of writers in Canada, perhaps that is where I heard the name. Since you know the martial arts I suspect that you'll become the resident expert on the subject and will be able to answer the questions we may have for our stories.
Mike Manno
"Murder Most Holy"
Five Star -- June 2006
http://mikemanno.com |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
1911
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 08:35 am: | |
Hello, Jackie,
Welcome aboard.May you enjoy great success with your work. You'll discover that writing it was the easy part, being published harder and selling it, the hardest yet. Keep your expectations grounded,don't get discouraged and persevere. The trip is where it's at, not the destination. |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2648
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 08:39 am: | |
Welcome Jackie,
That no new threads can be accepted only means that if this thread were to be closed by some moderator functional thing that no new threads can be written on it, and then that would be highlighted or bolded, so that everyone would know not to write any replies. As you can see, I am replying to you, so the thread is not closed.
Anyway, welcome to Mindsight and I hope you find some good conversation and helpful things along the way while joining in.
Claudia
MINDSIGHT MODERATOR
|
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
2
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 08:49 pm: | |
Thanks for the welcome everyone!
I hope I can find good friends and writers information here at Midnight Forum.
Thanks for the tip Bill. Words to remember!
Yes Mike, I would honored to be the source of information for anyone who needs knowledge about martial arts. Just the result I wanted out of my book to/from the Industry, the avid reader and non-martial artist.
I'm glad I made a mistake about the threads (lol). This already feel better than when I joined a group that are Writers and use a Net as a stage of put downs regarding published POD authors.
I think everyone here knows what site I'm talking about.
Thank Again. Peace
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Cassandra Zaruba
Awareness Member
Post Number:
7
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 05:47 am: | |
Jackie, welcome... I'm pretty new here myself. I think it's safe to say no one will put down your book here for being POD. My book is POD as well... 
Cassandra Zaruba,
author & research junkie
www.cassandrazaruba.com |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
5
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 07:22 am: | |
Thanks Cassandra,
Congrats on your new book! Great Job and that's a nice picture of you too. With book consignment costs and then th recycling from the unsold, POD can save us paper, money, warehouse space...
Although Cassandra, the PayPal option is something I didn't think about. Like you, I need to do some research on that.
Peace & Good Writing
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Joyce Scarbrough
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
858
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 06:37 am: | |
Welcome, Jackie!  Always nice to see new faces around here (even if we don't actually get to see yours!)
Toyce
~Joyce Sterling Scarbrough
True Blue Forever
ISBN 0-9722385-9-X
Second edition now available from Authors Ink Books
http://www.authorsinkbooks.com
Coming soon . . .
Different Roads
For first loves that get lost, hearts that call to each other, and the roads that lead us to the ones for whom we are meant.
Read the first chapter at http://www.authorsden.com/joycelscarbrough1
Pour yourself a glass of bubbly and check out Champagne Books http://www.champagnebooks.com |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
8
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 08:15 am: | |
Thanks Joyce,
Yes, I'm new and my book icon here at Midnight Forum is a temporary introduction. I will post my pix soon. Thanks Again
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
1914
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 01:37 pm: | |
Jackie, WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
The minute you post a pic, Joyce downloads it and uses it in her rituals, which include cauldrons and bat parts. We all found out too late.
 |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3260
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 02:55 pm: | |
We won't discuss what Bill uses them for... ;-P
POD could be a definite positive in the industry...it's just unfortunate that certain publishers who shall remain nameless (at least in this part of the board) have soured the distribution side of the business to the idea. Makes it tough for those publishers who are honestly trying to make POD work...
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
MWWB |
Frederick A. Babb
Hsympothai Member
Post Number:
421
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 05:18 am: | |
Welcome Jackie.
You can keep Joyce guessing by randomly posting pics of Albanian communist sheep in mating season. It seems to break her rituals and the only results are a few sterile sheep roaming the Albanian mountains.
Preview books: http://www.frederickbabb.bravehost.com |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
9
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 05:54 am: | |
Wow Tdd,
That is why I have been so much of a "Micro-Manager" with Trafford. Which included the story content and book cover.
They, as do others, do not help with the bookstore marketing. No Problem...I'm on It! It is a up hill battle. It is no secret that I am from the Martial Art World and there are not a lot of popular fiction books from us or those who love the Way of Life.
D0 = Way (of life) - i.e. Tae Kwon Do, AikiDo, JuDo...
Anyway, I have converted the Martial Art World into a JEEP and I will be driving straight up that steep mountain of "Marketing my Book". YEA! (lol)
Oh well, I thought it read good. (lol) Now Watch Me Do It.
Peace & Good Reading
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
21
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 08, 2006 - 10:36 pm: | |
Feel free to follow this link: http://blog.myspace.com/1blkndn to read a excerpt from my book. You will find my book's synopsis there as well.
Peace & Good Reading
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1121
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 12:55 pm: | |
Welcome Jackie,
I'm the Mindsight Troll. Almost was published, but managed to stop that proces just in time, thanks to several people of this forum. Enjoy! |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
22
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 07:59 pm: | |
I don't understand. What do you mean by that?
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2681
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 09:11 pm: | |
Jackie,
Harry has a good story to tell, if he wants to about why he is NOT published by PA (PublishAmerica) and it is one that you sort of touched on when you first came here about the difference in how people perceived your POD book on other sites as opposed to how you and your book were received on this site.
Claudia
MINDSIGHT MODERATOR
|
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
23
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:14 pm: | |
How do you not get published by a publisher that you pay?
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2682
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 12:18 am: | |
With PA, they call themselves a "traditional Publisher" in other words they pay the author, not the other way around. It is a variant of the POD but the author gets a semi-traditional contract that states no upfront money is transmitted to the publisher, however, they make selling the book by the author just about the only way an author can make sales, to bookstores, to friends, to any who will buy the book, because it is only available via the internet and order only from stores. So the author in essence becomes the salesperson for the book, much the same as you are in your current position with the publisher you chose, Trafford, but then the author gets a royalty check in accordance with the number of copies sold, where as you in your agreement with Trafford, (I would hope) get all the money that the book sells for, minus the cost of printing and editing, if you agreed to stuff like that. In the case of PA, the author only gets a royalty of 8-12% and the company/publisher bears the cost of the printing, but also makes the lions share of the money, as in 'traditional publishing, but with traditional publishing the author typically gets a big fat advance to make the writing of the book a worthwhile endeavor in the financial department, and the author works towards the royalties of sold books by public appearances, booksignings, tv interviews, and all sorts of other things that comprise selling, but not the door to door or out of the trunk type selling that comes along with a company model like PA has.
Harry didn't PAY the company any money to get his book published through them, he got accepted and was going to turn over the rights to publish (copyright) it in return for a contract and the royalties the sales would garner and a token advance of $1.00. So, he had the right to not sign the contract after he came here to talk about it, and found out what the contract would do to his book for the future. If I remember correctly, he had been accepted and signed the contract, but had not sent in the manuscript and other needed items to make the contract a fulfilled agreement.
The difference is in the knowing and understanding of the contract at the signing. You knew through your research that you were going into a POD or vanity press and you agreed to pay upfront fees accordingly. Harry thought that he was getting published by a traditional publisher and was not going to be "paying" for the services of publishing by buying his own book to re-sell to friends and family. The difference is the honesty of the company issuing the contract and the knowledge of the person signing the contract and the perception of what both parties are going to get in return for the negotiation.
Claudia
MINDSIGHT MODERATOR
|
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
24
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 07:33 am: | |
Thank You Claudia on catchin' me up!
Wow, that is a sad but a good lesson story. Trafford pays their authors 60% of the royalties. The are discounts incurred for Libraries, Distributors, and Trafford via customers that buy through their bookstore.
Harry, sorry you found a Publisher and it didn't work out!
Although, I'm still confused as to the comment. It seems to have a hidden negative comment. I'm not sure if it was directed towards my POD book or an excerpt I recently posted on a newly created blog.
http://blog.myspace.com/1blkndn
Peace & Good Writing
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2686
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 09:41 am: | |
Jackie,
One of the things we try to do here at Mindsight is to keep discussions regarding PA confined to the Watchlist thread, so that any other readers who want information on them and their practices can just go there and start reading. So, if you have any other questions or comments that might be of importance to that thread and its contents, please post them there, OK. This is not a rebuke or anything like that, as I could have and probably should have told you that before I answered that last post, but I didn't and I talked about PA on this thread to you against our own rules, so it is now up to me to tell you that little bit of information so that any related items can be put in the right place. It is mainly so that all posts concerning that subject and all of the guidelines that come from it can be found quite easily by anyone else looking for it. The other reason is so that threads related to certain topics can be kept in the areas that were designed for those thoughts and ideas. Sorry for leading you astray.
Claudia
MINDSIGHT MODERATOR
|
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1122
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 01:14 pm: | |
Jackie,
Claudia did already explain quite a bit. Like many on this forum I once signed up with PublishAmerica, thinking they were a traditional publisher.
Soon after I signed I found out that there were many aspects I definitely did not like. There is much information about them at Preditors and Editors:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pebp.htm
And at this board too of course:
http://www.mindsightseries.com/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth.cgi?lm=1116125884&file=/3831/5369.html
Several people here advised me on how to get out, and I managed to do so. I’m still grateful for that.
I don’t think there is something wrong with POD in general, as long as the company involved is honest.
There is also often some confusion between Print On Demand, and Publish On Demand. In my eyes a traditional publisher could also use Print On Demand technology, but cannot give a big advance in that case.
It’s a chance that many traditional publishers ignore. They could sign up unknown authors and use Print On Demand first, and give them a low advance.
For small amounts of books you should use POD, for large amounts offset is cheaper.
POD costs more per book, but needs little setup costs; offset has rather high setup costs, but a low price per book.
The cross over is at roughly 700 books, I believe, depending on number of pages and such. That is why “Harry Potter” can be so much cheaper than “Gerbilling for dummies.”
But what matters for authors like us, is how the publisher is viewed. I do believe it can be more difficult to sell Publish On Demand, or self-published books.
Still, self-published is (often) better than not published at all. But for me; not published at all is better than PA published. |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
25
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 08:07 am: | |
Harry,
Great idea on the new author’s angle with royalty publishers. I like that! You sound like you would have the ability to pitch a project (like that) to a royalty publisher.
I didn't not know there was a difference with Publish-on-Demand verses Print-on-Demand. Interesting.
Basically, I ran into this controversy well into trying to contact agents, contact lists... Your right again Harry, it is better to be published. I had someone proofread my manuscript (in early stage of development). He told me that he had 5 manuscripts sitting at home that had been rejected time & time again. He had (what he considered) OK revues but that was it. Immediately, the thought came to me that he had wasted his time to write and leave them there and he should get em published!
That is when I found POD Publishers like Trafford, Author's House, Red Dog... I felt that even if my first book didn't do well as a POD, it was available to be read whenever. I also felt that my first book as a POD would give me exposure, experiences, mistakes to grow from, new contacts (such as Midnight Forum), shared research... Then I would be better prepared on my 2nd book and the direction I'll take with it.
Questions Harry: (If you feel like answering)
1.) What amount was PA going to advance you?
2.) How many books were required to be sold before your next check?
3.) What are your writing plans for your next book to be published?
Peace & Good Writing
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1124
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 11:08 am: | |
Jackie,
PA payed $1 in advance, but I didn't mind that at all. There was no obligation to sell books, although there was a definite push towards buying your own books and selling them from your trunk.
I'm rewriting (not only translating) my novel into Dutch. I have submitted a short story to a contest, together with about 230 other authors. My story will get a review, win or lose, so I always gain something. I'll use the outcome to improve my writing, or to promote my novel.
It seems that it might be a bit easier to get published in Europe than in the US. I hope that this assumption is right.
When I'm fed up trying I'll go POD too, or throw it on the internet for free, but I'm rather patient. |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
27
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 08:07 pm: | |
Sounds like a warrior who has returned to battle and is ready to battle tomorrow (in a different land - lol).
$1? Oh Hell no! I see...wow!
Now as a salesman, but not experienced in book contracts, I thought the law stated that when a said person enters into a contractual agreement, that the said person has three (3) days to cancel the agreed contract.
No matter...it's done and over with!
Keep puttin the words on paper for someone to read.
Peace & Good Writing.
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3289
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 08:59 pm: | |
Just as a reminder (and a note to newer users), we prefer to keep conversations about PA confined to the Watchlist (to avoid thread proliferation)...
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
MWWB |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
28
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 08:20 am: | |
Got It.
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1130
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 11:36 am: | |
You can read my story here Jackie:
http://www.mindsightseries.com/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth.cgi?file=/3831/712.html
I called myself Homeros at the time. |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
29
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 09:53 am: | |
Wow...what a trail of effort and frustration. My hats off to you Harry!
Now, has anyone read my book's excerpt?
http://blog.myspace.com/1blkndn
Please let me know what you think!
Peace & Good Reading
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
33
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 - 02:51 pm: | |
I got my 1st review on my book from RawSistas. They are a on-line review company that focuses on African American writers.
Since I wrote the book for non-martial artist, that is who reviewed my book. Basically, she said that it was a; "Unique and Interesting story that martial artist will love! Those who like a bit of Si-Fi will also enjoy this book"
The bad part is that ( as a non-martial artist) is felt is was bogged down w/martial art info. I guess she forgot that it is a Historical fiction book!
She gave it a 3.5 star rating. RawSistas will only post reviews of 3.5 rating or higher.
Anyway, as my 1st book that as reviewed, I'm pleased.
Peace & Good Writing
J.G. Miller
www.KeeperoftheArts.com
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1255
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 10:31 am: | |
That's great news Jackie, good luck! |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
42
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 02:43 pm: | |
If anyone is interested in 13 excerpt chapters of; "Keeper of the Arts",
click on the link provided and enjoy! These eight chapters will take you through;
Japan (AIKIDO), Korea (TAE KWON DO/KUK SOOL WON) and Brazil (CAPOERIA).
Please let me know what you think as I have been given mixed reviews from men and women.
http://groups.myspace.com/kotabookclub
If the link doesn't work, please copy and paste.
Peace & Good Reading
www.KeeperoftheArts.com
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page