Publication - Waiting

28 October 2011, Publication - Waiting

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  Once you sign a contract, you move from marketing your novel to publishers to the process of publishing a book.  You still will be in the marketing business, but now you will be marketing your book to readers.  Much of the information I gave you already puts you in the sweet zone for marketing a book.  I'll give you details as we go along.

Now, you wait and wait and wait and wait some more.  A novel commonly takes two years from contract to publication--sometimes longer.  If you are a bestseller, your publisher might move your subsequent novels along more quickly.  Still, there is a lot of waiting.  Additionally, publishers are really busy--they won't have the time to answer your queries quickly or in much depth.  You will get occasional contacts, and I'll give you an idea of when and what those contacts might be.

Tomorrow, more next steps?

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.