If you had asked me a year ago–or even six months ago–what I thought of self-publishing, I would have told you that while it might be a road other authors willing travel, it’s not a road I would personally traverse. My arguments against self-publishing would have listed something like this:

CONS

• Readers just will not buy a self-published romance novel.
• Editors may look down on an author if they knew they’d been self-published.
• Self-published means the book wasn’t ‘good enough’ for standard New York publishers.
• Very few authors make decent money self-publishing.

Being the logical thinker that I am, I could see the advantages of self-publishing.

PROS

• Freedom. Freedom. Freedom.
• Cover approval. Woohoo!!!

But since that time, Amazon introduced a new self-publishing model to the mix. Now when a self-published book is priced at or above $2.99, the author gets to pocket 70% as opposed to 35%, which was even less than authors would receive if they published with any of the e-publishers. And with that kind of enticement, the self-publishing route is literally exploding.

With more readers in possession of eReaders–3.2 million ereaders were activated after Christmas–and with books going for as little as 99 cents but pretty much averaging at $2.99, trying a self-published author is easy on the pocket book. Traditional self-publishing used to be a very expensive endeavor for both the author and their potential buyers. The cost of printing the book was exorbitant, distribution practically didn’t exist, and in order for the author to make any money, the author had to price the book so ridiculously high, only friends and family members ever bought these books. Now with programs like Amazon and B&N, there is no great expenditure to the author save getting a cover and perhaps getting the book professionally edited.

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New York published authors, who have the rights back to their previously published books, are also using these self-publishing programs to reissue their backlist. Miriam Minger has reissued all ten of her historical romances she previously published with Avon Books from the early to mid 90s. As you can see from DEFIANT IMPOSTOR, she has some gorgeous covers to lead the way.

Karin Tabke recently announced that she’ll be self-publishing a novella titled, BAD TO THE BONE, which will be up on Amazon in the next couple days and will be a lead in to her May Berkley release, BLOOD LAW. She’s very excited about her foray into self-publishing and promises this is only the beginning.

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My friend and fellow Zebra author Lori Brighton, jumped into the fray last year, first with her  Paranormal Romance THE GHOST HUNTER and recently with her Young Adult Paranormal, THE MIND READERS. Like all the authors in the now obsolete Zebra Debut program, there is a year span between releases. New authors really need to keep their names out there by having books coming out with more frequency because it’s very easy to be forgotten with the plethora of books that hit the market each month. For those of us who fall into this kind of scenario, one of the best ways to do so right now is to deliver to our readers quality books by the way of e-publishing or self-publishing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely not a sure thing, but nothing about publishing is a sure thing.

I am in the process of finishing a novella tied to my Elusive Lords series that I originally intended to try and publish with an epublisher but I’ve recently decided to self-publish it. The thought that I would have complete say in the cover–and I would use www.HotDamnDesigns.com, the same place where Miriam got her covers made and designed my personal website–have absolute control over the content and keep the majority of profits is too much of an enticement. If I thought a novella of mine would do significantly better in the hands of an epublisher, that would certainly be the route I’d choose to go. However, I’m not sure it would as it’s not erotic nor does it have any of the elements that seem to sell so well with the top epublishers. It’s a historical romance with the same heat-level and emotional intensity of my New York published books and my hope is that my fans–at least some of them–will be willing to give it a try at a cheaper price point than they would get from an epublisher.

I’d love to know what you think about self-published ebooks. Have you ever read one? Would you be willing to purchase one? Do you have an ereader? Comment and you’ll be entered to win a book of your choice (max retail $7.99). **Open to international entrants

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I’ve adored many writers in my time. I’ve read and loved their books as they’ve taken me from the American West to the Regency ballrooms, and the medieval times through Georgian escapades. I would buy their books without bothering to read the back cover blurb because I trusted them. Trusted they would deliver a story and characters I could immerse myself in thoroughly for hours of reading pleasure.  I preferred some books more than others, which is completely normal, for every book can’t elicit the exact emotion.

Then one day I bought and read one of their books and was left…less than satisfied. Something in the book didn’t work for me. But hey, every author can’t deliver, what I consider, stellar reads every time, right? Next book is sure not to disappoint. My instant-buy author has only failed me this one time. They won’t fail me again. I’m sure of it.

Please, say it aint so. You're killing me!

Unfortunately, I’m proven wrong because next book doesn’t work for me either. What’s going on? Have they lost their mojo? Or maybe I’ve changed–something in my tastes have shifted? I go back and read one of their older books. Perhaps, I’ll discover it’s not as good as I thought it was. Nope, I read several older books and the magic is there. I’m just as captivated as I was when I read it the first and second time before.

I decide I’m once again going to give my much loved author the benefit of the doubt. Two strikes doesn’t put you out of the game. I’m sure the next book will have all the elements that drew me to her books to begin with.

And the next book…? Sigh, another strike.  What on earth is going on? Why isn’t she writing the kind of books I love anymore? Do I continue buying her books and pray that she’ll write the stories I’ve come to expect from her? When should I throw up the white flag and cry ‘Uncle’?

Have you ever had this happen to you–your favorite author starts writing books that you just don’t like? Whatever magic captivated you before is gone? The story, the characterization is different, and not to your liking? How many ‘duds’ do you permit before you stop buying their books completely?

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