IT'S OFFICIAL — MY BOOK'S GOING TO BE PUBLISHED!!

[ahunter3]

It's been a nerve-wracking 7 weeks since the offer letter but the proverbial ink (mostly digital ink) is now on the contract. The Story of Q: A GenderQueer Tale, a 97,000 word genderqueer coming-out and coming-of-age memoir, shall be published by Ellora's Cave.



It will be available in digital format first, on Ellora's Cave's own website, on Amazon, theoretically on ARe*, and on Kobo Books, and Barnes & Noble, and Apple.

http://www.arebooks.com/
http://www.amazon.com
https://store.kobobooks.com/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/books

* ARe is a web site devoted to erotica titles, which makes sense for Ellora's Cave's traditional oeuvre, but less so for THE STORY OF Q. But if they want to carry it who am I to quarrel?


The book will also be available in physical form as a paperback book, something fundamentally important and viscerally appealing to my 20th-century experiences.

Ellora's Cave is a publisher focused until recently on steamy erotic romances. However, as their front page explicitly states, they are "now accepting new genres". I'm not 100% certain but I *think* my book will be printed under their new imprint "EC For Real", insofar as that is the one designated for memoirs, although it might also come out under "EC for LGBTQ", depending I suppose on whether that imprint is intended to incorporate LGBTQ nonfiction or will be focused on LGBTQ erotica and romance.

So they're doing new things, and I, as a newbie author, am definitely going to be doing new things, and I'm quite looking forward to the experience.

I have already had a leisurely chatty conversation with the editor, Susan Edwards, who will be working hands-on with me to refine and polish the manuscript; she began our conversation by asking what my preferred pronouns are, and expressed warmth and enthusiasm for the project, stating that this is a wonderful time for a genderqueer memoir to be hitting the market.


Due to the economic challenges of the publishing market, Ellora's Cave isn't directly able to engage the services of a publicity engine to promote their authors' books, so that will be up to me. I have no skills but I have my own personal publicity budget and an inclination to hire a professional publicist with it -- perhaps more than one. (If you have experience with a publicist you think would be a good match for this project, please get in touch with me!).


What I do have is a talk, which I have already been taking on the road, and I will be attempting to get myself booked more often now that I have a book coming out.


At home I have a bottle of 2007 Clovis Point Archeology awaiting decanting :)


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Comments

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!!!

Obviously, you'll need an author website. You may want to start blogging on that website. Probably include some kind of interactive capability like a bbs. You'll want some kind of hook that makes your entries stand-alones that can also evangelize to a larger audience -- genderqueer in the news? Genderqueer on TV or in the movies? Or maybe advice like a genderqueer Dear Abby?

You'll also want to get a list of every alternative or queer-friendly bookstore, and if it's economically feasible, consider putting together some sort of book tour. You're obviously gonna need people on the ground in these places. Not entirely sure how to evangelize there. You're gonna need to start networking somewhat aggressively though.

Book clubs are a great tool for getting the word out. And libraries are probably the top bookbuyers these days, so get Nancy to tell you everything she knows about how libraries select the books they buy. Maybe get her to introduce you to whomever buys books for White Plains and debrief that person thoroughly.

But I think you want to begin with the website. And design is really critical here, so you may want to go with a professional (even though I know you're more than capable of doing it yourself. :-) )

[ahunter3.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have a promo budget and I'm up for blowing some of it on a website design by a pro. (I can do the back end for interactivity in FileMaker actually!) And yeah I don't know the specifics on any of what you've brought up but I"m thinking along the same general lines overall. I want to hire a publicist. Someone who has the chops to get my book talked up in feminist and LGBTQ circles, book clubs, libraries... get me reviewed by people who review books, do presentations and talks, be on panel discussions et al. Me, I recognize the need & importance of all that but I'm short on the proverbial clues as far as specifics and implementations.