What's the Big Deal About Self-Publishing?

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Laura Christianson

Sign of the times: Royalty publishing houses are getting into the self-publishing biz.

I have mixed feelings about Thomas Nelson’s entrance into the world of self-publishing — so mixed at this point that I don’t dare write about it. So, for now, I’ll point you to two excellent articles that examine the how and why (be sure to read the comments; they’re quite entertaining):

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  • http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com/ Michael N. Marcus

    By hooking up with a vanity press, and lying about being a self-publishing business and offering free books, Nelson has made a deal with the devil.

  • http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com Michael N. Marcus

    By hooking up with a vanity press, and lying about being a self-publishing business and offering free books, Nelson has made a deal with the devil.

  • http://www.bloggingbistro.com/ Laura Christianson

    Michael,

    Thanks for your comment. I haven’t emotionally processed this whole Thomas Nelson move yet — although I’ve known for months that several publishing houses are quickly moving in this direction.

    I’m going to continue to investigate and read about this and see how it plays out.

    My question for you: how do you perceive TN has lied about being a self-publishing business? When I looked at their site, it seemed pretty clear to me that they are being up front about the self-pub “imprint.” I’m just curious as to what led you to that conclusion.

  • http://www.bloggingbistro.com Laura Christianson

    Michael,

    Thanks for your comment. I haven’t emotionally processed this whole Thomas Nelson move yet — although I’ve known for months that several publishing houses are quickly moving in this direction.

    I’m going to continue to investigate and read about this and see how it plays out.

    My question for you: how do you perceive TN has lied about being a self-publishing business? When I looked at their site, it seemed pretty clear to me that they are being up front about the self-pub “imprint.” I’m just curious as to what led you to that conclusion.

  • http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com/ Michael N. Marcus

    Any company that claims to be a “self-publishing company” or “self-publishing imprint” is lying.

    There is no such thing as a self-publishing company (except for a company that an author sets up to publish her or his own books.)

    Just as no one can take a bath for you or go to school for you, no one can _self_ publish for you.

    Only _you_ can _self_ publish _you_.

    Nelson has gone into business with an author-services company, or — less charitably — a vanity press. Vanity presses make most of their money by extracting thousands of dollars from authors, not by selling books to readers.

    Any writer who publishes through Nelson’s new department is NOT a self-publisher, she is a customer (and perhaps a victim) of a vanity press.

    Nelson is already repeating another lie from Author Services — claimng to offer free books to authors. The books are only free after an author pays as much as $6,499.

    “Free” books can be very expensive.

    When a “Christian publisher” lies, it’s like the evangelical ministers who cheat on their wives and steal from their congregations.

    Michael N. Marcus
    author of “Become a Real Self-Publisher”

  • http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com Michael N. Marcus

    Any company that claims to be a “self-publishing company” or “self-publishing imprint” is lying.

    There is no such thing as a self-publishing company (except for a company that an author sets up to publish her or his own books.)

    Just as no one can take a bath for you or go to school for you, no one can _self_ publish for you.

    Only _you_ can _self_ publish _you_.

    Nelson has gone into business with an author-services company, or — less charitably — a vanity press. Vanity presses make most of their money by extracting thousands of dollars from authors, not by selling books to readers.

    Any writer who publishes through Nelson’s new department is NOT a self-publisher, she is a customer (and perhaps a victim) of a vanity press.

    Nelson is already repeating another lie from Author Services — claimng to offer free books to authors. The books are only free after an author pays as much as $6,499.

    “Free” books can be very expensive.

    When a “Christian publisher” lies, it’s like the evangelical ministers who cheat on their wives and steal from their congregations.

    Michael N. Marcus
    author of “Become a Real Self-Publisher”