This summer, I began talks with a major Catholic publisher who was interested in acquiring my book Love, Treachery, and Other Terrors.
The acquisitions team at that publisher loved the book. It passed through one editorial meeting after another with flying colors. The last step for them was to get approval from the business and marketing team.
That’s where the book got rejected.
Why?
It was too risky from a business standpoint.
A book that the entire editorial team agreed was excellent was too risky from a business standpoint.
I wasn’t in the meeting where this decision was made, so I don’t know all the details that went into their calculations. I don’t know how exactly they decided this.
That said, it was a major emotional blow that has awakened two contradictory desires in my heart.
- I want to throw every copy of Love, Treachery in a closet and never write again.
- I want to up my marketing game, sell a million copies, and prove the entire traditional publishing industry wrong.
I know my work has an audience because you, my readers, have told me so. I’ve gotten messages from people all over the world who loved my writing and want to see more. People are craving original stories, stories that traditional publishers don’t think are profitable and don’t want to take a chance on.
Let’s prove them wrong.
If you read and loved my work (or the work of any indie author), share it with a friend. Request your favorite indie books at your local library and/or leave a review on your favorite website. Nominate your favorite indie book for a book club read. All of these are free ways you can help market the books you love.
Let’s show traditional publishing that there is an audience for unique, original stories; in refusing to take risks, they are missing out.
To all of my supportive readers,
Thank you!
The Fables of Para Sympan 