Nearly Done

Perhaps a few are interested in the process of writing and publishing. Here’s a brief explanation with no hidden agenda, merely sharing the journey.

I have been working on an historical biblical fiction novel over the past two years. The central character is a little known figure tucked away in a few passages in the Old Testament. His name is Mephibosheth. He lived during the reign of King David in the tenth century BC., the son of Jonathan, son of King Saul, the first king of Israel.

When Jonathan and Saul were killed in battle the five year old Mephibosheth was hastily picked up by a panicked caregiver and accidently dropped. From that moment he was crippled in both feet and would never walk again. His family fled in fear to an isolated town called Lo Debar some ways off the Jordan River. He lived there as a refugee in hiding until King David found him (Mephibosheth’s greatest fear as he thought he would be killed) and brought him back to his new palace in Jerusalem. He restored to him the land of his grandfather and Mephibosheth lived the rest of his life at the royal palace, dining at the king’s table, still crippled in both feet.

I’ve always found this hidden gem of a story interesting, and powerful. So I set out to create a story around the life and times of Mephibosheth, trying to be as historically accurate as possible, and filling in the many blanks with imagined characters and situations. The process: I triumphantly complete a draft; then after review it’s ‘What about developing this? Or how about a chapter focusing on that?” My heart drops, more work, don’t feel like it. A few days later it makes sense and I return to yet another draft. Rinse and repeat ten times, or whatever it takes. At long last, after many rewrites with the help of my encouraging friend, Kyle, the book is complete.

But here comes the challenge. Publishing is increasingly tough these days. It is ultimately a business, and if you don’t have a platform or can guarantee sales, at least 3,000 to 5,000 copies, there is little chance of being picked up by a traditional publisher. Another option is using a hybrid publisher where the author pays for production (around $1200 – $1500). The book is published but all the marketing rests on the shoulders of the author. Again, if you don’t have a large platform it is extremely difficult to get sales beyond 100 books. Most books published sell below 500 copies, unless you are on a speaking circuit or have a recognizable name in some field that will be able to publicize the book.

There is a service called Writers Edge that offers to review a book given a synopsis and three chapters to evaluate. If accepted the author is placed on their monthly list of recommendations distributed to 75 publishers. Most publishers no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts so this is one gateway available (at a cost of $99US). My book on Mephibosheth with the title, ‘The man with No Feet’ was accepted and listed.

A few weeks ago a publisher from new York ( a hybrid publisher) contacted me expressing interest. But in their small print I have to pay $5,000 up front and undertake to sell 2,000 copies. I responded and said that the costs are beyond my ability to cover. I was encouraged to wait for their review and we will see what transpires. This is not my first rodeo as the cliché goes, so I doubt there will be a workable outcome for my non-existent budget.

Which leaves the path of self-publishing through Amazon. This is a very user-friendly option with no costs and once published it is ‘on demand’ printing. The prejudice against self-publishing is waning, although book stores and libraries will not stock a self-published book.

When I had my last two books (Unaware, and Musings of a Dogeared Pilgrim) published, it was through a hybrid publisher who did a great job. I paid about $1400 for a copy edit for Unaware and still had to pay at least $1200 for each book to bring to print. There was no marketing offered at all. And copy editing is a skill that not everyone can do. The other drawback was the final retail prices were pretty high for each book for the consumer. I haven’t come close to recovering my costs for either of those books. A familiar story among writers.

As I consider self-publishing ‘The Man who Had No Feet’ I am able to have the retail price much lower (around $20 for a paperback of 340 pages ( hybrid publisher would probably market it around $35 per copy), and an eBook with Amazon for $6.00). It is actually all set to go, just have to press the publish button.

I’m waiting another few weeks just in case there are any more responses to Writers Edge – which is honestly unlikely. Attempting to find an agent is also extremely challenging as every form to fill in describing the author and book rests on how big your field of influence and marketing platform is.

Hopefully ‘The Man who Had No feet’ will be launched within the next month.

Writing is something one has to love to keep doing. Can’t help myself. When embarking again you look at the blank page and wonder whether you’ll ever find and complete the story that might be there for the telling. The next one has a working title, ‘Three Days to Live’. It’s about Simon Peter and Paul, together in the awful Mamertine Prison in Rome awaiting death by Nero’s decree. Who knows whether we’ll get there in a few years?

For now, hears the heads up for a novel sliding down the pipeline, available soon! 🙂

Trying to think of a song to capture Mephibosheth’s journey…. this old classic comes close. He discovered its meaning multiple times over his life, as perhaps many of us do. Friends around us and with God….. we need all of it.