vanity publishing

Bored with the plethora of sporting biography and tragic life stories? A couple of months ago I set out to read only self-published authors. The content is usually immeasurably self-serving, but one soon picks up the knack of reading between the lines. Discoveribg what really motivates the authors is the best fun I`ve had in years.

Hello Mrs C.B. Newton,

You must try (please!) my book soon to be listed with Amazon but available now direct from my publisher Xlibrispublishing.co.uk (probably at full retail price!!!!) or from me direct (certainly at reduced price). The title says it all - "Pacific Odyssey - Lane's Story" by Michael Harrington. See my post under 'Promoting your own novel, then do soon this thread' for a synopsis. At this time it is the last post). Like what you see? Of course you do......x e-mail me at airwolf929@talktalk.net for further details and your comments.

Hurrah for Mrs C. B. Newton :-)

Best,
Michael Harrington

If you really want an exciting autobiography try my book The Up-Country Man - A personal account of the first one hundred days inside secessionist Biafra
Biafra, you will remember, was the Eastern Region of Nigeria that seceded to become the Republic of Biafra, but was destroyed in a Federal Police Action and then all-out civil war in 1967-70.
BTW you can read excerpts on my webpage http://africantales.wordpress.com

Hi Travelman, I am sure your book is very interesting. The subject is first class. However, I am old enough to have applied, with my then wife, to adopt a Biafran child. This came almost to choosing the one we would have loved to have in our family. The bxxxxx Federal Police put paid to all that - there were many of us in this country who would have given these poor smallies a real home with love and all that our British society could offer. Even that last is something to reconsider in these days, but, suffice it to say the pains we suffered, seeing the child denied to us at that crucial time had left us with scars we cannot forget.

All of this sums up into the fact that I would love to read your book, but my (now) experience, I feel, would be too hard to bear. I hope you understand.

I'm sure you will do well with your book/s as anything to do with Africa is top of the list these days.

Best,

Michael Harrington

I can see there might be a certain entertainment to be had, but it sounds like an expensive hobby?

Mr Harrington: I can appreciate your view on this subject, especially when it comes to children, they always suffer more during conflicts. The Nigerian Civil War cost untold hundreds of thousands of lives, mainly of them Ibo lives of course, and destroyed the infrastructure of the Eastern Region (Biafra) for decades. I was lucky enough to get away from Enugu before the Federal Army stormed the township, but it was a close shave. The remaining expatriates in Biafra (all 800 of us) were finally evacuated from Port Harcourt to Lagos by sea on the MV Isonzo, a 7,500 Ton Italian freighter, where we were able to pick up our lives and continue our careers in other parts of Nigeria. In my case Ibadan.
Thanks for taking the time to explain your position.

hi Gille , it`s not too expensive, most of them turn up in second-hand shops, or seach the large print sections of any public library. Plus you can find quite a few rarities on Amazon.

Hello Mrs.CB Newton, As a recent self publishing author, 'The Spanish Cheese 'Sanwish' Without Bread', I seemed to have made lot of people laugh at the disasters and problems I have had over nearly half a century living in Spain where it still is 'different'. Even today in Valencia where they have built a new opera house there are a large amount of seats where it is impossible to see the complete stage. Official reason - for the blind opera lovers. A new city road received complaints that it was not wide enough for traffic, solution - paint another traffic lane. I have seen two eggs go into boiling water for three minutes and one comes out soft boiled and the hard boiled! It takes talent to do that. I have survived attempted coups and a spell in prison (you don't eat the ends of the bread where I was) being offered to be shown where precious stones are buried in the Pyrenee mountains and even asked if I required bread with my sandwich.
You are quite right Mrs. Newton there are some good self published factual books to be found on Amazon. All it needs is a discering eye.

Good reading, Chris Wright

all this is most satisfying to know Chris, but what are your real issues? You know, the ones you have tried to gloss over in your book? By the way, what is the title, is it still available? How many times has it been re-issued? Please let me know.

Mrs. Newton, To ask me what my 'real issues are' is like asking me how long is piece of string. There are no real issues. My book, title 'The spanish Cheese Sanwish Without Bread' published for the first time this year and available through Amazon.co.uk is my personal autobiography. The Freud quote I use at the beginning states ' have been a forunate man. Nothing in my life has been easy'. Just that - over the years of living in a foreign and experiencing a series of major and minor disasters that I have, I hope, survived with my sense of humour fairly in tact. For more information check out 'About the Book' and 'About the Author'. Really nice to be in contact with you, Mrs. Newton. Oh and by the way
my personal Web Page will be operative hopefully this week. www.spanishcheesesanwish.com
Chris Wright

Hi Mrs. Newton.
May I suggest that you might want to read my book? 'Transformed' - by David Carpenter.
You mention that autobiographies are often self-serving; you amy feel that this is the opposite - several readers have contacted me, and expressed surprise that it is very honest, which means that my limitations and personal weaknesses are oftenvery clear. The intention is to present the supernatural events which happened to me, and the resulting transformation of my life as realistically and undramatically as possible.

Other readers have said that the book is easy to read - but hard to put down...

I can see that I may have caused offence to some writers and I apologise if I have offeneded you. If your book is available I will certainly be happy to read it.

Have you ever read Joe Ortons diaries Mr Wright?

Firstly please call me Chris. Not that it matters but I don't wish to be thought too formal. Actually I must admit that I have not read Joe Ortons diaries although I can say that he and I both hail from the city of Leicester. Would I be correct in assuming that the diaries are tinged with the same humour that influences John Cleese? If so I will be reading them as soon as I can obtain a copy. What was that comment about you 'upsetting some writers'. Mrs. Newton, it would take a great deal to upset me after my experiences. Chris Wright

Dear Chris, I referred to Joe Orton because he and his partner often passed their days sending spoof letters to newspapers. I wondered if you were posting spoof comments on this forum. If not, please accept my apologies and let us put the matter behind us. Kind regards . Christine Newton

Spoof letters Christine? Seriously (and being a bear with little brain) until now I had never heard of such things. I had never thought it possible for people to waste time and effort to send such letters. Anyway if you read the write up of my book and would require any factual confirmations from third parties I would be only too please to oblige. By the way my El Inglés pen name (also e-mail address) arose because of the Spaniards difficulties on pronouncing my sirname - Wright. This last bit was just in case you were looking for 'Spoof Proof'. Best wishes, Chris Wright

Mrs Newton: If you want to read good, independent reviews of self-published work (we try not to call it vanity publishing these days) try http://ihearditonthegrapevine.wordpress.com there may be something you like there.

I think in self-publishing (not vanity publishing!) there are some excellent books. I self published as agents and publishers wanted me to tinker with my story - focus on this or that, even sex it up a bit!! In doing so i have accidentally created a publishing company (panic-press) and have helped a friend publish his book War and Beer as well as my own Paint: A Boy Soldier's Journey

Im extremely happy that i didnt cave in to publishing houses, although i'll never be rich, its MY story!
Keep smiling!
Simon

Dear Mr. Hutt,
How refreshing to hear how you handled you attempts at being published. You certainly persevered that much further than I did with publishers. Perhaps I have been lucky in that my autobiography 'The Spanish Cheese Sanwish Without Bread' only qualified for remarks such as 'Too complicated' or 'It is doubtful if people would belief it'. The latter comment was born out by Mrs. Newton's letter of the 12th. July in this forum where she mistakenly thought I might be creating 'Spoof' letters! Anyway I will certainly check out the two books you have mentioned and at the same time wish you all the luck in the world with 'Panic-Press'.
Sincerely, Chris Wright

Dear Mr Wright, Thank you for giving me an honourable mention in dispatches
Is there no way you could publish yourself?

I use lulu.com. Easy to use and the finished product is excellent quality.

The publicity and marketing is the difficult bit, but if you have an "angle" this are a bit easier..

Following on from Mr Hutt, I would also recommend Xlibris - not cheap, but very good production and their marketing department do a grand job. I have heard good and bad of Xlibris and Lulu, but I speak from my own experience. My book "Pacific Odyssey - Lane's Story" is due on Amazon UK at the end of August and is now an e-book with Barnes & Noble.com. Meanwhile, I have sold a few (8 in fact) myself by advertising at 30% off list (plus p&p of course). I received 20 paperback and 2 hardback copies free (as part of the deal, so not, perhaps, entirely free?). I have given away 4 signed copies to close friends, in addition to the ones I have sold. I need to get the book reviewed too. Any suggestions as to who would do this? Xlibris did a Press Release for me which I think was a bit feeble - so far no takers to review from that quarter.....! You can see my web page at www.pacificodyssey-laynsstory.com. So far it only seems to work via Google Search!! The 'About the Author' is a bit naff, but I am in the process of playing with the HTML. Fingers crossed I don't rubbish the lot!

Good luck to us all!

Michael Harrington

Dear Mrs. Newton, Having, in all innocence, succumbed to your rather vague comments on my possibly being a 'spoof' letter writer I am now presented with you thanking me for an 'honorable mention in despatches'. Then in the next breath you are asking if there was no way I could publish myself! If you mean 'publish my book by myself' then the anwer is quite simple. Until now I have known little or nothing in respect of publishing, vanity or otherwise. So the one main reason I chose vanity publishing in this instance was simply reasonable costs together with the promised that my book would be publicised on Amazon. Having been a client (albeit only a small one)of Amazon for some years I would mention that I have received nothing but impeccable service from this Company and to date have not been disappointed. Does that answer you question or is there something I have missed?
Sincerely, Chris Wright

Question answered . Thankyou .

Reviews: I found this really difficult, i sent copies of my book to around 20 publications/newspapers, all i had back was a very short review from "soldier" magazine (better than nothing i guess!) despite having loads of publicity , locally at least, including radio interviews and a centre page spread avaialable on my website.
Do you use facebook Mr Harrington? Ive found this quite a good tool to get the word out, i have a "page" called "paint a boy soldiers journey by simon hutt"- its good way to get updates to followers and theres a cheap advertising facility.
As for press releases, i did my own free ones through PRfire.com.
you are registered on Nielsens (if you are UK) arent you - this enables your book to be ordered through any bookstore.
sorry if ive told you stuff you already know, :)
cheers
simon