IWSG Discussion: The Ugly Side of the Publishing Industry

It's the first Wednesday of the month so it must be time for a post from all the folks in the Insecure Writers Support Group. What is IWSG?

Author Alex J Cavanaugh explains it this way:

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

After visiting here, please take time to hop over to other blogs and hear their voices. You can find a list at Alex's IWSG page.  

Alex suggests you may want to check out a cool contest with some awesome prizes announced at the IWSG Website on Wednesday, so don’t miss it!  

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The Ugly Side of the Publishing Industry by J.Q. Rose

When you were a kid, did you ever have someone steal or copy your homework and claim it as his own? Grrrrrrrrrr....That's what happened to my e-books. Websites took the files for my e-books and placed them for sale on their sites. With that sale, neither my publisher or I get a cut out of the proceeds. That is known as a pirate website. Believe me I would like to tie that pirate to the mainsail and  lash him a few hundred times for stealing my work. 

Not only am I angry about the thievery, but I am also frustrated. My only recourse is to threaten the culprits with a letter to cease and desist, remove the file from the site, or I will take legal action. Oh, right, I doubt I could find the pirate to send him any court summons, let alone afford to pay a lawyer to take the case. The website will probably be gone soon enough. Unfortunately these sites can be set up to only take customer's credit card info and never even deliver the e-book! 

When I was a blogging newbie, I was thrilled to have guests post about their books on my site. I happily agreed to host a woman with a new book release. Little did I know, she had plagiarized the entire book only changing the names of the characters. Did I ever feel like an idiot when the first person left a comment to let me know the woman had stolen one of her author friend's books. My jaw dropped. People actually do that? I couldn't believe the wickedness had intruded into my little corner of the blogosphere. I had so many views on that post before I finally concluded, after much research, that I had been played for a fool. You can bet I deleted that post and slunk off to sulk for several days. Needless to say, the writer never answered any emails I sent her. 

I don't understand what makes people take the low road. And both of these instances are pretty low. What satisfaction can they possibly garner by taking advantage of unsuspecting folks whether writers or readers? I cannot imagine the amount of money that can be made is worth the effort. However, there is a low risk the pirates will ever be caught.

The upside of being in this industry far outweighs the downside listed here. New friends from all over the world, the support from fellow authors, the chance to tell my stories and read others are just a few of the perks. But I am not such a Pollyanna any longer. And I hate losing that side of me.

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Thank you for stopping by today. Have you had pirates take your treasure too? How did you resolve the problem or did you? 

Self-publishing or Traditional Publishing--It's Your Business.

BREAKING NEWS! Publishing your book is a business!

Whether you are submitting to traditional publishers (who take on all the cost of producing your book) or self-publishing (where you are responsible for ALL the costs), getting your book into the hands of readers is a business. You are the entrepreneur trying to sell your wares to the public.

A business person can set up a booth at a market, rent a downtown storefront, or even set up a lemonade stand in order to sell their wares. You, like the ancient marketers of old, are providing a product to a consumer when you write a story and have it published. 

I know it is difficult to wrap your brain around the fact that you are a business person no matter how your book is published. Even if your book is released by a traditional publisher, the advancement of book sales is squarely on how good you are at selling and distributing your story. You will have to market your stories to readers and that will create expenses which are considered the cost of doing business. You will have to keep records on revenue. Like it or not, you will be a business person in the publishing industry. 

My husband and I owned a floral shop and greenhouse business. We spent money to create the corporation and invested our lives, our fortune, our talents into making it a profitable venture for our family. 

That scenario is no different if a writer wants to open a business, hang out her shingle so-to-speak, and take on all the risks, the worries, and the JOY of publishing her own work.

Just as we learned the ins and outs as retailers in the floral industry, you will learn many lessons in the publishing world by joining in and experiencing it for yourself. IF you have the money to invest in the venture, then what is holding you back? You'll never know until you try. But first, do your home work just as if you were putting your nest egg into an actual storefront. Don't go in with stars in your eyes and pockets open to every scammer in the business. Be sure to publish your BEST effort for your readers.

So are you ready? Perhaps you will one day add author and entrepreneur to your resume. Best wishes!

Writing Friends and Family

Muse It Up Publishing

I just read a fantastic post on Gail Branan's blog, Flowers on the Fence.  She begins one  post with

Flowers on the Fence Country is big. It expands to include anyplace wherein resides one of my special flowers. It encompasses Malta, New Jersey, California, New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, England.

This talented writer is telling us how her world has expanded by meeting so many writers through her journey of writing and publishing.


This is exactly how I feel. My world is so much bigger after I turned to writing full time. I have met people from all over the world on writer's blogs, forums and chats. What marvelous technology brings these folks together. Amazing close relationships, sharing and caring occur between strangers who have never physically met, and yet their hearts join across the miles. Without even hearing them speak...only through their words online, they become important to us.


The clever, caring, intelligent authors and staff at Muse It Up Publishing are members of a very special sorority/fraternity who are helpful and generous. I am amazed at each of their talents, not only with the gift of painting word pictures and meaningful thoughts, but with their sense of humor and unselfish support of each other. I am proud to be associated with them and thrilled to call them my friends. 

The Writers Chatroom

Every Wednesday and Sunday evening I have the opportunity to connect with writers at the Writers Chatroom. Audrey Shaffer is dedicated to offering this platform for writers to learn about the publishing, marketing, ins and outs of this complicated industry. (Watch out though, she gets out the whip to keep this rowdy bunch in line.) We laugh and commiserate through fast-paced remarks and thoughtful comments. The page rolls fast when we are on a Wednesday night topic 8 pm- 10 pm Eastern. Audrey showcases a published author every Sunday evening 7 pm-9 pm Eastern. Joining in here is like being part of a family...yeah, including those bratty big brothers and wild and crazy sisters. You're invited to join in on the fun and learn a LOT about the writing business.


My life has been enriched by the folks I have met through these opportunities. What a delight to be a writer!

Sound the Trumpets! Sunshine Boulevard Releases Today!!

Sound the trumpets! Sunshine Boulevard marches onto the world-wide stage of e-books today! Muse It Up Publishing releases this mystery/horror with humor e-book March 1, 2011, along with a great line-up of books full of interesting stories sure to intrigue and tantalize all readers.

I want to thank so many people who have helped me along this journey to reach the title of "published author." From my grandmother, Ma, to my sister-in-law, Sandy, who encouraged me to write as far back as when I was in high school. After selling our retail floral and greenhouse business, I screwed up my courage to ask our regional newspaper editor, Rich, if he would be interested in some ideas I had for articles for the paper.  When I turned in my first one, he actually ran it in the paper with my byline. Thanks, Rich, and the staff at the Times-Indicator! 

Through the years editors, my writing group who meets at the library, and writers online such as Audrey Shaffer and the gang at The Writers Chatroom and Lea Schizas' free Muse Online Writers Conference have provided valuable information and encouragement. The welcoming, warm authors and editors at Muse It Up Publishing have shepherded me through the process of editing and answered so many questions from this newbie novelist with patience and humor. I am blessed to have my daughters and husband walking this new path with me. Thank you Sara, Lee Ann, and Ted.

It is my pleasure and great honor to offer you, my readers, this entertaining, quick read for you to enjoy. Thank you!

Sunshine Boulevard is available at Muse It Up Publishing bookstore, amazon.com, bn.com, and e-book retailers online.

Good Avice On Being Published by Sarah-Jane

I know I am not the only writer experiencing the journey to publishing a debut book. Read this post from the Write Game by Sarah Jane Lehoux.

TheWriteGame: On Being Published, The Process

October 1, 2010 is an Important Date

October 1, 2010 is an important date I have looked forward to for months--the official launch date of Muse It Up Publishing. Let me tell you that Lea Schizas and the gang certainly knows how to throw a party. Check out this new, fresh publisher.

Next date I am counting down to is March 1, 2011 when my mystery/horror ebook, Sunshine Boulevard, will be available. More information on this light, horror story will be coming soon.

You're Invited

You're invited to join me as I journey through the new and changing publishing industry. My first e-book, Sunshine Boulevard, is a mystery, horror novella.  I am a freelance writer with articles featured in magazines and newspapers and online ezines. Fiction writing is new for me in this writing career. (I am not counting all the stories I began writing in second grade.) I was thrilled when I learned Lea Schizas, publisher at Muse It Up Publishing, emailed me telling me their board loved this lighthearted, fun read.

Not only am I new to publishing novels, but also to this new world of e-books. I am facing a big learning curve as my first book is a fictional, e-book. I am looking forward to the learning opportunities ahead of me.

Please come with me to experience this new adventure. I might need you to hold my hand.....