WHY UNTREED READS?
Like all authors these days, when I completed a short story
collection I knew I had options about where I could get it published. I could self-publish an e-version on
Amazon Kindle with or without a print version from Create Space. Since I have three novels and one short
story collection already up on my Amazon author’s page, I am not completely
unknown as an author, only very, very obscure. One advantage of using Amazon is
that it markets directly to people who buy books.
I could have put it out on Smashwords, which is a publisher I respect. I have three novels on that publishing platform. An advantage of Smashwords is they try to help authors get their work in correct shape by giving feedback. I have found Smashwords to be more helpful than Amazon in that regard. Technically well-written books can reach premium status that qualify them for listing with other sellers.
I could submit it to Avignon Press, the small publisher who published the paperback version of Heartland. Avignon Press offers very good editing services. Unlike Amazon and Smashwords, publication is not guaranteed. If Avigon Press accepts a book that means at least one person besides the author thinks the work is good and is willing to put time and effort into publication. Since there is a tsunami of new books coming at readers each year, and there is not an “Angie’s List” that separates the well-written from the well-intentioned, I prefer to publish through publishers who share my interest in selling books.
I tried Untreed Reads as the
e-publisher of my first short story collection Murder Manhattan Style. I was impressed by the exceptional quality
of editing. I found them honest
and helpful. I liked the quality of the books they publish. I also liked their worldwide
connections with other e-publishers.
I know I have readers in England and New Zealand. I have also observed that noir works
have sold well. So I submitted to Untreed Reads. They accepted my short story collection.
As you might guess from the title
my new short story collection, Killer
Eulogy and Other Stories, http://goo.gl/W5SLE is a collection of noir
works. That still leaves me
options for paper publications.
Let me get back to you about that.
What enters into your
decision about where to look for publication?
I agree with your assessment that having someone else believe in your story(ies) is an important consideration. I like having the publisher and editor have skin in the game, too.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of giving so much power to Amazon, but as I have noted in my blogs, no one else (are you paying attention Barnes & Noble?) has made it as easy for both writers and readers.
I’ll be interested in how your experiment with Untreed Reads goes; others have had good things to say.
~ Jim
Congratulations on your new anthology, Warren. I got an electronic copy and look forward to reading it. My experience in submitting to Untreed Reads is that it's a very professional organization. Best wishes for great success.
ReplyDeleteWarren, I think you've got the right attitude here. I do think this will become the future of publishing for smart writers--some books published with traditional publishers and some books self-published.
ReplyDeleteAnd super congratulations on your newest book, Killer Eulogy and Other Stories!
I've been publishing with Untreed Reads almost from their beginning. They are indeed professional and helpful, and I doubt that anyone in the business works as hard as publisher Jay Hartman to push his books and authors. All in all, I'd say a class act.
ReplyDeleteHelpful information for all writers, Warren. Wishing you much success with your new mystery collection.
ReplyDeleteI have published with Untreedreads also and think they are professional and produce quality work. Jay Hartman is an enthusiastic fellow and great to work with. Congrats on your new anthology.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new book, Warren. I liked how you thought out carefully just how and where you'd get your book out.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Warren. I've just contracted Untreed Reads for distribution only for my latest novel. I put it up on Amazon, but not on KDPS. I'm interested to see how my book fares on other platforms. Jay Hartman has been great to work with. I've learned how to translate my book to epub, because I'm a control freak. If things work out, I may transfer my other books as their KDPS tenures run out.
ReplyDeleteI have some stories published with Untreed Reads, Warren, and I agree with everything you and the others said about them. They're a professional, class act and treat writers the way they should be treated.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the collection, Warren. Few writers are offered publishing contracts for short story collections Why more readers aren't interested in reading short fiction is a mystery to me. I admire your initiative and look forward to reading your noir stories.
ReplyDeleteWarren, I'm wondering what you now think of Untreed Reads, almost a year after the fact. I'm prepping my first book, and they sound promising...
ReplyDelete