As an author,
dealing with a publisher, has not been too pleasant an experience either. My
book, How to Manage your husband was published by JAICO IN 1988. No
signing amount was given, only a contract offering me 7% royalty .Except for ads released in their own
group publication, no hype was created.
I got the book released at a function and had some press coverage. A anyway, it
has Limped through two editions and has been translated into tamil by a
publisher from Chennai. It has not filled my coffers very much.
I have to share an
ugly episode which put me off my publishers. I wrote How to be an ideal husband
as a sequel to my first book. Since JAICO was dilly dallying, I went ahead and
published it myself. I commissioned the same person who had illustrated my
first book and paid him. Eve;s weekly offered a mail order of
this book to its readers. My publisher jumped to the conclusion I was selling
my first book without their permission and wrote to the Editor accusing me of
transgressing their contract. Luckily ,Mrs Gulshan Ewing knew the truth and
ignored the accusation. I am amazed how a publisher can level a charge against
an author without verifying the facts. An author and publisher must be allies,
not adversaries. They have a common interest….the book. I learnt this through
my pleasant interaction with N J Publishers who have been the best friends an
author can hope to have.
Shabdanjali
Communication Services ,is the name of my small publishing firm, which I floated , to publish Ideal Husband. I combined the two books to publish Marriage Masala which is now converted to audio on radiowalla.in...an internet radio platform.Under its banner, I have
published several self development booklets which are marketed as training
material to the corporate sector .I subsidise the printing cost by getting
related advertisements. Since the book Etiquette
for PR is aimed at executives, a hotel with conference facilities,
a, credit card organisation and an audio\video manufacturer, released ads.16 Simple steps to become a confident
woman has a cosmetic giant and domestic appliance manufacturer
promoting their product. The Principal- a great motivator ,
has a book seller ,promoting his shop.
None of these books are sold through retail outlets . I sell them directly to
organisations that place an order after I mail fliers to them. My experience in
advertising and direct marketing has been useful.
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