IWG Summer Publishing Discussion

June 22nd, the Lawrence Library played host to the IWG Round Table Discussion on Publication. The first in a series of seasonal events put on the Indy Writers’ Group, members sought answers to the current shift in the publishing world. Members notated at the greater ease of self-publishing outlets vs. the greater difficulty for mainstream publishing.

Attending Author Kit Ehrman (Triple Cross, At Risk) lead off the discussion with the top 5 things a writer needs to get published:
1) write a great book
2) write a great book
3) write a great book
4) write a great book
5) write a great book

A lively and energetic conversation flowed freely from topics such as; query letters, pennames, writers rights, contracts, e-publishing, deadlines, POD, book reviews, and getting books into stores.

Various authors from the publishing world took part in the discussion. On the self publishing side there was Laurelei Dabrielle author of In Her Service: Reflections from a Priestess of Aphrodite whose book is doing so well that she is working on an expanded book and seeking mainstream publication for the material.

On the screenwriting side there was self pronounced “rebel” Kate Chaplin. She is the writer/director of the short film First They Came for and also the author of a self-published non-fiction book entitled The Belief Test. “Being an independent filmmaker,” Chaplin said, “just made sense to put my first book out independently as well.”

Jamie Carie, (Snow Angel, Duchess and the Dragon) the 6 book deal author of the group, talked about the royalty confusion with a larger publisher and also the new stress of writing under a fast approaching deadline.

Ellen Tevault, a successful freelance and authors, gave us the editor’s point of view. As an editor for Gaylifestylemonthly.com and Loose-id, she was able to answer many of the questions when it came to submitting material and how it gets from the query stage to the printed (or electronic) page.

Debra Kemp, provided great information about print on demand (POD) publishers such as the one that publisher her The House of Pendragon series. Debra has made a real mark for herself and her book on the e-publishing side of things. Her first book The House of Pendragon: Book 1 The Firebrand won an Eppie for fiction available in an electronic form.

This was the first in a series of Round Table discussion for the Indy Writers’ Group. The group is planning to have discussions seasonally with topics voted on by the membership.

To become a member of IWG or for more information check out: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indywritersgroup/