Proud of being a POD Person - print-on-demand, that is

[Julie Lomoe]

How much stigma is attached to publishing with a print-on-demand press? I've realized the stigma may be greater than confessing to a psychiatric diagnosis (in my case, bipolar disorder). But I believe that's changing rapidly, and that traditional publishers are stuck in the last Millennium. What do you think?

Personally, I'm delighted to have published two mysteries POD. I'd say more, but I've already been online far too long today, and I encourage you to read my thoughts elsewhere. My garden is calling and in need of a drink.

Julie Lomoe's Musings Mysterioso

[Debbi Mack]

Promised who? Just really curious, since it would take a lot for me to pass up on an offer from a reputable publisher.

Is the money that much better? You must do a hell of a lot of promoting and marketing. I'm seriously impressed if that's working out so well for you.

[Dennis Leppanen]

I've promised my mailing list I would get it out this year. In 2002, seven long years ago I started the research on Lloyd Russell. I advertised in the local Upper Michigan newspapers for information about the prison breakout. The response was overwhelming. I was interviewed on local radio and the interest has kept increasing. When's coming out, Den? Hurry, I'm not getting any younger. Ha! I have this need to overstate things.

The money per book is much better. But the biggest reason for going POD is control. I want to decide what, when, where. I haven't fully ruled out a publisher although time is running out.

[I. J. Parker]

Good luck, Dennis! Many of us are exploring other options as we suffer publisher and reader neglect.

[Dennis Leppanen]

Thanks I.J.

I'm fortunate to have my fan bases in areas where people are above average readers. The older crowd here in Florida, and the colder crowd in Michigan.

[I. J. Parker]

Yes, indeed. Same here. I doubt that young people have the interest or vocabulary to read much.

[Dennis Leppanen]

Ow, I wish it wasn't so.

[Eric Christopherson]

I don't understand this latest talk of young people not reading. They read all day long on their iPhones and computer screens. They read Harry Potter, and YA lit is very popular these days. I think the popularity of YA titles bodes well for the future of the industry.

[Debbi Mack]

I agree with Eric. Plenty of young people read. I think the notion that they don't is a stereotype.

Of course, their spelling, on the other hand . . . :)

[Eric Christopherson]

Of course, their spelling, on the other hand . . . :)

It's all that texting, I think. But alternative spelling, shall we say, was common in Shakespeare's day too.

[I. J. Parker]

And I wish YA and Iphones had never been invented. But then I didn't think Reader's Digest should have been invented. No challenges.

[I. J. Parker]

Oh, and let me add that I have seen the results of the young not reading in college English classes. They not only can't read anything with words that are longer than two syllables, they also can't write, and they don't know how to spell correctly because, as they say, "how do you look up a word in the dictionary when you don't know how to spell it?" Their resource is the thesaurus, and that's when things get really interesting.

[Debbi Mack]

I'm assuming the college referred to isn't Harvard or Yale? :) (Not that admissions to those places are completely determined based on talent. No doubt opening another can of worms here . . .)