If you’re trying to get onto “The Diane Rehm Show” on National Public Radio, forget about pitching her for an author interview if you’re self-published.
“If a publishing house is not interested in publishing your book, there has got to be a reason,” she said, speaking on a panel at the Publishers Marketing Association University today.
But if you’re one of three or four other self-published authors, she might be willing to interview you on why you chose to self-publish, what the process was like, and what you learned from it.
Other tips Diane shared:
- Of the 150 books she receives each week, she chooses only 3 or 4 authors to interview.
- She loves receiving question-and-answer sheets from authors as part of their media kits because they include questions she wouldn’t think to ask.
- She frowns on interviewing authors who have written fiction because “it’s harder and harder for me to justify light pieces of fiction simply because our world is in such turmoil.”
- Regarding topics she covers on her show: “What it comes down to, I am embarrassed to tell you, is what topics I’m most interested in. It might be dogs, or food, or spies.”
Sad to hear that Diane said:
“If a publishing house is not interested in publishing your book, there has got to be a reason,”
Two of the most foreward-thinking, groundbreaking books that I’ve read in the past 6 months have been self-published.
Yes, Diane, publishing houses have their reasons for not publishing independent thinkers who lack celebrity-level platforms, but they are not always GOOD reasons.
Regards,
Tim Warneka
Author, “Leading People the Black Belt Way”
I agree with Tim. I was turned down by 20 publishing houses, wrote my book anyway since I am a seasoned writer/editor from the publishing field, sold it on my website (at high profit margin with quick-to-market timing, unlike traditional houses) to single women in NINE countries who are considering motherhood….with hundreds visiting my growing website every month. My agent resubmitted the final product to 10 houses…five bid on it in an auction. It will be marketed and distributed by Houghton Mifflin in Spring 2007 with no major changes. The product didn’t change…the perception of its marketability did.
I self-published my book and made it fiction (though it’s 99% true) because it is a raw and profane rant (in e-mail form) against my former employer, a major university. I was a whistle blower and left under death threat conditions. I also signed a stringent settlement which precludes me from speaking ill of the academy in any form, but especially publications. So I had to use a pseudonym and hide. It’s called Sordid U. (Diary of a Meltdown), by Ruby Wilcox. And it is NOT light fiction! I read Writer’s Market and concluded that no traditional publisher would pick up my peculiar little book, but I was determined I would get it published somehow, so I used AuthorHouse and they were fantastic! Due to the trauma of writing it, there are flaws, but I stand proud of my Sordid U.! You can read an excerpt at http://www.sordidu.com. Thanks!
IL self published my successful cook book because I had a terrible experience with a publisher, did not provide any of the services set forth in the contract, set up signings and I would arrive and no books would be there, book store management in a fit, etc, etc. I sued, got the entire print run delivered to my house (even stored ’em in the guest bathtub, I then set up my own signings, promo and sold the 3500 books in one year, in Florida. So self published second book myself and sold the print run myself again. Now working on two more. Will try major publishers again, if not sold in one year, will repeat the self publishing again. I do not, repeat NEVER, want to use POD but do format my own material, create the cover, and have Whitehall, natinal printers, produce the book. I rent my own storage place which gives me room for mailing mail order set up too. My best $$$ return is speaking to charity organizations where we split 50/50 for their charity and my income. Also seminars for writers near major gift times, (June weddings and graduations, Father’s day, etc.)My books are humorous memoirs tagged to food and parties, recipes, plans, etc.