On Self-Publishing with Lulu: Q&A with Alexandra Román de Hernández

Alexandra Román de Hernández likes to describe herself as a mother, wife, friend, writer.  Born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and a graduate from the University of Puerto Rico (Cayey Campus), Román de Hernández became a "home executive" which she prefers to the title of housewife, after the birth of her first child.  It was at this point that "Las letras and the love for fiction" became her passion.

 Her independently published title, El Valle De La Inspiración (The Valley of Inspiration) is a young-adult fantasy novel about a young writer who travels to Egypt in search of the legendary Valley of Inspiration to regain her muse.  The following is a summary of the book from the author:

Within the land of the pharaohs there is a place known as the cradle of all inspiration and the home of wisdom. Egyptian poets for centuries have tried to find it, to get from it eternal inspiration, but only a few have found, as evidenced by the recent discovery of a tomb in the Valley of the Queens. The hieroglyphics narrates the journey of a young prince poet, who became one of the most acclaimed poets of his era. This finding gives hope to Nailah, a young writer who after the death of her father, who was a famous author and her inspiration, enters a depression that inhibits her writing. Accompanied by her best friend and an Egyptologist, Nailah travels to Egypt to find the Valley of Inspiration, as archaeologists call it. But first, she must find the followers of the ancient Egyptian religion, who are the only ones that can lead her to the valley. 

           

I recently caught up with Alexandra and asked her about her own journey through self-publication.

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It is incredibly hard to publish a book in Spanish in the US.  Did you contact US publishing houses with Spanish imprints at all with your manuscript or did you decide to self-publish from the beginning?

I sent my manuscript to local publishing houses here in PR (Puerto Rico), waited for a response for over a year and since none was given, I decided then to self-publish.



Did you know anything about independent publishing before you jumped in? What kind of research did you do?

No, I did lots of research trough the Internet; it took me approximately two month to actually make the decision based on my research and my findings. I went crazy with it! I look for experiences of fellow writers, comments, opinions, articles comparing sites, anything I could get my hands on. The experience was really good; I took a risk and went with it. 



Why did you choose Lulu as your publisher among all the other independent publishers out there?

It offered some amenities I needed, like for example I wanted to design my own cover and they offered it free of charge. Also, it reaches a wide group of Spanish readers both in America and in Europe. Thru them, I was able to buy my ISBN and also sell the book in Amazon International, Barnes and Nobles and others.



What was the experience like? What was required of you? 
 
At the beginning I had to get acquainted with the system, when I did, which I had previously done with a book I uploaded with them (La dama de Israel: La historia de Judith, a play). After that, it was a breeze! The difference with Lulu and other companies that offer self-publishing, is that you have to do everything yourself. The overall look of the inside and outside of the book, the marketing and promotion, etc. It feels really invigorating to actually to something so ambitious, and have an inside look at all the work publishing houses go through. 



Did you hire an editor before you published or does Lulu offer editorial services?

They do offer editorial services for a fee not included in the package you buy for your ISBN and to be on the internet sites. I actually got in touch with a friend for the editing of the book, and got a bad experience! My advice is hire one.



What services does Lulu offer?

They offer different packages for your convenience. Some include buying your own ISBN; getting one they own; appearing on sites like Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, etc.; other packages with editing and more. In their site you will find them and they have good information on them. If not satisfied with it, you can visit their blogs and read what other have to say or ask questions.

 

Have you had to do all of your marketing and distribution yourself?

Yes, they don’t do that for you, unless, like everything, you buy a marketing package. I did a blog tour that consisted of Spanish speaking readers and interviews in English on Latino sites. I loved it, its lots of work, but worth it. 



What have been your most successful marketing campaigns?

The Internet campaigns are a great tool. For you not only get the local readers, also international ones. I got the chance to meet great people and colleagues, some of them I’m still in contact with and are helping me with my second book.



What have you learned from this experience that you wish you had known from the very beginning?

Not to be so trusting. It got me into some disappointing moments, but what can I say, you learn from the experiences. And the literary world is a rough one.

 

What was your experience with E-publishing? Did you find it straightforward or were there certain pitfalls writers should be aware of?

I will advise that if you have the money to actually get a PR (publicity manager), do it. They know things that even with all the research you’ll do; there will be some areas that you’ll miss. But always look for information, the more the better, so you know what you’re stepping into. They are many successful stories out there of authors who self-publish, and cherish the experience and will do it again.


What are you working on next?

I’m working on a fiction book that takes place in this time, but with characters that are ancient. For now all I can say is that it will be divided in two parts, one of them and that will be the first part, is the story of the antagonists, and the second, the main characters. The story is the struggle between these two, and the desire of the antagonists-immortals to be recognized as the beings above all beings, for they were created perfect by the main characters. I also created a new language based on the Taíno, that’s still a work in progress for it grows with the story. They actually complement each other! The title will change, but I call it, for now, “The Masters of the Elements”.



Will you consider self-publishing again?  If so, what (if anything) will you do differently?

Like I did in the first one, I will try traditional publishing first, then if that does not work, self-publishing. Stories are created to be read, they deserve to see the light.

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Para comprar El Valle de la Inspiración use este link

POD aka Self-Publishing: A revolution?

image by nlscotland on Flickr

 

There has been a lot of talk about the future of publishing since, well, the beginning of publishing. 

However, with new technology available to publishers, printing houses and authors, the talk has now become more relevant than ever.


One of the issues that has become apparent, is the need of publishers to categorize their authors and works into neat little boxes which makes it easier for them to study marketing trends and to asses bottom-lines.


This is a rational way to run a business and protect profits, but it is in opposition to the spirit of literature. 


Now, there are many, many successful authors who have discovered their own secret recipes and repeated them over and over to successful ends.  An amazing and applaudable feat for these authors and for the agents and publishers that stood by them.  There is an audience that wants and expects that same thrill over and over again.  Much like riding a rollercoaster, you know what it is going to feel like, but you want to experience all the inertia, terror, and adrenaline over and over just the same.


But sometimes, that's just not how it works for an author.  Sometimes, a story or voice grips you by the throat and holds you prisoner for the ransom of sharing the story with the world.  A story that has to be told.  A story that is unique and unconforming.  A story that passionately refuses to be molded into a neat, easily definable box.


So the question is, what then?  Does an author simply ignore the story from the beginning, highly suspecting that it will not get picked up, or after months of laboring over the work until it is finally compete, does an author have another option besides to stash it away when the numbness of rejection starts to set in?  


In both scenarios, the author dies a little death.  In the past, this was the end.  Many authors died little bits at a time, until there was no life left to give.  


But now, living in this cusp between today and tomorrow, in a world where the future explodes into the present with new technology and even newer philosophies, is there a new option for authors?


Is there a new path to life for stories that do not fit into the box?


Is there in effect, a revolution under way, fighting for the independence of thought, plot and character?


Consider this:  
Top 5 Publishing Companies in the US:

1. Random House: Owned by Bertelsmann AG (also owns Bantam and Doubleday) who have admitted to making profits from slave labour and publishing propaganda for the Nazi party. 

2.  Pearson (Penguin/Putnam/Viking): British-owned

3.  Harper Collins: Owned by News Corporation (US) also holds Fox Broadcasting Company

4.  Simon & Schuster: Division of CBS Corporation (spin-off of Viacom, US)

5.  Hatchette: French Media group (also owns Orion Publishing group)

6.  Scholastic (US)

These top 6 publishers account for, according to different estimates, between 60-80% of the market share of books sold in the U.S.

According to these figures, it's not irrational to consider that stories originating from perspectives and cultures that are not German, French, British or US corporation-based may be, in fact, facing a losing battle in the struggle for publication.

Is it perhaps logical then, to consider the route of self-publishing?  Is self-publication the way back to avant-garde, non-commercial, thought-provoking literature?

I'm going to continue my exploration of this subject on further posts under self-publishing, and I'd like to hear your thoughts on this subject.

How do you feel about self-published works?

Would you consider self-publishing? 

Have you used POD or other forms of self-publishing?  What have your experiences been like?

On Tuesday, Jan 26th I will be hosting Kermit Lopez, an author who choose the self-publishing route.  Stop by and hear his take on the subject and leave your comments and questions for the author. 

First Ever Virtual Latino Book Tour stops by with author Estevan Vega!

Today I'm interviewing Estevan Vega, twenty-year-old author from Connecticut.

A huge thank you to Estevan for coming to Musings and sharing!

So Estevan, as I am a writer at the beginning of my career and my blog is geared towards writers at this same stage, I'd like to ask you some questions regarding your experiences beginning your career.

Ok, shoot.

The Sacred Sin is your second book.  How did the process of writing a second novel compare to writing your first?

Well, it felt like an easier feat to accomplish at first. I mean, I had spent close to three years or so writing Servant of the Realm. I started that thing when I was, like, in sixth grade. It went through a ton of edits, one of which consisted of me trashing fifty or so pages of it and completely starting over...that wasn't all that fun. But The Sacred Sin was a little different, because it was the first time I had something to work off of and compare. While I was in the process of getting Servant of the Realm published, I had begun working on book 2. Not a sequel, by the way. I started it in February and finished it that August. Or, so I thought. It also went through a gazillion edits, and three years later, it actually decided to be born...officially. So, very different, but very similar situations. All that had changed is my confidence and ability level. I definitely knew, without a doubt, that this was it...my passion.

Have you taken any courses in writing?  If so, do you believe there is anything you gain from a course that is absolutely essential to beginning authors?

I have taken some courses. I am going to be a junior in college, and my majors have been creative writing and English, so, I've definitely taken a bunch of classes. I've learned some things I've tried to employ and some things I don't really like, but it all helps, you know? It all aids in stimulating a writer's mind, whether you like what you're doing or not, it works to make you better. I remember my first writing class, I got a C. I was upset, to say the least, especially because I had turned in every assignment. Then my professor informed me of my tardiness and absences. Ahh....college. You can't even escape lame rules there.

I've also gone to a writer's conference called The NYC Pitch and Shop Conference, where I pitched my forthcoming novel Arson to editors who don't like to reply to e-mails. I got one request from an editor at Penguin for the manuscript, but she never contacted me back. Although, in her defense, I sent it in three months after the request.

So, onto the advice. Don't be late or oversleep for class. Send in materials when you're supposed to. And as for writing...don't suck. Whatever that means. Oh, and read and watch tons of movies.

Can you describe the experience with an editor?

Not really, because for my first two books, the editor was pretty much me. Both publishers assigned someone to copy-edit, but there were still mistakes. Plus, I can only read a manuscript so many times, before I don't even notice my own mess-ups, which is why there were still a few typos in The Sacred Sin and Servant of the Realm. Sorry, world. When Arson comes out, I'll let you know.

Do you belong to any writers groups or critique groups?  What have you found is the most valuable, in terms of feedback for your writing?

Can a writing group consist of two very needy dogs who shed constantly? They seem to be my biggest supporters, and most annoying critics. I don't know too many writer friends. My neighbor is a writer, and we've worked together a few times, but we don't talk often, probably because there's such an age gap. Other than that, I send my stuff out to other authors and get their feedback. But my aunt, miss Jean Gudaitis (had to give her a shout out) and my father have been the best supporters and encourages of my writing. They read the stuff, usually before anyone else, and let me know what they think...that's how I know if my stuff's good or if I need to run it through a blender again.

Do you write everyday?

Does any writer? Oh, man, I wish I did. It's hard to write everyday, because I do college and hang out with friends and try to have a normal life, whatever that means. Bascially, I'm just trying to find legitimate excuses for procrastination and slothfulness, but you're probably not buying it. I guess, the simple answer is...I just don't write everyday. But my mind never shuts off. I get new story concepts all the time...so that's cool.

How often do you read?

Again, something I should do more. Recently read The Road, which I liked. I read it because the movie was supposed to come out last year, and then the studio decided to push it back eleven months. But yeah, I gotta read more. Although, it just goes to show that even people who don't hum through nine million books a week can still attempt to contribute to the collection...whether they're good or not...

Do you tend to read books in your genre, or do you mix?

I like to read anything that sounds good. I mean, generally, I stay away from trashy dime-store novels with a buff cowboy on the cover. And generally don't care for mysteries, but I like watching them...which is probably why I decided to write The Sacred Sin, and why it has more of a movie feel than a novel. But I try to keep an open mind when reading. I give the author a chance to wow! me, which is all I can really ask of any other reader.

What authors do you believe have the most influence in your writing?

I haven't read a ton of his stuff, but I've seen a bunch of his movies. Stephen King. I've cited him as an influence a lot, because I really admire the guy. He has accomplished so much in his life, kicking down boundaries and redefining what an author is capable of. Plus, he's able to shift genres, which is something I think is really cool. Another author I really admire is Ted Dekker. He's a good writer, but (hopefully without sounding cocky) there are even a few instance in his books, where I'm like, "Oh, I could've phrased that better." That lets me know that one day, I might be where he is...assuming people like my stuff. Verdict's still out.

Can you describe the submission process you went through to find your publisher?

Long and arduous. Painful. Pride-squashing. Superfluous. Pleasant? But worth it.

Can you offer readers any advice, or tidbits learned throughout the process of submissions?

Write whenever you can, even if you're a slacker like me. Don't give a kangaroo (that's right, I said kangaroo) what people think when you tell them you're a writer, because there will be skeptics and nonbelievers. Just write, believe in yourself, so that one day others can believe in your words. Pray. Gnash your teeth, tighten up your gut and prepare for rejection...and eventual success. You can do it. What are you waiting for? Get writing! Oh, and take inspiration from anything and anyone around you. There are more plots and concepts than you probably can think of, and they're right in front of you.

What are you working on right now?

So glad you asked. I am very excited to announce my next novel Arson. It's a much more personal story than I've written before. Arson is a kid with an unusual ability, something he was born with but hates about himself. As he tries to identify what and who he is, a very strange yet very mysterious girl moves into the abandoned house next door, a girl who'd rather wear a mask than show the world, and this new boy, what her face really looks like. I'll be working on it this summer with my publisher, and it will hopefully be out later this year. Keep your eyes peeled!

Please check out my website: www.estevanvega.com, and say hi!

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Again, thanks to Estevan Vega for stopping by and another big thank you to BronzeWord Latino Author for hosting the first ever Virtual Latino Book Tour!  I'm really happy to be part of this! 

Tomorrow Estevan Vega will be at Rafael Marquez' site.  Check it out and learn more about Estevan!