From: mbottorff@lshelby.com

Nicky  wrote:

> Yes. I think that is probably true but as you have found in self
> Ypublishing it is confusing for readers if you write very different stuff
> Yunder the same name.

No, I didn't find that, I haven't got there yet.  I was just trying to
plan based on my speculations and observations.

What I *think*, based on logic and observation,  is that the publishing
of more books in the most effective marketting technique and that by
switching to a different sort of material you are diluting the
effectiveness of that technique.

Switching to a new name, on the other hand, sets you back to the
beginning and starts you over.  In some circumstances that might be
better, and in some it might not.


> The book I am considering is more like the material
> YI used to write years ago than my most recent stuff. ou have got me
> Ythinking though and as I don't really want to write anything like it
> Yagain, self pubbing may not be a good route as not only  will I not get
> Yany readership  from an existing fan base but I won't be building a new
> Yfan base either. It will just sink into a very large pit without trace.

It might be worth it as a learning experience, but I would be surprised
to discover that you felt the financial return was worth what you put
into it...

... unless you did something like Seawasp's kickstarter?

The kickstarter is a way of saying "hey look, author that hasn't been
heard of for a while" (not really but that's how it feels to the
readers, right?)  "has a new book... anyone out there interested?"

The thing is that if you don't get the money you feel that you need to
make publishign worth it, you don't publish*.  And the kickstarter
itself is a great promotional boost, because it gives you a wonderful
excuse to talk about the project, and everyone else you know an excuse
to talk about the project.  Etc.


Having the kickstarter fail would be disappointing, but  I think it
wouldn't hurt you the way I feel it would hurt me, because this is a
one-off for you.  You're not looking down the road and thinking "If I
don't pull this off, how will it impact my credibility as an author in
the future?"  That's not really an issue for you.

The kickstarter itself will take a certain investment of time/energy,
however.


*Word to the wise: most newbie publishers tend to underestimate how much
they will need the kickstarter to bring in.  So you do need to watch out
for that.

--
Michelle Bottorff -> Chelle B. -> Shelby
L. Shelby, Writer  http://www.lshelby.com/
Livejournal http://lavenderbard.livejournal.com/
rec.arts.sf.composition FAQ http://www.lshelby.com/rasfcFAQ.html

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 * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)