Where this Journey Began

My First Publishing Adventure

I was going to begin this next section of my publishing story with the still-in-progress publishing path of my book, Haunted in Paradise. However, that route has sprouted a few speedbumps, so I’m changing direction. Hopefully, it will be back in full throttle soon. The next few posts will give you the details of how, when, and why I published my very first book, Uncovering Norman, Proving the Former Life of a Ghost which you can purchase here from the publisher (much better for me) or here from Amazon (who pays only a few pennies in royalties and keeps the rest).

I met Norman in 2014. That story is fully told in the book, so I won’t give you any details, but there is one thing that you need to know – Norman was a ghost. And still is, by the way. I am a psychic medium and regularly receive messages from spirits. Most of the spirits are curious about the still-living and their contact is fleeting. Norman was different. There was a purpose for Norman’s interactions with me.  But, if you want to know more about that, please read the book.

I didn’t know it at the time, but Uncovering Norman was to become the first book in what I now call the True Ghost Story series. The second book in the series was published last year – Lady, Will You Hear Me? The third book will be out soon, hopefully before the end of the summer, and it will be titled I Am Somebody, A Ghost’s Struggle for Identity.

Uncovering Norman was the first book I ever wrote. One of the reasons Norman made contact with me through psychic messages was that he wanted me to write and publish his story, which would, in a way, be my story too. He was to be the motivation for me to start my writing career. As most writers will tell you, writing was the easy part. I’d always dreamed of becoming a published author, but I was very naïve. When I finished writing Norman, I had no idea what was required to get published, or how difficult it would be. I really didn’t even know where to start.

In 2016, I finished writing and editing the book, and I began to research what the options were. Of course, I was an avid reader all my life, so I was familiar with the names of some traditional publishers. I started there. And soon discovered that the process from finished manuscript to published book was far more complicated and lengthy than I could have imagined. Basically, get an agent (months to years, if ever). Edit manuscript with agent (many months). Wait for agent to sell manuscript to a publisher (months to years). Edit manuscript with publisher (many months). Book sits in queue on publishers calendar (at least one to two years, maybe more.) Book is published and released (YEARS!)

Yikes! I could be dead by then!

I narrowed down the possibilities to publishers who specialized in new age spirituality and paranormal, and who would accept my manuscript without going through an agent. That gave me a handful of choices. Two of them I knew well – Llewellyn and Hay House, so I decided to start there. Both of these companies focused on new age spirituality, selling books, tarot and oracle cards, and the accessories that went with them.

Llewellyn had what seemed to be a very complicated submission process, especially to someone as green as I was. I was willing to take it on, but it would be a lot of work. They wanted things like a query letter, a full synopsis, a pitch, a marketing plan, a list of comparable titles, and more. And then once all that was submitted, they would take up to six months or more to consider it.

I am a very determined and often stubborn person. One thing I am not is patient. When I want something done, I like the process to move along in a logical and timely fashion. Publishing was not living up to my expectations.

I wanted this book published. Norman wanted this book published. I had to find another way.

Self-publishing on Amazon wasn’t such a big thing back then in 2016 to 2017. That thought really didn’t even cross my mind as an available option.

I turned my attention to Hay House, but I couldn’t find how to submit directly to them. Their website pointed me to one of their divisions – Balboa Press. Balboa offered publishing packages, with an increasing number of publishing services provided in each package as the price went up. Today, I’d take one look at that, scream “Scam!” and run the other way. Back then I didn’t know any better.

These presses are called hybrid publishers. But it wasn’t a scam to me, at least Balboa Press wasn’t. And, yes, there can be a fine line between the two. Of course, Hay House/Balboa Press were in the business of making money. The add-ons to their packages cost big bucks! I read everything on their website down to the last detail. I may have been naïve but I wasn’t a fool.

The key is to know what your goal is, what you want for your book, and what you are willing to pay to get there – not only in money, but in time and labor as well. Everything comes at a cost.

I decided to go with Balboa Press to publish Uncovering Norman. The how, what, and when will be the subject of my next series of posts. I have a couple of writer friends who are struggling with these same decisions for their work right now. I’ve tried to give them some objective information and provide it here as well. I hope my experiences will provide some insight.

What’s Next?

Start here and go!