Q&A with Lynn Kilpatrick discussion

I'm very excited that my book was published by FC2, which is a very small press. You can read more about them here: http://fc2.org/.
I imagine that many readers are also aspiring writers. I'd love to answer your questions about publishing and small presses.

I like hearing of people's success from small presses. The same goes for the independent book stores.

Do you know how many queries you sent out? Do you have an agent or need one? Congrats! Eileen

Eileen wrote: "I like hearing of people's success from small presses. The same goes for the independent book stores.

Do you know how many queries you sent out? Do you have an agent or need one? Congrats! Ei..."

I do not have an agent. With my collection of short stories, I mostly sent it to contests, such as Sarabande, university presses, AWP prizes, those things. I know some people have published story collections with big presses, and for that you need an agent. My collection is more experimental, so I only really targeted small presses.
FC2 was my first choice, so I am very lucky. But I made a list of small presses (mostly by looking up small presses online), and I had a list to work through if the book was rejected by FC2.
My main suggestion is to find books like yours, and try the press that published it. Then, find presses that publish similar books and try them.
Most small presses work without agents, so you can send your book directly.
I also recommend contests, especially for story collections or more eclectic books. Many presses sponsor contests.
I probably submitted it, in various versions, 15 times, to contests. I was a finalist in the Sarabande contest the year before FC2 took my manuscript.
The key, I think, is not to give up. And don't be afraid to play around with the manuscript if it's not being accepted in its current form.
Good luck!
Lynn

Lynn, congratulations on the book. From my research, before I self-published my first 2 collections of short stories, I found it hard to find a publisher that didn't actually want me to pay them, to publish my work. I will have to try the contest as you did on my next one. Did FC2 handle the copywrite on your manuscript or did you have it done before you sent it in?

Lynn wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I like hearing of people's success from small presses. The same goes for the independent book stores.

Do you know how many queries you sent out? Do you have an agent or need one? ..."

Very helpful, Lynn. Thanks and again, best wishes for sales, etc.

Corey wrote: "Lynn, congratulations on the book. From my research, before I self-published my first 2 collections of short stories, I found it hard to find a publisher that didn't actually want me to pay them, t..."

Hi Corey.
FC2 books are actually published through the University of Alabama Press, and they took care of everything, including copyright, editing, etc.
Self-publishing is certainly an option, but there are a lot of small presses who publish stories, and you don't have to pay for it. It does cost to enter contests, but it is a small amount compared to the cost of publishing.
Thanks for your interest, Corey.

Hi Lynne, what are your thoughts on the size of a press and the eventual book sales? do you think there is a correlation? How does a not-for-profit press manage to market their authors' work? With this in mind, was it important to you to sell a lot of copies of your book (not from the point of view of making money, more from the POV of having as broad a readership as possible), or was just getting it into print your primary concern?

Many thanks, Annabel.

Thanks for the question, Annabel.
For me, it was mostly about getting it published & getting people to read it. I think with a small publisher, the sales are going to be small, but that said, I feel it's my job to get people to read it. FC2 is associated with the University of Alabama press, so they do have a marketing department, they send out readers' copies, etc.
I've heard many different things about marketing at bigger houses. I think with short stories, it's never going to be a huge seller, unless it gains some kind of word-of-mouth marketing.
I also think that big publishers choose a few books to market aggressively and the rest are on their own. At a smaller publisher, you have a better chance of being their big release, instead of just being one of many mid-list releases.
I also think it depends a lot on what your book is, if it can find a kind of niche market, and that kind of thing.
Hope this is helpful.
Lynn

Lynn there are so many books out there on market, an additional one doesn't get noticed. it is also upon us writers to network so that I buy your book you buy mine and get the sell going. I'm also an author and my title "Mary Anita and the Second Liberation in Kenya" can be ordered thru Amazon. Let me know how i can get your book.
Thanks

Annabel wrote: "Hi Lynne, what are your thoughts on the size of a press and the eventual book sales? do you think there is a correlation? How does a not-for-profit press manage to market their authors' work? With ..."

Thanks Lynne, and good luck with it.

Milton wrote: "Lynn there are so many books out there on market, an additional one doesn't get noticed. it is also upon us writers to network so that I buy your book you buy mine and get the sell going. I'm also ..."

I agree, Milton, that it is up to writers to network and to promote great books by small presses. Thanks for telling me about your book. Mine is available at Amazon as well, but also through the FC2 website (fc2.org).
Thanks.

I will look it up thanx