The Taint of Publish by Self

The place was Alice Waters's Chez Panisse. My cousin Ronna had asked a Big Favor and my payment was dinner there. Jack, another cousin, was invited to join us. While having a drink before being seated in the dining room, Jack met a friend with the same last name as his They had joked that they were cousins.

“Steve,” Jack said. “Come meet my real cousin, Gay Courter. She’s in publishing too.

Steve explained he was with a West Coast book distributor. “What do you do?”

“I’m a writer.”

Steve arched his eyebrows. “Oh, self-published?”

I gulped. I had never been asked this before and searched for the right quip—and quips are not my strong suit. “Ah, how many self-published books ever get to the New York Times Bestseller List?”

Jack laughed nervously. “Gay is my famous cousin.”

Lucky for Steve, his table was called. I elbowed Jack. “Hardly famous kiddo, but that guy was rude.”

“A pompous jerk,” Ronna added.

Okay, I’ll admit to being miffed. and also a feeling superior to most self-published authors—although a few have broken through to not only sell millions but be bought up by major publishing companies. (I will also to admit to having publishing fantasies as an aspiring-writer teen when I saw those come-hither ads in the back of intellectual magazines shouting: Authors Wanted.

At times I have suggested self-publishing when someone wants to preserve his life story for future generations and self-publishing has other worthy purposes. But this site is meant more for previously published authors who want to put their older work--and new material--in digital format.

WHY Take Back the Book?

TAKE BACK THE BOOK is not about self-publishing. It is not about books that have not been vetted for true merit, have not been edited professionally or otherwise not deemed worthy of widespread distribution through commercial and literary marketplaces.

It is for traditionally published authors* who probably have a backlist, who may or may not have reversions on some or all of their titles, who may be negotiating a new book contract, or have be in the publishing process on a new title and who are wondering what the hell to do about electronically publishing their past and future works.

This field changes daily.

What is happening? How can authors maximize their availability and reap the best royalty rates?

I’ve been watching the events unfold and have jumped into the fray by opting to prepare my old and new books for sale as e-books without assistance from a traditional publishing company or the hybrids sprouting in a fertile field.

How is it done?

Is it worth it?

Stay tuned and check back to see if it what transpires.

*Not to be confused with “traditionally built women” as per Alexander McCall Smith’s heroine Precious Ramotswe.