Today I'd like to welcome Devon Trevarrow Flaherty onto 'The Story Factory Reading Zone'. Devon is co-founder of Owl & Zebra Press. Benevolent, written by Devon, is the first book to be published by the small press.
I asked Devon to tell us a little about the process of setting up her own press. Here is what she had to say:
When asked to blog about setting up an indie press, I am of
two minds. One half of me thinks, Surely
they don’t mean me! I have no idea what I am doing. The other half of me
chimes in with, Oh yes you do! You’ve
done just as much research and way more work than the average self-publisher!
Take a little credit, Devon! Self talk aside, the field is full of amateurs
(of which I am not even strictly one), thus the nature of self-publishing and indy
presses.
That said, one of my north stars during the whole process—from
conception to promotion—was professionalism. I wasn’t trying to hide the fact
that I was grass roots (as some might accuse me of), but I was trying to make
the grass roots look good, if you
know what I mean. I want to run with the big boys because one of the reasons I
even jumped into this whole circus was to give my book the best opportunity it
could have.
Self-publishing is the best case scenario if and when your
book does not fit the traditional slots of publication; if and when you have the
resources (including time and energy) to start
a business; if and when you like the sound of getting paid better for
leg-work you were going to be forced to do even with a traditional publisher;
and if and when creative control is of great importance to you. It took me
years to get to this point, and the publishing industry and I collided and
formed this perfect-storm-of-2012 that became an intense focus to self-publish Benevolent. And to do it as a
professional.
From that moment on—the one where you decide to
self-publish—there are winding paths off into the woods of uncertainly
a-plenty. You begin with books (since that’s where you always begin) and with
the internet. You explore your options and weigh the information you have been
given. For me, I ended up deciding on CreateSpace as a printer and Catherine
Ryan Howard’s Self Printed as my
guide book. However, neither of those travelling companions made the fateful
decision that I would make, with me; to not only publish my own book, but to
begin a small press into the bargain. And to do it with professional aplomb.
First things first: my aunt is a non-fiction editor. I have
been an editor here and there, as well as a freelancer, and between the two of
us (very strongly on her side) we have more than thirty years of experience.
That’s nothing to thumb your nose at. Even so, while both of us fall asleep
dreaming of future novels, our experience was not in fiction. I guess that
means anyone could do it? I can’t imagine going through this process without
Aunt Shelly’s tireless editing, not to mention encouragement. The moral? If you
don’t have experience, you have to hire
out sometimes. I really mean it. Someone needs some experience, even it’s
just your editor and cover artist. Otherwise, you can’t act as a professional
and your product will be less-than.
And what does it take to magically create a small press? For
me it meant this: creating a name and a logo, a website and a Facebook Fan
Page. Buying a website domain and an email address, as well as a PO box. Running
up to the store for office supplies, which included tons of padded envelopes,
paper, and especially a ledger for
expenses, revenue, and deadlines, not to mention a receipt envelope. Creating a
tax identity and perhaps even incorporating, eventually. And then doing all the
work I was going to do anyhow; writing, editing, revising, mapping,
illustrating, cover work, interior formatting, e-formatting, planning, creating
a space and office work, designing and ordering promotional materials,
proofing, book-keeping, budgeting, mailing, taxes, and last but not least
marketing and sales (which is a huge, great, big deal). I’m sure I’m forgetting
plenty.
But here’s the main thing: I also learned to take myself
seriously. I think that’s one of the benefits of not just going solo but
creating an indie press, and, of course, doing it with professionalism as a
goal. (That, and the possibility of others approaching you later on asking you
to help them in their great projects.) Eventually, somewhere on that long and
winding path, you come around the corner and a ray of light shifts down into
your eyes and it hits you; you are not just a writer, you are not just an
author; you are a publisher. And doggone it if you are not also an
entrepreneur.
Thank you Devon.
Readers, what are you experiences of indie presses?
