Self-Publishing Part 2 – I did it!

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I am so excited to be writing this post to let you know that I did it…and that I am officially a self-published author (even though no-one has actually purchased the book yet lol!) My last post detailed how I was planning to spend all day Friday tackling the self-publishing technological minefield until the book was for sale. I was very nervous as I’m not at all IT trained, and have learnt most of my skills through blogging and being self hosted. I was however, determined not to be beaten.

The day started with a visit to my oldest friend who has just given birth to her first child, a beautiful baby boy, and so the publishing had to wait. It was so worth it though as he was absolutely gorgeous and cuddling newborns is always so wonderful. We chatted childbirth, breastfeeding and nappies before I left them to feed and nap.

Having spent most of the day before in email contact with Helen Braid, my illustrator, I felt confident that I had all of the correct files I needed, and in the correct format. I had the front and back covers as separate files, as well as the inside of the book, all in PDF format and in high resolution. If you ever need to send someone a file that is too big for an email then I can highly recommend using mailbigfile which is just amazing. You can email large files and the recipient can easily download them via the link. Brilliant! It was perfect for us on Thursday as the files did need to be adjusted and then resent. Helen was amazing! I think it was a learning curve for the both of us.

So, down at my desk I sat. I had already set up an account with Lulu and had chosen the size of the book (21.59X21.59), the binding (saddle stitch, only option for a small book), full colour, and for it to be printed on basic grade paper. This last option disappointed me a bit, but because I haven’t yet got an ISBN I had no choice. Lulu do offer free ISBNs but Lulu then become the publisher and I wasn’t prepared to hand that over! So I decided (with the awesome help of @wombat37 again!) that as this was my first project it was better to start small and work on it. Once my ISBN comes through I can then add it to the book and distribute widely through Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as the Lulu marketplace. I clicked on ‘choose file’ (at this point just the inside of the book) and then clicked ‘upload.’ I sat nervously staring at the screen whilst it uploaded. It began by saying it was going to take 15 hours which I thought was a bit excessive, but in the end it only took 20 minutes or so!

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The next challenge was the cover and this is where I first stumbled. Lulu do let you upload and add your own covers, however they also make a cover for you which you have to change if you don’t like it. I went to ‘browse files’ and tried to upload the PDFs of the front and back covers. It wouldn’t let me. I clicked and clicked and nothing worked. On quickly reading the help files (would’ve been handy if these files had been available to read sooner!) I discovered that the front and back covers needed to be in JPEG form and not PDF. These I had, but on uploading them it became apparent that they were not in a high enough resolution. I knew it was Helen’s son’s birthday and really didn’t want to have to interrupt the celebrations, but I had no choice, we needed those JPEGs to be in a higher resolution or I couldn’t continue. Helen, as always, was just amazing and it didn’t take long for my phone to ping with an email containing the covers in high resolution JPEGs. One quick and easy upload later and the cover was complete. And then, with a couple more clicks this message appeared…

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Now I’m not ashamed to say that at this point I did sit at my laptop and have a little cry. I couldn’t explain how I felt; I felt such a amazing sense of achievement mixed in with feelings of luck and joy that I was better and had been able to have the drive and commitment to see this book through. I’ve never really felt as proud of myself as I did in that moment. I’ve always been very determined, especially when I believe in something, and I believe in this book so very much.

The next thing I had to do was set a price, based on what it was going to cost Lulu to print the book. I found this very difficult as I always undersell myself, so I have taken a lot of advice on the price, and I think I’ve got it right! I ordered myself a copy and paid a stupid amount of money so it comes as quickly as possible, I will not believe it’s actually published until I hold a copy in my hands. (and see that the paper isn’t as bad as I think it might be) Today’s post hasn’t arrived yet, but I think I’m being optimistic in thinking it will be today; I’m hoping for it to be here by the end of the week. And when it does arrive, and I can see for myself how it looks and feels, I can spread the word and start marketing and publicising the book. I’ve already got several brilliant bloggers who have said they would love to review the book, and Netmums would like to feature it on their blog and website with a giveaway. It is PND awareness week in November and I hope that my press release (hopefully writing this today, do not know where to start as always!) will be available so that everything is good to go to coincide with that week. As I have said before, I’m not very good at ‘bigging myself up,’ but I hope A Monster Ate My Mum will help families who have been affected by Post-Natal Depression, and that in itself is motivation enough to shout about the book from the rooftops.

So many people have supported me in this process and I am so thankful, I couldn’t have done it on my own. Once I have my copy and have checked it’s perfect I’ll let you all know…and then, if you’d like to buy the book, you can here…
Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/jen-faulkner/a-monster-ate-my-mum/paperback/product-21257893.html

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The next jobs I have now are to write that press release…and to upload the book onto Kindle Direct Publishing as an ebook, which hopefully I can do this week! If you’d like to keep up to date with everything please follow me on Twitter @MonsterAteMyMum 😉

24 Comments on Self-Publishing Part 2 – I did it!

  1. Iona@redpeffer
    October 21, 2013 at 2:10 pm (10 years ago)

    Triple yay and if you need any help with anything, let me know. So brilliant xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:41 pm (10 years ago)

      You are brilliantly helpful, thank you! X

      Reply
  2. Kriss MacDonald
    October 21, 2013 at 3:43 pm (10 years ago)

    Brilliant. Well done. I’d like to read it when it’s ready. Fab.

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:40 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you, I hope you like it!

      Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:40 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you x

      Reply
  3. Mummy Glitzer
    October 21, 2013 at 6:30 pm (10 years ago)

    Looking forward to reviewing it for you! xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:40 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks, hope you like it! X

      Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:39 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Claire Lane
    October 21, 2013 at 7:59 pm (10 years ago)

    You’re amazing and an inspiration to us all xxxx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:39 pm (10 years ago)

      Ah thank you xx

      Reply
  5. ellieallatsea
    October 21, 2013 at 8:17 pm (10 years ago)

    Oh I cannot wait to get the printed book in my hands! What an achievement Jen! xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:39 pm (10 years ago)

      Couldn’t have done it without you xx

      Reply
  6. Dawn Frazier
    October 21, 2013 at 8:17 pm (10 years ago)

    Congratulations! Hope it sells well for you 🙂

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:38 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Jaime Oliver
    October 21, 2013 at 10:01 pm (10 years ago)

    Jen this is amazing!! the biggest well done ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and thank you for sharing it with #MagicMoments x

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:38 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you, and you’re welcome! X

      Reply
  8. suzanne3childrenandit
    October 23, 2013 at 12:51 pm (10 years ago)

    Yay! This is such exciting news. Well done Jen, I think this book will be an enormous help to lots of people 🙂

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:38 pm (10 years ago)

      I hope so, thank you x

      Reply
  9. Nell Heshram
    October 23, 2013 at 1:32 pm (10 years ago)

    CONGRATULATIONS! I want a copy. I’ve just linked you up with #BlogLoveDay11

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:37 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you x

      Reply
  10. MummyNeverSleeps
    October 24, 2013 at 11:34 pm (10 years ago)

    I’m SO proud of you! Well done you gorgeous creature 😀 *celebratory pokes*

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      November 7, 2013 at 7:32 pm (10 years ago)

      Ah thank you lovely lovely lady xx

      Reply

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