THE MANY FACES OF PUBLISHING

Leslie A. Rasmussen

In my life, I’ve worked in various industries, from acting to writing television sitcoms to becoming a nutritional counselor. However, among all my career paths, the publishing industry has proven to be the most challenging for making a living. Most authors would agree that unless you’re fortunate enough to secure a substantial advance from one of the five major publishers, by the time your publisher takes their cut of the royalties and you invest in promoting your book through ads, applying for awards, and engaging in other forms of public relations, you will end up taking home very little—hardly enough to keep your dog from going hungry. This is why many authors keep their day jobs. I’m grateful that I don’t write for the money; I write because I enjoy creating characters and sharing stories that resonate with readers. 

Since 2020, I’ve written three novels, each published in a different way. When I completed my debut novel, After Happily Ever After, I had no idea how to find a publisher. I was naïve, thinking I’d query a few agents and my book would instantly be grabbed up. Well, no grabbing happened because my platform wasn’t large enough for any of them to be willing to take a chance on me. So, when a hybrid publisher reviewed my novel and expressed interest in publishing it, I jumped at the opportunity. I didn’t have a lawyer review the contract, so I dove in blindly. 

There were several advantages and disadvantages to choosing this hybrid publisher. I have met an incredible community of authors with whom I still maintain close relationships. We support one another, share our frustrations, and promote each other’s books. The drawback of this publishing model is its significant costs. First, there is an initial flat fee that can be quite high, and you also incur substantial expenses for printing and other costs, such as returns and shipping. Additionally, the hybrid publisher takes a percentage of your royalties, so even though I’ve sold many books, I still haven’t broken even, and neither have most of my author friends. 

When I finished my second novel, The Stories We Cannot Tell, I had gained much more knowledge.  I had also built a following on social media, which I hoped would attract the attention of an agent or publisher. After being rejected by a few agents, four independent publishers accepted my manuscript. This time, I had a lawyer review each contract, and I selected the one with the most favorable terms. 

Unfortunately, my experience became a nightmare. The publisher claimed to be a company with multiple employees and a media/promotion department, but that was false; she was actually a one-woman operation. She rarely responded to emails and consistently fell behind on every task. 

She missed deadlines for preparing the manuscript to meet my release date. Due to her negligence, I had to pay for the manuscript’s design myself to ensure it was ready for publication. The entire experience was anxiety-inducing, and in the end, the publisher disappeared without paying me for my substantial audiobook advance or the royalties I had earned. I wasn’t the only victim; she had ceased paying royalties to all the authors who had published with her. Ultimately, I had to reclaim my rights and republish the novel myself. 

I’m not dismissing traditional publishing; there are some great small companies that produce excellent work. However, the royalties from these publishers typically range from 15% to 20% for the first 5,000 to 10,000 books sold. This results in very little money for the author, and the percentage of authors who sell more than 5,000 books is relatively small. 

Small publishers also rarely market your book, meaning that the promotional costs fall to you. If I am going to cover all the expenses to promote my books, I’d prefer to receive all the royalties. 

Self-publishing may not be for everyone, and it certainly involves a learning curve. However, many Facebook groups and fellow authors are available to help you navigate the process. I’ve learned from authors who taught me how to do it, and I’ve guided my share of authors now that I’m more experienced.

All that being said, I’m not crazy, if one of the big publishers offered me a large 

advance for one of my novels, I would be skipping toward it. Otherwise, I can confidently say that among all the ways I’ve published so far, self-publishing is far more profitable, and having complete control over my career is fantastic. 

Even with the costs of editors, proofreaders, cover designers, and an interior layout designer, my expenses are minor compared to what I paid the hybrid publisher. My mental state is much better than it was when I worked with the small publisher. Additionally, I receive all my royalties each month, which is a nice bonus.

When I considered publishing my third novel, When People Leave, I decided that self-publishing was the only method I felt comfortable with. I wasn’t going to overcharge myself or refuse to pay royalties, and I wouldn’t have to wait the standard eighteen months for my novel to reach readers. I still hope that a significant influencer reads my books, falls in love with them, and promotes them so they go viral. When that happens, I’ll be able to feed my dogs. However, if you know me at all, you know I’d feed my dogs before I’d feed my kids.

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Leslie A. Rasmussen was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, The Wild Thornberrys, and Sweet Valley High. After leaving the business to raise her boys, Leslie obtained a master’s degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Leslie has been published in the Huffington Post over twenty times and speaks on panels discussing female empowerment. She’s a member of The Writers Guild of America, Women in Film, and The UCLA Alumni Association. After Happily Ever After is Leslie’s debut novel and has won over fifteen awards, and her second novel, The Stories We Cannot Tell, has won eleven awards, and she’s been interviewed about it on NPR and XM radio. Leslie’s newest novel, When People Leave, will be published in May. When Leslie isn’t writing, she loves reading, exercising, and spending time with friends. Leslie lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons.

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When People Leave: A story of love, lies and finding the truth

A heartbreaking loss. A life-changing secret. Will the truth bring three daughters closer together or tear them apart?

Morgan, Charlotte, and Abby Weiss are filled with mixed emotions. After their beloved mother took her own life without leaving a note, the siblings go through the motions of a funeral while grappling with grief and anger at their parent’s actions.
Leaning into their close connection and taking a break from their lives, their men, and their personal issues, they move into their mother’s house in search of answers.
As they unearth clues about a mysterious stranger, the Weiss sisters travel to Las Vegas, hoping to find closure. However, they only encounter more questions and confusion as they follow the trail onward to New York… and their mother’s hidden past.
Can Morgan, Charlotte, and Abby survive a revelation that changes everything they hold to be true?

When People Leave is a captivating contemporary novel that explores familial relationships, grief, anger, and resolutions. If you like witty dialogue, drama infused with endearing humor, and strong family dynamics, you’ll love Leslie A. Rasmussen’s thought-provoking story.

BUY HERE

 

 

Category: On Writing