Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of bookpleasures.com is honored to have as our guest, Mark Levine author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: The Contracts & Services of 48 Major Self-Publishing Companies-Analyzed, Ranked & Exposed.

Good day Mark and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Mark, please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background. What motivated you to write The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: The Contracts & Services of 48 Major Self-Publishing Companies-Analyzed, Ranked & Exposed?

Mark:

Back when I was actively practicing corporate law, I was contacted by a distinguished college professor who had read my first novel and asked if I’d be willing to help him dealing with an unscrupulous self publishing company with whom he had signed a publishing contract.  I figured a few tough letters and a phone call would get the publisher to let the guy out of the contract.  The company refused citing the terms of the contract the professor had signed.  I eventually was able to get the professor out of the contract, but it was that experience that convinced me to write The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.  I figured if overly-educated individuals were signing publishing contracts without reading them carefully, there had to be thousands of other writers in the same position.

Norm:

Why do you recommend POD publishing rather than the self-publishing route which requires authors to handle all aspects of book publishing from printing, design, formatting, etc?

Mark:

Knowing where to start can be overwhelming for almost anyone.  A new author’s number one goal should be to figure out how to get his/her book out there.  Getting bogged down in the minute details of interviewing designers, book formatters, printers, etc. can keep one’s book bogged down for a long time.  So long as the author finds  a POD publisher that offers the following, letting someone else handle the publishing aspects of one’s first book makes a lot of sense:

*** A contract the author can terminate at any time with no penalty;

*** Digital files of the cover and interior layout of the book, so that the author can publish anywhere he/she wants without incurring additional expenses; and

*** A company that doesn’t mark-up the printing costs more than 5-10%.

This way, you have all the best aspects of self-publishing, but someone else is moving the project along.  Plus, if your book starts to take-off, you have the freedom to control your destiny and you can always publish it yourself later.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Mark:

Because these companies tweak their publishing services and fees so often, that aspect of the book can get out dated fast.  However, no publisher goes from ripping authors off to offering fairly priced services, so the bad publishers are still the bad publishers.  Also, the contracts usually stay the same and understanding what is in each of those is great value of my book.  Another obstacle was that some publishers wouldn’t cooperate (e.g. refusing to let me see their publishing contract or not answering questions about the contract or their services).  All of those publishers are listed as ones to avoid.  If they don’t want me to see the contract, there is a reason for it.

Norm:

Why do you believe that mainstream reviewers such as the New York Times and others for the most part refuse to review self-published books?

Mark:

Elitism.  Period.  But, I don’t think authors should spend a lot of time worrying about getting reviews in such publications.  My goal, for the Fine Print and my fiction, is to get it into the hands of readers.  I use the internet to target people already interested in the subject and themes of my book. 

Norm:

In the last year or so have you seen any changes in the way publishers publish and/or distribute books? Are there any emerging trends developing?

Mark:

Sadly, no.  Most everyone is stuck in the past and doesn’t want to get out.  My company has started to help authors market their books online on sites like Myspace.com, etc.  We actually search out people we know who already are interested in books similar to the ones written by our authors.  We also help authors develop optimized websites and targeted pay-per-click advertising campaigns to drive already interested readers to our author’s sales pages.  It’s the only cost-effective, yet highly productive way to market and sell books.

Norm:

How do you approach the work of writing?

Mark:

It’s tough to find the time, as I’m sure it is for most writers who don’t write full-time.  When I do write, my goal is to a manageable amount every day.  If you’re disciplined enough to write a page a day, you can have a completed novel in seven months.  That’s always been my approach and it’s worked well.

Norm:

How have you used the Internet to boost your writing career? 

Mark:

I don’t use anything else.  My company operates 30+ ecommerce websites and we treat all my books like mini-ecommerce companies.  It works.  Everyday I convert more and more writers to let the internet work for them. 

Norm:

Did your education as a lawyer help you write your book and if so, how?

Mark:

I’ve written and negotiated hundreds of contracts.  I also have a knack for explaining legalese in terms that makes sense to non-lawyers.  Plus, I’ve written hundreds of legal briefs in my time.  The combination of those three factors helped shape The Fine Print into that book that it is.

Norm:

What's your advice to achieve success as a writer?

Mark: 

Write what you love and use the internet to promote it. 

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Mark: 

Self-publishing is a great way to launch your career as a writer.  You have to have a plan and accept that getting your book out there is not a sprint, but a marathon. 

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

The above interview was conducted by  NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures. Here are more of  Norm Goldman's Reviews:  To read Norm's Review of this interesting book CLICK HERE