TURNING HER OWN PAGES >>>
The life of an author is not an easy one. While an exclusive few are rolling in the dough, most are hanging out in the middle, hoping for their ships to come in. So it goes for local young adult author Megan Bostic, who is about to delve into an entirely new realm as a result - she's going rogue. She's entering the world of indie publishing.
Last January, Bostic's debut novel Never Eighteen hit the shelves, published by major house Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In June, she parted ways with her agent. Her publisher chose not to take her second book.
Bostic has talked to agents and her publisher about her next book, but is still drawn to self-publishing.
"If I wait to go traditional, I'm looking at a 2015-16 release date, and I really don't want to wait that long," she says. "I did most of the publicity myself for my first novel. I made connections with the gatekeepers, the book buyers, librarians and teachers. I have enough know how. I have the stamina and perseverance to do this myself and make it work."
Self-publishing is a beast in its own right. In order to get a book out there right and have full control over the distribution process, Bostic must purchase an ISBN number for each format she wants to produce, from hardback to paperback to ebook.
Bostic has set up a fundraiser on Indiegogo to help raise funds to purchase a lot of 10 ISBNs, get her next book properly distributed and put together swag - giveaways for book signings and school appearances. Especially with a teen audience, swag is a boon.
On her Indiegogo is a summary of her new novel:
Sydney Warner, a teenage girl, whom after being abandoned by her mother at a young age, becomes a thrill seeker with a penchant for extreme sports and a fascination with death. She’s brash, she’s spunky, and she doesn’t take crap from anyone.
Withdrawn and broody David, from English class, is the boy of Syd's dreams, but love soon becomes just another extreme sport when Syd finds out that David has cheated on her with her best friend. Betrayal, loneliness, and a mishap with a picture frame set Syd on a course of self-destruction that includes alcohol, drugs, and self-mutilation in the form of cutting.
After nearly bleeding to death during an arm carving mishap, Syd is tossed unwillingly into a teen psyche ward where she comes to realize she’s not alone. Through new friendships, unwelcomed therapy, and her love of the stars, she finds alternate ways to cope with her emotions on her path to forgiveness and redemption.
"There's definitely more prep work when indie publishing. The burden is all on my shoulders," she says. "What I like about it is that it's on my terms. The time frame is how long or short I want it to be. With traditional publishing it was months between phases."
Still, going rogue is risky. But then so is traditional publishing for most authors.
"I'm really hoping this path works in my favor," she says. "If it doesn't, it's still been an exciting process and I've been so grateful to those who have helped and supported me along the way."