Fear of the Self-Published Part Two

I'm using the word "fear" in the title of this two-blog series because of several encounters I've had with traditionally published authors since my first book, Deader by the Lake, was released five years ago.

I self-published "Deader" and sold, according to my publisher who pays me royalties, about three-thousand copies. Doing so lead to a deal with a traditional publisher for my second book, "Every Secret Crime."

A number of my friends who write mysteries suggested that self-publishing was not the way to go. One acquaintance took it further and interceded with two booksellers. Right in front of me, at a conference, she made sure they knew my book was self-published to eliminate any possibility they would handle it. And they did not. Another told me that "self-published writers steal our readers." A handful of reviewers and mystery magazine owners refused to even consider "Deader" for reviews because, as they told me, they would face backlash from traditional publishers and other authors for even mentioning a self-published work. I give kudos to Connie Fletcher, a contributor to Booklist, who not only published a review about "Deader" but wrote a fine feature piece about me. She was one of the few.

Prejudice against the self-published author is real. Writers' organizations refuse to grant full membership to the self-published. Many workshop organizers refuse to allow self-published authors to sit on panels, make presentations or even have their books sold on site. Of course these same groups have no problem taking a self-published author's money if they choose to join as an "associate" member or attend the conference... but not promote their work.

It's unfortunate that the same people who would scream about censorship and other sorts of prejudice, practice it themselves.

I acknowledge that many self-published books are not worth reading. But I strongly believe there are authors who, with some nurturing by their traditionally published peers, could become successful.

Why couldn't organizations like Mystery Writers of America or Sisters in Crime establish some guidelines that would allow self-published authors to receive full benefits? Workshop organizers could follow the same kind of rules in selecting speakers from among the self-published. Say, for example, the author sells x number of books in a given year, or if a panel of select reviewers/editors agrees there is merit to the work. How about establishing mentoring groups within the writers' organizations to reach out to the self-published to encourage rather than turn-away? How about holding sessions at conferences to target the self-published and give them a chance to shine...if their work can stand up to professional scrutiny first?

I can't tell you how frustrating it was to try and attend a movie pitch session in Hollywood, sponsored by Sisters in Crime a couple of years ago. For an organization that did not appear to distinguish between traditionally published and self-published in soliciting members, it was very quick to cross my name off the list for the session...and for several other events that year that might have lead to better sales for me. Some members of the group were obviously more equal than others. Not that any of the attendees came away with option checks in their pockets!

Prejudice is self-defeating. But, then again, the insecure always feel better when they have someone else to kick around.