“Fidelity, n. A virtue peculiar to those who are about to be betrayed.”
When the Dream Turns Sour
A sum-up of my recent journey into publishing so far…
Back in the spring of 2017, I scribbled down two words for the very first time: “The End.” I looked around the roof that has become my office, somewhat perplexed as to what I should do next. Having never before actually managed to finish a novel, this was new territory for me. The seagulls squawked their applause all around, with their heads raised up towards the blue sky. My celebration was cautiously brief.
The Joy
When I sent samples of Steggie Belle & the Dream Warriors off to Agents and Publishers, I was fully prepared for the tide of rejections that would surely follow. Instead, against all the odds, it was quickly snatched up by a small Indie Publishing Company back in the UK. The contract was signed, and at that moment—I must confess—I felt like the most fortunate person alive. My dream was coming true … or so I thought.
The Long Wait
Having been one of the publisher’s first few authors signed, a pattern gradually began to emerge. Months rolled by, with very little communication or signs of any progress being made. They told me they were extremely busy, signing up several, amazing new authors. They asked me to be patient, and to trust them—that this was quite normal in the world of publishing, but not to fear: my book was set to be released at the start of 2019. They assured me that everything was under control. I believed them.
Fast forward nearly two years. A second contract had to be signed in April 2019, since the publisher had committed material breaches to the first one. In retrospect, I should have run for the hills, but again I put my trust in them. The new contract had a fixed release date—carved in stone—of Summer Solstice 2020 (already the third delay to the original, agreed publishing date).
The Lightning Bolt
By September 2019 things had finally seemed to be moving forward, but then—with only 9 months to go before the book’s launch—I made the mistake of asking one of the Directors a simple question. By their own detailed schedule, the Copyediting was due to start in September. So, at the end of August, I felt it not inappropriate from my side to ask what exact date the process would begin. September passed without any clear answers to my question, so I plucked up the courage to say that I was deeply disappointed about the poor communication and their lack of professionalism. Their response was to unilaterally terminate my contract, apparently in the interest of both parties, stating “Our business model is clearly not working for you.”
The Path of Acceptance and Hope
After a short while, wallowing in self-pity, I decided that I would not be deterred, and would not give up on my dream. After this experience of the traditional publishing route, I was hesitant about going back to square one and starting the process all over again. So it is that I now find myself venturing into the somewhat daunting world of self-publishing, my faith and confidence a little shaken, but believing whole-heartedly in my work. Steggie Belle & the Dream Warriors is a tale that needs to be told.