First Word

By Michelle Gamble-Risley, CEO, 3L Publishing ( www.3LPublishing.com ) I get frequently asked if my company 3L Publishing is a self-publisher (we are a hybrid publisher), and what is the difference between 3L’s services and self-publishing and traditional publishing? The answer isn’t simple. I am going to give you a check sheet that shows what 3L Publishing provides as a hybrid publisher vs. the other models. Caveat : Every publishing house is different. Other publishers may provide some of the services I’m not checking off. Please don’t take any missing checkmarks as misleading information. The information is general and not specific to any one publisher. I’ve been criticized in the past for not providing a complete picture. If I’ve missed anything, please feel free to share. My intention is only to help clarify the marketplace and answer questions not mislead or misdirect. Also, you may read this and feel it’s slanted in favor of my company. Be advis...

I wish I had some before and after photos of self-published books that were republished through my company 3L Publishing . The difference is astounding. Most new and emerging authors don't have the platform or following to get traditionally published. Out of frustration these authors end up trying to self-publish, and because they are not publishers they either try to scrape together an amateur self-published book or they wind up being ripped off at one of the many self-publishers who offer some super cheap K-Mart prices. The results are typically embarrassing and do nothing to generate sales. Here are reasons why you don't want to self-publish, and you especially don't want to self-publish and buy one of those "super cheap" package offers that look great until you end up with a terrible product. Typos and errors : What do you get when you work with a "professional" editor who is nothing more than an entry-level English major who is being paid $10 an...

The reality of traditional publishing today is that you either have to have a name or a great platform that you can prove a following to get published. New and emerging authors who have no track records or credibility typically get ignored by the big publishing houses. Many of these authors turn to my company 3L Publishing for help to get their feet in the door. Why do you want to work with a company like 3L Publishing if you're seeking a "home" for your book and you're a new author? Here is why: A hybrid like 3L that only publishes high-quality books and discerns between good and poorly written manuscripts (we act as a gatekeeper) doesn't carry the stigma of self-published outfits. With our reputation for only publishing often award-winning books, we give your book the necessary credibility with the book reviewers to receive fair and equitable reviews. A relationship with 3L gives the author the much-needed opportunity to build that platform and foundati...

My company 3L Publishing is often confused with vanity press aka as self-publishing. I thought I would take a moment to clarify the difference for those authors who seek help to get published. First, let's start with defining what is a "hybrid" publisher. Hybrid Publisher -- a new term that was coined to define the difference between a traditional publisher, self-publisher and hybrid publisher. A hybrid publisher combines the best of traditional publishing with self-publishing. The main difference between a hybrid and traditional publisher is that the author pays to have his or her manuscript published in exchange for extremely high royalty rates that range from 35 to 75 percent (traditional publishers typically pay 10-12 percent). A hybrid publisher vets each manuscript and decides based upon quality of writing and the marketplace demands who to publish. A hybrid publisher offers all of the same benefits as a traditional publisher, including distribution and fulfillm...

If you're an author, I have a HUGE, worthwhile piece of information to share with you this morning. Are you just eager to know what it is? Here we go ... did you know that your book cover can make or break your book sales? Yes, it's true. Does it dishearten you because your prose seem so much more worthwhile -- and isn't that really what the point of a book is? Well, yes of course; but truth in "storytelling," we live in a visual society. Why do you think the TV draws people in or movies are so popular. People buy books based on the cover. As disappointing to the writer as that truth may be, it's just reality. I once heard a rep from Smashwords say that a simple switch of a cover can take a poorly selling book and make it a top seller. True!  So if you're self-publishing or working with a hybrid publisher like my company 3L Publishing (www.3LPublishing.com), you better make that all important investment in a cover and work with a talented ...