Caroline Arnold and Settlement House Girl
Why did I self-publish SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL? I tried to find a traditional publisher for it but was unsuccessful. I became discouraged when my agent told me that publishers are most interested in memoirs of famous people. (Although I am known by teachers and children's librarians for my 170 books for children, that's apparently not famous enough.) So I decided to do it myself.
I already had experience republishing some of my out of print children's books on Amazon and I had helped a friend publish her memoir. So I knew how to format and upload the manuscript for a book. The advantage of Amazon is that there is no cost to publish, but you have to do all the work yourself. Alternately, there are lots of companies that will help you publish your book for a price. I am happy with the quality of my books on Amazon. The books are print on demand. (If you order a copy of my book you will see for yourself.) I chose a standard size for the pages, which means that the book can be ordered by bookstores through Ingram. Most bookstores won't carry my book on the shelves, but customers can order it at a bookstore and the store can get it at a discount and make a profit. I can also order books from Amazon at a discount and sell them myself. Some independent bookstores will take books on consignment.
However, what I've learned is that writing and publishing the book is the easy part. The hard part is promotion--getting the book known. I am realizing that I never really appreciated what my publishers do to promote my children's books. It is important to get the book reviewed. I have paid for reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and BlueInk Review (recommended by BookList.) Customer reviews on Amazon and on Goodreads also help. It is also important to get the book into libraries. Although libraries don't normally buy self-published books, they will consider them, especially if there is a personal connection with the author or the subject matter. So, little by little, one library at a time, I am getting my book into libraries across the country. More and more authors are self-publishing these days and it no longer has the stigma it once did. (The book must still look professional in every way.) The competition for getting a book accepted by an established publisher is getting tougher and tougher. Sometimes self-publishing is the best alternative. For one thing, it puts you in control of the finished product. And, if you are using a print-on-demand service like I do, the book will never go out of print!· By Caroline Scheaffer Arnold
· Independently Published (Amazon; available at Ingram)
· Published December 1, 2023
· Paperback, 207 pages
· Illustrated with black and white historic photos
· $14.99
ISBN 97998864903285