The Deixis Press Weekly - Issue #32

Monday, 24 January

Today I did my usual “last-minute” [read: nowhere near last-minute] panic that I somehow hadn’t uploaded all of my book files for Chocolate Cake for Imaginary Lives and The Transfer Problem to Amazon. And, in fact, I hadn’t for The Transfer Problem, because (as I remember now) there were three tiny changes to make to the manuscript—which I had done, but hadn’t yet generated the final file (TransferProblemFinalFINALv2.epub, natch) to upload. So it just goes to show that it’s good to be paranoid.

I also did some calculations on how much the rise in printing costs is going to affect me. My friends, it will be diabolical. I’m not sure it will actually be possible to continue as an indie publisher for any new books unless I go all-digital. Which is very much not the point for my press as I envisioned it. I may end up being the publisher of 6 books (7 if Siôn wants me to publish his sequel) and then a marketer for those 6/7 books forever. I mean, I guess it will be a chance to develop my marketing skills.

Tuesday, 25 January

Speaking of The Transfer Problem, I spent a little time today chatting with Adam’s agent in the US, who is going to try to sell TFP in the US market. This brings with it some interesting challenges I haven’t yet encountered, so it’s definitely something I am Learning about (so good for this newsletter).

How it works is that I sublicense the USA part of my worldwide publishing rights to whichever publisher decides they like it. Adam’s agent is acting kind of like my agent in this respect, so they get an agent fee of whatever cash comes out of the US publisher, Adam also gets his percentage, and I end up with the rest.

I could probably try to haggle over the agent’s fee, but honestly he will do a better job in the US market than I ever will, especially since my books are POD. What it does mean, though, is that I need to limit my distribution so that the books are not available (even through POD) to the North American market. That’s a very simple limitation; it’s basically just a toggle in the KDP form that you fill in when you’re publishing a book; in Ingram Spark you simply do not fill in pricing for those companies. But, as mentioned, I may be dumping Ingram.

Wednesday, 26 January

Today is mostly just admin stuff but I FORGOT TO TELL YOU:

Nick Keep Christmas in January Mamatas 🤼‍♂️🏴 @NMamatas

SOME RISE BY SIN was the best book I read in 2021. patreon.com/posts/61481155

That’s right, the wonderful Nick Mamatas called Some Rise By Sin a masterpiece and said it was the best book he read last year. Thrilled isn’t the word. Hannah very kindly immediately made a promo graphic:

Hey, I’m with Nick. Buy this book immediately.

Thursday, 27 January

Various readers and reviewers are today receiving little chocolate cakes to go along with Genevieve’s upcoming book, Chocolate Cake for Imaginary Lives. The wrapping paper and the cakes were both my publicist Hannah’s ideas; she’s definitely got her finger on the pulse, because they have both proved to be a hit.

Joanne: Portobello Book Blog 📚 💕 @portybelle

How lovely - a cupcake has arrived to match a book I was sent last week. Thank you so much @HannahHargrave8! This chocolate cake by @printcakesUK won't last as long as Chocolate Cake for Imaginary Lives by Genevieve Jenner!

And yes, of course I made sure the author got one too:

gfrancie @gfrancie

I like cake as much as the next Prime Minister. But mine doesn't cause as much trouble. A little something from @DeixisPress for my book "Chocolate Cake For Imaginary Lives" (Sooty and I dress for cake)

Friday, 28 January

Today I’m powering through all kinds of stuff. One of the more annoying things I’ve discovered is that, as much as I often VERY MUCH WANT TO, I can’t really dump Ingram Spark. I could try to do expanded distribution via Amazon, but they don’t offer it in any country other than the US or the UK, so anyone else in the world would have to get it through Amazon instead of a local bookshop. I mean, sure, if I were using Amazon as my sole printer/distributor it would be Amazon taking a lot of the profit in any case, but at least bookshops could get a cut via expanded distribution. So, until I find a real distributor, I’m stuck.

But, on the plus side, today also sees me:

• sending three of my books (the maximum) off to an indie book prize that has just opened,

• arranging for proofs of The Transfer Problem to get printed in time for upcoming marketing work,

• reviewing the audiobook of The Workshop of Filthy Creation ready for launch, and

• finishing some final edits for Jessica Gregson’s gorgeous After Silence.

And then, this weekend, I might even read a book for fun.

Yours,

Angel