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At the invitation of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, Dr. Cynthia Koelker was a guest speaker at CIPA’s summer conference entitled The Road to Publication, presenting her own Cinderella publishing story.

Earlier this year, Dr. Koelker’s independently published book, 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care, was sought out by Plume of Penguin Books for re-release 9.1.2010. 

Why?  Clearly it was a timely topic, also well-written and engaging.  But that’s just the beginning of the story.

Dr. Koelker’s name was not a recognized one.  Could she find a co-author, the publisher wondered, someone well-known perhaps?  Easier said than done, it turned out.  Would she, then, consider establishing an online platform through blogging and social media? 

“I wouldn’t have to write something every day, would I?” was her initial response.  It would be difficult enough seeing patients every morning and re-editing the manuscript afternoons.  But she did start a blog, to supplement her book, 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care, and the editor was well-pleased.  (As a compromise, she did give up cooking and cleaning.)

“We’ll forego a co-author,” the publisher informed her.  “And we’ve decided to put the book on a crash course for publication.  Can you work with us to get the book out in 6 months?”

Had she not already known about what it took to put a book together, valuable information garnered through the independent-publishing process, it may not have been possible.  “Sure,” she answered instead.  She understood about rewriting, copy-editing, proof-reading, typesetting, cover design, ISBN numbers, Library of Congress, distributors, Ingram, Baker & Taylor, author/book web sites, online bookstores, library distribution, radio interviews, and much more. 

And she came to learn about Twitter and Facebook, even online gaming.  “I had to retire from Farmville,” she lamented.  “All my crops died.  It just wasn’t for me.”

With the book due for release in 3 days, is her work over, the audience asked

“No,” she grinned.  “Though a few years ago I would have thought so.  Now I get it.  The author has to sell the work – sell herself, really.  Soon I’ll have dozens of drive-time radio interviews, weekly guest blog appearances, monthly talks and book signings at libraries and bookstores.  But what matters most is whether I actually do help people save money on health care.  That was the whole point from the beginning.”

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Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Frustrated and ready to give up?  Perhaps that’s why you’re here.

Already you’ve spent months, perhaps years, on your manuscript.  Finally, time for publication!  What fun!

But the agents you’ve approached were lukewarm at best.  One rejection follows another and you’re not quite sure why.  Is it the market?  Is it your writing?  Is your topic unmarketable?

You decide to stick with your day job.  Who has time to chase from agent to agent and publisher to publisher?  It almost seems sinful, spending time on a fruitless endeavor when you could be helping people at your day job.

I know.  I’ve been there.  Sure there are young authors willing to play the game.  There’s nothing wrong with traditional publishing – in fact, it’s great!  I have a wonderful editor, a first-rate publisher, a great publicist, and a like-minded agent who’s become a dear friend.  Why, then, did I establish a new publishing venue aimed at the health professional?

As a fellow primary care physician I know how busy you are.  And your job is important (perhaps more important than your beloved manuscript).  Your time, especially, is valuable.  No doubt the hours spent on your manuscript could buy you a trip around the world, if you’d been paid for them.

But still, you’d like to get the word out, have your voice heard beyond the confines of your medical office. 

And that’s why we’re here.

We have nothing against traditional publishing.  In fact, we’ll help you find a traditional publisher if your work is marketable to the mainstream publishing industry.

And we are not a vanity press.  We won’t ask you to pay to publish your work. 

But neither are we looking to publish schlock nor works that cannot be sold. 

If your manuscript is in terrible shape and needs significant work, we’ll tell you so.  If the timing of your topic is out of sync with the publishing world, we’ll explain that as well.  If you have a niche product that appeals to only a small audience, we’ll help you work in that direction.

Working with you, to achieve your goals, is our aim.  That may be different from author to author.  Maybe you just want to reach patients with a particular problem. 

Whatever your goal may be, we’ll work with you to achieve an innovative solution.  You’ll be involved every step of the way.  Visit our Publishing Options page to learn about the exciting  possibilities.