DENVER, Colorado (August 28, 2010)
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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