Mick Rooney

About Mick Rooney

Mick Rooney is an author, editor, researcher and publishing consultant from the Republic of Ireland. He has published nine books since 1990, through his own imprint, using author solutions services, and he has also published through mainstream publishers. Several years ago he began researching the publishing industry, and in particular Independent, POD (print-on-demand) and subsidy/self-publishers. Many of the findings of his research can be found at his site, The Independent Publishing Magazine together with his own experiences in the world of writing and publishing. He is the author of To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish? A Seriously Useful Author’s Guide. He is also a contributor to many magazines and online resources including, Writers’ Forum, Publishing Basics Magazine, Publetariat, Carnival of the Indies, selfpublishingreview.com, Irish Publishing News, as well as many writing and publishing forums. In September 2011, he published his latest novel with Book Republic, The Memory of Trees, available in hardback and ebook.

Epic Press Review

Epic Press are a small and new player onto the author solution scene. The company was established in 2007. They use Lightning Source UK and USA, and proclaim on their website that they provide print, distribution and fulfilment, but in reality, it is LSI who provide all this on their behalf, as is the case for many other such companies. Their website uses flash media in a ‘book style’ display, but this is the only book of any kind on the website. Epic Press also do not support their own on line book store.

“Because of our unique, innovative referral

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2017-02-12T09:11:14+02:00July 15th, 2009|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |

Matador Launches Sales Representation For Books

Cross-posted at Mick Rooney’s blog.

One of the biggest criticisms of the self-publishing service model of business is the distinct lack of direct sales representation to high street stores for these kinds of books, rendering few self-published books real shelf space. While the stigmas of self-publishing may be gradually lifting over the past few years, book retailers are more comfortable with the tried and trusted method of dealing on a weekly basis with a sales representative. Their purpose is to ‘sell in’ the latest new releases and back catalogue listings to the retail trade’s book buyers from the largest […]

2011-10-08T18:59:28+02:00July 15th, 2009|Categories: News|

No Advance or Be Damned – Part 2

Read Part 1.

“Jeeves. There’s a strange gentlemen at the door suggesting publishers should stop giving authors advances.”

“Wooster! How ridiculous. The idea is simply preposterous! Send him away and finish preparing my Eggs Benedict and ironing my morning newspaper.”

“Actually, Jeeves, I found the idea rather novel and somewhat intriguing. So much so—I’ve invited the gentleman into the parlour for tea and a light scone with warm butter. I do hope you don’t mind.”

“You invited him into the house of Jeeves Publishing & Sons & Illegitimate Sons!”

“Yes, Jeeves. You seemed wholly perturbed. Am I to be […]

2011-10-08T19:54:49+02:00May 29th, 2009|Categories: Features|

No Advance or Be Damned

I am going to say something which may ruffle a few feathers, both from traditionally published authors and authors who have self-published but are looking to break into mainstream publishing through their own endeavours.

Your prospective publisher declares ‘NO ADVANCE OR BE DAMNED’.

Would you politely decline the publisher’s contract offer without any advance and show yourself to the door? Perhaps you would if the offer came from ACME Publishing or some other publishing shack up the road. Let’s say the offer came from an imprint of Pan Macmillan or HarperCollins. Would you then stop and think twice?

I believe […]

2011-10-08T19:56:14+02:00May 26th, 2009|Categories: Features|

To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish Part Two

There are several key questions an author must ask themselves before embarking on their journey through self-publishing, whether they are prepared to go it alone or utilise an author solutions company to do the job for them.

1. Have you exhausted all the traditional channels to have your book published?

This may include finding an agent to represent you and your work or you may have chosen to approach publishers who are prepared to look at manuscripts directly from submitted by authors. Pursuing this path for a period of time can actually prove highly rewarding for an author. It may […]

2011-10-08T19:09:23+02:00May 15th, 2009|Categories: Resources|

To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish

The question of choosing to self-publish for an author is better understood if the question is turned on its head. An author should always ask themselves the question rhetorically.

‘Why do I want to self publish?’

I mean have you not heard all the bad press self publishing gets? That it is just pure vanity and any author solution service you choose will just take your cash, as much as they can wean out of you, then take you for a very short ride down the self-publishing boulevard of broken dreams. I have been researching author solution companies for my […]

2011-10-08T20:35:53+02:00May 14th, 2009|Categories: Features|

The Choir Press Review

The Choir Press, based in Gloucester, was founded in 1982 as a book solution service provider, initially to the publishing trade, but with the advances in the Internet and book technology, they began making their services available to self-publishing authors in 1997. The Choir Press has produced book solution services to some of the largest and smallest publishers in the UK, including A&C Black, Macmillan, Andre Deutsch, Blackwell, Harrap and Piatkus.

Our services include editing, proofreading, design, page layout, preparation of print-ready files and delivery of your finished books. Marketing support is available for books which have been professionally

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2017-02-12T09:11:12+02:00April 16th, 2009|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |

Grosvenor House Publishing Review

Amazon.co.uk Titles – 293

Amazon.com Titles – 298

Grosvenor House Publishing is based in Surrey, England and one of its directors is successful self-published author Graham P. Taylor. The English vicar self-published Shadowmancer in 2002, a children’s novel, and in less than a year, Taylor had signed deals with Faber UK and Penguin Putnam USA. In many ways, Taylor followed the blueprint that all self-published authors should follow. He started selling his work to his local church-goers and after doing public signings and appearances locally, the success of his book slowly grew into a national story itself. His own life […]

2017-02-12T09:11:07+02:00April 15th, 2009|Categories: Publisher Reviews|Tags: |
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