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A "small press" can be defined by niche, as many small press publishers specialize in specific genres, such as romance, mystery and suspense, science fiction, horror and self-help. It can also be defined by gross revenue, number of employees, or number of new titles published per year. We use number of titles published per year as our primary measure and the average print order of a publisher as a sort of secondary check on smallness.
We also include some imprints in this class of publisher. We do so because many of these publishers exhibit the contrariness and dedication of independent small publishers.
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Krystamar Publishing
Self-Publishing: A Rewarding Challenge
In Fall 1984, When it comes to writing and self-publishing there are more than a few challenges to
face but the results can prove to be most rewarding. Contributing writer Rebecca Kinsey-Bastian interviewed
one brave soul who, was not only compelled to get her first novel into book form, she also found her own way
to publish and promote it. The following interview with Sharon Elizabeth Gambrell provides an inspiring insight
to the publishing process.
Sharon Elizabeth Gambrell has been writing all her life. In 1992 her son Marshall Jr. was killed in auto
accident and she began taking her writing much more seriously. Ms. Gambrell said in a recent interview.
“I thank God for giving me peace through writing, especially through Caroline. Caroline
became my solace. Through her weaknesses I became strong. “
Caroline’s story took root in the open fields and sweeping farmlands of
South Carolina when Gambrell took a trip with her husband to visit
relatives “Looking out over the fields, I thought about how beautiful
South Carolina is, and then I thought of the name, Caroline, and the sweetness of that name, even
though I didn’t make the character’s life, so sweet.”
“I wrote the story and let it sit for six years,” laughs Gambrell.
“I was so attached to Caroline. I left the book sitting on my desk and
would read it whenever I wanted to be lost in her world. I kept it so
long that people started not believing that I had written a book. I was
almost forced to let go. But I’m glad I did because she has touched a
lot of lives.”
When Gambrell first started thinking about self-publication she
didn’t know exactly how she wanted to handle the process, she just knew
she wanted a great quality book. “At the time the owner of a bookstore
in Hamden CT introduced me to an attorney whose second career was
printing on demand and had all the equipment needed. We started together—
she was a print-on- demand and I was a self-publisher subcontracting my
cover design, logo, barcodes, and the transformation of my manuscript
into book form.” Gambrell named her company — Krystamar Publishing
Company —after what is most precious to her. Krys is for her
granddaughter Krystin, ta is for her daughter Tanyce, and mar for her
son Marshall.
Gambrell knew just how she wanted Caroline to look. “The girl on the
cover is my actress/model niece, Nicole Spruill. I also wanted the house on the cover to look
just right and so I started searching different states for the perfect house to photograph. Then I
found this house — I walked right up, knocked on the front door, and asked if I could use the house on my book cover!”
When the process was finished she had 50 copies printed, to see how
Caroline would do. “I walked out of the printer’s office and went to my
favorite restaurant to celebrate. I sold the very first copy to my
husband and within two hours I had sold all fifty copies! I contracted
100 more and sold those as well. Then I went to 700 and soon outgrew the
on-demand printer! I’m now with MacNaughton & Gunn, printing 1,000 books
per each additional run.
Marketing a self-published book has required a lot of perseverance
and leg work. “I made most of my sales through word of mouth and flyers.
I visited senior centers, and waited for people to come out for
cigarette breaks at several businesses and institutions including Yale
University. I contacted every bookstore and library I could, along
with Wal-Mart, Target, Stop and Shop stores. I did book signings at
Barnes and Nobles and sold books out of the trunk of my car. Fred Guida,
the manager of the North Haven, CT store, has been wonderful to me. I’ve
sold over two hundred books in his store alone. I have been to book
clubs, book fairs, beauty salons, barbershops, sororities, fraternities,
libraries, universities. Caroline has received nine five-star reviews
from readers at Amazon.com, www.cushcity.com voted Caroline the #3 best
seller for the February 2003 book list, and now Brodart, is offering my
book.
To date, I have sold, over 1,700 books. Oprah Winfrey and Melvin Brown of Wright eEntertainment, management
firm for the Backstreet Boys, gave great reviews on the book. And,” Gambrell chuckled richly; “I am trying to
get Caroline in the hands of actress Diahnn Carol. I would love to see her play a part when I get a movie deal.”
In Gambrell’s eyes Caroline has been the best kind of success. It
is not only selling, it is affecting lives — sometimes in surprising
ways. “I personally will not sell the book to anyone under fourteen,
unless, of course, their parents give their permission; that’s just how I
am. But, the East Rock Global Magnet School eighth grade graduating
class voted Caroline the best book they read all year. It helped them
realize that they had choices, so even though it wasn’t intended for
that particular age group, I’m pleased to know it has a universal
message. I want my book to be a book that doesn’t just last today, I
want it to last many tomorrows.”
Sharon Elizabeth Gambrell lives in New Haven Connecticut and is
currently working on a sequel called Echoes from the Past, coming out
in 2005.
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Copyright © 2004 Brodart Co. All rights reserved. Brodart is a Trademark of Brodart Co. |
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