As part of my ongoing series exploring traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing paths, I’m delighted to welcome fellow author Janis Bishop to share her journey to publication.

Janis, thank you for agreeing to this interview. I understand you have a memoir scheduled for publication in 2017 through a hybrid press.

Yes, my memoir Dear Daughter: How Unearthing Family Secrets Led to Forgiveness, Healing, and a Place to Belong, published by SheWrites Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster, is coming out in the Fall of 2027.

I’d like your readers to know that my answers are based on my own experience, and not necessarily on widespread industry practices. I urge your readers to do their own research before deciding what publishing path to follow.

For readers who may not be familiar with the term, how would you define “hybrid publishing,” and what drew you to this model for your memoir?

The three publishing paths I know of are self-publishing, traditional publishing and hybrid. The first is free through Amazon (not including editing or design costs if outsourced), the second is paid for by the publisher, and the third is a partnership between author and publisher where the author will incur some expenses. the services offered very, but the cost is the main differentiator.

In an ideal world, a traditional publisher loves your book and publishes it at no cost to the author – that would include cover design, marketing, distribution, printing costs, sales, selling the book to the market, etc. From what I’ve learned, it’s almost impossible to get a publishing deal or even an agent if you are a first-time author or are not a celebrity.

It’s easy to publish a book, but not so easy to get people to read it or to get bookstores to sell it. SheWrites has the added service of Simon and Schuster to sell/distribute the book. I do not have the time or skill to sell my book, so that was the main reason I went with hybrid. I feel like it will give me more visibility in the marketplace. I’m willing to pay for the extra service.

How did you go about choosing this particular press? Would you be comfortable sharing its name?

Brook Warner is the Publisher of SheWrites Press. I met Brooke initially through my membership in the National Association of Memoir Writers and later when I joined Memoir nation. She’s well known in the publishing world and the press itself has a good reputation. Rather than try to describe her qualifications, they can be found here https://www.brookewarner.com.

What kind of research did you do before making your decision? Were there specific criteria that helped you evaluate a hybrid press was reputable?

I read a lot of reviews and spoke to people face to face. The reviews and credential for SheWrites Press were all positive. They won the 2019 Indie Publisher of the Year award and many of their authors have won independent book awards. Their website shows hundreds of endorsements. The only downside I’ve seen mentioned on social media is that the cost can be prohibitive for some.

Aside from industry reputation, what really hooked me was watching Brooke’s interview with author Mary Karr. Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir is what inspired me to write my memoir so the two of them together felt like the universe giving me a message.

What was the process like prior to acceptance? Did you query them, submit a proposal, or were you approached?

I knew about halfway through writing my memoir (a four year process) that I wanted to submit my book to SheWrites. They have a detailed submission process available on their website.

I wanted my memoir to be polished so I hired an editor (through Reedsy) for two rounds of developmental editing and one round of line editing before I submitted. I was thrilled when I received an acceptance letter! It took about a month to hear back.

What ultimately convinced you that this was the right publishing partner for your book?

Once my memoir was accepted, they sent me a 127-page Authors Guide that detailed what to expect when working with them throughout the entire publishing process. Brooke was available to answer all my questions. The details in the guide combined with her personal availability convinced me that I’d be well supported throughout the process.

Once your manuscript was accepted, how has the experience been so far?

Very informative and helpful. I had a few weeks to read the Author Guide and that was followed by contract negotiations. The contract negotiations were transparent and informative. I’m listening and learning from the other authors who are in various stages of publication.

Have they been clear about what services they provide–and just as importantly, what falls outside their scope (marketing, distribution, publicity)?

Yes, extremely clear and detailed.

Stay tune for Part 2 of this interview.