Our initial research revealed a few obvious obstacles on both sides of the coin. And a deeper investigation into the realm of publishing took us on a sobering journey that posed more questions.
Yes, self-published authors have greater tools and resources today than ever before and this is quite attractive in the DIY world we live in today. But doing it yourself has several large pitfalls and authors might create publishing faux pas. Several of which, if not corrected can assure their book is never stocked by top book stores.
Going the more traditional route of signing on with a publishing house gets your book out into the world much easier, but after their editors rework your baby there’s no guarantee it’s the message you intended. Yes, you may have a well-distributed piece of literature, but does it reflect your initial intention or passion?
Birthing a book from inspiration to distribution is an immense labyrinth of often confusing twists and turns. These decisions will not only affect the appearance of your book, but who reads it, how successful it could be, and ultimately who owns the rights to control the life span of the book.
While researching our options the latter concern is what stuck with us the most. We had heard stories of authors passionately pouring their sweat and tears into their books, only to have it twisted into an unrecognizable product by the mainstream publishing house. Where it seemed, their dreams were coming true, they were left to endorse a creation with which they no longer felt aligned.
It was on our wedding anniversary while sitting on the sofa, drinking a glass of wine, when we got a stroke of brilliance. As we were weighing the pros and cons of different publishing options, we realized what guidance had been showing us all along. Create our own publishing company! When we said it out loud it felt right, it made sense! We were going to start our own publishing company!
As the excitement bubbled up and the reality of this new venture set in, our thoughts began dancing around a possible name for our company. Jon noted that we decided to start a company on September 29th, our anniversary, therefore we should encapsulate the moment. And thus 929 Publishing was born!
Although we initially started 929 Publishing to give Morrighan full creative control of her first book, we soon realized there are others in the world with the same concerns and challenges. It was an obvious choice to extend our new-found knowledge and resources to those seeking an avenue for their unique and empowering message.
Blessings and Love,
Jonathan Morgan & Morrighan Lynne
929 Publishing
