Love in the Time of Plague

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I wrote a letter to the editor of the National Post, and it explains what the difference between self-publishing, or what they used to call a vanity press, and partnership publishing, or publishing in the modern age of print on demand.

Currently, five of my books are partnership published, which I would explain as: you are asked to pay for a marketing agent, or part of the cost of marketing the book. The publisher foots the bill for the actual book itself. This arrangement, which assumes a published book costs the publisher upwards of $19,000, means you pay out of pocket a small sum (usually $2000-$4,000), but make higher royalties. Usually I make upwards of 30%, and have more marketing assistance and effort put into the book of an emerging writer. This is the mainstay of publishing until you are established. Publishing your own book is considered an endeavor just for family, friends and locals. It would not be in major online bookstores, available in brick and mortar bookstores on demand, or on Amazon. It would just be called printing a book, with a small print run that you decide on and pay for with no editing, designing, or interior graphic design other than what you can do yourself.

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Here is the letter: 

December 24, 2020

To the Editor;

It is interesting to me that Emily Bronte was published in the newspaper under the name Ellis Bell in the early 1800's. Her first book sold all of two copies. If a book did not sell, the publisher discreetly destroyed the remainder. In the modern age, we have adopted something called 'Print On Demand' which in its early days was known as a Vanity Press. Now almost all Indie Publications are 'Print On Demand' so there are no extra books to throw out.

Back in the day editors used to publish poetry in the newspaper. There were a few rare poets who published under male pseudonyms, if they were women. Women poets only began to come out in the late 1800's as accepted for their own work.

I am a poet. I have written books for royals and for politicians, including the Prime Minister's wife. I write each poem with a special reader or recipient in mind. I have published almost 1,000 volumes of poetry. I have been both accepted and rejected in my nine year career in publishing verse. It is my desire this Christmas to wish all your readers a Happy Holiday in this trying and difficult season.

Sincerely,

Writer and poet

Emily Isaacson

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My idea for 

Love in the Time of Plague 

by poet Emily Isaacson

is subject to the publisher

who will re-design