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Why I need to go the traditional publishing route: I don’t. But I do.
The 2 publications I currently have for sale, Boy. (a collection of poetry) and Jazz (a short story), were self-published through Barnes and Nobles Press. They’re both currently for sale exclusively through Barnes and Nobles.
Journey to 30 will be my life’s greatest work. I’ll write many more great things and already am, but Journey to 30 captures events that drastically altered my life. I can’t recreate the traumas that make this story so powerful nor would I ever want to. If my life had been peaceful these past few years I wouldn’t have a book worth reading. At least not one that explicitly follows my life.
Boy. and Jazz were self-published because A. I knew nothing about publishing and B. because I didn’t expect to sell a lot of copies. I’ve invested my own money in having these books printed and distributed. Less than 100 copies of either are in circulation and I’ve already raised the price for new prints of Jazz, where it will stay. The price of Boy. will eventually be raised as well, as the release of Journey to 30: Part 1 approaches. Anyone that buys my early work deserves to be rewarded. I value my work highly and I’ll ensure that the people that supported it, end up possessing something monetarily valuable. I need to reward my shareholders.
Journey to 30 requires a traditional publisher because it needs funding and resources. The book has broad market appeal and will eventually become a movie. Whomever I end up working with will be handsomely rewarded for taking a chance on me. I refuse to give up any creative control. I need someone willing to fund my project and execute the marketing. The book is being broken up into Part 1 and 2 for a number of reasons, one of which is because I need money to complete what the book initially sets out to accomplish. I don’t do meet and greets. I don’t do book signings. I’m Unknown.
Finding a partner won’t be easy. I need cash and resources in return for a cut of Journey to 30. It’ll happen, it’ll just require rolling up my sleeves and doing some hard work. Good thing I’m not wearing a shirt.