When I first began shopping around for a publisher, and doing the related research, I learned some pretty shocking things about the way the industry actually works. Needless to say the prospect of being published through a conventional publisher wasn’t so appealing after I realized a couple of things. Besides the fact that most first-time authors get an advance of only $2000-$6000 on their primary work, even after signing a contract with a conventional publisher it may still take up to 18 months before your book actually makes an appearance!

Couple that with the notion that you will only receive between 6-8% of the cover price, 15% being the best you can hope for; and that only after you’ve sold over 10,000 copies and the fact that your publisher will not market your book for you, starting my own publishing company was a no brainer.

If I’m going to have to do all of the leg-work for myself, then I might as well get paid for it! Why give them a percentage of my money for ‘handling’ my book for me? The book industry is changing, and much like the music business writers are now able to have more creative control of their work and retain their Intellectual Property rights. Any sales you generate are basically the result of your own effort, so go for it!

Bernard H. Powell

Equilibria Publishing Co.

“If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you; but if you really make them think, they’ll hate you.” ~Don Marquis