We’re talking to authors from all walks of life about their experiences in publishing their book.  Some have smooth paths, some rocky, but they all share a common goal – to see their name on the cover of their creation.  It’s interesting to read what path they decided to take to get there and my guest today is here to tell everyone what he/she did in order to make it all happen so that other writers will learn a little something from the experience. 

Today we are talking to EJ Apicello, author of the self help title, Your Crossroads. Your Choice. 

Thank you for your time in answering our questions, EJ.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to write a book?

The book was busting out of me. I started having experiences in my marriage that I honestly couldn’t believe. I figured if I wrote them down then at least I would know I wasn’t crazy. Then the outline came out and from there the words simply poured out of me.

Is this your first book?

Yes, this is my first.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?

Sure! I was making a lot of changes in my personal life so I wanted to make sure that I researched the three basic branches of how to get your title published. This is what I learned in an excessively generalized but hopefully clear nutshell. You could go old school and send your manuscript out to publishing houses and literary agents and wait months to hear back if you hear at all. Then there is the total opposite of that which is self-publication. That means you use a platform such as Amazon and work through their steps to get your book published online. The third route, which is the one I chose, is a hybrid of the two in my opinion. It is using a publishing company, but investing some of your money in order to procure their services, with added bonuses such as cover design and editing that I am not well versed in by any stretch. I will be honest, some people feel that this type of publishing house is not reliable but I think you get out of it what you put in. So far, Page Publishing has been awesome and I have been pleased with the work they have done for me on my book. However, as is the premise of my book, it is your choice. Don’t listen to me, do your own research and figure out which option makes you feel the most comfortable.

What lessons do you feel you learned about the publishing industry?

I think your success is directly related to your level of effort put into promotion of your book. Now that I have gone through the process of this “hybrid” publishing process, I might try another method next, perhaps send a manuscript out while self publishing another. Who needs sleep, right?

If you had the chance to change something regarding how you got published, what would you change?

I might have tried to exercise some patience and send my manuscript out to a few agents. But otherwise, I was very pleased with the process overall.

Did you credit any person or organization with helping you get published?

I could not have done it without Page Publishing and specifically Casey Runyan my publishing coordinator. She has been helpful and responsive every step of the way.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Write. Everyday for a significant length of time. Experience everything you can in life and a little but more. Everyone says write what you know and how can you know anything if you experience nothing? And try not to be your toughest critic, there are enough asshats in the world to fill that role. Be your biggest cheerleader!