Can bloggers really become traditionally published authors?

Can bloggers really become traditionally published authors?

These days it is easy enough to become a published author. Self-publishing does NOT have the stigma attached that it used to.

The real litmus test is not who published the book but how many books have been sold AND read ….whether by the author directly or by a traditional publisher or in some combination of the two.

I have a friend who knows Simon of Simon & Schuster and Simon says, “I don’t know why anybody would want to go with a traditional publisher anymore.”

A self-published book leaves 70% or more of the royalties for the author. A traditional publisher can pay less than 10% of the price of the book. And these days the traditional publisher makes the author do most of the marketing effort on the author’s own dime, too!

Bloggers get Traditional Publishing Deals, too

Indeed it may not be worth going the traditional publisher route in the long or short run.

But, can a blogger get a traditional publishing contract that is worthwhile to the author?

The answer is ‘yes.’

I signed a contract, actually two of them for different books with a traditional publisher – Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Here is the link to the Bill Belew author page.

When KH told me they would format, typeset, edit and market the book my first reaction was, “Yeah, and how much will all this cost me?”

Answer, “Nothing. Those are our job. You just provide the content.

Hmm…I don’t make 70%…but I make enough and I do NOT have to pay any up front fees or take complete responsibility for marketing. In that case, it does make some sense to go with a traditional publisher.

All things considered, a blogger can indeed land a traditional publishing contract IF the blogger has something to say AND there is a reasonable market for the book.

Do you have a book in your blog?