Jai Joshi's Tulsi Tree: FAQ - How did I publish 'Follow the Cowherd Boy'

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

FAQ - How did I publish 'Follow the Cowherd Boy'

I'm so sorry this is so late. It's too long as well. Couldn't help it!

30 comments:

Chrystal Anne said...: Right on Jai! I totally support this type of attitude, especially when it is based on someone's life. Publishers will always say those things (I got a ton of it, which is why I am self-publishing from now on)
Thanks a ton for the story and the tips :)

I'm proud to call myself your friend, keep doing what you are doing and write on!!; 26/4/11 11:29 PM
... Paige said...: message not money

thanks for sharing all that you do

{hugs}; 27/4/11 9:19 AM
laughingwolf said...: well done, jai... integrity is more important than some big name publisher... but they should be pounding on your door, now you've shown how it should be done!; 27/4/11 12:48 PM
Susan Fields said...: Thanks for sharing your road to publication with us. It's great to hear how happy you are with your decision and how wonderful to hear from that 14-year-old girl about how your book inspired her!

I hope your day job eases off and lets you get some writing done!; 27/4/11 1:15 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Chrystal, you never fail to make me feel good about myself! Thanks for being my friend and for being so supportive. Love you!

Jai; 27/4/11 5:42 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Paige, thanks! It's my pleasure to share my experiences, especially if what I know can help someone.

Jai; 27/4/11 5:43 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Laughingwolf, like I said, life is too short to wait for them to catch up.

Jai; 27/4/11 5:45 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Susan, I recieved many letters and still do but that girl's letter was one that made me so happy because I felt like I'd really made a difference in sharing Mira's story with her.

Jai; 27/4/11 5:46 PM
Rachna Chhabria said...: Thanks for sharing your publication journey, Jai. Its always nice to know how other writers arrived at their destination.; 28/4/11 3:04 AM
Jai Joshi said...: My pleasure, Rachna. I also find it a fascinating thing to learn how other writers journeyed to publication.

Jai; 28/4/11 12:20 PM
Lydia K said...: Thanks for sharing your story, and good for you for taking things into your own hands.; 28/4/11 4:03 PM
Eric W. Trant said...: One of my characters just ranted on APOLOGIES. "Never apologize," she said. "It absolves you of responsibility. Instead, say DEAL WITH IT!"

I don't apologize at work. I do at home, but that's because my wife makes me weak like that.

The self-pub "stigma" will quietly disappear as e-books take foothold. They'll buy books with the same disregard as we browse blogs and internet news sites, for $0.99, and read them on their hand-held phones.

You are inspiring. No doubt about it.

Your vlogs are so awesome. You're well-spoken, well-mannered, that English lilt is smooth and easy to listen to, and you say things unscripted that most of us try to write out and re-edit and never get quite right.

I would do some vlogs myself but I'm afraid I would come off as some redneck drunk white boy in a closet stroking a Pomeranian in his lap, which is how I write, usually.

- Eric; 28/4/11 4:50 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Lydia, that old adage of "If you want something done right then do it yourself" is so true! That's how I roll.

Jai; 28/4/11 5:36 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Eric, we have to apologise to those we love. It's the only way to have peace prevail. Otherwise heads have an unforturnate habit of rolling.

Thank you for your appreciation. Most of the time I just record and post because I never have time to redo stuff but then I play it back and I wish I'd said this more smoothly or that more articulately. I can't help but see all the things I did wrong.

Jai; 28/4/11 5:38 PM
Lynda R Young said...: Well done for sticking to your story and keeping it true.

PS everything seems harder when I don't find the time to write. ;); 28/4/11 10:49 PM
Stephen Tremp said...: Your journey is interesting. Good for you sticking to the message. I've self published and have been some what successful and learning something new every day. Best wishes for your success!; 29/4/11 6:37 AM
Jai Joshi said...: Lynda, that's so true. When I can't write everything seems more dull and difficult.

Jai; 29/4/11 10:22 AM
Jai Joshi said...: Stephen, I'm aware of your self publishing efforts and know that you've done very well, thinking outside the box and with a level of generosity that I haven't seen very often. It's fabulous to know that self published authors are empowering themselves with that kind of attitude and motivation.

Jai; 29/4/11 10:27 AM
Carolina Valdez Miller said...: So inspirational, Jai! It's a shame that traditional publishers were so skittish, but you followed your heart and your instincts, and it clearly paid off for you. That's fantastic.; 29/4/11 1:48 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Carol, like I said, life is too short to wait around. I threw myself into the endeavour and was very pleased with the results.

Jai; 29/4/11 4:35 PM
ElizabethR said...: So sorry you are under such pressure at work Jai. That's a bummer!

Hope it calms down soon and you can get back to your writing fix.

Hang in there girl,
Elizabeth; 29/4/11 9:00 PM
Jai Joshi said...: Elizabeth, I'm just gritting my teeth and getting through it. Can't wait until it's over but I don't think things are going to calm down for at least a month if not two.

Jai; 30/4/11 10:13 AM
Al said...: As a fellow self publisher I have to admire the effort you have gone to to get your own book into the market place.

You said your POD company was "very expensive" I wondered who that was.
My book is POD too and at 432 pages a little longer than follow the cowherd boy. Printing is costing me about $5.00 a copy, which is expensive compared to large run offset, but it lets me get it out at a reasonable price on Amazon.; 1/5/11 1:52 AM
Jai Joshi said...: Al, three cheers for fellow self published authors!

I don't think I said "very expensive". I said that it "does cost more" which is slightly different.

My POD company was Trafford, a Canadian company. They've since been bought up by another company and I'm thinking of changing because I'm not happy with the new management.

Also, I'm guessing that costs are a little different in Australia where you are.

Jai; 1/5/11 4:28 PM
Al said...: I am with Lightning Source which is a US company. There are no Oz mobs that come within cooee in terms of price.; 3/5/11 3:49 AM
Jai Joshi said...: Al, that's very interesting! I wasn't aware that lightning source made contracts with individual authors. I thought they just dealt with companies. Thanks for the info, I'll look into it.

Jai; 4/5/11 4:30 PM
A Cuban In London said...: I admire your courage, especially in the face of so many changes (some people would call them 'upheavals') in the literary world.

Thank you very much.

Greetings from London.; 5/5/11 7:40 AM
Jai Joshi said...: Cuban, courage is the only way to live. It's not easy but it's right.

Jai; 5/5/11 9:20 AM
Neeli said...: I'm finally catching up on your vlogs. First off, I'm so happy you posted this and I'm so happy that the self-publishing worked out for you. It was/has been a wild ride. You were so brave to charge ahead and do it, I'm VERY proud of you!! p.s you look gorgeous!; 1/6/11 4:58 AM
Jai Joshi said...: Neeli, I was just doing what I had too but having the support of my family, ALL of you, made it so much easier. Thanks, babe.

Jai; 1/6/11 3:00 PM