“Despite bias toward self-publishing, author's latest book receives high praise”

Self-publishing continues to be an uphill battle, even though the rapidly growing Print-On-Demand (POD) industry has made it a truly viable option for authors with little or no upfront capital. Companies like Lulu.com will let you publish for free with no minimum purchases required. You only pay for any optional services you may choose, the most expensive of which is currently $149.00. This is far less than the hundreds to thousands of dollars many POD companies charge upfront.

There are many self-publishing success stories. Richard Paul Evans’, author of the breakout hit “The Christmas Box,” started out with 20 copies he had printed at a FedEx Kinko’s, and went on to sell 250,000 copies before it was picked up by Simon & Schuster. E. Lynn Harris sold 10,000 copies of his book “Invisible Life” before it sold 500,000 more copies for Doubleday. But with 120,000 to 150,000 new titles being published each year, and approximately 1.5 million books in print in the U.S at any given time, the road to success is a very hard one indeed.

And yet authors like Gregory Bernard Banks continue to be high on the self-publishing industry. Banks published his second book, “Phoenix Tales: Stories of Death & Life” in March of this year. Sales have started slowly, but the author admits that this is largely due to having done almost no pre-release marketing. However, the book did get an early mention on noted fantasy author Piers Anthony’s website, HiPiers.com. In his FeBlueberry newsletter, Anthony said of the author, “(Banks) has marvelous figures of speech; I don't think I've seen it as thick and apt since the early career of Roger Zelazny…” Since then, Banks has continued gathering praise.

Carole McDonnell, a reviewer for The Compulsive Reader, said “…A collection of stories about death could be troubling and haunting to some. But it is the most common of human journeys. And Greg Banks has written about it with hope, faith, love and joy. I highly recommend this book…” Jennifer Murray from BookPleasures.com said “…(This) collection of seventeen short stories of approaching death, introspection and rebirth I found caused me to pause between stories and reflect over what I had just read. Every story touched on some level of reflection related to regret for the dreams not quite achieved. That in turn evolved into eventual contentment and appreciation for the path that was taken and the lessons learned from it.” And Kalaani of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers most recently said, “Each original story is told in a style that keeps your attention page after page until the finale of each story.”

Several stories, like “Escape Velocity,” deal with pressing social and moral issues. This near-future story of an elderly man kept alive against his will by the very same government that outlaws the treatments that might cure him, is highly reminiscent of the recent Terry Schiavo case. “I originally wrote it over two years ago,” Banks said, “as a commentary on how the US, despite being one of the freest countries in the world, is subtly growing repressive in its policies, which could eventually have a major impact on our lives. I had no idea that the story would become so timely so soon.”

“Avatar,” about a man with Osteogenesis Imperfecta who discovers a way to escape the frail body which he’s grown to hate, shows how bits of Banks’ own life often influences his writing. “I’ve never gone down the emotional path of Carver’s character,” Banks asserts, “but I can strongly relate to why he makes the choices he does.”

While a strong supporter of self-publishing, Banks also recognizes its pitfalls. “Self publishing’s greatest strength,” Banks says, “is that it provides everyone an avenue to get published. But that’s also its biggest weakness.” Banks goes on to say that, “Many self-publishers have yet to acquire the necessary background or skills to write professional quality material, while others simply haven’t put enough effort into the other aspects of their books, like cover and interior design. A book is comprised of more than just words. You may not judge a book by its cover, but you might get someone’s attention with an exceptional one.”

Despite these facts, which have greatly contributed to the negative attitude often directed toward self-published books, Banks feels this is still unfair. Quoted by Milton Stern in an interview appearing in the first issue of the SelfPublisher News newsletter (www.selfpublishernews.com), which debuts in August of this year, Banks remarks, “If you are a musician or a filmmaker, you’re highly regarded for going the independent route. But for writers, the opposite is true,” Henry Hutton of Lulu.com agrees, saying, “Books should be bought based on the quality of content, not just because a publisher or distributor could afford to give it front row shelf space at the entrance of your local Barnes & Noble.”

For more and more authors, self-publishing is becoming an attractive alternative. And with authors like Gregory Bernard Banks leading the way, it is becoming a fresh, new source of material for readers of all kinds.

Banks serves as a community leader, support aid, and author services provider at digital publishing company Lulu.com. He is also co-Webmaster for the Speculative Literature Foundation (www.speculativeliterature.org), and a regular contributor for Audacity Magazine (audacitymagazine.com). He’s been published in such varied places as The Rose & Thorn, Story House, StoneGarden.net, Creative Brother's Sci-Fi Magazine, The Writers Post Journal, AlienSkin Magazine, Vision: A Resource for Writers, and Audacity Magazine.

Phoenix Tales: Stories of Death & Life is available directly from printer/distributor Lulu.com (www.lulu.com/WheelManPress), as well as from most major bookstores worldwide. His next book will be a guide aimed at the “serious” self-publisher. Release date yet to be determined.