Posted by South Jersey News Online February 16, 2008 8:07PM
Categories: 1, Features
By Senitra Horbrook
shorbrook@sjnewsco.com

One is a substitute teacher.
Another is a nurse.
A third is a police officer.

These folks may not embody the typical image of a published author, which is often glamorized as someone who travels from coffee shop to coffee shop with a laptop, sipping on java while composing their latest masterpiece.

Yet, they are some of many local residents who have written books and can vouch that it's not as easy as it may seem.

Lt. Glenn Rambo, a police officer in Woolwich Township, recently became a published author. His book, 'Crossing the Line,' was nationally released on Jan. 18.

"You think writing a book is hard, getting it published is a whole other adventure," said Christine Norris, a Mantua Township resident, substitute teacher and author of three fantasy novels for children.

Her latest book "The Crown of Zeus" will be released electronically Tuesday. The print edition will be released in December.

While searching for a publisher, Norris discovered that the large ones often don't accept submissions without an agent. Small publishers get inundated with query letters, so a letter must stand out in the crowd.

"You can't just say here's my book, you'll love it. It's like a cover letter. There's a whole other art form to writing a query letter itself," Norris said. "You have to show them why your book is different, why your book is better. Nine times out of 10 you get a pile of rejection letters."

Logan Township resident Colleen Buckley wrote the children's book 'Grandma Kathy has Cancer.' She 'wanted a publisher that would not collect my royalties. If they do that they become the owners.' Since September of 2007, Buckley has sold around 400 copies.Norris got a pile of rejection letters when she was searching for a publisher for her first book, "Talisman of Zandria," before its 2005 release. She found an online writers community that helped her adjust her query letter. "I got a much better response from the second letter," she said. "I was getting requests to read ... send pages."

She wound up signing on with small publisher, LBF Books, which published her first two novels. She switched to Samhain Publishing, a slightly larger publisher, for "The Crown of Zeus." Norris' method is not the only way to get published. Other local authors have forgone the traditional publishing process in favor of self-publishing or vanity press, which publishes at the author's expense.

"I wanted a publisher that would not collect the royalties," said Colleen Buckley, a Logan Township resident and author of the children's book "Grandma Kathy Has Cancer." "If they do that they become the owners."

After extensive Internet research, Buckley, a first time author, decided to go with a company in Indiana, Dog Ear Publishing. Buckley paid between $1,000 to $2,200 to publish her book and expects to make that money back from the sales of her books. Dog Ear takes a portion of the profits, but they do not take royalties.

"My whole idea was not to become rich," said Buckley, a nurse. "It was to get the word out about children dealing with cancer and to honor my sister that passed away."

Christina Norris, from Mantua, is a substitute teacher and the author of three fantasy novels for children.Since September of 2007, Buckley has sold around 400 copies. She ordered 175 of them for herself to sell, to donate to schools and give to family. Buckley credits her illustrator, Kim Sponaugle, as helping guide her through the publishing process.

"She has illustrated several children's books so she was able to help me," Buckley said.

Lt. Glenn Rambo, a police officer in Woolwich Township, also recently became a published author. He said he is probably the least likely person to give advice because he got his first book published on his first attempt.

"Never in a million years do you dream you will get published," Rambo said. "It was more of a hobby, stress relief." His book "Crossing the Line" was nationally released on Jan. 18. Before that date, it had already sold 213 copies through word of mouth.

"I've acquired a skill for writing over 19 years from writing police reports," he said. "I came across a story I've written now which deals with modern day immigration problems. It kind of flowed."

Like many others before him, Rambo also turned to the Internet to seek out a publisher.

"I went with Tate Publishing in Oklahoma, who specializes in first time authors," he said. "It's similar to self-publishing. I pay the costs, but they do editing, printing."

He sent his manuscript to the company and had a follow-up phone call with the owner Richard Tate. Rambo paid in the range of $3,000 to have his book published.

"I did research with reviews," he said. "Ninety-nine percent of reviews I read were good about Tate."

Getting a publisher to print the books is a major hurdle to climb, but there's still more to be concerned with. Dog Ear Publishing provided Buckley with press releases, bookmarks, posters and postcards to help her get the word out about "Grandma Kathy Has Cancer." Buckley also went out and did some of her own promotions.

"I sent out, to over 100 cancer organizations, a letter I composed about my book, went to the library, spoke at different cancer organizations," she said.

Rambo also takes every opportunity he can to promote "Crossing the Line." On Feb. 26, Rambo will be discussing his book at the Swedesboro Branch of the Gloucester County Library.

"I've done two book signings thus far and I have a book signing in Granite Run Mall," Rambo said. "I have my Web site. Anytime there's an immigration related story we try to send out press releases to media outlets."

The local authors interviewed for this story all agreed that doing research on the publishing company is definitely the most important part of the process.

"To me you can really get ripped off. You have to be careful," Buckley said. "If something doesn't seem right, talk it through."