Much on my mind

[valarltd]

2016 is almost gone.

Many of my biggest publishers went out of business this year: Amber Quill, Ellora's Cave, Torquere.
I went out of business as a publisher this year.

By the end of 2017, I will have all the rights back to every piece of fiction I've written. For those playing the home game:
14 published novels, most with a co-author
3 unpublished novels
87+ short stories
three children's books

That's a lot of words.
A lot of my reading this year has been critical re-reads of my own stuff, trying to decide if it's worth republishing.

I have no new ideas. I'd like to finish the Nikolai series, but that's going to be Gabriel lending me his writing will and me trudging through by force of stubbornness.

Do I want to rewrite, re-edit and get back on the publishing treadmill?
Write, edit, publish, promote, lather, rinse, repeat?
I don't think I can face one more convention!

The books are good. Not great. Not all they could or should be. I'm not sure how to fix that. But they are readable and entertaining.

I hate the promo part. I hate it with a passion. "hi, pay attention to me, buy my books!"

I am considering fading, becoming a footnote in the history of m/m romance, and calling it good. Find something else to devote my time and energy to.
Part of me hates the idea. Part of me says I spent too many years loving things that couldn't love me back, and wouldn't even make me money to support their production.

So, is there any reason to republish my work? Books I can't even give away?


Here are the options:

1) Fade into has-been. "Whatever happened to Angel? Eh, no big."

2) Self-republish as is. Bring in dribs and drabs of money, a few bucks a month.

3) Re-edit, re-write, republish with a publisher under a new name. Lot of work, potentially some money, and new writing will be expected on a regular basis.


Anyone have suggestions? Comments? I've said for five years, "Nobody is holding their breath for the next Angelia Sparrow book." Is this true? Are people waiting for me to do something new and interesting with writing? Or am i already a has-been, passed by in the glory days of 2009?

Comments

[mahmfic.livejournal.com]

Think Samhain shut down too or is at least in the process of doing so.

[mahmfic.livejournal.com]

Think Samhain shut down too or is at least in the process of doing so.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping next year will be better

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

I think the choice between #2 and #3 has to be down to your enthusiasm for the project, but #1 vs #2 - as a reader, I think there's huge value in keeping things available for the long-tail, and as an author, it seems a shame for your work to vanish, and trickle of money is more than no money. (I'd be happy to see a new Angela Sparrow book, but not if the process of creating one made you miserable.)