Carole Spencer

Lachesis Publishing

September 2007

Carole Spencer was kind enough to take some time away from her busy schedule to complete an interview for me. And Carole is very busy. You see she is the senior publisher at Lachesis Publishing, and ebook and POD publisher from Nova Scotia, Canada. If that wasn't a busy enough job, Lachesis recently took over Let's Be Frank (LBF) Books, a well established publisher and distributer in its own right. This take-over is exciting news for existing Lachesis authors, but it also means opportunities for new authors. So Get your novels polished because Lachesis will be open for submissions starting September 2007!

 

Can you give us some history of Lachesis Publishing? How was it founded?

The idea came to me two years ago. After seeing so many Canadian authors go to the United States to get published, I came to the conclusion that there was a lack of publishing houses in Canada. I did much research which reinforced my findings. Opening a publishing house was also my goal, and finally I got my dream come true when I opened Lachesis Publishing in August 2006. Do keep in mind that I don't restrict any nationality from submitting, far from it, I encourage submissions.

Please explain Print on Demand (POD) publishing and how it benefits the writer.

Print on Demand enables large houses and small ones to keep titles accessible for purchase far longer than the normal shelf life. Large houses will use that process to fill demands for technically 'out of print' titles while smaller house uses that newer print technology because it doesn't tie up their cash flow on a single title. It is simply a way to do business. The author gets published, the reader gets his book and the publishing house can take on more authors. It seems to be a winning situation for all.

What are some of the ways an author can promote his or her book?

Carole Spencer: There are so many...but I'll concentrate on the more profitable ones.

1. By creating a media kit and forwarding kits to their local newspapers. This might result in an interview on TV or a written piece in the local area. Readers are always looking for new authors and will likely buy to support a local author.

2. publicizing the release of their book on the various writers groups they might belong to.

3. Approaching local stores to see if the owner would sell their books on consignment.

4. By exposing themselves to the readers in various ways.

a) agreeing to participate in chats where readers can ask questions to the author

b) By doing book signings in their neighbourhood with help from their publisher or publicist.

5. By putting out adds where the author will reach a larger number of readers.

And many more... New methods are created every day.

What is your vision of the future of ebook publishing?

It is a well-known fact that ebooks reading is on the rise; from year to year, the increased percentage of ebook sale is astronomical. It has it pros and cons such as saving trees, portability, and cheaper cost. The only con I can think of is not having the hardware to take pleasure in reading. When the older generation finds out they can tweak a book to fit their reading capacity they never go back to print.

I'm spoiled: I like to increase the font to a comfortable reading level and settle into a Laz-Y-Boy. Ebook publishing is the way of the future.

Your guidelines are very specific for manuscript formatting. Why are guidelines so important? Isn’t the story the determining factor for publication?

Yes and no. If an author doesn't follow guidelines and house style then s/he has indicated that s/he will be a difficult person to work with -- his or her level of professionalism is low and or that s/he cannot be bothered with following directions.

Our guidelines are enforced to speed up the process of publication should the submission be a good one. Our editors' job requirements don't include setting up or correcting the manuscript for the authors but rather to bring the submission to the best level it could possibly be prior to publication.

Other than guidelines, what makes a manuscript stand out for you?

Good grammar which soothes the way to reading a good plot right to the end

How important is it for a writer to have an agent?

Having an agent is not essential if you target smaller publishing houses. Some smaller houses will not deal with an author who has an agent. Yet mid to large houses would not deal with an author unless they are agented. It really all depends on the author's targets.

How does the classification of literature into genres help or hinder writers and book sellers?

Classification is important to get potential buyers directly to the product they are seeking. It creates order in a brick and mortar store as well as in a webstore. It is so important not to disappoint a buyer. Here is an example: One may want to purchase a romantic suspense, seek those shelves and lastly pick up a title from its cover alone. If the book has been tagged with the wrong genre... or shelved in the wrong department, this person might very well be buying a romantic suspense, but unbeknownst to him or her, this title has with strong paranormal elements. This person might get extremely disappointed once home and reading, loosing trust in the store, the pub house and the author. Thus this book should have been classified as paranormal romance.

I see these situations happen all the time.

From a writer's point of view, once an author is known through his/her genre, it is often difficult for that person to break into the market in a new genre. This author has to proved his or herself all over again. Many authors will have pseudonym for specific genre. For a writer wishing to put out a manuscript in a specific genre, s/he better get better acquainted with the genre through lots of reading in that specific genre to know what is acceptable and what isn't. Hence you often read of caution: Genre-bending!

Can you elaborate a bit on what this new merger between Lachesis and LBF means?

More opportunities for authors wishing to have a cohesive distribution, a stronger marketing campaign, and a choice on being published from a Canadian Publishing House or one from the States. Also this merger brings more prestige to authors already published by either Lachesis Publishing or LBF Books.

 

Will it affect distribution?

Distribution will expand to smaller bookstores where our submitted books are accepted by store's purchasing clerk/owner. Our regular distribution with Baker and Taylor, also Ingram, will later this year include a Canadian one, I will make an official announcement when the negotiations are completed.

 

Are you continuing with Print on Demand books?

Yes. We now have two separate printers actually providing this service. Their service is second to none. Quality is comparable, if not of higher quality, than other printers not using the PoD technology.

 

How will it affect existing authors of Lachesis and LBF?

They have gained in recognition now being part of a bigger publishing house.

 

New authors?

This marvelous Print-on-Demand technology has made it possible for Lachesis and LBF to take a financial gamble on first time authors  who provides a great first novel. 

 

And anything else that you find relevant.

Carole Spencer: This merger requires re-organization, re-delegation of tasks, and a brand new website for LBF Books to show our excitement over this acquisition so we ask for the public's patience while this is going on. The new LBF website should be up and running as of the 1st of July. Some features will be available only in September. But each week something new will pop up on the site.