Interview With Joan Schaublin ~ Publishing Consultant For Balboa Press

Hello everyone, We know that many of our readers are budding authors as we are. We also know there are so many choices and ways to publish these days that it can be a little over whelming. We are hoping by providing you with a few different opinions and examples of publishing we can help you to be able to make an informed choice for what your personal publishing needs are.

We will be sharing a few interviews this week about two different  ways you can self-publish your books. This wonderful interview is with Joan Schaublin. Joan is a publishing consultant for Balboa Press. Let us know what you think and if you would like to hear more about the publishing world.

1. Hello Joan, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

  Hi Carol!  Thank you for this opportunity. I love what you're doing. I'm a 49 year old Mom of two that has decided to live the dream. My dream is to make sure I earn my living doing something I'm passionate about, and supporting the earth by helping people with good things to share birth it into the world. My dream has come true!

2. Would you mind sharing your wonderful story of how you got a job with Balboa Press? 

  I was working a job where I made a lot of money, but left everyday feeling drained. What I was doing didn't feel good and my integrity forced me to question my being there. Than, in April of last year, I lost my Mom. It brought into full focus for me how what we do better matter; not tomorrow, today. A few months later I walked in and couldn't do it one more day. I decided being a bag lady with integrity would be better. I walked in to the H.R. office, told them I felt like I was in an abusive relationship and that it was time to go. Walking to my car was the best I'd felt in a very long time!

 When I got home I laid on my bed and daydreamed. I had always said the only person who could fill my Mother's shoes was Louise Hay and I decided I wanted to work, in some way, with the high integrity business she had built. Books had always been very influential in my life, and Hay House authors in particular. I added it to my vision board and let it go to the Universe.

  Two days later, I got a call from someone I had worked with previously who had a friend from college call him asking him if he knew anyone who'd be a good Publishing Consultant for Balboa Press, a new division of Hay House. His college friend was working with them. He recommended me, remembering how I always shared Louise's quotes and ideas with the people around me. I didn't even know she had started a new division!  I met with his friend two days after that, and a week later, I was sitting at my new desk.

 I know had I not had the courage to "walk my talk" I wouldn't be living my dream now!

3. Can you tell us more about Balboa Press?

   30 years ago, Louise Hay self published her book "You Can Heal Your Life." At that time, her ideas were considered very controversial, and self publishing was the only option she had. Recently, in part due to the unmanageable number of submissions Hay House gets every year, she decided to start a self-publishing division, that would give Inspirational writers a venue to get their books out and have the tools she didn't have when she started. Balboa Press (named for Balboa Park near her home) was born.

4. Does Balboa offer print on demand? 

   Yes. Not only is it the most affordable option for authors, it's environmentally sound.

5. Can you walk us through the process once an author purchases their publishing package?

    The first thing that happens is they are assigned a Check In Coordinator. The CIC's job is to help the author submit their manuscript and help with any questions surrounding that process. After submission, it goes through a review to make sure it fits our editorial standards. If it passes review, the author is assigned a team for production as well as cover and back design. Once all formatting and design work is completed, the author receives a 'galley' or 'proof' so they can make any final corrections, if necessary. Once the galley is signed off on, it is submitted to the printer. At that point the marketing and book consultant assigned to that author make contact to begin working on any projects or needs in those areas.

   6. There are different publishing packages to choose from. What is the main difference between the least to the most expensive package? 

     The difference is simply add-on's and marketing. Some authors need more than others depending on their goals for the book and the kind of marketing and sales platforms they already have in place.

7. Does Hay House keep track of Balboa authors? Are they involved at all and do they keep an eye out for potential new clients?

    Hay House is in constant contact with our division to discuss what our authors are doing, to be made aware of any attention our authors are getting and to share sales figures. They also ask for feedback from us, the publishing consultants, for what our authors are asking for and for any services or opportunities we think can make our authors more successful. The plan is very much to discover new talent.

8. Why do you think self publishing has become so popular?

   Because authors, especially in this genre, feel very passionate about their work. Many feel called to it and do not want the control of their work sold off. Once it is sold to a traditional publisher, that publisher can do whatever they want with it including not releasing it at all. It can also be more profitable to self-publish, as most traditional house only pay royalties of 5% of net, whereas we pay 50% of net.  With technology, social networking and blogging opportunities, it's much easier for authors to make it on their own.

 

9. Joan, Do you write? Do you have a blog or a website? Are you on Facebook and Twitter?

   I do write. I run a blog called "The Inspirational Author Enthusiast". I never thought of myself as a writer, and still don't really, but I wanted to create a space where I could get my thoughts out about all the amazing ideas that the writers I talk to every day share with me. I also hoped to get readers and writers of inspirational work hooked up. My intention is to continue to add links to all the work my authors are publishing and websites that may be of interest to both writers and readers of the Mind, Body, Spirit genre. I've also asked writers to do some guest blogging to talk about the books that have been influential to them. In addition, I have both Facebook and Twitter accounts that serve a similar purpose. It's all about connecting people with common interests.

10. How important do you feel it is for a new author to take advantage of social networking to promote their new book? Is Balboa on Twitter or Facebook?

    I can't stress enough how important it is. Viral marketing is an amazing tool and social media is where it happens. 70% of books are now sold online - and many a writing career has blossomed because of effective social networking. It is almost impossible to be "seen" anymore without it. Everyone from the President to Bugs Bunny has a Facebook page!

11. When you publish with Balboa does the author keep the digital rights to their work? Does Balboa provide any digital services?

    Our authors retain all rights to the content of their books, regardless of format. We format all of our books for all the popular digital readers.

12. After the completed process of publishing with Balboa will an author's book be available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble?

  We do list on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, to ensure our author's books are available for purchase to a worldwide audience online.  In addition, thousands of other retailers around the world will be able to order our author's books, both in stores and online with our channel distribution.

Thank you so much for your time. There are so many choices for publishing now. It's nice to be able to take a look at all our options and make an informed decision based on our own individual publishing needs.
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 It's been my pleasure. Again, thank you for the opportunity to share. As you know, I am very passionate about inspirational people, the books they write and my work  with Balboa Press.

Joan Schaublin

Publishing Consultant - Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1-877-407-4847 Ex -5139

http://theinspirationalauthorenthusiast.blogspot.com/

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"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."     Buddha