PESTILENT: Launching December 2024

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I have decided to self-publish PESTILENT: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel. This decision isn’t due to rejections but rather the nature of the submission process. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a rejection of the book, as most of the responses I received were based on query letters and reviews of only a few sample chapters, which likely weren’t read in full due to the sheer volume of submissions. As many literary agencies have stated, if a manuscript doesn’t match what they’re looking for, they won’t proceed.

After reviewing their websites, however, I agree that my book didn’t align with the style preferences of about 10 out of the 50 literary agencies I submitted to. As for the rest, I’m still waiting. Some have indicated that it could take months or even years to hear back. I’m not willing to wait that long, considering the financial benefits of traditional publishing. Who knows? Maybe my “castaway homie” hid the submissions that actually matched. JK!

Ultimately, I’ve decided to move forward with self-publishing without any further delays. Learning about the process of publishing a book, including the marketing side, didn’t happen overnight, but I’ve gained a lot of knowledge since 2022, when I self-published my first book, Carbon Planet: Our Destiny in the Stars, and I’m still learning. As I continue producing more books as a self-publisher, I will set aside another book specifically designed to wait for traditional publishing—perhaps for a million years, or at least until my “castaway homie” is no longer around, or until the same old “cyber reptilians” are gone for eternity.

Anyhow, there’s not much to lose here except how much I will spend publishing this book: getting it formatted, hiring book designers, obtaining introductory reviews, issuing press releases, and then diving into marketing. Some publishers or literary agents will still accept submissions of self-published books regardless. For now, it’s all about gaining exposure as a beginner author, rather than focusing solely on what you can gain financially. This is quite the opposite of traditional publishing, where they pay you upfront, and when the book’s sales exceed that initial payment, you earn royalties each time it sells.

Traditional publishing doesn’t earn as much in royalties as self-publishing, but a thousand pennies are much more profitable than the three dollars you might earn from a paperback sold within a month, especially when you’re paying a $300 monthly marketing membership. You must understand, creating ads comes with expenses and isn’t free. Plus, no one is re-posting your book because Samantha read it and left a terrible review. He’s pretty popular, and that can have a big impact. The book has to be good, and you need to make sure you get quality beta readers.

As for traditional publishing, the cons are that you don’t have much control over the book; they pretty much bought it from you, and it may even become unrecognizable from the original you wrote. I mean, that’s fine for me—it’s about making profits, not spreading the gospel, although that too made billions as a bestseller since King James 'discovered' Jesus Christ in the Middle East. Remember, it was a bestseller, and they knew what they were doing. Fortunately, you still get credit as the author. At this time, you can choose independent publishing, now that you’re much more exposed to a wider audience. 

I was just exaggerating about the book becoming unrecognizable—it’s funny. I had an old friend from the comic book industry and animation, and I couldn’t help but notice a few glints of recognizable frustration in YouTube footages, where he couldn’t control his works any longer. But he’s rich now and perhaps gained some control over his art projects. Anyhow, these agencies know what they’re doing—it’s their income. They have families to feed and probably dealt with homelessness, debts to street hoodlums, and health insurance costs for psychiatric appointments, etc.

This is cliché, but some of it could stem from conspiracy: bribery, favoritism, racism, egotism, uncontrollable malicious self-interest to feed lust. “How special, not! Ohhh… that felt good! Samantha is out of my system today, talking about his secret vacation in the Maldives! Send in the next query letter!” Just kidding… well, not really. I thought my homie was joking, and afterward, I still can’t believe he’s not in prison yet. The story of the world, I guess. The whole point is that they can’t be soft but surprisingly kind enough to say, “I like your concept, but you’re not Stephen King or something like that.” No, they say, “It’s probably better somewhere else. This is about a fairy tale, not cartel gore. Shhhh.” I can accept that, and it’s understandable.

My only worry is with those who aren’t part of this process whatsoever. Let’s leave it at that. The book will still be published either way. And it’ll be out there until the world ends, and that’s what matters to me.

Yes, it’s art. The whole process is an adventure without leaving your seat, filled with all sorts of emotions and intellect that surprise you. It’s like sound designing, where I also do music production to create music albums, even LPs as collections for those who enjoy my genres for many years to come. It’s similar to paintings for a museum or personal museums of your own—like on your personal websites. There’s no need to target someone innocent and magnificent just to release Samantha from your system; you get to appreciate other artists if you do art. From experience, it also depends on the artist. A lot of them are crazy.

Especially when the book doesn’t sell out anymore, you can’t make further modifications in traditional publishing. Well, that’s what I’ve researched. Unlike self-publishing, where you’re in total control, you can modify it whenever you want, blog about the updates you made, and even issue press releases again if you know where to look for marketing. But it only makes sense: the cheaper you pay for these services, the less you stand out, since there’s a swarm of authors who also believe in themselves and think their book is worth reading. This is the part where your book cover must stand out from the crowd, which means you have to understand visual arts.

Better yet, I still have to find affordable promoters who read your book first and then decide if it’s worth promoting, rather than just casting a wide net. Readers are downloading millions of eBooks a week; their great-grandkids will be dead by the time an alien cat accidentally opens your eBook on some planet in the Kepler system. “Oh shit! There’s the ultimate answer. These damn humans aren’t supposed to be petting me on my planet!”

Unless your social media isn’t hacked, and you have excellent content, then you’re likely to succeed in exposing your book without heavy expenses, as they’ll even do press releases for you through re-posts and shares on their phones or social accounts. That is, if you’re not hacked or shadow banned. I don’t know; films were my original plan, which is why I wrote books. Luckily, self-publishing offers that option, though I still need to test the waters and review whether it’s legitimate, since I’ve learned that many authors thought film was the reason they wrote books in the first place, thanks to the King of traditional publishing.

Here’s a list of legitimate and organic book press release websites:

1. PRWeb

  • Website: https://www.prweb.com
  • Summary: PRWeb is one of the most established press release distribution services, offering extensive reach to media outlets, journalists, and bloggers. It’s widely used for both large and small businesses, including book authors. PRWeb is known for its professional distribution to a broad range of websites and search engines, helping your press release gain visibility.

2. Business Wire

  • Website: https://www.businesswire.com
  • Summary: Business Wire is a global leader in press release distribution. It offers services specifically designed for books, allowing authors to share announcements like book launches or upcoming events. It is highly trusted and delivers press releases to news organizations, journalists, and online channels worldwide.

3. eReleases

  • Website: https://www.ereleases.com
  • Summary: eReleases focuses on providing cost-effective press release distribution services, especially for small businesses and authors. They offer personalized service and guarantee that press releases will be sent to top-tier journalists and media outlets. They also have a special focus on book press releases, helping authors promote their work.

4. PR Newswire

  • Website: https://www.prnewswire.com
  • Summary: PR Newswire is one of the most prominent press release services, widely recognized for its global reach. It offers specialized options for book authors to promote their books across various platforms, including social media, news sites, and industry publications. PR Newswire is ideal for larger press releases but also caters to independent authors looking to expand their reach.

5. Newswire

  • Website: https://www.newswire.com
  • Summary: Newswire offers affordable press release distribution services, specifically targeting small businesses, authors, and entrepreneurs. They provide a targeted distribution network that can include niche publications, making it ideal for authors aiming for a specific audience. Newswire is a great platform for authors who need press release help without a massive budget.

6. Presswire

  • Website: https://www.presswire.com
  • Summary: Presswire is a press release distribution service that helps authors reach both regional and international media. Known for its simplicity, Presswire offers authors a chance to distribute their press releases efficiently. They have a good reputation for targeting niche audiences, including those interested in books, literature, and publishing.

7. 24-7 Press Release

  • Website: https://www.24-7pressrelease.com
  • Summary: 24-7 Press Release is a cost-effective solution for authors to distribute their press releases to media contacts across a variety of industries. They offer multiple plans with different levels of exposure, helping authors to promote book launches, events, or awards. They are known for their targeted outreach and user-friendly interface.

8. Book Launchers

  • Website: https://www.booklaunchers.com
  • Summary: Book Launchers is a book marketing agency that not only helps authors publish their books but also provides services like press release creation and distribution. They focus on helping authors build organic reach through strategic press releases, content marketing, and media outreach tailored to the book industry.

9. SBWire

  • Website: http://www.sbwire.com
  • Summary: SBWire offers press release distribution to businesses and authors at an affordable price. They provide targeted distribution to both local and national media outlets, including news sites and blogs. SBWire is particularly suited for authors looking to establish their presence in specific niches or local communities.

10. Cision

  • Website: https://www.cision.com
  • Summary: Cision is a leading public relations and media intelligence company, offering a comprehensive suite of press release distribution and media monitoring tools. Authors can use Cision to send press releases to a vast network of journalists, bloggers, and media outlets. It’s best for authors looking for high-level exposure across global media outlets.

11. Targeted News Service

  • Website: https://www.targetednews.com
  • Summary: Targeted News Service offers press release distribution focused on niche markets and industries, which includes book-related press releases. They help authors target specific audiences and media outlets, improving the chances of reaching readers who are most likely to be interested in the book.

12. GlobeNewswire

  • Website: https://www.globenewswire.com
  • Summary: GlobeNewswire is a premier press release distribution service offering global reach. They focus on corporate, financial, and entertainment news but are also effective for authors who want to gain attention for their books across a broad range of industries. Their distribution network includes top-tier publications and outlets.


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