Those of you who’ve followed this blog or A.C. Greenlee for long know that I’ve been published since 2012. I self-published my first novel, Guardian of the Hellmouth, and was almost immediately picked up by a brand new indie publisher that was just getting its start in the industry. They took care of me–we took care of each other, growing together and learning the ins and outs of this business side by side. And I haven’t looked back since. Words can’t express how truly grateful I am to Lillium Publishing House nor can I express how proud I am to be amongst the ranks of some of the most beautiful, talented people on the planet.
Which is why I want you to submit.
I want every author to experience the love and satisfaction I’ve received from this brilliant company at least once in their lives. I’ve been completely taken care of for nearly five years now and I haven’t had a single regret. That isn’t to say that life didn’t have it’s difficult points in regards to my writing career, but Lillium, it’s editors, my fellow authors and even the owner herself were always right there to smooth things over whenever I needed them.
That’s just one of the many things I adore about these people; we’re a family first and foremost. There was never a time where I felt like a fool for inboxing or emailing someone to ask a question I thought was completely stupid. Because they made me feel like no question was too out there and that my career as an author, as a professional writer, was just as important as anything else.
I could go on and on, completely raving about my publisher, but for the sake of time and space, I’ve narrowed down the top three reasons I believe you should consider submitting to this company, or at the very least one like it.
1: The Publishing Industry is Ruthless
Whether you’ve been in and out of the publishing industry for twenty-years or you’re just getting started, you’ve no doubt heard how cutthroat this world can be. From authors sabotaging each other to reviewers and buyers blackmailing us; it’s extremely pertinent to find yourself a group of people who you can depend on if things ever turn down that dark path. Lillium Publishing is a small, indie publisher with no more than four employees, not including the authors themselves, that I’ve watched time and time again go to absolute war for us.
While they may be small, their presence is large and dominating. Our resident editor and creative director Anna Richards is a paralegal with over fifteen years in the legal business. When I found my novel Bad Grades on pirate sites this past month, she stepped right in and issued a perfectly worded letter on my behalf that had it pulled from the pirates sites within the hour.
With their social reach and reputation, Lillium has assisted many authors, myself included, in building social media profiles and keeping them active in order to further brand recognition and really get our names out there. Now I boast a thriving Facebook author page with over 3500 members, something I never would have been able to accomplish on my own.
2: Getting Your Voice Heard is Difficult
The world of writing is rife with competition, especially now that we’re firmly rooted in the era of self-publishing and DIY. Anyone can become a “published, best-selling author” practically at the push of a button. But building actual fanbases, communities and networking with other authors and people of influence is extremely difficult. It’s one thing to publish a book on Amazon or Kobo, but marketing and getting that book into the hands of readers is another beast entirely.
When I started writing, I had the mentality of “If I write it, they will come”. And boy, was I wrong. Some did come, mostly family friends, classmates and the occasional reader who stumbled upon my work. When I joined Lillium they showed me everything I was doing wrong and how to turn my non-existent marketing plan into one of action. They taught me about SEO, meta tags, book descriptions that sell, email marketing, pay per click advertising and a million other little things that made me the marketing fanatic I am today.
Lillium not only teaches you how, when and where to market your work, they assist you in setting up social media accounts, working out posting schedules and even automatic the entire process. You’re truly never alone when it comes to this company and you’ll NEVER feel like you’re stranded in open waters. They’re your safety net.
3: Lillium Publishing is Run by Real People
From the CEO, Marion Bradley, to the Creative Director/Lead Editor superwoman Anna Richards, Lillium Publishing isn’t a book mill. They don’t suck up your time and money just to leave you unsatisfied with your results. They’re real people with jobs, families and lives just like you and me. They just happen to share our love for the written word and have a special place in their hearts for independant authors.
When you join Lillium you’re joining a group of talented individuals who actually care about you, not just your writing endeavors. You’ll get friendly emails and direct messages. They remember and celebrate birthdays and book birthdays. When my beloved cat of twenty years, GiGi, passed away, they mourned my loss alongside me. You don’t meet very many people in life who are that caring. I have flesh and blood family members who didn’t care at all and told me to get over it, but both the company and my fellow authors held my hand through the entire ordeal. Lillium Publishing is a family that I am so extremely lucky and happy to be a part of.
So, if you’re on the market for an indie publishing company with any of the traits that I mentioned in this post, I challenge you to give Lillium Publishing House a chance. Even if you don’t go through with joining us, hit them up on Facebook or Twitter sometime just for a chat. I guarantee your understanding of how publishers are supposed to work will be changed.
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Fiction for the Masses 