Bete: Why did you decide to use 1stBooks Library versus a more traditional publisher?

Richwine: Tucked in my box of treasures is a letter from Erma Bombeck who had kindly responded to my request for words of wisdom about getting my book published. Her final tip: Pray a lot.

As a trained journalist, I had held out for traditional publishing. After several years of praying while I strived to catch serious interest of literary agents, I could see prospects were dismal for an unknown writer. Along came the 2002 Bombeck Workshop where I learned alternative publishing had gained some credibility in recent years. Choosing to view that revelation in the UD environment as another tip from Erma coming through, I decided to take the plunge or put the manuscript in a drawer to gather dust.

Bete: Did you compare 1stBooks Library to other similar services? If so, what made you pick 1stBooks?

Richwine: Timing was everything. 1stBooks is very aggressive with initial mailings once they get your name probably from the copyright process, in my case. I didn't compare similar services as much as I attempted to seek out the1stBooks reputation. A clincher was seeing a successful1stBooks author interviewed on the CBS morning television program. It was simply the time for me to bite the bullet, and 1stBooks was there.

Bete: What was the cost to you and what did you receive for it?

Richwine: 1stBooks offers a number of services from which to select. Fortunately I was in the position to spend some money. My first outlay was slightly more than $1,000 that included initial setup, paperback and hard book distribution, a standard promotion option and a Library of Congress catalog number. Later I invested an additional $500 for an expanded promotion package, marketing kits and a Newswire Service.

Bete: What would you say are the pros and cons of using such a service?

Richwine: The primary pro for me is retaining the rights to the manuscript, leaving it open to sell the same work elsewhere any time and in any format. I was also attracted by the automatically included electronic distribution and by the extensive promotional plans to help jumpstart my efforts in this area.

Another pro is the time saved in the publication process. The printed and bound book can usually be available for worldwide distribution within four months compared to at least a year for traditional publishing. Text is printed exactly as the author submits and approves on galley proofs. 1stBooks has control of the cover, but willingly accepted and used my suggestions. I really liked the cover.

Heading a short cons list are a few limitations of the digital printing technology used.

Not everything I submitted could be accommodated such as special line spacing.

This disappointment was coupled by some frustration with the production process. Authors are assigned a representative for each stage of the 1stBooks experience. This works well unless the coordinator is not properly trained to answer inquiries and to respond in a timely fashion. Steering anxious authors through the production phase has to be a tough job. I understand that department at 1stBooks was reorganized and improved recently.

Bete: Are you happy with the service you received?

Richwine: Overall, the answer is yes, though other similar services may be less expensive. I'm especially pleased that the book is available electronically, that 1stBooks' distributor network extends to more than 25,000 bookstores plus leading online book sellers, that the book is archived on a Newswire database available to more than 600 media outlets and commercial online sites and that I can check books sold on the 1stBooks website at any time.

Bete: What have you done to promote your book? How is it selling?

Richwine: Despite the array of promotional options, there's still work to be done by the author and it is ongoing work! I appreciate my public relations background. I have personally distributed dozens of bookmarks, business cards and postcards (all featuring the book's cover) produced as marketing tools by 1stBooks. I'm aware that this has produced sales. As the result of a news release professionally prepared by 1stBooks and sent out to more than 500 media outlets in five cities of my choice and my contacts to local media, about 10 reporters and editors have expressed interest in doing a story so far.

Dayton's Books&Co. sold a small supply on the shelves rather quickly and bought 12 more. Since promotion activities just started in early September, I missed a possibility for a book signing event at bookstores this fall. Schedules are filled until after the holidays.

As of late September, 1stBooks has shipped out 14 books ordered on its website. I have yet to receive my first quarterly report indicating sales through all bookstores and other online retailers. I can say this each book sale is awesome!

Bete: Do you have any advice for humor writers who might be considering 1stBooks Library or a similar service?

Richwine: 1. Before signing on to a service, ask for some of their book titles at bookstores so you can view a finished product completely and perhaps contact authors for a talk.

2. Become familiar with POD (print on demand) process so that you may inform others. Not all bookstore employees are yet knowledgeable about this method.

3. Recognize that some book buyers are reluctant to order a supply of books from on demand publishers since they can't return them. 1stBooks uses a very well known distributor Ingram and that is an advantage to the author.

4. Think carefully about each option offered. For example, in retrospect, I wouldn't have ordered the hard cover version for my book. 1stBooks constantly sends out special deals.You can easily pace some purchases for a later time after you see how book sales progress.

5. Above all -- never lose belief in your book!