Case Study: Gary Babb

Gary Babb Turned to AuthorHouse to Keep His Book on the Market

Many self-published authors start out on the traditional path to finding an agent and a publisher, and only after exposure to the publishing industry do they choose to take control into their own hands and publish the book themselves. Gary Babb, author of Earth is Ours and Target Earth, is no exception.

In 2005, when he had a finished manuscript for Earth is Ours, Babb begin working to get his book into print. “I always wanted to get my work published,” says Babb. “And like everything I do, I don’t give up on anything once I start.” After several rejection letters, one agent Babb was working with suggested he needed additional editing on the book. The editor working on the manuscript loved the story, and set Babb up with a small publisher who was interested in the book.

“It turned out to be a disaster,” says Babb. “They weren’t in any hurry on the project, and when the book did hit the market, the company went out of business and left me high and dry.” Determined to keep his book on the market, Babb attended the San Diego Writers’ Convention to look for other agents and publishers for his project. Babb met with representatives from AuthorHouse at the convention, and began considering the option of publishing the book himself. Time was of the essence because Babb wanted to keep his book on the market and needed more inventory before stores began to sell out.

After the experience with his previous publisher, Babb wanted to be in control of his project. “I didn’t want to rush into another deal that wasn’t right for me. With AuthorHouse I have absolute control of what I want and what I don’t want in my book, and I didn’t have to sign away the rights to my work,” says Babb. Once he choose to publish Earth is Ours with AuthorHouse, Babb entered the FastForeword program and had new books in hand within three weeks. “I didn’t want to wait another two years to get my project out. My book stayed on the market because we got it out so quick,” says Babb. “After I wrote my second book, Target Earth, I didn’t even consider another publisher.”

After working with AuthorHouse for a year, Babb has two books on the market, and has now settled down to promote his work. “There are a lot of books out there, and a lot of competition. The acceptance of my book by readers has just been excellent,” says Babb. “I don’t have to convince people that the book is a great read, I just have to let them know it’s out there and let them decide. If no one knows about it, no one can buy it.”

Babb has traveled around the country to attend Sci-Fi conferences and speak with fans on a personal level. “When you meet people who are fans of your book, who really enjoy your work, it makes it all worth it. It’s an awesome feeling.” Babb has also been featured in the Authors Across America campaign (www.authorsacrossamerica.com), a national effort to help writers become published authors and support literary arts programs.

Babb’s work has more fans than those he meets at conferences. Earth is Ours was named the best Fantasy/Sci-Fi book by San Diego Books Awards in 2006, and was recently announced as a finalist in the ForeWord Book of the Year contest. The winners will be announced in June at the Book Expo America in New York City. Babb has come a long way from the time he started writing his first book on a dare. While Babb was talking with an English teacher, she asked him about the book he had always wanted to write, and dared him to write a chapter and send it to her. After she encouraged him to write more, his son also found a chapter, enjoyed reading it, and asked him to write more. Without this encouragement, Gary Babb the business writer may never have become Gary Babb the award winning Sci-fi author.

Looking back on his experience in writing and publishing, Babb encourages all writers to do what they love. “Don’t be discouraged. If you like to write, write. Don’t worry about the criticism you get.” For Babb, writing is an extremely enjoyable art. “My characters have a life of their own. The more I write about them, the more alive they become. Over time, I know them. I know how they think, and I know what they would do. I never plan ahead, but write for the moment. When I’m reaching the climax in my book, I rush home to see what is going on and how the story will end.” Babb’s fans also can’t wait to see how his story will end, and hope that he will continue to write for years to come. If he does, AuthorHouse will be there to work with him to put his voice in print.

For more information, please visit http://www.garywbabb.com/.