Here is what I have decided based upon some very
valuable input. Thanks to all.
I will do the self pub route to start. I have a non-exclusive contract and Diggory is fairly unknown around here. I will send press releases to all the major media starting with the biggies and will offer a review copy to any that wishes to have one - Diggory said they'd pack and ship them for me and that if it takes off - a lot of review requests from the heavies - they would kick in and send them at their expense. For now they will charge me 3.31 for each one and they would take care of shipping.
I will also submit my ms to the Oklahoma University Press and some of the other university presses. I will submit to the bigger publishers too.
If I can show several thousand sales in my local market - Oklahoma City - which is vast in a short time perhaps a publisher will jump all over it. By the way, Meadows Press is the parent company of Diggory and they will consider my work also when I send it in - who knows?
I think that the critical time factor will be realized and understood by a few publishers - once I prove myself here locally. Dont forget about the single mom in Atlanta that self pubbed and got picked up with a $250,000 advance for the self pubbed book plus two followups. I have listed "Coming Soon" projects I am working on in my book. I am also developing a curriculum package to include teacher's guides, student study guides, and test question banks for a followup to my book as well as two followups and two reference works on the history of science and the history of biology.
Elwyn - I greatly appreciate your interest.
Logos - they show a jump from 200 to 1000 with nothing in between.
James - I spent about 20 hours total on Amazon over 3 days doing just as you suggested and here are the main points on which my work differs:
1) Most of these works, I'd estimate over 90%, are extremely technical in nature (like A Biochemical Challenge to Evolution) and geared to a peer or expert audience. My work is simplistic for the masses - I had several people with non-science backgrounds including a 10th grader and high school senior - review my work and fill out questionaires as well as spend a few hours with each to gather exactly what they needed for a complete understanding of my concepts. I reworked and ended up with experts in the field. I also did the same with peers and science oriented people to confirm accuracy. My goal was not to confuse the layperson and not be boring to the experts. One of my main contentions is that all the debate is based upon sensationalized translations of the experts' technical language - which is exactly what the vast amount of this genra consists of. My purpose is to incite a universal understanding among the masses.
2) Again, the vast majority of these technically written books is an argument for one side or the other - I combine them in a way that is acceptable to both sides to put the debate to bed.
3) The far ends of each side is addressed specifically to bring all into agreement. And my greatest challenge: to satisfy scientists, Christians, and the separation of Church and State advocates. I believe I have done just that in a work anyone can read and understand - a unique approach.
I asked the scientists if they felt my theories were sound - I did get a lot of 'why didnt I think of that'. But the key here is that I had none that could refute any of the theories scientifically.
I then asked devout Christians if they felt all that I theorized was supported by the Bible. They conceded the point and only a few challenged a few points but when I asked them to Biblically defend their dissent all conceded that they could not based solely upon scripture without including translations of them.
I then consulted with atheists on the neutrality of the wording of my theories. Specifically could they find any issues of separation of Church and State and would they object to their children being taught my concepts within public schools. I also recieved no dissent.
I am not on an ego trip. I am a Christian and a scientist who has struggled with these issues for a long time and spent years researching them. No I am not a scientologist - just a born again Christian who is also a scientist - Biologist to be more specific. My other areas of study are chemistry, physics, psychology, history, and adult education - that is the master's degree I am working on currently. I simply have found new theories just like Darwin, Einstein, and many others throughout history. Society is ready NOW for this.
Dave -
www.diggory.com is the link for them - check them out and I will give full progress reports as I move through their system to aid any others. According to my research and that of Logos this outfit is lower cost overall when compared to Lulu if you wish to sell your works. the authors price is lower and the retail price - I choose my own - can be comparable with other big house publishers - in my case even lower. They are owned by Meadow Press and also look at all Diggory submissions for possible offers from their traditional publisher.
***** I do need some help with one question: I can get a 6x9 for the same fees, costs per copy, etc. as a 5.5x8.5. Any detriment to going with 6x9 as far as the distributers and sellers are concerned. I come up with a four page shorter count at 6x9 which will lower my cost per copy by .06 and the same for the fulfillment price .06 per copy savings. I think a slightly bigger book, lower cost per unit, higer profit, etc. The only downside I can think of is if the distributers and sellers have any issues - does anyone know?
Thank You all so much,
Epicman