Author Andrew K. Stone

Rides the Publishing Fence

By Susie Davidson

CORRESPONDENT

Andrew K. Stone is happily in the middle. A modern writer, he’s part of the go-it-alone struggle, yet the Cambridge-based author has gotten his two novels on chain store shelves, toured the country and received mass distribution and sales. He runs sponsorship spots on NPR in Boston and Rhode Island, and is taking off this week for four dates in Rhode Island, Western Mass. and New York. “Basically,” he explained, “I’m an artist with some business sense.”

"I worked at Bantam Double Dell in New York,” he recalled, “which gave me an inside glimpse of the publishing world. It also afforded me the opportunity to get the ears of many editors and agents.” After receiving personal responses from them which praised his skills, yet lamented that literary fiction was too difficult to sell, he decided to go it alone.

Stone formed his independent publishing company, So There Books, and handled marketing promotions, tours and media appearances. Despite not being traditionally published, his resultant sales are strong, his media exposure high and his readership large and growing.

“I’m different from other self-publishers in that my books have major distribution and are readily available on bookshelves across the country,” he said. Stone continually tours and has appeared on national and regional TV and radio talk shows including WBUR’s Here and Now, National NPR’s Eye On Books, New England Cable News, Sunday Rounds, and National NPR’s Jersey's Talking.

Stone offers the first chapters of his books, All Flowers Die and Disappearing Into View, on his Web site, http://www.sotherebooks.com/

All Flowers Die, a coming-of-age-story authentically set in Boston's mid-80s rock music scene, has been favorably reviewed by national newspapers including the Anchorage Daily News and the Mobile Register. Disappearing Into View’s main character makes a conscious decision to live homeless on the streets of Boston following his father’s conviction for murder. Ultimately, “Birdy,” who resides among the pigeons, realizes that one never can completely remove oneself from multilevel society. The book also received positive major media mention, and the two novels have sold in the thousands.

"The inherent problem,” he said, “is that large publishers constantly look at the bottom line. It's a business, and I understand that. However, if publishers only promote their heavy-hitters, the newer authors don't get a fair chance.” He deems it a disservice to both writers and readers. “Many people want more choices, and aren't fully aware of what else is out there."

Stone has witnessed the travails of many traditionally-published friends who have had their books midlisted and then taken out of print because of lackluster sales.

"Self-publishing is almost a dirty word,” he noted. “The reality is that a lot of horrible stuff comes out of major presses while a lot of great stuff is independently published. And the reverse is true, of course. But many media outlets don't even want to touch a self-published novel, which is strange when one considers how favorably other independent mediums, such as music and film, are looked upon.”

OK, but what if a major league deal came along? "I would absolutely consider it,” he said, “but very carefully.” Having seen the business from all angles, he hesitates about approaching the corporate publishing world. Why? “Frankly, I never thought I would do this well on my own.

“After working so hard for so many years, I want to have some control over my career. After all, I'm not going to put myself out of print."