"It's exciting!" Michele Barszcz can hardly contain her excitement. "I have always loved reading, and now I'm actually publishing books that I like. It's a lot of hard work, but I love it." So says the founder of the latest small publishing house to hit the markets, with unbound enthusiasm.
Once upon a time, such a fairy tale would have been impossible, as giant publishing conglomerates fortified their castles with alligator-filled moats and high walls that were virtually impenetrable. Back then, if Michele had been really lucky, she might have gotten a job plowing through "slush piles" of unsolicited submissions for a few years to prove herself worthy of a higher position, but she would most likely have remained a cog in the publishing house bureaucracy forever. With the rise of computers, advancements in printing, and numerous companies offering direct marketing services, however, small entrepreneurs like Michele can turn their publishing dreams into reality.
It was just as difficult for authors, if not worse, in the old days. After possibly spending an eternity writing, editing, proofreading and polishing a cherished masterpiece, authors often languished for years trying to claw their way through the fortress barriers, often spending months to find an agent and even longer to convince a mega-house to begrudgingly deign to read their manuscript. Since first-time submissions from unknown authors are rarely accepted on the first try, the cycle of submission-rejection-submission tends to repeat itself over and over.
Acclaimed author
John Grisham was one of those rejected repeatedly. Before Harry Potter became a worldwide sensation and a series of blockbuster movies, more than a dozen publishers rejected the book and its unknown author. At the time, they all said, "J.K. Rowling? Who is that?" Now those publishers all know who she is, but only long after passing on the chance to cash in by publishing her works.
The marriage of technology and creativity has proven to be a heavenly union for small publishers and authors alike. Many authors have made fortunes self-publishing after others rejected their work, but some things remain constant. A book still must be good to sell, no matter who publishes it. And a golden opportunity doesn't guarantee a golden outcome. The old moat and drawbridge were there for a reason. Without them, there is nothing to keep the barbarian hoards from storming the castle, and the market is now filled with substandard, poorly written garbage published out of some yokel's basement, making it harder for a true masterpiece to rise above the refuse.
Michele sees it this way, "Even with all the technology, it's still critical to find the right books to publish. Books that people will want to buy." So what can readers expect from Munched Kitty? If the house's first two books are any indication, quite a variety. The first book scheduled for publication is "Judging Professional MMA," by Mixed Martial Arts judge, Glenn Trowbridge. The following act is a comedy horror love story by veteran Joseph Tatner called, "Floyd and Mikki: Zombie Hunters." Glenn has never written a book before, while Joseph has made his living as a writer for more than 20 years. Michele sees a solid market for both books, and that is what drives her decisions on what to publish.
Despite the obvious goal of making money, Michele isn't greedy about it. In fact, she is on a mission to keep books affordable. "$19.95 for a paperback is ridiculous, not matter how good it is," she opines. "With the cost of everything going up, people want to escape their troubles in a good book. My goal is to keep it affordable for them. If we can sell books at a lower price, we will make about the same money, but we'll reach more people and build brand loyalty. You can't put a price on that."
Just who is the Munched Kitty in the logo? Munch is a happy survivor. She was abandoned and then rescued off the streets of Las Vegas. Her mangled left ear and missing half of a right fang weren't the only things munched when she showed up. The frail feline had a large patch of skin missing from the back of her neck. Fortunately, tender loving care by her adopted family brought her back to full health. "I couldn't think of a catchy publishing name that wasn't taken. Then I decided to name the company after Munch. After all, she's living proof that you can succeed against all odds."
No doubt Michele will succeed as well, one way or the other. Munched Kitty Publications (mkpubs.com) is a little publishing house with big ambitions and grand hopes.
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