I’ve been thinking a lot about the Direct Market, crowdfunding, and publisher relations. I’ve had books solicited in the front of the Diamond catalog and in the back. I’ve had relationships with publishers where everyone I signed on to work with was edged out of the company.
I haven’t landed many work-for-hire gigs, and the ones I’ve gotten have been under bad circumstances (my dad having a stroke and dying during my first gig for a publisher, low rates, or an editor on his first book and a 4-week deadline).
But I’ve built a loyal audience for my niche and have been lucky/fortunate/blessed to see that support demonstrated in my crowdfunded books.