I've read all of the posts - quite a variety of response. I had a goal to write a book, and I'm happy that I did.
I never had a goal to sell it. However, once it was finished, I decided to look into the publishing aspect. I did a great deal of homework, looking into 'traditional' publishing vs POD vs do it yourself (DIY) on the internet. I didn't like the idea of signing away rights thru a traditional publisher, and didn't have the time for DIY - so POD seemed interesting. Vanity? I guess so. It's my work, period. It won't appeal to everyone, no book does - regardless of who prints or touts it. I sent excerpts to people I know nation-wide - who I trust to tell me my work sucks. Their responses were sufficiently positive enough for me to put their actual replies in my book's front matter for all to see.
The POD publisher I chose had been 'secret shopped' by a nationally known magazine, and was selected as the best among five tested. After review (including the Better Business Bureau), I went with them. I did all my own cover design work, and used my own editor. The POD publisher was fast in their responses and I'm happy with the big-brand name outlets they use. I'm also happy about the fact I can pursue marketing of my book on my own without penalty, in addition to the contract I have with my POD who markets thru their own distributors. I note a hint of disparagement in one of two of the posts above. At the moment, I don't know a single traditional publisher that would allow an Author to pursue marketing outside of their contract.
I will admit I'm not happy about the per-book pricing. I wouldn't pay that much for my own work - but was not consulted on how much they intended to charge. I wasn't happy with how they 'sized' the book either. I suspect they oversized it to get a bigger bookshelf foot print for grabbing attention as well as cutting down on the number of pages. For the record, I selected the smallest commission program they have in order for sellers to discount the book as deeply as possible.
They did offer me pretty deep discounts as the Author, sufficient enough to make the per-book cost the same as if I had printed them thru a commercial printer - but that was a special deal. I have an old school buddy who owns his own printing company, and will use him in furture if I need quantity printing.
Within weeks of completing the above, I was mobilized. I'm writing you from Baghdad, Iraq at the moment. I can't very well attend signings or do the kind of traveling needed in praise of my work. That's what got me to shopping for a publicist, and I suggest that due to my particular cicumstances, I'll need one who can handle a somewhat unique situation. I'm restricted to phone and/or written interviews for the time being, but I'm handing out free copies of my book to anyone here who would like to have one - word of mouth costs nothing and is pretty good advertising.
There's actually been a number of people who have asked that I consider a sequel. In shopping for Publicists I found this forum. Writing for me isn't a "business" - I have no need of income derived from those efforts. My story won't challenge Hemmingway or Clancy - it wasn't intended to. If you make your living thru the written word and have enjoyed some success with that, then I'm happy for you. You should be open in sharing your success methods with others, without charge.
For others, there's the high-dollar, high pressure traditional way of going, buying expensive endorsements from national shills, paying big bucks for one-line ads in national media...allowing traditional publishers to edit and distort your work in the hopes of being placed on a dubious "Best Seller" list. I recently picked up all ten of one publisher's Best Seller paperbacks on a display, and found no interest in any one of them. They were glitzy, slick, highly touted by so-called big names (who were paid for their endorsements - who I had never heard of - and wondered if they had actually read the book), and would not have purchased if you offered to buy it for me. All of them followed an identical pattern, used well-worn themes and excessively violent content. Apparently I'm supposed to buy one based on nothing more than their recommendation, regardless of what was inside. No thanks.
I'm happy that I had a goal to write a book and did it. Maybe I'll write a sequel. The two books I've sold have made my son and my mother very happy!
Take a look: http://knight6.blogspot.com