A Memoir of Freedom: Anne Marie Kenny’s Author Story
From Central Europe to global success: Learn how author Anne Marie Kenny bypassed traditional publishing delays to self-publish her memoir, A Song for Bohemia, and inspire readers worldwide.
A Memoir of Freedom: Anne Marie Kenny’s Author Story
After living in both Western and Central Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and witnessing firsthand the extraordinary revolutions for freedom, singer-turned-entrepreneur Anne Marie Kenny has quite the story to share. A Song for Bohemia is her personal account of the electrifying years leading up to the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the life-altering revolutions that followed, and the unexpected ways art can influence political change.
Reflecting on that era, Anne Marie explains, “I was living in France during the 1980s, leading up to this historic time, and then in Prague all during the 1990s. It was a turning point for the world, but so many people have forgotten or never known about this history… A Song for Bohemia is a love song and a tribute to the spirit of the Czech people, a story of a personal and collective journey to freedom. With the voice of an impassioned artist, this memoir does not merely speak; it sings.”
After five years of researching and writing, Anne Marie was ready to share her experiences with the world, but the road to publication proved to be a battle of its own.
Navigating the European and American Publishing Markets
Anne Marie’s book first found a home with a traditional publisher in the Czech Republic. They translated her English text into Czech and made the book available throughout the Czech Republic. This publisher still has exclusive publishing rights for the Czech-language version.
After her success with the Czech-language version, she decided it was equally important to ensure the English-language version found its way into the hands and hearts of those beyond the Czech Republic. This is where her publishing journey grew rocky.
Why This Historical Author Shifted from Traditional to Self-Publishing
Two U.S. publishers expressed interest in distributing the English version worldwide, but their proposed timeline was disappointing: They estimated it would take a minimum of 1-2 years before they would start the process.
Deciding that was far too long, Anne Marie determined to self-publish instead, and the results have been wonderful. She set out with the goal to share her life experiences, conduct speaking engagements, and sell her books worldwide. On top of achieving all that, she’s found the process to be even more rewarding than she imagined:
“The biggest rewards have been to spark conversations and dialogue about several themes in my memoir, primarily on ‘freedom, democracy, and human rights.’ I’ve been honored to be the keynote speaker at places such as the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, MO, and the Václav Havel Library in Prague, Czech Republic, among many other venues. It’s awesome what a book can do to open doors and make a difference in our seemingly divided world; there actually can be respectful dialogue.”
Polishing the Manuscript: Choosing a Professional Book Design Team
As Anne Marie notes, “No matter how well-written or interesting an author’s story is, the book itself has to look good and be laid out beautifully.” She couldn’t be more right. While great writing is absolutely important, most readers won’t give a book a second glance unless it looks the part inside and out. That’s where 1106 Design can help:
“I would NEVER have done this without the help of a professional company like 1106 Design to guide me, move the process forward quickly, and help create a beautiful product. They patiently walked me through the various steps to publishing, including getting the ISBNs. 1106 Design spared me the complicated work of formatting to the [printers’] specifications and uploading all the versions needed, after their top-notch proofreader went through it with a fine-tooth comb.”
Launching Worldwide with Print-on-Demand
In deciding on a printer, Anne Marie chose print-on-demand, as it was more flexible and economical than offset printing. A Song for Bohemia is now available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other stores as a hardcover, softcover, and eBook. She also sells and promotes the book at author events. Additionally, she successfully markets through social media, speaking engagements, and word-of-mouth.
Offering a variety of formats allows her to reach a wider audience, and she’s found that books aren’t as “dead” as some would think:
“Many people I know like to read books on their tablets. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised to learn how many people want to put their screens away, hold a book in their hands, and read leisurely by natural light or [a] soft lamp. And further, I hadn’t realized till I wrote this book, and have spoken at many book clubs and organizations, how many people LOVE TO READ! We hear stories about how no one reads books anymore—not true!”
Your Independent Publishing Journey Doesn’t Have to Be Solo
Self-publishing doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone—nor should you. When done right, there are many steps to prepare a book for publishing, and with the right team behind you, you can soar through the finish line with flying colors.
“If you really want a book that looks top-quality, that can stand proud next to a best-selling book from a traditional publisher—don’t try to do it all yourself,” Anne Marie advises. “You do the writing! Then hire 1106 Design to do all the work setting everything up and, as they say, ‘turning your manuscript into a masterpiece.’”
A Song for Bohemia
Author: Anne Marie Kenny
Genre: Nonfiction, Historical Memoir
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Song-Bohemia-Anne-Marie-Kenny/dp/B0DQVRG4J1/ref=sr_1_1
Author website URL: www.annemariekenny.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573687171727
Ready to move forward on your own publishing journey but not sure how? Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you Publish Like the Pros™.
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My thanks to 1106 Design for featuring my book in their blog, and telling my publishing journey story. 1106 made all the difference.