Booklover Carols have become a tradition here. Okay, stop groaning. You knew this was coming. Every year I create a new carol or two about the publishing world. This year is no exception.

You’ll find links to my previous years’ tongue-in-cheek carols at the bottom. How drastically publishing has changed since I began this tradition. There are carols for independent bookstores that are no longer with us, one for Borders, one tongue-in-cheek look at social media. I had fun reading them, and I hope you do, too.

This year the ” talk of the publishing world,” of course, is the rise in ebooks and successfully self-published authors. These days many formerly traditionally published authors are now publishing their own books with great results. Many others have a foot in both camps. Some, like me, are beginning to put up their backlist (at least the books they have rights to) on line for new readers to enjoy.

So enjoy It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year from the perspective of a traditionally published author AND a self-published author. In this instance, of course, The Most Wonderful Time,  is that moment a contract is signed or a book becomes a reality.

With my best holiday wishes.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (sung to the tune made famous by Andy Williams.)

(from the traditionally published author)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With editors joyous
And publishers boisterously shouting good cheer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year 

It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With contracts to savor, each line, clause and waiver
Your agent’s best call
It’s the hap-happiest season of all 

There’ll be books for promoting
Reviews well worth noting
And publisher’s parties so bright
There’ll be covers to sigh for
A few you might cry o’er
Revisions so thoughtful, so right

(and from the self-pubbed author) 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year
No editors rephrasing
Or publishers praising a contract to fear
It’s the most wonderful time of the year 

It’s the hap-happiest season of all
Your books are your own now, to create and to hone now,
Completely your call
It’s the hap-happiest season of all. 

There’ll be ideas worth trying
Without fear of prying
Better royalties, old books and new
Here’s a cover selected
That no one rejected
A book that is yours through and through 

(Everybody sing now!)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Whether paper or ebook
The story’s now your book, achievement so clear!
It’s the most wonderful time,
It’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

*****

You haven’t had enough punishment? Here are the links to previous Booklover Carols.

Booklover Carols Part One

Booklover Carols Part Two

Booklover Carols Part Three

Booklover Carols Part Four

Booklover Carols Part Five