I once met a publisher who showed interest in publishing my first book, Our Home in Myanmar. However she suggested that I alternate chapters, with every second chapter written by me and the other ones written by my then-husband. She showed me another book about a travelling couple who used this format and said it had been successful.
Even though it went against my gut feeling and seemed kind of gimmicky, I agreed to do it.
In retrospect, I am very thankful that my book was rejected at the next acquisitions meeting, because it allowed me to write it in my own voice and self-publish it.
This is why it is important to me that we defer to authors’ judgements about their own books. An authors’ voice should not be diluted, or their characters messed with.
What makes a ‘good’ book is highly subjective. You never know what will be a bestseller (it put the ‘Random’ into Random House, as the CEO stated). So why not let the author stay completely true to their creative vision?
I feel that this approach produces books that are more original and interesting.
We have a team of highly skilled in-house editors and amazing cover designers and typesetters to provide suggestions and guidance, but at Hembury Books we operate on the basis that the author knows best.
As a headstrong author and now a hybrid publisher, this mantra hasn’t let me down so far.

If you’d like us to help execute your creative vision for your book, please get in touch – jess@hemburybooks.com