As a published author I know what it's like to have my work in print. Unquestionably having a publisher is prestigious but you can lose some control over the final result. For instance I was allowed to make suggestions as to the covers of my books and the blurb on the back pages but didn't have the final say. Also I was limited to the type and amount of photographs I could use, and the font, paper, lay out and price were all determined for me.

In return for taking away the risk and responsibility of having my books printed, I receive a small royalty payment based on the retail price of every book sold. In essence it is a good system but can take months from the time you actually submit your manuscript, have it accepted and finally get it in print. Also, unless you are in the same league as Jackie Collins, Stephen King, or J K Rowling, the financial return is not brilliant, and you have to wait for the twice annual statements to arrive to see how many books you've actually sold.

Although publishers do promote books they rely on the author to do most of the marketing, so when I completed my latest book I decided to go it alone. Since I had done all the work I decided I deserved all the reward! However, even knowing what to expect the prospect was daunting, and obviously my main considerations about self-publishing were the initial cost involved and the minimum amount of books I would have to order.

Having made a few enquires I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered Biddles. This friendly and helpful company will print a minimum of 100 books, and once the design has been finalised and the story laid out to your satisfaction you can go on to have as many reprints as you want – all at the price you initially agree.

They made the whole process very easy for me. Starting with a telephone call they then set up a meeting to discuss the content of my book. They wanted to gain an insight into what I wanted so would be in a good position to advise on the size, format, cover design, paper quality, colour, images, print type and suitable retail price, should these be required. They also advised on copyright, how to get an ISBN, proof reading and editing if necessary, and also the legal deposit.

By the time the meeting had ended I had a rough idea of how much my venture would cost and within a couple of days I knew the exact amount. It was then a simple matter of verifying the different stages and waiting for the final result. Communication was prompt, efficient and friendly and they even allowed me to go and watch the printing process.

I think my latest book is visually more impressive than those I've had done through publishers, and I had complete control over the entire layout and cover design.

Thank you Biddles for making Mercury Poisoning – It's Not In Our Heads Any More really mine. If Jodi's Journey Goes On it will certainly be heading in your direction!

When retired policeman, Jim Heddle, first approached us he was fairly certain that he did not want a professional looking book to tell his life story but that he would just print it out on his home computer and put it into a ring binder to give to family and friends as a present. However there was a little niggle (i.e. his wife!) telling him that having gone to all the trouble of writing it, surely his story deserved something better. He also felt that we would not be interested in talking to him about such a small project (a common misconception which upsets us - we are always happy to talk to you however big or small your project is!). From having no idea what he wanted at the outset he was absolutely thrilled with the final book.

“As you know, this was my first ever venture of this kind and I set out on it with some nervousness and a great deal of naivety. Working with you and your company was, however, a delight. From my initial phone call your staff, without exception, have been highly professional, polite, helpful and - given that they were dealing with probably the most technically inept person on the planet - patient! At every stage the process was explained clearly and I always, always had the feeling that as individuals and a company you cared greatly about my custom and had a genuinely held desire to ensure that I was given a first class product.”

So, having finally knocked it into shape, you now wish to get the book published. It’s a great novel, you know it is, and publishers should be falling over themselves to sign you up. Well, don’t you believe it; my own rather cynical view is that most of them wouldn’t recognise a brilliant novel if it was the only one available. Also, the reality is that, thanks to better education and more leisure time, there is a veritable forest of authors sitting out there trying to get their works published. Publishers can now pick and choose or, in most cases, get agents to do it for them and so off-load the associated risks. It is inevitable, and not unreasonable, that agents are driven by the need to earn a crust or two. For them quality and merit must take second place to ‘spotting a winner’.

I suspect my own experiences of dealing with agents may have mirrored those of other budding writers. I tried five well-known agents over a period of three months; sealing my summaries or partial scripts carefully so I could detect on return whether they had ever been opened and read. Yes, I’m a cynic! Only two showed evidence of having been opened and, I hope, read before being rejected. The others were returned with the usual ‘thanks, but it’s not for us’. What hypocrites – how did they know? They hadn’t even bothered to read them. Perhaps they were risk-aversed to novices like myself or just too well fed. I’ll probably never know because I vowed never to touch any of them ever again; even in the unlikely event my novel becomes a success.

I finally decided to go to a printer with the capability of making a creditable end-product. The vanity press didn’t impress me at all and I consider myself lucky when I chanced upon Biddles who were just setting up their Author’s Choice initiative. Please - this is not a deliberate advert – it was my choice! Anyway we gelled – my minder, Nicky Prentis, was exceedingly helpful in organising me; I needed it! Their graphic designer John Chandler was most tactful in giving my amateur efforts the professional touch. I think the finished article is just splendid; but then I suppose I would! I’m now hoping that others will think so too. Yes, of course I had to take the financial risks; I may not sell any copies! However, my professional life was all about risks – so this is hardly a novelty. After all is said and done, you must have faith in what you’ve produced, otherwise there is little point in writing it in the first place.

Believe me for amateurs like myself, writing can be a great hobby. For those with exceptional talent or who get lucky, it can also be a very rewarding one. So don’t delay, it’s never too late to start – no, honest – I was 71 last birthday. Oh, and look out, but don’t hold your breath – I‘ve just started on the next one!