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Staff Writer SOUTHWICK Writing and publishing her own book inspired Southwick teen Ashley Boettcher to give that opportunity to other teens as well. While working to self publish her first book, The Book of Dreams The Life Story of a Teenage Girl, she was decided to create ALB books, a publishing company designed to help other teens publish their work. Boettcher, who was home-schooled and currently participates in distant learning at Ohio University for a degree in art and small business, said that she has always been artistic and "out of the blue I decided to try to write." The 18-year-old author has been an artist and a writer for 10 years and it all began with private art lessons from her grandmother at the age of 10, which she "expanded her horizons." She then went on to take art lessons from Denise Griffin in Southwick to expand her creative side. Boettcher explained that it took her about three months to write the entire book, which was inspired by what she saw in other teens. "I was looking around, seeing teens my age who did not have much hope in adulthood, careers or dreams," she said. "[I want] to help teens see they have a future and calling for their own lives through something special." She hand wrote the novel, which was then typed and edited by her friend, Emily Drews. "It's been a fun experience," Boettcher said. Throughout the process, her family has been very supportive, although they were surprised that she decided to write at first, she said. "They were surprised because I was working on an English report and I was going to get a "C" on it," Boettcher said. "When I presented my mom with the prologue to the book, she was blown away." Although she enjoyed writing the books, said that publishing it was a lot of work. She said that her family was supportive and helped her pay for small expenses for items such as stamps and envelopes to send review copies. In order to publish the books, Boettcher needed to raise the necessary funds, most of which went toward the printing. In order to support her first novel, Boettcher looked to her other creative outlet art. She said that she hosted an art auction earlier this year at her home in Southwick, which raised $600. When Boettcher decided to seek out a printing company, she said it took a lot of investigating. She said that publishing a book is "about how to put yourself out there for businesses and companies who work with authors and publishers." She explained that she bought a book about self-publishing that included a lot of contacts. "I followed up," she said. "It was a step by step process of advertising myself as a person and publisher getting myself in the right places as someone well-known or well perceived in the business world." She added that, as a teenager, she would not mention her age at first, but other times she would. She explained that when working with a company that is known for helping with teens, she would let them know her age at the beginning of her conversation. "You need to know when to make yourself available as a teen and when to put forward your more adult side," she said, adding that it was hard to do at first. Boettcher said that self-publishing a book is usually expensive. However, she said it is "tricky" and it can be done cheaply if the authors find the right places and the correct ways to market themselves. After preparing quotes and sending them to a variety of printing companies, she chose a company out of Lakeville Mass., Lakeville Country Press. She said that the individual she worked with, Mike, helped her a lot and allowed her to be very "hands on" with the project. "With his help I was able to get this going," she said. "He was patient, helpful and kind." She added that he cut the print run, which is 3,000 copies, in half so that she could store 1,500 of them in her home office as she sold them while the remaining 1,500 were being printed. "It is quite busy with books," she said about her home office. She said that she would work with Lakeville Country Press again because it is a company good for a publisher of her level and is able to ship to a wholesale company. The Book of Dreams The Life Story of a Teenage Girl premiered Oct. 1 and is currently available at the Southwick Public Library, the Westfield Athenaeum and will be available soon at the Enfield Public Library in Connecticut. She is working with Borders Book Store and Barnes & Noble to have them carry her book and although it is not available there yet, she said it "looks optimistic." In addition, she hopes to get her book into local Christian book stores. She said that it can be harder to get into the smaller stores than it is to get into the larger retailers. She is also looking into a business license to create ALB books, which will be a publishing company by teens for teens. Boettcher's goal with ALB books is "to encourage the rising trend in teen entrepreneurship through promoting books with a strong Christian message, and teen character throughout the pages." Boettcher said, "I know a lot of teens and they don't dare bring submissions or let themselves be known as artists because they are afraid of what the adult in the business world thinks of them. I see this as a way for teens to let themselves be known." Although she is in the process of starting her own publishing company, she said that many young people who have heard about what she is doing through word of mouth have already approached her. ALB Books takes up about 30 to 40 hours of her time each week, and she said that she enjoys it. "It is a lot of fun and I really look forward to the next [book] and helping teens," she said. Boettcher is currently working on three more of her own books. The Book of Dreams will be a three part series and she is also working on a teen science fiction book. In terms of advice for other teens who have the dream of becoming a published writer, Boettcher said, "I would say never to give up and really believe in what you think in yourself. And, your dreams are more important in your heart than reality is to the world." Boettcher is hosting a book signing at the Westfield Athenaeum on Nov. 5, where her books will be available. The cost is $13.99. The Book of Dreams The Life Story of a Teenage Girl is also available by contacting Boettcher through requests to her P.O. box or via email. Her address is P.O. Box 997, Southwick, MA 01077. Her email address is ljabphil413@juno.com. |
