Writer’s Digest Book’s publication of The Mind of Your Story: Discover What Drives Your Fiction was gorgeous: cloth cover, four-color interior—even illustrations. Writer’s Digest made it a book club selection, and they took me to BEA in LA. But then F + W began to restructure. Yup, 2008: the year not just the financial world, but the publishing world, got turned on its ear.

Within two years, a book that had sold 10,000 copies right out of the gate had been remaindered. I bought a slew of copies for cents on the dollar—and ran out. Now I prowl Amazon and Abebooks for cheap copies to sell when I teach at conferences. But they’re running out, too. I got my rights back, but then, you know that already. Now what?

A few months ago, one of my clients suggested I contact a major educational publisher about the book. That her husband works for this publisher and had talked it up to the Executive Editor meant I had an in, and I took it. A few weeks ago, though, the editor let me know that they, too, are restructuring. So, while he “loved” the book, he couldn’t make me any promises right now. Did I want to wait, or did I want to move on?

I told him that, as much as I’d love to publish the book with his house, I was almost out of copies, and had to keep looking. Which means I’m now exploring Plans B, C, D, and E.

I’ve talked to a POD publisher who, for an up-front fee, will convert the book for all e-versions (Kindle, Nook, etc.) as well as a POD paper one. I’d earn a percentage of net for each book, probably less than $1 a copy, which isn’t bad. The problem is the way the product would look: After examining other books she’s produced, I know I wouldn’t be happy.

It happens that I’m one of the editors of a small press (Bosque Press), and now that we’ve produced three annual issues of bosque (the magazine), could easily use this imprint to re-issue The Mind of Your Story. But there are so many time-consuming aspects to this route, I sigh every time I think about it.

A fourth possibility has presented itself in the form of a friend who recently started a book packaging business. We’re discussing possible trades—she helps me re-issue The Mind of Your Story; I help her market her novel. I like this idea. But first I want to explore the fifth option, to query other publishers I know.

When this friend and I met a few weeks ago, I told her that, when it comes to publishing, authors need to stop thinking in terms of reinventing the wheel. Instead, we need to reimagine what we already have. That’s what I want to do with The Mind of Your Story. And that’s where all of you come in. What would you do, in my place? Wait for the big publisher who loves the book? Go with the POD publisher? Publish under my own imprint? Work with the packager? Or talk to a few more traditional publishers before I decide? Please post your responses—these are questions not only I, but all of us, face.

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