Getting a book published has never been an easy task. Tony Nesca, a Winnipeg-based writer, knows that as well as anyone.

“Trying to get published in the mainstream publishing world is seriously next to impossible,” Nesca said. “You wait six months just for a letter to arrive, and it arrives just to say, ‘We like it, but we don’t think it will sell.’

“I was sick and tired of rejection letters for years and I said, I’m just doing this myself.”

Nesca founded Screamin’ Skull Press in 1994 as a way to take the publishing process into his own hands.

He and his wife Nicole co-own and run the independent publisher to get around the red tape of larger publishing houses.

“It’s like an indie band. We’re the writers, the publishers, the whole thing,” Nesca said. “The artist is also the businessman, for lack of a better word.”

Tony has published five novels and six books of poetry and short stories, and Nicole has two books of poetry out, all under the Screamin’ Skull banner.

Both writers have new books coming out in May.

“ I was sick and tired of rejection letters for years and I said, I’m just doing this myself.

Tony Nesca, Winnipeg author and independent publisher

Michelle Peters, executive director the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, acknowledges that the independent route does allow greater speed.

“A lot of people are publishing their own stuff and there’s good reasons to do that even though there are advantages to going with a traditional publishing house,” she said.

“Sometimes if you’re doing your own stuff you can respond more quickly. There are pros and cons.”

Peters said many small Manitoban publishers offer a more personal, dedicated service than international companies.

“Our publishers are what I think of as niche publishers. They have very specific areas that they tend to focus on and specific markets,” she said.

“Small presses can give lots of attention to a manuscript, even though they have a very small staff. They can work closely to edit the project and because they are niche publishers they have established relationships with bookstores or other appropriate venues to sell the books.”

For Nesca, who performs all his own editing and marketing, these aspects of the business are the most difficult.

“The non-artistic side of it is definitely the most frustrating. The Internet helps immensely,” Nesca said. “To see the final product and feel the weight in your hands, you realize, ‘Man, I did this.’ That’s incredibly rewarding.”

Going forward, the Nescas have modest but serious goals.

“This is not a hobby for Nicole and I,” Nesca said.

“My goal is to make a full-time living from my writing, and it was from day one,” he added. “Screamin’ Skull Press is a vehicle to achieve that.

“Obviously, it’s not about the money right now and we could keep going, I would say, indefinitely.”

For more on Screamin’ Skull Press, visit www.tonynesca.blogspot.com and www.ninisabella.blogspot.com. The Nescas are holding a book release and signing on Saturday, May 28 at McNally Robinson from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Published in Volume 65, Number 22 of The Uniter (March 10, 2011)