http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2013/04/02/the-blog-nobody-wanted-to-publish-except-indies-unlimited/
Showing posts with label self-publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-publishing. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Blog Nobody Wanted to Publish (Except Indies Unlimited)
http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2013/04/02/the-blog-nobody-wanted-to-publish-except-indies-unlimited/
Monday, January 23, 2012
On Writing Author Interview: Lawrence Fisher
To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview. So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.
ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer? It is fun. I can do it when I have time or wherever I am.
What is your least favorite part? Trying to market. This is not something I am very good at or enjoy it.
Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome. As a self-published person, I had to find the money to get it published. Some publishing houses were interested but they said that I must foot the entire bill. Coming up with the money to publish in the first place was a major obstacle. It placed me in acute financial hardship but now I understand all those struggling artists.
Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve? Yes, my use of tenses and prepositions. I write something down and my editor says “Which you are you referring to?”
What part of your writing makes you particularly proud? The book was started at an extremely low period of my life. My book is all about humor and I am proud that I managed to find the humor in my daily life.
What does your favorite main character have in common with you? It is me!
Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know? I write about weird experiences. So I guess you could call the weird people my research.
How do you use the internet for your writing? Nope.
What one marketing tool have you had good success with? I have found that Facebook is very useful. It is still early days and I have not got back much feedback from my publisher so I do not know how many copies have been sold yet. I am currently trying a Google Adwords campaign and I have seen increased traffic to my website as a result but I do not know how many were translated to actual sales.
What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out? My advice to someone would be just to write. Not to worry about perfectionism in style but just to write. When you have a completed work in your hands, go through it again and correct anything. Then find a friend who will read it and comment.
When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what? I do many things when I am not writing as I am very active. But I do enjoy reading thrillers especially medical thrillers. I do enjoy James Patterson and Lee Childs.
What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing? For me writing was therapeutic. However, what I would like is if people who have given up on the dating game because they have been hurt once too often, will pick themselves up and try again. No, one year after being dumped, I have not found anyone that I wanted to spend more than two dates with, but it does not mean that I am giving up.
ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What advice do you have for someone looking to get published? Before going through this avenue, people must think what they want to achieve. Why are they doing this? It is not easy becoming a famous writer or a best-seller, the same way as it is not easy becoming a famous actor. Whatever people decide, they need to have fun and enjoy the ride because it can be enjoyable. When my book arrived in my hands, I was ecstatic.
Any thoughts on what this author writes? How many books published? Here's a little more information about the author...
How many published books are to your credit? One
Are you self-published? Yes
How many different companies have you published with? One.
How long have you been writing? Eight months.
Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing? I work in computers. I am also a systems analyst and a gymnasium trainer. I mainly write software tutorials. I have an easy balance as whenever I get an idea I quickly jot down the idea on my iphone and later turn it into a story. If the idea is burning to get out, I will write it there and then and simply work later that evening.
So, any thoughts? Here's the full scoop:
In author Lawrence Fisher's words: I am in my late 40s
and live near Tel Aviv, Israel.
I was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe but came to Israel at an early age. I was
taught computer computer programming in the Israel Defence Forces. I also hold
a diploma as a personal gymnasium trainer. Today I write tutorials for
software.
Lawrence's new book - Kill Me Now!
A Middle Aged Man’s Maneuvers through the Frontline of the Dating Battlefield is available on Amazon.com and at iUniverse.com.
What are you working on now?
The second part of the book. Maybe I will call it “How I didn’t meet your mother”
PARTING WORDS
Where can people learn For more about Author Lawrence Fisher, you can visit his web sites: http://killmenow.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kill-me-now/257875704243021
Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews? Let us know...drop us a comment below.
Friday, October 28, 2011
How Can I Market My Book?
I wish I had a dollar for each time someone asked me "How can I market my book?" I get emails all the time from people I don't know asking me this. So, here's a recent email exchange with some answers to that question. The answers will differ depending on what your write, when you wrote it, and how it's published. Some of these tactics do apply to everyone, however.
Me:
Yes, all those questions really do make a difference. It turns out that the book in question was self-published - in print only - and 3 years ago! Of course, 3 years ago, self-publishing wasn't as "accepted" as it is today. So, even though the book has been out since 2008, that doesn't mean it's a lost cause - its odds are better today than they were back when it came out. However, the book isn't available anywhere except the author's web site. The author is on Twitter and Facebook - but doesn't use those platforms to promote the book - at all.
Me:
Yes, it is a lot of work. Once you're set up, if you can get a rhythm going, it shouldn't be that hard to maintain. Good luck...and keep writing!
Emailer: I am wondering about ways that you have marketed your books [that would help me].
Me:
To start, here are some questions I have for
you:
Is your book fiction or non-fiction?
When was your book released?
Do you have a blog?
Is your book on your web site?
Where is your book available?
Are you on Twitter?
Are you on Facebook?
Let's see what your answers to those questions are
and we can go from there.
Yes, all those questions really do make a difference. It turns out that the book in question was self-published - in print only - and 3 years ago! Of course, 3 years ago, self-publishing wasn't as "accepted" as it is today. So, even though the book has been out since 2008, that doesn't mean it's a lost cause - its odds are better today than they were back when it came out. However, the book isn't available anywhere except the author's web site. The author is on Twitter and Facebook - but doesn't use those platforms to promote the book - at all.
After giving me the information I needed to formulate a response, the Emailer asked: I am wondering, "What has given you the most results in exposure and sales or is
it a combination of things?"
Me:
Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing what gives
the most exposure since usually so many things are going on at the same time.
The things one would think provide the best exposure (i.e. television
appearances - 2 of them!) have resulted in little or no traffic - let alone
sales. It really seems that it's a cumulative thing.
Honestly, the best thing to do is write more
books. If you're not planning on writing more books, then the best you can do
is get yourself out there and hope people find you.
Non-fiction is much easier to market than fiction
because you are an "expert" in the subject you wrote about. Go to blogs and
discussion boards on your topic and post comments - most important - with links
to your website. Don't make salesy comments - you need to establish yourself as
someone with good input. That's the point of that. Join online groups and give
your input on topics. It's a lot of work, but it will pay off if you're
diligent.
Who is your publisher? Your book isn't available
on their web site? Many self-pub houses will charge a small fee to get your
book into distribution. I'd definitely check on that. The eBook is extremely
important. Get yourself on Kindle and on Smashwords. EBooks are outselling
print books.
You should use Twitter. Tweet at least once a day
with some sort of interesting thing you're doing or some kind of advice based on
your book's content. Book signings, events, milestones - etc. - are great to
tweet about. Another good one is posting about other things you like - in my
case hockey, photography, etc. - you can check out my tweets at @AuthorKSBrooks
for example. If you use Twitter solely for pushy sales tweets, it will alienate
people. Follow people who have interests similar to yours and some of them will
follow you back but it will take time. And you might actually enjoy what you read on there! You can also set up Twitter so it posts
the tweets to your facebook page and other social networking sites which will save
you time.
Are you posting on your blog about your book? You
should also have guest bloggers who can post on your topic. They'll bring their
followers to your blog for a read and you can send out notices announcing the guest post which will refresh your
followers', friends', and fans' memories that you exist. When my first book
came out in 2001, it took 3 mentions of a product to spark familiarity to a
shopper. Now it takes 7, so getting out there using as many different venues
and "excuses" as possible is more important than ever. Do you have an
e-newsletter? If so, is there a way to subscribe on your web site? Here's an
example of a form to subscribe - and it's free - http://www.ksbrooks.com/conus.htm
Do you have sample chapters and/or excerpts on your web site? And on your web
site, do you have little buttons so people can follow you on twitter and
Facebook? See the bottom left of the page I just provided.
If you're planning on writing a bunch of books, you
should have a facebook author page. If you're planning on only having one book, you should have a facebook page geared towards your book. Since I've got
a bunch of books, I did an author page - http://www.facebook.com/KSBrooksAuthor
I have other marketing advice for writers on one of
my blogs at http://authorksbrooks.blogspot.com/.
Posts are really geared towards helping writers with
publicity if you'd like to take a look at those.
The Emailer replied: Wonderful information, . . .thanks! I've got my work cut out for me.
Yes, it is a lot of work. Once you're set up, if you can get a rhythm going, it shouldn't be that hard to maintain. Good luck...and keep writing!
Monday, October 24, 2011
On Writing Author Interview: Cynthia Vespia – Author
To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview. So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.
ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer? Creating characters and worlds...but mostly characters. They can be extensions of yourself or a complete fabrication. It is a great escape.
What is your least favorite part? Research. Although it can be interesting at times it also gets a little monotonous. I like to use as much of my own knowledge and creative experience as I can and then go back in to clear up an misconceptions.
Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome. The industry is SATURATED with novels and now ebooks. Everyone and their brother thinks they're a writer all of a sudden and this includes celebrity. What I am STILL trying to overcome is just getting my work in front of the right people. As much as the change to the industry with the electronic age has increased authors chances of making a mark they have also put up that much more stumbling blocks.
Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve? Showing more rich detail. It is like when I used to color and I loved doing the main image and skipped the background. You have to include every facet or the picture, or story in this case, won't pull together.
What part of your writing makes you particularly proud? I've received some really great reviews.
What does your favorite main character have in common with you? All my characters wind up being an extension of myself. In the midst of what they think of as flaws they are commonly going against the grain and fighting for something.
Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know? No topic is off limits. I will write from what I know and then go back in via editing and supply the research for the things I don't know.
How do you use the internet for your writing? Research. That is one technological advantage that works well for the writer. You can find whatever you need with only a few clicks of the keyboard. It is also a must for writers to be tied into the social networking sites. You have to get into the public eye as much as possible.
If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? It never hurts to have “award winning” after your name. It draws attention, gives you recognition from an outside source.
What one marketing tool have you had good success with? Conventions but you have to be on your game. You can't just sit at a table and wait for people to come over to you. I pull out all the tricks. Suddenly I'm a carnival barker calling people over and making small talk that always segues into whatever I'm pitching.
What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out? Learn all the rules then break them. Make your own rules. Develop your own style. Please don't follow the trends. The big thing going on now will be passe by the time you write your novel. BE the next big thing instead!
Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid? Discipline. You should make your writing a habit. Same time, same place. Develop a habit. Make it part of your routine. It is too easy to get sidetracked by everything else if you don't.
Do you have any strange writing habits? I write long hand on a legal pad for the first draft. Then I'll put everything into my word processing program and at the same time edit it so I have a clean second draft ready to go.
When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what? Yes, if you are a writer you should be reading everyday. I read a lot of different authors. I like finding new authors and also returning to old favorites. I also read a lot of self help books and autobiographies.
What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing? Ha, nothing! I'm not one of those authors who is trying to change the world or deliver a message. I write for entertainment. When I read as a child it was just as much fun, if not more, than watching a movie. I want to draw emotions from people like emotions were drawn from me when I was little.
ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers? Write for the wastebasket. What that means is that you realize the first draft is exactly that...don't over think it and try to make it perfect. Write it as though you were just going to throw it in the trash. Sounds harsh but it works.
What advice do you have for someone looking to get published? Do your research. And never, ever sign a contract without reading it thoroughly!
Any thoughts on what this author writes? How many books published? Here's a little more information about the author...
How many published books are to your credit? 5
Do you have an agent? Not yet
Are you self-published? Two self-published titles. 3 traditional.
How many different companies have you published with? Including the self-published titles, 4
How long have you been writing? Since I was 8
Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing? The dream is to write full time. I've had many day jobs. Right now I'm a fitness instructor.
So, any thoughts? Here's the full scoop:
Cynthia Vespia has a background as a certified personal trainer; licensed private security guard; and trained mixologist. But the allure of writing has always been at the forefront. As a skilled wordsmith she established a successful career as a journalist and promotional writer. Throughout that time she remained true to her passion and pursuit of writing novels.
Her first novel, a medieval fiction entitled The Crescent was published in August 2005. The novel was unanimously praised as "an engaging, descriptive read" which prompted a sell-out at Borders Bookstore in less than one hour during the first official signing.
A short story, a satirical look at the afterlife titled Death's Grand Design (Utterpants), was published online shortly thereafter and once again met with reviews that honored her attention to detail and the flow of her prose.
In May of 2006, Theater of Pain was released. This thriller unfolds within the eccentric world of professional wrestling where competitors would do anything to reach the top...even murder.
After a short hiatus, Cynthia returned with Demon Hunter. It is the story about a nobody who becomes a somebody in the bloodiest of ways. Following the tradition of dark fantasy and combining the concept of high-adventure, Demon Hunter examines both the light and dark side of human nature when a man learns he is fated to hunt demons before they corrupt mankind. The success of Demon Hunter was followed up by the sequel Seek & Destroy which takes the characters and the reader on a journey that begins on the high seas and ends in Hell. Both novels (published in e-book format) were nominated for Best Series in 2009 by LRC Cafe. The respective trailer for Demon Hunter: Seek & Destroy won a Most Artistic Trailer award from New Covey as well.
Cynthia’s latest release returns to the contemporary side of thrillers but still contains that special twist that her novels are fast becoming known for. Life, Death, and Back delves into the paranormal when a mans life is tragically cut short and he remains on Earth as a guardian angel to those he’s left behind.
Today Cynthia writes character driven suspense fiction and dark fantasy. Cynthia likes to refer to her novels as "Real life situations that you could find yourself in but hope to God you never do. In her spare time she enjoys reading, movies that involve a strong plot/characters, and keeping active through martial arts and fitness training.
Cynthia's books can be purchased at
THE FUTURE
What are you working on now? There have been some exciting changes. The Original Cyn, that's me, will be debuting a plethora of new and newly revised projects. Favorites like The Crescent will be getting a facelift and coming over to Kindle, etc. while new projects will be released within the next few months. Stay tuned to www.cynthiavespia.com and www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia for all the details.
PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share? Write for the love of it and the rest will follow.
For more information on Cynthia Vespia – Author of Thrills and Chills, visit her at http://www.cynthiavespia.com/ or www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia
Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews? Let us know...drop us a comment below.
ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer? Creating characters and worlds...but mostly characters. They can be extensions of yourself or a complete fabrication. It is a great escape.
What is your least favorite part? Research. Although it can be interesting at times it also gets a little monotonous. I like to use as much of my own knowledge and creative experience as I can and then go back in to clear up an misconceptions.
Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome. The industry is SATURATED with novels and now ebooks. Everyone and their brother thinks they're a writer all of a sudden and this includes celebrity. What I am STILL trying to overcome is just getting my work in front of the right people. As much as the change to the industry with the electronic age has increased authors chances of making a mark they have also put up that much more stumbling blocks.
Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve? Showing more rich detail. It is like when I used to color and I loved doing the main image and skipped the background. You have to include every facet or the picture, or story in this case, won't pull together.
What part of your writing makes you particularly proud? I've received some really great reviews.
What does your favorite main character have in common with you? All my characters wind up being an extension of myself. In the midst of what they think of as flaws they are commonly going against the grain and fighting for something.
Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know? No topic is off limits. I will write from what I know and then go back in via editing and supply the research for the things I don't know.
How do you use the internet for your writing? Research. That is one technological advantage that works well for the writer. You can find whatever you need with only a few clicks of the keyboard. It is also a must for writers to be tied into the social networking sites. You have to get into the public eye as much as possible.
If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? It never hurts to have “award winning” after your name. It draws attention, gives you recognition from an outside source.
What one marketing tool have you had good success with? Conventions but you have to be on your game. You can't just sit at a table and wait for people to come over to you. I pull out all the tricks. Suddenly I'm a carnival barker calling people over and making small talk that always segues into whatever I'm pitching.
What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out? Learn all the rules then break them. Make your own rules. Develop your own style. Please don't follow the trends. The big thing going on now will be passe by the time you write your novel. BE the next big thing instead!
Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid? Discipline. You should make your writing a habit. Same time, same place. Develop a habit. Make it part of your routine. It is too easy to get sidetracked by everything else if you don't.
Do you have any strange writing habits? I write long hand on a legal pad for the first draft. Then I'll put everything into my word processing program and at the same time edit it so I have a clean second draft ready to go.
When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what? Yes, if you are a writer you should be reading everyday. I read a lot of different authors. I like finding new authors and also returning to old favorites. I also read a lot of self help books and autobiographies.
What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing? Ha, nothing! I'm not one of those authors who is trying to change the world or deliver a message. I write for entertainment. When I read as a child it was just as much fun, if not more, than watching a movie. I want to draw emotions from people like emotions were drawn from me when I was little.
ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers? Write for the wastebasket. What that means is that you realize the first draft is exactly that...don't over think it and try to make it perfect. Write it as though you were just going to throw it in the trash. Sounds harsh but it works.
What advice do you have for someone looking to get published? Do your research. And never, ever sign a contract without reading it thoroughly!
Any thoughts on what this author writes? How many books published? Here's a little more information about the author...
How many published books are to your credit? 5
Do you have an agent? Not yet
Are you self-published? Two self-published titles. 3 traditional.
How many different companies have you published with? Including the self-published titles, 4
How long have you been writing? Since I was 8
Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing? The dream is to write full time. I've had many day jobs. Right now I'm a fitness instructor.
So, any thoughts? Here's the full scoop:
Cynthia Vespia has a background as a certified personal trainer; licensed private security guard; and trained mixologist. But the allure of writing has always been at the forefront. As a skilled wordsmith she established a successful career as a journalist and promotional writer. Throughout that time she remained true to her passion and pursuit of writing novels.
Her first novel, a medieval fiction entitled The Crescent was published in August 2005. The novel was unanimously praised as "an engaging, descriptive read" which prompted a sell-out at Borders Bookstore in less than one hour during the first official signing.
A short story, a satirical look at the afterlife titled Death's Grand Design (Utterpants), was published online shortly thereafter and once again met with reviews that honored her attention to detail and the flow of her prose.
In May of 2006, Theater of Pain was released. This thriller unfolds within the eccentric world of professional wrestling where competitors would do anything to reach the top...even murder.
After a short hiatus, Cynthia returned with Demon Hunter. It is the story about a nobody who becomes a somebody in the bloodiest of ways. Following the tradition of dark fantasy and combining the concept of high-adventure, Demon Hunter examines both the light and dark side of human nature when a man learns he is fated to hunt demons before they corrupt mankind. The success of Demon Hunter was followed up by the sequel Seek & Destroy which takes the characters and the reader on a journey that begins on the high seas and ends in Hell. Both novels (published in e-book format) were nominated for Best Series in 2009 by LRC Cafe. The respective trailer for Demon Hunter: Seek & Destroy won a Most Artistic Trailer award from New Covey as well.
Cynthia’s latest release returns to the contemporary side of thrillers but still contains that special twist that her novels are fast becoming known for. Life, Death, and Back delves into the paranormal when a mans life is tragically cut short and he remains on Earth as a guardian angel to those he’s left behind.
Today Cynthia writes character driven suspense fiction and dark fantasy. Cynthia likes to refer to her novels as "Real life situations that you could find yourself in but hope to God you never do. In her spare time she enjoys reading, movies that involve a strong plot/characters, and keeping active through martial arts and fitness training.
Cynthia's books can be purchased at
THE FUTURE
What are you working on now? There have been some exciting changes. The Original Cyn, that's me, will be debuting a plethora of new and newly revised projects. Favorites like The Crescent will be getting a facelift and coming over to Kindle, etc. while new projects will be released within the next few months. Stay tuned to www.cynthiavespia.com and www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia for all the details.
PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share? Write for the love of it and the rest will follow.
For more information on Cynthia Vespia – Author of Thrills and Chills, visit her at http://www.cynthiavespia.com/ or www.facebook.com/cynthia.vespia
Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews? Let us know...drop us a comment below.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Don't Confuse Print-On-Demand with Self-Publishing
Some people use the terms Print-on-Demand (POD) interchangeably with Self-Publishing. However, not all self-publishing is via POD and vice versa. I think a more distinct differentiation needs to be made between self-publishing POD and being published by a publisher who uses POD.
While it is an uphill battle getting your self-published POD into stores, it is a completely different scenario when a reputable publisher backs you and uses POD. Many small publishers use POD as a way to economically access the print version market. There is no way many of these small publishers could afford to invest in a run of a few thousand paper books. POD is the only way they can compete. Good small publishers will make those POD books available through Amazon.com and distributors (like Baker & Taylor). The POD publisher covers all set-up costs involved with the print edition of the book. Since the book is only printed when someone orders it, POD is an environmentally-friendly technology - and writers can tout that when they are trying to get their books reviewed/featured in magazines.
Publishers who choose to use POD as their print platform also normally supply the cover artwork, as well as editing and galleys, at no charge. Many of these publishers primarily feature e-books, and they also cover the set-up fees associated with companies like BookSurge. These are real publishers.
So, there is a huge difference between self-publishing with POD and going with a real and reputable publisher who uses POD to make your books available to those who want to hold a copy in their hands.
While it is an uphill battle getting your self-published POD into stores, it is a completely different scenario when a reputable publisher backs you and uses POD. Many small publishers use POD as a way to economically access the print version market. There is no way many of these small publishers could afford to invest in a run of a few thousand paper books. POD is the only way they can compete. Good small publishers will make those POD books available through Amazon.com and distributors (like Baker & Taylor). The POD publisher covers all set-up costs involved with the print edition of the book. Since the book is only printed when someone orders it, POD is an environmentally-friendly technology - and writers can tout that when they are trying to get their books reviewed/featured in magazines.
Publishers who choose to use POD as their print platform also normally supply the cover artwork, as well as editing and galleys, at no charge. Many of these publishers primarily feature e-books, and they also cover the set-up fees associated with companies like BookSurge. These are real publishers.
So, there is a huge difference between self-publishing with POD and going with a real and reputable publisher who uses POD to make your books available to those who want to hold a copy in their hands.
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