Amy Shojai's Blog, page 152
June 6, 2011
Tuesday Tips: Pet Introductions 101
June is National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, but spring also brings an abundance of needy puppies, cute kittens, and strays. Adding a new pet to the existing furry family can put tails in a twist. Would you embrace that stranger off the street who smells funny, sleeps in your bed, uses your toilet and gets all the attention from your loved ones?
You'll want to give consideration to your resident pets, too. Figure out the best match for your old dog, young kitten or other fur-kid to improve the chances your second dog is the perfect match. Here's a recent puppies.About.com article to learn more about picking compatible pets.
You may get lucky with love-at-first-sniff, but dumping pets together can breed fear or aggression that lasts a lifetime. There are exceptions, but resident pets often are more tolerant of younger pets of the opposite sex. Whatever your choice, proper introductions described in my latest Paw Nation article help pets start off on the right paw.
Are you adopting a new kitten or puppy this summer? Or how about an adult–or even senior citizen–dog or cat? How have you introduced your previous fur-kids? It took my Seren-kitty over a year to deign to be in the same room with Magical-Dawg. Today, they get along but only because the kitty had discovered what FUN it is to get the dawg in trouble!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Amy Shojai, books, cat behavior, cats, dog behavior, dog books, dogs, how to introduce dogs and cats, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, introducing cats, introducing dogs, introducing pets, kittens, Paw Nation, PawNation.com, pet books, puppies.About.com
Monday Mentions: Pet Writers, Ghost Hunters & Doggy Feelings
Today's blog is a real mixed bag of furry fun and writerly advice. First off, a shout-out to a terrific magazine, THE WRITER and journalist Melissa Hart who interviewed me for a neato-torpedo July story on Writing For Pet Magazines.Melissa also is a journalism teacher University of Oregon. Recently she wrote me, "I talked about your career in class today, and for some students, the whole world just opened up. "You can write about cat poop, and someone will pay you? Cool!"
Yes, you CAN write about poop–and cats, and dogs and more–and live your pet dreams. I'm not the only one.
Musetta inspires Clea Simon.
Check out mystery author Clea Simon's blog "Cats & Crime & Rock & Roll" for the latest on her cat (and dog) theme mysteries, publishing, and…yes, music. You see, the main character Theda Krakow is a music critic ably assisted by her furry friends. Clea gets some of her inspurrrr-ation from Musetta, above.
For those looking to expand their expertise, connect socially, and market with like-minded souls, LinkedIn is THE place to be. Yes, I know, you're already connected to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and all the rest–but the business folks gather at the LinkedIn watering hole. You can learn how to become an expert on Linked In–my colleague and terrific blogger/writer Jenny Hansen has all the must-knows on her blog "Cowbell–You Need More Of It."
Train your dog to be a ghost hunter...really???!
Everybody knows that cats–and dogs–see and detect things humans can't, including GHOSTS! (cue scary music…) But would you want to train your dog to be a ghost hunter? More information here–provided purely for informational purposes. *s*
I wonder if dogs play with ghostly toys–according to the above, they do feel ghostly tummy rubs. But for REAL pet toys that can't be beat, check out the Kong Company which has both dog toys and cat toys.
Environmentally friendly concerns? I love Planet Dog products–made from recycled materials with a nifty foundation that funds dog-related endeavors.
Come have fun and support DREAM Dachshund Rescue! The Georgia Dachshund Races 2011 will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2011. See GeorgiaDachshundRaces.com for more information. Race your doxie! Costume contest! Doxie coat contests! Vendor booths! Program with sponorships, ads, and other information.
And for some pure fun–channel your inner dog. Here's a look at the pet-human bond through the eyes and feelings of a dog. I kid you not! Enjoy.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Monday Mentions, Video, Wags & Purrs, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, books, cat behavior, cat books, cat toys, Cats & Crime & Rock & Roll, Clea Simon, Devotion with Tony Hale, dog behavior, dog books, dog toys, dog training, dogs, fiction, Georgia Dachshund Races, ghosts, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Jenny Hansen, Kong Company, LinkedIn, Melissa Hart, Need More Cowbell, pet books, Planet Dog, Planet Dog Foundation, The Writer, train dog to be ghost hunter, training, writing
June 3, 2011
Feline Friday: Ask Amy, Cute Kittens & That BITES!
Gimme the FEATHER!
It's Adopt-A-Cat Month! Are you in the market for a new kitten? There's sure a bumper crop this year. In fact, my friend and colleague Lynette George hosts a kitten adoption event tomorrow at Sherman Petco, starting at 10 am. I plan to visit for some SQUEEEEE! kitten photo ops, and hope to see you there. Likely my Seren-kitty will make me sign in blood that I won't bring home an "interloper" but the Magical-Dawg would welcome a new furry friend.
(WARNING: blatant self promo…) You can find all must knows on adopting and raising kittens in the award-winning book, Complete Kitten Care, updated and available in all Ebook and print formats. Or if an older furry friend strikes your fancy (gosh, I hope so!) discover the rewards and special issues of these golden oldies in Complete Care for Your Aging Cat, also updated and in all Ebook and print formats.
Of course, it doesn't have to be a special month for y'all to adopt a cat. Shelters and rescue organizations do the work of the angels every day, all year long, and some go the extra mile.
CWA colleague Mary Anne Miller routinely takes in furry waifs and finds them homes, but the expense both in $$ and emotional trauma can be an issue when not all have happy endings. She'd taken in 10 needy cats from a colony, and despite above-and-beyond medical effort, most died. *sigh* To recoup the expenses so other cats can be helped, Mary Anne hosts a one-week-long fund raising auction of donated items (BLING ALERT!) so visit and if you're of a mind, support with a bid.
Should you adopt a kitten, try to adopt an older baby–one 12 weeks old or more so s/he's already been taught how to inhibit claws and teeth. Or adopt a pair, so they can use each other as kitten punching bags! Otherwise, you'll run into problems like the owner in the Ask Amy question!
Did you plan your kitten/cat adoption? or did your cat find you? Seren showed up on the back porch of a friend. Have your "free" found pets cost you more than expected (like Mary Ann?). But weren't they worth it! Please share.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Feline Fridays, Furry Fridays, Kindle, Video, Wags & Purrs Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, Ask Amy video, books, cat behavior, cat books, cat rescue, cat video, Complete Kitten Care, cute kitten pictures, cute kittens, feral cats, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Kindle, kitten adoption, kitten behavior, kitten biting, kitten play aggression, kittens, Lynette George, Mary Anne Miller, medical care for cats, pet books, Petco, publishing, stop cat bites
June 2, 2011
Thoughty Thursday: Procrastination, Backups & Thpbpbpbpb
Some days ya just don't want to get out of bed!
I missed posting Tuesday Tips, the next in the Kindle-ization series, and I'm HISSED OFF! You see, I have most all of that series done, and ready to go. They're all on my laptop.
The laptop that DIED this week. Thpbpbpbpbpbpb! (that's a virtual raspberry)
Actually, we suspect the battery ran dry–and it won't run on just the plug. I've ordered a new battery, and hope for the best–but prepare for the worst. I guess the old laptop served well–letters on the keyboard had worn off and a couple of books were written on it including all the updates to the newly Kindle-ized titles. Come to think of it, that's where I kept the final versions of the updated manuscripts.
THPBPBPBPBPB!!!
I'm the person who always arrives early for meetings and circles the block until it's not embarrassing to show up. With few exceptions, I meet or beat deadlines. And I angst and grow gray hairs and sprout crow's feet lines when I can't cross off each item as finished. These days, though, with 5-10 blogs a week plus two weekly columns and the puppies.About.com stuff–oh, and a co-written musical play to produce, fiction WIP, acting gigs– keeping all the eggs in the air without scrambling them on impact takes a toll.
Scratch THIS!
So my blog schedule and backing up files fell to the bottom of the to-do list. Often I can get a few done early on weekends, but–well, over Memorial Day I actually shut off work and played with the Magical-Dawg and Seren-kitty! So I planned to post Tuesday's blog on Tuesday morning (instead of days or at least the night before). Fortunately I had edited and uploaded the Ask Amy youtube videos for this week so yesterday's Woof Wednesday and tomorrow's Feline Friday are ready.
Just a week or so ago, one of my colleagues lamented the crash of her entire computer and loss of files. That was a wake-up call. I nearly subscribed to an online backup service but was instead convinced by my tech-guy husband to use thumb drives. So nearly all of the work on the !@#$%^&! laptop had been saved just a few days ago–but not the Ebooks and not the blog notes and content.
Strawberries with the whine...er, wine would help.
I can re-created it but at the moment the pity-party-whine-fest is much more satisfying. Oh, I quick-like-a-bunny bought a new laptop with higher speed, larger storage, and updated software. And I'll get a few more of those thumb-drives and put it on my schedule for backups with more religious fervor.
How do you procrastinate? Has it ever bitten you in the ass-ets? What are your top reasons to THPBPBPB? Don't be shy–vent away. And bookmark this blog to remind you what crappiocca can happen to derail even A-type go-go-go plan-ahead people like you and me!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Howls & Hisses, Thoughtful Thursdays, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, books, cat behavior, cat books, computer backup, computer crash, dog behavior, dog books, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Kindle, PawNation.com, pet books, pets, procrastination, publishing, puppies, puppies.About.com, writers, writing, writing schedules
June 1, 2011
Woof Wednesday: Ask Amy & Nobody's Dog
Nobody's dogs...want to belong to somebody.
"Today, I found Nobody's Dog. Her ribs were beginning to show through a once shiny black coat. At first, she tucked her tail tightly and ran, then, ever hopeful, returned with a tentative wag.
I bet she was cute as a puppy. Somebody picked her out special, took her home, and made her believe she would always be loved; but some humans change their minds and their loves as often as dirty socks. Even so, the betrayed black dog is still loving them, futilely waiting for them to come back for her. She had a name once, and now she can't understand, for you see, a dog's love never dies.
Today, I found Nobody's Dog, one of millions abandoned each year by owners that take the coward's way out. They won't see her slowly starve or freeze to death, be hit by a car, or live at the mercy of strangers as she begs for a scrap of attention.
Today, the Shelter rescued Nobody's Dog. There, she'll be fed, she'll be loved, and hopefully she'll be claimed by a more fitting, deserving human. If not, she'll go to an even better place, one where dogs are always loved and are never thrown away on a cruel whim. But she still yearns to be Somebody's Dog once more. . ." (Excerpt from THE DOG COMPANION, copr Amy Shojai, 1992)
I wrote that in my very first published dog book but it rings true 19 years later. My friend Jan Fletcher emailed me this week about these two sweet, well-mannered fellows. The pair of 4-6 month old lab mixes just showed up next door on Hazelwood Road in Sherman, Texas, ". . .about the time a work-over rig crew came to work on a pumping site next door to us. The first week we thought they belonged there. This last week we asked and the workers said no. Our neighbor, Mike, made the mistake of feeding them wieners when he cooked outside. So now they won't leave his house."
Jan has made it her mission to find a place for these brothers–a rescue? a shelter? Or even better, a permanent home. I suspect they'd make some family incredibly happy, perhaps even be stellar sniff-aholic huntin' dawgs (as in the Ask Amy video, below).
Have you ever rescued a pet? My Seren-dipity was a dumped kitten. What have you done when faced with that waif on the doorstep? Can you have it in your heart to welcome Nobody's Dog and transform him/her into Somebody's Dog? I can put you in touch with Jan . . .
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Howls & Hisses, Video, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: abadoned pets, Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, books, dog adoption, dog behavior, dog books, dog nose, dog scenting, dog training, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Jan Fletcher, labrador, pet books, puppies, rescue dogs, shelter dogs, shelters
May 30, 2011
Monday Mentions: Travel Tails & Celebrity Rescues
Seren hates travel, but wants to help pack.
Are you enjoying your holiday weekend? I confess to not getting NEARLY as much work done as planned–we did get Magical-Dawg bathed, and a start on weed wacking the garden. Yep, we stayed home but I know lots of folks planned to travel. Did you take the fur-kids along with you to visit Uncle Zeke and Aunt Ethel? Car rides aren't a problem for Magic (it's HIS car, after all!) but reluctant furry puppy travelers may benefit from these car ride training tips.
My colleague Carol Bryant has all the must-knows on traveling with your pet. For eleven years her FIDO Friendly magazine has provided the very latest hotel and destination reviews along with health and wellness topics, dog training advice, rescue and feel-good stories, contests, and the latest pooch products to hit the market.
MORE MONDAY MENTIONS!
The AKC Companion Animal Recovery ( AKC CAR) Canine Support and Relief Fund recently awarded more than $340,000 in grants, the majority to K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) teams. Among other things, grants fund training seminars, GPS Units, Cooling vests, safety vests & repelling harnesses, disaster agility equipment, and radios, kennels, crates, leashes & toys.
Check out the first episode of a new web series, Lifestyles of Celebrity Pets, with my colleagues Nikki Moustaki (featured interview) and series pet expert consultant Darlene Arden. Fun stuff!
If you're like me, you love horses–and although I don't currently have one I am scared and anguished over the recent devastating outbreak of equine herpes. Learn more about the condition and what you can do.
The latest Pet Peeves Radio Show features the book Caring for Special Needs Pets, don't miss it!
Best-selling thriller author James Rollins fund raiser book promo supports THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF AMERICA to help save pet lives (nope, it's different than HSUS). His Sigma Force saves puppies and kittens, too.
This fun video puts people in the "paws" of pets for a quirky look at pet adoption–I love this! Just don't tell Magical-Dawg about it, or he'll swipe my car keys . . .
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Monday Mentions, Pet Peeves Radio, Video, Wags & Purrs Tagged: AKC Companion Animal Recovery, Amy Shojai, books, Carol Bryant, cat books, Darlene Arden, dog books, dog training, dogs driving cars, equine herpes, Fido Friendly Magazine, horses, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Humane Society of America, James Rollins, Lifestyles of Celebrity Pets, Nikki Moustaki, pet adoption, pet finder, pet peeves, Pet Peeves radio, pets and travel, puppies, puppies.About.com, Sigma Force, thriller writers, travel training dogs, veterinary care
May 27, 2011
Feline Friday: Ask Amy, Countertop Cruisers & Choosing Battles
Forbidden territory . . .
Cats become pests with their determination to stay above it all. They cruise kitchen countertops, lounge atop doors and leap to refrigerator tops to ambush treats. The urge to be the top cat seems a universal cat vice. By understanding why cats scale the heights, cat owners can provide legal outlets that keep both their cats happy and out of the butter dish. Here's the straight kitty-truth on the latest Paw Nation article.
The Ask Amy video, below, has LOTS of bling–and more info about cats and countertops. What else have I missed? Any great tips y'all can share with readers? What has worked with you and what hasn't? And…have any of y'all "given up" the battle like one reader, and simply wipe down all counters and tables before you prepare food and eat?
Too much to do? Take a nap!
Choosing battles strikes close to home these days for me. Life pulls in so many directions that the clock ticks away the hours before half of my to-do list gets finished. Or even started. The furry writing projects howl out to me–puppies.About.com, Paw Nation, PETiQuette newspaper column and Pet Peeves Newsletter (I really need to get that sent this weekend!) and now Huffington Post; social networking stuff like this blog, Twitter and Facebook; then there's the KXII TV spots, Pet Peeves radio and the Ask Amy videos–I'm getting lots of questions and topic requests (FUN!); and my performance stuff–cello, piano, singing–is brain candy for my emotional health.
The thriller fiction WIP looks like a lost, neglected puppy that wags hopefully from the bottom of the stack. *whimper*
Balancing to-do stuff can be a challenge.
Don't get me started on the overgrown roses outside, cobwebs and dust bunnies in the corners of my house, and stack-'o-filing in the office. That's the one good thing about aging eyes–everything takes on a soft focus. I toss dog treats under the bed now and then and send Magical-Dawg squirming under to "pseudo-dust" the hard to reach places, and Seren hits the high spots.
Which brings me back to countertop cruising kitties. See, there ARE advantages to choosing your battles! How do you manage your to-do list? Please reassure me I'm not an awful purr-son for letting some things slide! With the long weekend, my get-er-done garden and home-care stuff moves to the front of the list. Right after I post this blog. Oh, and write my newspaper column. And … oh, it's hopeless!
What are your Memorial Day plans?
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Feline Fridays, Furry Fridays, Howls & Hisses, Pet Peeves Radio, Video, Wags & Purrs Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, books, cat behavior, cats, cello, dog, dog behavior, dog books, dogs, garden, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Huffington Post, PawNation.com, Pet Peeves radio, pets, piano, playwright, publishing, puppies, puppies.About.com, RedRoom.com, roses, singing, theater, thriller writers, weeds, writing
May 26, 2011
Thoughty Thursday: Health Benefits of Cats & Dogs
Kitten kisses are good for what ails ye! But...you already knew that!
Today 71.4 million households in the U.S. own at least one pet — that's 62 percent of the U.S. population. This "pet generation" has long known what science now proves — pets are good for our health, especially when it comes to stress reduction.
When stress accumulates, it increases a myriad of health problems. Stress can actually be physiologically measured because your mood is affected by hormones and chemicals released in response to stress. Here's how it works.
Having a pet is a stress buffer and the closer the bond, the greater the relief. Within 15 to 30 minutes in the presence of a cat, dog or even swimming fish, your body responds. Levels of the hormone cortisol drops and the "feel good" chemical serotonin increases. Some doctors now actually recommend patients get a pet — a furry prescription! Read my AOL Healthy Living article to learn more about how your furry wonders benefit your health.
Watching puppies play and playing with them offers you BOTH great benefits.
But did you know that the stress relief works both ways? Yep, petting your puppy or kitty not only reduces your stress, it makes the pet healthier, too. You don't even have to touch them for this pet effect to work. For instance, playing with your puppy is a powerful bonding tool that has many benefits. Check out all the puppy-licious details about why puppies play and some favorite puppy games just in time for the long holiday weekend!
I lost weight when Magical-Dawg came to live with us. He MAKES me get off my ass-ets and go for a walk, even when I'd rather vegetate with the laptop or Kindle. He also knows when I'm angst-ing, and insists on becoming a lap dog (all 85+ pounds of him!). Seren-kitty keeps my blood pressure low with her purrs and whisker-kisses.
I've known colleagues who have pets that alerted them to health issues or that act as service or therapy animals. And during research for my natural healing pet book, I heard from many folks who had pets that became sick when they felt bad, and totally recovered when the owner's emotional health improved.
How about you? How have your fur-kids helped your health–physically and/or emotionally? Please share in the comments!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Thoughtful Thursdays, Wags & Purrs Tagged: Amy Shojai, AOL Healthy Living, blood pressure, cat books, cat pictures, dog books, health benefits of pets, heart health, Huffington Post, natural healing, natural stress relief, New choices in natural healing for dogs and cats, pain relief, pets and stress, puppies play, puppies.About.com, puppy pictures, stress relief
May 25, 2011
Woof Wednesday: Ask Amy, Puppy Baths & Skunk-icity
Magic loves water–for play! Bathes are a different story.
Last week during a ramble through the 13 acres of our Rosemont homestead, Magical-Dawg emerged from the treeline and scared my husband half to death. He threw himself on the ground (the dawg, not the hubby!), and rolled-rolled-rolled and scrubbed his face in the grass and dirt. Mahmoud thought he'd been bitten or stung by something, said Magic even seemed to foam a bit at the mouth and was nearly impossible to motivate him vertical so they could head back to the house.
I checked the boy over for bites and stings–one side of his jowls did seem a bit swollen–but Magic didn't act tender and seemed fine. The repair folks arrived shortly thereafter to fix the oven/stove (that's another story!) so Magic kenneled-up in our bedroom for the duration. An hour later when they left and I opened the bedroom door and released Magic from his kennel–
Ginger, the Morkie, can't believe she'd ever need a bath! Copr. eamylove
WHEWIE! I hadn't noticed it before, but confinement increased Magical-Dawg's pungent-icity. Not a bug bite or sting at all–nope, my inquisitive fellow had a close encounter with a skunk. Luckily it wasn't a direct hit or we'd have noticed much more quickly. So today, the Magical-Dawg will get a bath with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish soap–a bubbling miraculous solution for de-skunking the stinkiest pooch. For directions how to get other stuff out of the fur (tar, paint, chewing gum and more), you'll find detailed how-to advice in the First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats.
Puppies shouldn't be bathed until they are at least four weeks old—six or eight weeks is better. The little guys have trouble regulating their body temperature at that age, and can become chilled. While some breeds need more bathing than others, excessive baths can strip natural oils from the coat and dry the skin. For puppy-licious bathing advice, check out 13 Steps for Bathing Your Puppy (hot off the virtual press!).
Some dogs HATE bathes, though. Does yours? Magic LOVES the idea of chasing the water but doesn't want to hold still for rinsing. Today's Ask Amy explains some of the "whys" about dogs who hate bathing. How often do you bathe your dog? Or…HISSSSSSS…do you ever bathe your cat? Did you and the cat survive? Please share!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions–and to stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!
Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Howls & Hisses, Video, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, books, cat books, dog behavior, dog books, first aid, German shepherd, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, pet books, pet-expert, pets, puppies, puppies.About.com, video
May 23, 2011
TUESDAY TIPS KINDLE-IZATION #3: When Anything Can Be A Book…
Ebooks offer challenges to overcome.
Today's post is the next in the series based on my OWFI Ebook seminar. Last Tuesday's blog answered the question, "Why Go Ebook?" There are a slew of reasons to go Indy and one of the best answers I've found is–why not? In today's publishing climate, the brick wall surrounding traditional publishing continues to grow. Those on the "wrong" side of that wall hammer head first into the barrier without making a dent.
Yet a goodly percentage may be–indeed, IS–quality work. The audience, though, isn't there to make it $-worthy for legacy publishers to show interest. Today, not even the legacy publishers know how to predict the future. Even the lottery winners who get that agent, and then a book deal won't necessarily sell a boatload of books–about .5% will see success.
Just because you CAN go Indy doesn't mean you should, though. Much of the wannabe offerings may be crappiocca that mainstream has the good taste to turn away. Lots of garbage shows up on the Indy side of the brick wall and frankly, it can give self publishing a bad name. Publishing statistics from Publishers Lunch indicate at least 3.1 million books were pub'd in 2010. That's not counting all the Indy books, though, since there's no way to track 'em.
The folks doing particularly well are authors who previously pub'd with legacy venues like Bob Mayer now mining their backlist by turning it into Ebook gold. To increase your chances it pays to practice your craft, hire pros when necessary (especially editing), ask questions and plan carefully. Oh, and write a damn good book.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
So you've done all of the above, and have decided to leap into the Indy pond. Do you want to make your book available on Amazon Kindle? What about the Barnes & Nobel Nook? Don't forget the iPad and Apple stores, Kobo, Android, Diesel…and on and on. Is your book straight text/fiction or a nonfiction book with tables, sidebars and photos? What about children's books with full color illustrations? Learn about each platform to find your best fit.
PLATFORM/FORMATING
Each platform has different challenges. The required formatting may be different for each, as well as the software and/or coding. Can you do it yourself or do you need help?
Most Ebooks support only the simplest straightforward format. That's fine for text-only fiction books. If your book requires images, tables or other higher-end formating, that can be a pain-in-the-furry-nether-regions. Trust me–my first Kindle-ized book, Complete Kitten Care, has dozens of pictures that I finally figured out how to format (and yes, I'll share the how-to later in the series). You can either do-it-yourself or go through a conversion service.
CONVERSION SERVICES
I have NOT used any of these services but they come recommended by those who have–please do your own research!
Aptara – http://www.aptaracorp.com/
Code Mantra – http://www.codemantra.com/
Innodata Isogen – http://www.innodata-isogen.com/
Jouve / Publishing Dimensions – http://www.pubdimensions.com/
LibreDigital – http://www.libredigital.com/
Feed me! Choices can cost time and/or $$...how deep are your pockets?
ISBN or AIN
Depending on platform you'll need either an ISBN# or AIN (free from Amazon Kindle). For those with backlist books, you must have a different number assigned to the Ebook than the physical published book. The ISBN works with all platforms and may be required for some, while the free AIN works only for Amazon Kindle. It's most economical to purchase several ISBN# at once so budget for the cost and plan ahead. Some authors pool resources and purchase a block of ISBNs to share. The current cost (which may change in future of course) is:
Single ISBN $125.00
Ten (10) ISBN: $250.00
One Hundred (100) ISBN: $575.00
One Thousand (1000) ISBN: $1,000.00
BOOK COVER
Yes, you need one! It cannot be the same as the print version–unless you own or have purchased the rights to the design. The cover sells your book and can make or break that "impulse buy" so important for a first time author–and especially an Indy author. You can do it yourself, but be sure you know what you're doing or a crap-tastic cover will label you an amateur and no matter how good the story, folks will snub your book. I used Photoshop software and have a huge personal catalogue of dog and cat images, so I didn't have to purchase photos/images. There's quite a cottage industry among Indy publishers, though, for low-cost (and quite good!) cover designs so don't despair.
MARKETING COST
Unless you're already a best-selling author with a NYC publisher, there's virtually no difference between the marketing you'll need to do for your own book. In terms of cost, think time and quality spent rather than $$.
How will you balance your time, cost and vision?
THREE CHOICES
You have three paths to Ebook publishing. Choose based on what you want out of publishing, your personal resources (time and $$), and you can have success with each.
Do-It-Yourself
Kindle and PubIt are virtually dummy-proof, FREE, but don't cover all platforms
Use Publishing Service
Smashwords or Lulu are common choices and cover several platforms, but have costs involved.
Submit to Epublisher, let them do it
Next week's installment describes what each platform (Kindle, PubIt, Smashwords, Lulu, etc) requires, cost, and more, so stay tuned! Oh, and the step-by-step Kindle-ization format tips will also soon be posted.
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Filed under: Kindle, Tuesday Tips, Wags & Purrs, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, Bob Mayer, books, Bowker, cat books, dog books, Ebooks, how to self publish, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, indy publishing, Kindle, pets, PubIt, publishing, writers, writers conference, writing
