Merel Pierce's Blog, page 6

Advise for new authors who want to self-publish

So, even though I’m just edging towards publishing my first book, I’ve learned so much already! Because of the countless hours I’ve spent reading and making calls, I thought I’d share a little bit of what I’ve learned with those authors who are considering self publication, or may just be embarking on their writing journey. Take it with a grain of salt, do with it what you will!

 

Are you considering self-publishing? Yes? Ok.

1. Decide early on if it’s going to be a hobby, or if you want to pursue the writing as a career or side job.

2. In most states, your writing will be looked upon by the government as a hobby, until you meet or break a certain $ point. It’s advisable to find out where that margin is, as you are generally required to pay taxes on earnings that go over that amount in the calendar year. This, of course, varies from state to state.

3. Research your states laws in reference to ‘Doing Business As’ or Fictitious name usage. I.E. Your Pen Name. Some states require you to register any name that you intend to do business with that is NOT your legally given name. In some places, it’s even considered a misdemeanor if you do not (all though you may not be required to register at all in other places). Also, registering a fictitious name filing (Doing Business As)  offers you an additional layer of protection relating to your writing.

4. Research your state’s small business website. If you anticipate making your writing into an actual business, and plan to treat it as such, investigate what it would take to register as a business in your state. There are different forms of registration (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc), and different requirements for claiming business identification numbers (which many sites ask you for to prove you are a business and make you eligible to be tax exempt on some purchases). Is it worth it, to you?

5. If you are choosing to register as a business, keep receipts for every purchase related to your writing. Whether it’s purchasing notebooks, office equipment, isbn numbers, paying a cover artist, editor, etc, KEEP IT. I recommend getting a file box for all your records. These purchases are usually tax deductible at the end of the year, and will count as losses against your earnings for the year. This often positively impacts the amount of taxes you are required to pay, as many government entities expect small business’s to be in the red at first.

6. If you are planning to self-publish, for God’s sake, do your research. While there is a lot of advise offered in Facebook groups, I recommend seeking out writers guilds and self-publishing websites that may have treasure troves of information to help you along the way. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve asked questions in Facebook groups full of supposedly ‘experienced writers’ who have given me awful advise (i.e. don’t register your pen name, self-publishing doesn’t cost money, you don’t have to claim your writing income on your taxes, etc.’). Be very careful who you chose to listen to. When you think you know everything and you’ve read so many articles you are sick of it? Read some more. XD

7. Don’t rush yourself! I think once everyone gets it in their mind that they want to self-publish, they are so excited to get it done that they rush through the most important parts of the process. You sell yourself short when you do this, so try to set realistic goals and not stretch yourself too thin.

8. Make a plan. List everything that you need to do, then break it down into monthly or weekly checklists that you feel are reasonable for you to accomplish based on time and budget. (I.E. complete manuscript and send to editor, research cover artists, compile a list of sites I can promote on, research formatting or people who can do my formatting, set up a facebook author page, etc.)

9. BUDGET! Don’t put yourself in debt. Now, I’m not saying that you can do this without spending any money. Unless you have mad Photoshop skills, know all the formatting rules and how to do it, etc., you’re going to have to spend some money. But, make your plan around your budget, so you aren’t adding financial stress to this process.

10. DON’T SKIMP! Please, don’t do this to yourself! You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your dream come true, but if you want it to take it seriously you need to take care of it and groom it for success. If you can get a cheap, sort of sloppy cover now, or save and get a cover you absolutely love that costs a little more by an experienced designer in a month or two, WAIT AND SAVE. If you can’t afford an editor, save until you can. NO ONE recommends publishing your novel when you are the only one that’s edited it. Why? Because even if you are an English Major, it’s unlikely you will catch all your own mistakes. Lets face it, most of us ARE NOT English Majors, and there will be errors in punctuation, grammar, word usage, spelling, plot holes, sentence structure, etc. that you just won’t see because you’ve stared at it for so long that it just won’t register. People are constantly complaining about the quality of books available on kindle and how there is such an obvious lack of polishing before publication. No one wants to read a book chocked full of errors or bad writing. Even if your story holds a lot of promise, if it’s obvious you edited it yourself (and failed) they won’t finish reading your book, and if they do they are unlikely to buy your next one.

11. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, whether it be in a group or of authors that you admire. A lot of them are super friendly, and more than happy to offer a helpful bit of advise. We’ve all been here, right? Just starting out, totally clueless, looking for someone wiser to share their insight. The worst they can do is ignore you, right? Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This goes for contractors as well (editors and cover artists, the person doing your formatting, etc.). If you are paying for a service, you have a right to ask questions, even if you think they are silly or you might be wasting someone’s time. Your time is just as important, and if they are a true professional they will not have any problem answering your questions.

And for now, I think I’ll stop! If you enjoyed this or found it helpful, leave a comment! I’d be happy to continue to share my novice insights, if anyone is interested

The Sacred Omegas Publication Updates

Hi all! Just dropping in to give you an update on December and Nikolai! The manuscript has returned from the editor, and I am currently sifting through the changes that need to be made. My goal is to have formatting and edits done by the end of the month, and send out ARC team signups the first of May.

Hope this update finds you all well! Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!

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What’s on my Kindle ‘Demon’s Mark’ Series by Nora Ash

Hello again! Sorry for the silence, I’ve been without internet for a while. It’s been torture. Torture I tell ya! Anyhow, here I am, back again! Thought I’d do another book recommendation today, since it’s Saturday and I know a lot of you are reading away the evening.

Today, we have the ‘Demon’s Mark’ Series by Nora Ash. Did I buy the whole series in one set? Yes. Because I could. I read so much, there was no point in only buying one book in the series, especially since a friend highly recommended them to me.

He is everything she fears – She is everything he needs.

Book 1-6 of the paranormal romance series Demon’s Mark.

After a lifetime of seeing demons, Selma Lehmann thought she had learned to tune them out and pretend like she was perfectly normal. As long as she stayed inside after dark and never looked one of them directly in the eye, she thought she would be safe.

She was wrong.

After a vicious attack, Selma finds herself locked in a psychiatric facility and at the mercy of her worst nightmare – a handsome young psychiatrist with a devil’s horns and eyes like fire.

He will do anything to break her, until she submits her body and soul to him.

The only person who can save her from the ruthless doctor is a Demon Lord with a tortured past and darkness in his heart.

But his price for saving her turns out to be far dearer than what Selma ever suspected.

In return for his protection, he wants her heart.

Demon’s Mark is a dark and very spicy paranormal suspense romance. The series contains mature content and is unsuitable for readers under the age of 18.

***

Ok, so this series was recommended to me after I expressed a need for something dark and demon-y. Let me tell you, it certainly scratched my itch. The way it started was entirely unexpected and unusual. Twists and turns abound.

While I will give you a spoiler and say there is love involved down the line, the aggressive, dominating, selfish, evil, dirty, demon filled goodness you get along the way was quite enjoyable! It’s definitely a new take on demon related fiction. I greatly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend the series

‘Wish me Real’ Chapter One, 1st Draft

Hey guys! I am working on a new novella while waiting for TSO to come back from the editor. Its a working title, and may change.

I would call it….Erotic Horror? But i am not telling you more than that. You will just have to read along and see! I will likely be posting it on wattpad as well! Let me know what you think as it develops!

***

“What the…”Cecily frowned as the car began to decelerate. A glance down at the now lifeless gauges confirmed the cause of the vehicle’s sudden loss of speed. The electronics had died. The engine was no longer running.

“No….No no no!” she wailed, banging her hands on the wheel in frustration. “You’re supposed to be fixed! Don’t do this to me again!”

With an angry growl, she angled the wheel off the road, bumping to a stop along the shoulder of the empty highway. She blew out a sigh as she put it in park, leaning across the passenger seat to open the glovebox. She retrieved a set of pliers and popped the hood release before clambering out of the vehicle in a huff.

Having dealt with the issue several times before, she checked the fuse box first. After a few minutes of cursing and wiggling, she popped the ignition relay loose of it’s mount. Holding it up to the light, the singed and discolored ends of the plug were plain as day.

“Crap.” The damn car had blown another fuse. Having been stranded on the side of the road last winter after numerous attempts to rectify the issue of blown ignition relay’s, she’d finally caved in and replaced the computer like the mechanic suggested. Hundreds of dollars and several months later, everything seemed to be going fine. Until now.

“It’s just like you, doing this to me now.” She muttered unhappily. “I’m so tired of this. You couldn’t wait until we got through the damned desert? You had to strand me in the middle of freaking nowhere?” She glared down at the old beater, feeling more than a little betrayed. “Most people would have scrapped you by now, you know?” She dropped the hood, letting it slam down with more force than was necessary, as if to illustrate her disappointment to a car that obviously didn’t care. “No appreciation. None at all.”

Cecily pulled her phone out of her pocket, checking for a signal. Of course, there was none. Way out here in the middle of the Arizona desert, she’d known it wasn’t likely. Still hopeful, she wandered down the highway with her phone extended above her head, searching for bars. She’d probably walked half a mile back and forth along the stretch before she gave it up as a lost cause and started looking for higher ground. Off the right side of the road in the distance was an abandoned fuel station, and behind it was a rocky outcrop whose incline looked gradual enough to climb without much difficulty.

With a wary glance at the overcast sky, she returned to the car and transferred her belongings to the trunk. Her windows were down, and the sunroof was open. If it was going to rain, she didn’t want the interior AND her belongings ruined. She grabbed a bottle of water and a granola bar from her snack bag, stuffed her license and credit cards in her pocket, and clipped her keys on her beltloop before setting out towards the fuel station.

While the thick clouds overhead made the heat more bearable, the humidity was oppressive. By the time she made it to the parking lot of the fuel station her tank top was soaked through and her shorts were clinging uncomfortably. She stopped under the overhang, leaning back against the pile to rest. “I thought the desert was supposed to be a dry heat.” She grumbled, tugging at her shirt in annoyance.

A booming crack of thunder was her reply. Worried she had waited too long, Cecily darted out from beneath the under hang, intent on reaching her goal before the rain started. As she rounded the old building, she realized just how poorly she’d judged the distance to the hill. It was larger than it seemed from the car, and probably just as far from her current location as she had been from the gas station when she started.

At the corner of her eye, something moved in the shadows of the building. Her body went rigid, all five senses immediately shifting focus to identify the potential threat at her back. Cecily held her breath, forcing herself to turn around. Slowly, very slowly, she pivoted in the direction from which she’d come.

There, amid the refuse piled haphazardly along the back of the building, stood a massive dog. Erect ears were pointed forward, the intensity with which the amber colored eyes focused on her making it clear she had its attention. The rust and black of a long, wirey coat did little to hide the way the beast’s ribs and hips protruded, an obscenely obvious indication that the creature was malnourished. Somehow, this knowledge did little diminish the potential threat, given its size. Its head would easily reach her chest. Swallowing nervously, Cecily took a breath.

“Hi there, friend.”

One ear flickered in response, the creature’s head angling ever so slightly as it continued to stare back at her from the shade of the building. While it seemed wary, its posture remained neutral. She didn’t see any tell-tale signs of aggression in the animal’s stance, though she knew not all dogs gave warning before resorting to violence.

“Did someone dump you out here?” she asked softly, trying to keep the nervousness she felt from bleeding into her voice. After all, the dog was obviously starving. She wasn’t certain how it would behave. For all she knew, it was feral. “Are you lost?” A cursory glance didn’t show any evidence of a collar and knowing there were no homes or towns for miles in either direction, she thought it unlikely the dog had ended up here by chance. After a moment of silent consideration, the beast took a tentative step forward.

Carefully, she pulled the granola bar out of her pocket. The creature’s eyes shifted to her hands, watching as she peeled back the wrapper. As she broke off one end of the bar, the dog licked its lips and took another step forward.

She broke the piece into several smaller ones, tossing the first chunk at the dog’s feet. It dipped its massive head, sniffing and huffing over the oat and honey cluster only briefly before snapping it up. Its eyes narrowed as it crunched, an almost reverent look transforming the creature’s face. Cecily’s tension eased minutely. It was just a dog, she reminded herself. A hungry, miserable dog.

When it was through, the dog lifted its head as it licked its chops, eyeing the bar in her hands with less than subtle suggestion. “You like that, huh?” she tossed another piece its way, and was embarrassed at how she startled when it caught the second chunk midair with another snap of its teeth. She threw one more piece, backing away slowly. “So, I’ve got to try to make a call before it rains. If you’re still around when I come back, I’ll give you some more. How’s that?”

The dog picked its way out of the debris, following her retreat. “It’d be really awesome if you didn’t attack me when I turned around. Ok? So just, just…STAY!” she put her hand up, palm out. To her relief, the creature stopped. “Good…” she paused, tilting her head to see if she could tell the sex of the dog from a distance. “Boy. Yup. You’re definitely a boy. Good boy! Stay!”

She backed away a little further before cautiously turning her back on him. A light rain was already speckling her shoulders as she walked quickly towards the rocks, glancing over her shoulder occasionally to make sure the dog hadn’t decided to come after her. He didn’t. He remained where she’d left him, seemingly obeying her command. It was a small relief, considering she was still stranded in the middle of nowhere with a storm approaching.

As the rain came down more heavily, she broke into a trot. She was only a little over halfway to the rocks when the sky opened up and poured a tidal wave down on her head. Cursing, she turned tail and ran back towards the station. It wouldn’t do her any good climbing to the top of that blasted hill if she drowned her phone in the process.

The dog was gone, no doubt seeking dryer ground. A good idea, she thought. Cecily didn’t slow down until she was under the canopy that once housed the pumps, panting and glaring out at the wall of water with frustration as she tried to catch her breath.

A glance up at the sky told her it wasn’t likely to let up any time soon. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, holding it up hopefully. There were no bars. “Of course not.” With a sigh, she stuffed it back in her pocket and looked over her shoulder at the station behind her.

It was a rat trap of a building, but she’d bet it was dry. There might even be somewhere to sit down while she waited for the rain to subside, she thought. The fact that the glass door was both intact, and ajar, seemed like an incredible stroke of luck. She sprinted from the lot to the station, slipping through the open door into the musty darkness without hesitation. After all, there wasn’t another car for miles. She was relatively certain no one was hiding inside, waiting to do her bodily harm.

Cecily paused just inside the door, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dimness of the interior. As it did, the details of the space were revealed. From the ceiling, several of fluorescent light fixtures hung haphazardly from their chains, dangling like cattle carcasses in a butcher house freezer. The floor was littered with broken bits of tiles and insulation from the failing ceiling above, the remnants of a few shelving units standing alone in the center of the room.

As she picked her way inward, she noted the track of floor beneath her was cleaner than the rest. The color of the tile showed through here, not caked with years of dust and sand like the rest of the interior. The damp and muddy paw prints she saw there explained why. It was an animal trail. The dog was living in the gas station.

Knowing he was inside made her more cognizant, considering what might happen if she startled him in his ‘den’.

“Hey buddy, are you in here?” she sing-songed softly as she tip-toed along his trail and rounded the edge of the counter. She pulled the remainder of the granola bar out of her pocket, and the crinkling of the wrapper spawned a flurry of shuffling and nail clicking from behind the counter. As he stood up his shoulders came into view, followed shortly after by his nose as he pushed the swinging door out and stared up at her expectantly.

Cecily smiled, dropping a piece of granola on the floor in front of him. He picked it up without bothering to inspect it, obviously not concerned about its origins. When the dog shouldered his way through the opening, it was all she could do not to back up as he invaded her space. But he only seemed interested in the granola bar, so she stayed.

This time, she fisted the piece instead of dropping it on the floor. As she looked down on him, she tried to remember what she’d learned when she volunteered at an animal shelter in her youth. Very slowly, angled her body away. Facing dogs head on was often seen as a challenge, or at the very least intimidating. While she doubted either would be an issue for this brute, it didn’t hurt to make the effort. Letting out a nervous breath, she gingerly folded her legs beneath her as she crouched down beside him. Like feeding an apple to a horse, she extended the tidbit in an open hand with her palm up. He made eye contact first, then looked towards the food in her hand.

He hesitated briefly before craning his neck to take her offering without coming any closer. As opposed to the snapping teeth of his prior eagerness, the dog was gentle when it took the small cluster from her hand. She emptied the rest of the crumbs into her palm, biting her lip against another smile as she watched him lap at the remnants of the snack bar. When her hand was empty and his tongue was still dragging across the skin of her palm, she wrinkled her nose and retracted.

“That’s all for now, buddy. I’ll get another one when it stops raining, ok?”

He moved forward abruptly, pressing his nose against her jeans pocket without invitation. He snuffled and exhaled loudly, as if he was searching for evidence that she’d lied about there being no more granola. With a final press of his nose the dog gave what sounded like an agitated huff before slipping the rest of the way through the swinging door and circling out around Cecily.

She watched as he clicked his way to the entrance on too-long nails, where he would stop and stare out at the rain for several moments. The dog sneezed and shook its head, abandoning the dismal view and returning to where she had seated herself against the counter.

With a grunt of discomfort, the beast lowered himself to his belly in front of her. He angled his head over one front leg, which seemed to serve a dual purpose in giving himself a pillow on which to rest and allowing him to keep an eye on her. Which he did, closely. Cecily shrugged at him, blowing out a sigh as she drew her knees up against her chest and clasped her hands around them. “Things could always be worse, right?”

One furry ear twitched, and she’d almost swear his lip twitch in a grimace. But he couldn’t understand her, so she knew she had to have imagined it. Not that it mattered, really. There was no one here to judge her for having a conversation with an animal.

The dog’s current position displayed his state of neglect more prominently. The light filtering in from the door highlighted the vertebrae of his spine amongst the patchy and matted coat of wiry hair, the prominence of his ribs accented by each breath that filled his lungs. His flanks were thin and lacked any real muscle definition, and his knees were spindly and jutting. Cecily frowned.

“I’m really sorry you’ve been stuck out here. People are assholes.” The dog shifted its head slightly, his large brown eyes focused intently on her as she spoke. “Well, most people. Not all of us.” She paused, studying him as he watched her. “I’d ask you how long you’ve been here, but I have a feeling you won’t tell me.”

The dog huffed again, rolling his eyes before turning away from her. Now, she was staring at the back of his head. Cecily frowned, feeling mildly unnerved the by the coincidental timing of her bad joke and his deciding to ignore her. With another shrug, she let the thought go. “Well, then. I guess everyone’s a critic.” With an eyeroll of her own, she stretched out her legs and slouched against the counter as she looked up at the dilapidated ceiling. There was nothing to do but wait out the rain. “Don’t worry buddy, I’ll hold down the fort and make sure no one murders us while you take a nap.”

***

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What’s on My Kindle ‘Red Russia’ Tanya Thompson

This week on ‘What’s on my Kindle’, I’ve got ‘Red Russia, by Tanya Thompson. It’s a total departure from what I usually download, but the cover alone made me want to give it a shot.

“Red in tooth and claw. Ferociously brilliant.” – Cosmo Russia

“A dark, hilarious satire.” – Moscow Truth.

“I laughed so hard I vomited half liter of blood and alcohol.” – Mikhas, Pakhan of the Solntsevskaya Bratva.

Every adventure starts as a fool’s journey, and if you’re lucky it ends with the aeon, but that’s just the Tarot talking. No one really believes this mystical hocus-pocus nonsense, no more than they believe in divinity or fate.

But what if you’ve seen Death running wild with the Devil? What if the Devil promised you the Moon? And when you accepted, the Devil drew Death into a dance with the shadows, spooks, and assassins of Russia’s political underworld? What then?

Well then, you pray the fates are on your side and the deck stacked in your favor.

Red Russia is the story of two Americans in Russia, of business, lies, and deception, of fortunes bought and told.

**

Well. I don’t even know how to describe it, other than it’s a trip. The way the author writes sucks you in immediately, and you want to continue reading more because her insanely dry sense of humor makes her story all the more interesting.

I honestly, can’t even describe it. I’m so used to reading smut that this total departure from my norm has left me speechless. It’s dark, in a way. It’s funny (though not in a ‘for all ages’ sort of way), and it’s got a surprising amount of depth. Look at the cover. That alone should earn it a spot on your kindle.

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What’s on my Kindle ‘Hunting the Renegade Omega’ by M.D. Pentacles

On today’s episode of ‘what’s on my kindle’, I’m featuring an Omegaverse author who  gives every self-respecting author of smut a run for their money.

They scent her heat… And now the hunt is on…

A pack of six males—banished from the safety of civilization for crimes committed and untold mayhem—must survive in the beyond. Maimed for their misdeeds, they are left without technology or shelter. Without even the comfort of a woman… until now.

**

Ok, so, first off…If you don’t like dirty, filthy, salacious fun, this book probably isn’t for you. If like myself, however, you do enjoy it, then I have great news! This is the first book in a series! There are several novels out currently, with more to come!

Renegade is unlike any other omega we’ve seen thus far. She is survivor, living beyond the crust, all alone. But she’s not sad about it. In fact, she takes what she wants from life. In this case, that includes half a dozen males that she lures into her trap while she’s in heat. The author has a fresh, original take on Omegaverse ‘mythos’, and she’s made it all her own. Truly, enjoyable!

Uh. M.D. Pentacles, is the queen of filth. Seriously. Bow down and worship the delicious depravity she unleashes with each new novel! If you like Omegaverse and filth, then read this book…No, like…Do it NOW!

 

My ‘Writing’ Play List

Just for fun, I thought I’d share the list of songs and artists that I use to inspire my writing. It varies widely, from sweet to murderous. If you haven’t heard of them, check em out

What’s on my Kindle ‘Brute’ Loki Renard

It’s that time again. Another round of ‘what’s on my kindle’. Today, we’re looking at ‘Brute’ by Loki Renard.

He wants me, and he takes what he wants.

I thought my scheme was foolproof, but the alien brute caught me. Now I’m going to pay.

I will not just be punished. I will be owned. He is going to use me roughly, savagely, taking me in ways I didn’t think it would be possible for such an enormous beast to take a little human.

As one painfully intense climax after another is ripped from my naked, quivering body, I’m certain he is not even close to being done with me… and I’m not sure I want him to be.

Publisher’s Note: Brute includes spankings, sexual scenes, intense and humiliating punishments, and strong D/s themes. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

Well, so…It’s smutty. I’ll be honest, most of what I read is smutty. >.>

It’s a fun little sci-fi jaunt that will have you checking over your shoulder covertly to make certain no one can see what you’re reading. Guilty pleasure, that’s what this is.

Did I enjoy it? Yes. Mr. Dirty Alien intent on teaching the bad little human a lesson is kinda hot. That’s right. You spank that squealing little brat that tried to cheat you out of your prize! She likes it, anyway.

It’s first person, which I’m not the biggest fan of. But, the characters are easy to discern. They speak in wholly different ways, which is kind of a nice change. There’s a story line, and it works well. But don’t expect a literature masterpiece. It’s designed to be fun and dirty, and it definitely delivers. If you like aliens, sci-fi, and smut…Give it a whirl!

 

‘The Sacred Omegas’ Update!

Good evening everyone!

Just stopping by with a little update on December and Nikolai’s book.

The second draft is officially done! I’m finalizing contract details with the editor now, and will be sending it off this week. Hopefully, I will receive the editors recommendations before the end of the month and will be able to finalize the third (and hopefully) final draft.

I will then be sending off for one or two ‘alpha’ readers to check it over.

Don’t kid yourself. Self-Publishing is a lot of work

Seriously. To all of the authors out there that have gone through establishing their own brand, registering fictitious names, gaining business recognition, researching the legalities of publication and how to protect your work, opening business accounts, managing multiple social media accounts, writing service agreements, writing your work, editing your work, researching editors and proofreaders, finding cover artists and formatting services, etc. Dear god. You deserve an award.

No, seriously. You obviously LOVE what you do whole-heartedly or you wouldn’t put yourself through this. Haha.

There is a big difference between writing a book and slapping it on Amazon and actually approaching publication as a business. Holy hell, is there a difference. (The first is considered a hobby, by most states. The second requires more work on your part to actually be taken seriously by the state/government as a business)

Lets just pick a random point of reference.

For instance, did you know that if you use the free ISBN’s provided by amazon, it limits the market available to you for selling your book? You don’t own the ISBN. Amazon does. From what I understand, a lot of book dealers won’t handle books with these ISBN’s off site. I’m not even positive whether or not you are allowed to sell them off site if you choose to use their ISBN, I haven’t gotten that far in my research.

What I do know is, you also need a different ISBN for each version of your book. Ebook, soft cover, hard cover, re-print, etc. You can’t buy them from other people, or used, you have to buy them new from Bowker because that ISBN can only ever be assigned to that ONE book, you can’t change it. Crazy, right? Oh and something else? YOU GOTTA BUY YOUR OWN BARCODES >.> You know, the little barcode on the back of the books you pick up in the store? Yeah, you need to buy one that will match your ISBN.

Also? In some states if you plan to use a Pen Name you are required by law to register that name as a fictitious name in your state, or a DBA ( Doing Business As). Not every state, mind you. But some.

To avoid paying tax on your books when you purchase them for sale, and to be eligible for wholesale prices, you need to be registered as a business. You need an EIN. It’s free, it’s quick, but you still have to do it. If you want that perk, that is.

There are different types of business entities you can claim. Sole proprietorship, LLC., lots more that don’t really apply but you still need to be familiar with.

Oh, and you need to keep track of every. single. business. related. receipt. Did you purchase paper for the printer? A file box? Assets for cover work? A new computer? PENS? >.> Keep the receipts. You’ll need them at tax time.

If you make over a certain amount of money during the year on your ‘hobby’, you get to pay taxes. So you gotta keep track of what you earn, and see what your states guidelines are so you know how much you might be expected to pay (those receipts will help offset some of that if you are actually operating as a business of course, but I’m not sure how much they help if it’s just a ‘hobby’)

Of course, this is only the beginning. There are SOOOOOOO many things you have to consider if you are attempting to make an actual business of your writing and not a hobby.

If you want to make a business of it, but you haven’t heard of any of the things I’ve just mentioned? Please. PLEASE do some research. It’s really not as easy as it seems, and you might screw yourself royally if you don’t cover all your bases.

To all of you self-publishing authors out there, working your asses off on a daily basis to keep your dream alive? I salute you, good sir (or madam, or person)

That is all.