Candice Jarrett's Blog, page 2

Getting My Book on Goodreads

Today, I got accepted into the Goodreads author program. It was super easy… once I jumped some really serious hurdles

Goodreads won’t classify you as an author until your book is available for pre-sale or live to purchase. After Amazon approved my listing today (Oh yes, did I mention my book is AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER?!) I immediately applied to GR to get the ball rolling. The librarians approved it lightning fast and both epic things were able to happen in the same day. 

I joined Goodreads in 2019 after I had finished writing the first draft of Mortal Tether (then with its working title Plague of Ashes) and have been using GR as a reader, leaving reviews for books and getting recommendations from friends. It is a fun site I really enjoy, and I can’t describe how happy that little author badge next to my name makes me feel. 

My author profile on Goodreads
Mortal Tether on Goodreads

In other news...

As I was going through the process of claiming my Goodreads Author profile, setting up my book’s page on Amazon, etc… I’ve been screen recording the process to make video tutorials for other authors (or aspiring authors) who want to put their work out there. Since I am a video editor + author combined, I figure I am in a position to able to help people with my experience. So, you can expect to see a bunch of helpful author-related videos from me in the near future. 

To that effect, I have recently changed the urls of my ElectraFox social media to make it easier for people to find me. Most of them are now @ElectraFoxBooks. If you’re a writer who needs help with book marketing, affordable book trailers, formatting, cover design, promotional materials, swag, etc. etc. you are definitely going to want to check out my new video series. 

ElectraFox Links:

https://facebook.com/electrafoxbooks
https://twitter.com/electrafoxbooks
https://instagram.com/electrafoxbooks
https://pinterest.com/electrafoxbooks
https://youtube.com/@bookvideos
https://tiktok.com/electrafoxbooks

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Debut Novel Announced

Five years. That’s how long it’s taken this book to come to fruition. It’s gone through so much to get here… but all the years of hard work and multitude of sleepless nights have finally paid off.

Mortal Tether is the first novel that I will publish. It’s ready. 

Now comes the next chapter – gearing up for the release. Over the next months, you’ll see a lot of updates from me as I progress along this path. There’s so much to do – but the excitement will power me through it. 

The Story

The Cost of Saving a Life is Steep

Ashes rained down from the heavens, carrying with them an airborne virus capable of twisting all adults on the planet into immortal monsters that hunt children each nightfall. These creatures can never die, but they can kill. And the infection is spreading. When forces of both good and evil plot to trade innocent lives for the survival of the human race, thirteen-year-old Amaia must risk everything to rescue the only family she has left from a horrifying fate. Amaia will find the people  she runs to for help… are the monsters she should truly fear. WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Save the world? or the people you love? #gap-812432646 { padding-top: 30px;} Early Reviews

“I was practically (maybe even literally) holding my breath while reading. The tension is insane and I absolutely love it.”
– Beta Reader Review

 

“I was catapulted from chapter to chapter with the sheer momentum the pace created”
– Beta Reader Review

 

“From the very beginning, I was hooked. The imagery is great, and I was able to picture every scene as I read it. I wanted to know what was going on and what will happen next. “
– Beta Reader Review

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ISBNs Made Easy

If you are getting ready to self-publish your novel, you might be wondering if you need an ISBN and how many to purchase. Here’s an easy, no-frills breakdown of what you need to know.

What is an ISBN?

An ISBN is a unique number used to identify a book established by the company Bowker. No two books will have the same ISBN. In most instances, distributors require you to have an ISBN, and you can choose to purchase your own or have one assigned to you (more on that later).

How Many ISBNs Do I Need?

Each format of a book (audiobook, paperback, hard cover, .mobi, .epub, etc) will all have to have separate ISBNs. 

How Can I Get a Free ISBN?

If you publish through Amazon KDP, they will assign you an ISBN. However, you cannot use this Amazon-issued ISBN to sell your book on other platforms yourself. The same goes for Barnes & Noble Press. When B&N gives you a free ISBN, it’s only to be used on their platform.

IngramSpark offers ISBNs for self-published authors in the U.S. if you purchase their service. ($49 for print+ebook or $25 for ebook only). Again, using this *free* ISBN, you are limited to only distributing the book through Ingram using the given ISBN and can’t take that ISBN to other distributors.

In all these cases, if you are using the ISBN they have generated for you, Amazon, B&N, and IngramSpark will be listed at the publishers of your book respectively. If you want to appear as your own publisher, you must purchase an ISBN separately and input your own ISBN when setting your book up through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or IngramSpark.

What Distributors Provide Free ISBNs and Barcodes?AmazonIngramSpark (with distributor fee)Barnes and Noble PressIs there an Instance I Don’t Need an ISBN?

If you are ONLY going to make your book available through Amazon KDP as an ebook, then Amazon will assign you an ASIN instead of an ISBN. However, if you are going to distribute your book as paperback, you will need your own (or have Amazon assign you) an ISBN. 

I Prefer to Buy My Own ISBN, Where Do I Get One?

There are a few ways. The way where you retain the most control and act as your own publisher is by purchasing through Bowker directly here. 

Current Pricing:

1 ISBN = $125 USD

10 ISBNs = $295 USD

100 ISBNs = $575 USD

1,000 ISBNs = $1500 USD

Wow, That’s Expensive! Is There a Cheaper Option?

Yes. There are companies that resell ISBNs at discounted rates, however, there are also scams selling fake ISBN numbers that will end up being useless. So, you need to be careful and do your research. Once an ISBN is assigned to a book, it’s assigned to that book for the life of the book and cannot be changed. The safest way to ensure your ISBN is authentic and set up correctly is to purchase through Bowker itself.

There are discounted options to buy a single Bowker ISBN through Amazon ($99) and IngramSpark ($85). Click the company names for more info on each discount. 

Is ISBN the Same as a Barcode?

No. The Barcode is a machine scannable graphic that is derived from an ISBN number. It is essential if you are going to sell your book in physical stores because this is what the cashier will scan at the checkout.

Are Barcodes Free?

You will need to purchase a barcode separately if you are purchasing your ISBN from Bowker.

Amazon, Barnes and Noble Press, and Ingram Spark will all generate barcodes for you based on your ISBN and don’t require a separate purchase.

Good Luck!

Now, that you’ve got a basic overview of ISBNs, you are one step closer on your self-publishing journey! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below!

 

 

 

*Disclaimer: This information should not be taken as legal advice. This site is not responsible for any products or services rendered by the companies discussed here and their terms and pricing may be subject to change.

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Top 5 Biggest Self-Publishing Mistakes in 2021

Self-publishing in 2021 is both easier and harder than ever. Anyone can write a book and launch it on Amazon, but will anyone read it? Writer Twitter is chock full of heart broken self-published authors who are frustrated that no one is reading the book that they’ve poured their heart and soul into.

This blog “Top 5 Publishing Mistakes in 2021” may be a little bit of tough-love advice, but if you are getting ready to publish your first book, these 5 self-publishing mistakes are things you might want to watch out for.

5. Assuming just because your book is on Amazon, people will buy it.

Amazon is currently the biggest marketplace for books, and anyone can self-publish a novel these days. That doesn’t mean readers will be able to easily find your book on the platform. In some cases, searching a book’s exact title won’t even yield that book in Amazon’s search results. The hard truth is that on Amazon your book will be buried under a mountain of other books. Even advertising on Amazon can be costly and difficult, yielding disappointing results. Putting all your eggs in the Amazon basket might mean that literally no one buys your book.

That doesn’t mean I’m saying your book shouldn’t be on Amazon. Of course it should. I’m saying that you need to:

diversify the places your book is availablenot rely on Amazon to market your book (because they won’t)4. Publishing your first draft.

If you can hire a professional editor, definitely do that. You can find a whole bunch of editors on Reedsy. Their profiles list their past clients, credentials, and reviews. You can request price quotes from up to five editors at once for a project and you can dial in editors who specialize in your specific genre.

Not everyone can afford a professional editor, but your book still needs to be edited to a professional standard. If you are unable to hire an editor, see if you can find critique partners and beta readers who have got an eagle eye for typos. These people are not an exact replacement for an editor, but I am just recognizing that a lot of writers can’t afford a pro-edit. In the absence of an editor, you are going to have to rely mostly on yourself to make sure your work is up to standard. Utilize free tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to help polish your manuscript. Be meticulous. Go over every single word with a fine-tooth comb. You’ll need to roll up your sleeves and do the hard work of making sure that it is publication-ready before you release it to the public.

3. Underestimating the importance of sales copy.

People judge books by their covers, but what is the first thing that people notice after the cover? SALES COPY! This is the description of the book that entices people to buy it. Don’t skimp on editing the sales copy and making sure that it is the absolute best it can possibly be.

I purchased a book called How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis by Bryan Cohen that I found very helpful for writing eye-catching sales copy! Definitely recommend.

2. Choosing an unreadable font on your cover.

Sure that font looks super elegant and pretty… but what does it say? These days, attention spans are shorter than ever. People need to instantly know what your book’s title is sans-guesswork. 

Make sure you choose a font that is legible even at thumbnail size. Often times, your book’s thumbnail will be the first time someone sees your book on a website. If a potential reader can’t read your title when it’s a thumbnail, they might not click on it.

And please note: adding a drop-shadow to a font doesn’t make it automatically readable. 

1. Releasing Your Book Too Fast

This one is a hot button topic that might make me unpopular with some indie authors.

After you’ve spent months or years writing your book and polishing your manuscript, you might be tempted to just sign up for KDP and send it out into the world. I get it. I really do. But unless you are trying to immediately capitalize on a current, hot, news-worthy trend, you’re doing your book a disservice by rushing to publication without a plan.

Traditional publishers often schedule a book’s release for an entire YEAR after the book is finished. Yes, I realize that’s a crazy long time when in a few clicks of your fingers you could publish it in 10 minutes. But what are traditional publishers doing during that time? Not sitting on their hands. They are busy making sure that the book’s launch is a success by:

Reaching out to book bloggers for coordinated marketing effortsGenerating pre-salesSending ARCs through services like NetGalley to generate advance reviews prior to publicationHaving the author create buzz on social media including book giveaways, cover reveal, book swag, countdowns to launch day, etc.Making a book trailerOrganizing a book tour (now a lot of authors are doing them virtually because of COVID.)Press-releases

These are all things that you can do too, but they take time. Debbie Macomber has a really cool book launch checklist, see how many of these things you could use in your own book marketing plan… and most importantly, give your launch plan the time it needs to be properly executed.

I hope these tips are helpful to you as you get ready to launch your very own book! Remember, in the absence of a publisher, you have to wear a lot of hats yourself. But with proper planning and effort, you can make your book’s launch a success!

Good luck on your self-publishing journey and happy writing!

 

The post Top 5 Biggest Self-Publishing Mistakes in 2021 appeared first on Candice Jarrett.

Can You Use KDP and IngramSpark at the Same Time?

With all the options available for self-publishing these days, and how easy it is to do, you might be wondering if you can manage some of your distributors yourself to cut out the middle man and earn more money.

After researching royalty rates through IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, and Barnes and Noble Press, I wondered if I could distribute myself through all three services if I have my own ISBN and don’t let them assign me a free one. 

It is difficult to get your books in libraries, schools, indie bookstores, etc. as an indie author. Using IngramSpark would make that hurdle much easier to jump and is something Amazon KDP and Barnes and Noble Press don’t offer.

So, I reached out to IngramSpark with this question:

Q. Can I choose what partners I want IngramSpark to distribute to? For example, can I distribute to Amazon and B&N myself (I have my own ISBN) and have IngramSpark to deliver everywhere else? (libraries, bookstores, etc)? 

Three hours later, IngramSpark sent me this reply. 

Brad P. (IngramSpark)
Mar 29, 2021, 6:10 PM CDT

Hello Candice,If you are using IngramSpark for distribution, individual retailers can’t be selected to receive or not receive your title. The information for your title is sent to everyone in Ingram’s global distribution network.Best,
Brad
IngramSpark Customer Support Team

At first, I accepted this answer as “No, you cannot use both” but I kept digging when I downloaded IngramSpark’s PDF on the merits of paid vs unpaid ISBNs and came across this little tidbit:

Distribution: if you purchase your ISBN, you can publish it on other platforms. IngramSpark distributes your book to Amazon, but if you wanted to publish through IngramSpark and Amazon directly, you cannot use either platforms’ free ISBN to upload your book to the other. Owning your own ISBN allows you more distribution freedom than free ISBNs.

This got me thinking, perhaps I asked the wrong question because I am imagining their interface based on my experience with my music distributor’s interface where we can choose which platforms the music is sent to.  

So, my next step was to actually create an IngramSpark account to get a peek at their terms and conditions, see the flow of their UI, and discover what options are available when you’re setting your book up in their system. This was going to require some rolling-up of my sleeves.

When you sign up for an IngramSpark account, you see this:

As you can see, there are separate agreements covering ebook distribution to Amazon that are OPTIONAL agreements.

My next step was to read through IngramSpark’s UserGuide to see if I could clear this up. Here’s what I found on page lucky number 13:

The part that stood out to me was this:

You can have your book in your own IngramSpark account and available for sale through Ingram’s global distribution network AND have it in your Amazon CreateSpace or Kindle Publishing (KDP) account, so long as you do not use their Expanded Distribution option.

Questions Questions and More QuestionsBut since the optional agreements concerning distribution to Apple and Amazon clearly say they deal with ebooks, how does this affect existing paperback distribution through Amazon KDP?What happens if a book is distributed through Barnes and Noble Press and then distributed through IngramSpark? Does it violate the terms? Or does the Barnes and Noble Press agreement supersede IngramSpark’s if it was created first?

I don’t know the answer, but I’ll keep digging until I find out. I’ve got another email out to IngramSpark’s Customer Support and will update this blog with information as I get it.

Update April 1, 2021: 

I received another email from IngramSpark’s customer support that was AMAZINGLY HELPFUL! (He spelled my name wrong, but that’s ok)

Hi Candace,

If you want to use both IngramSpark and Amazon KDP, you can do that. Just be sure you don’t select the Expanded Distribution service they offer. This article should explain more about it: Amazon: Can I Set Up My Print Book With KDP and IngramSpark?

Sincerely,
Brad

IngramSpark Customer Support Team

YAY!!! I finally got the answer. As per the webpage Brad sent me:

IngramSpark is non-exclusive. You can set up your book on your IngramSpark account and sell it through our global distribution network, plus you can use other printers, distributors, fulfillment services, or any companies you choose to work with.

The problem is on Amazon’s side, because the expanded distribution on Amazon locks you into their service. Furthermore, Amazon KDP actually USES Ingram for their expanded distribution, so in reality, Amazon is the middle man!!!

The plot thickens.

Then there’s this juicy tidbit:

If you want your book available through IngramSpark and Amazon, unless something has changed at KDP, you would have to remove expanded distribution services and have the title, ISBN, and files transferred to your IngramSpark account, which you would activate first. Then your book could be available through Ingram and Amazon. If you decide to do this, there is a transfer process and an addendum that has to be completed by you, the publisher, and KDP would have to approve the transfer.

Note about ebooks:

If you have provided any e-books to Amazon for the Kindle in the past 12 months we will not be able to provide service to Kindle through the IngramSpark program. If it’s been at least 12 months since you uploaded any ebook titles to Kindle on your own, you can use IngramSpark to supply your ebooks to Kindle by accepting and signing the Amazon agreement.

So, there’s the answer. Yes, you can distribute through IngramSpark and Amazon KDP at the same time… as long as you’re not using KDP’s expanded distribution and as long as you pay attention to that note about ebook distribution above and make sure there’s no conflict. Furthermore, your ebook cannot be enrolled in KDP Select, which gives Amazon exclusivity over the ebook distribution.

As far as my other question regarding whether or not IngramSpark can deliver the hardcover format of a book to Amazon if KDP is handling the paperback/ebook. I reached out to an Amazon representative and they said that it should automatically link up if the metadata matches exactly. IngramSpark’s representative also confirmed that yes, the hardcover would still be distributed to Amazon.

Hope this article was helpful! Good luck on your publishing journey.

Twitter @CandiceJarrett

 

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