Rod Raglin's Blog, page 36

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191B3XDE?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 26, 2016 00:36

The cost of giving away free books

NROW_0006 My Goodreads giveaway https://www.goodreads.com attracted twelve hundred and seventeen entries to win four paperbacks. Loving the Terrorist received five hundred and thirty-four and Saving Spirit Bear six hundred and eighty-three.

I just mailed the books to the four winners and the postage was $51.50, half of that was to send one book to a winner in Australia.

Tip: You might want to limit the entries to Canada and United States unless you’re rich or have a big following overseas.

When you factor in what Createspace charged me for print-on-demand copies and shipping the entire giveaway cost $88.98

Results? I did garner one five star review on Goodreads for both Saving Spirit Bear and Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs and…hold on, what’s this, two hundred and sixty-five other Goodreads members have marked Saving Spirit Bear “to read”?

I’m flattered, but I’m thinking it might be a computer glitch.

Forty-five people took advantage of my LibraryThing e-book giveaway https://www.librarything.com of The Big Picture – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic. This cost me nothing except about an hour and a half sending emails.

So the question is which giveaway is better:

Goodreads with twelve hundred and fifteen entries and four paperbacks given away at a cost of $88.98?

or

LibraryThing with forty-five entries and forty-five e-books given away at no cost?

I’ll let you know, but considering I’m expecting the net result in reviews and sales from both giveaways to be little better than nothing I’m leaning toward the least expensive. I mean, wouldn’t you?

I see I have a royalty credit on Smashwords for $4.47 and Kindle Direct is sending me an electronic deposit for 35¢ USD (which will actually net out to about 45¢ CA), so once again I’m starting the year in a deficit position of about $84.00.

What was I thinking?

30

Abandoned Dreams

Special Preorder Price 99¢ ’til March 6, 2016

After March 6, $3.99

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at

Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

My new novels, FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and as e-books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin

Visit my publisher’s website for excerpts from, and a buy link to my Eco-Fi series ECO-WARRIORS Book 3, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92

ECO-WARRIOR Book 1, Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? is available at

ECO-WARRIOR Book 2, Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs is now available as in paperback at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music

http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaway/list

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 24, 2016 02:08

An algorithm that can pick a best-seller – go figure

FrostyFingers3_IMG_0034 copy

I recently discovered Inkitt. Actually, they discovered me through a website link on Goodreads(?).

Here’s the email I received from Mihaly Borbely:

“I was looking for romance authors on Goodreads, and found your contact through a website link. Here is something you might be interested in:

Inkitt is using data analysis to determine and predict the success of a novel. We are also working together with some of the world’s biggest publishing houses to publish any potential best-sellers we find. We are just about to sign a massive deal for a fantasy book series.

We are now looking for our next novel to publish – this time from the romance genre.

In partnership with the Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency, tomorrow Inkitt is launching a brand new romance writing contest. With a publishing deal and a $500USD prize on the line for the contest winner, this is a huge opportunity for romance authors. The judging panel is made up of bestselling authors Laurelin Page and Melody Grace, as well as literary agent Rebecca Friedman herself.

Here is the contest link: http://www.inkitt.com/swoon

So what is Inkitt?

Inkitt is a company based in Germany that is reaching out to new authors or writers with works in progress to upload stories to their website and have it read and peer-edited (reviewed) by other writers.

They also claim to have developed an algorithm that examines reading patterns of stories at the site to determine very early if a story will become a best-seller.

Unlike editors who according to Inkitt, are biased and make decisions on gut feelings, their data is unbiased and objective.

To support their theory they point to the twelve publishers who turned down Harry Potter and the fourteen who rejected Twilight.

I really find these “exceptions that prove the rule” arguments specious, as if there are thousands of masterpieces (likely one of yours, right?) that editors are indiscriminately tossing in the recycling bin.

Putting aside the claim Inkitt actually has technology that can pick a best-seller from among the many submissions they’re receiving, what they’re really offering is the same as Watt Pad, Kindle Scout, and the defunct Authonomy. Writers post their work and it’s “crowd critiqued”. The owners of the site then have the option to take the most popular stories (those with the most votes, most comments, most promising algorithm, etc.) further – or not.

Inkitt says there’s an additional the benefit of being peer edited (you read and comment on mine and I’ll return the favour) however this feature can be accessed on most online critique sites like Scribophile http://www.scribophile.com

I thought I’d test out Inkitt and so submitted my novel Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs to their Swoon Romance Novel Contest. Check it out at http://www.inkitt.com/stories/58597

Then I checked out some of the stories posted to assess the quality of submissions. Most are in the fantasy genre and the work amateurs. Hey, just saying. Most are incomplete and the “peer editing” comments, though warm and fuzzy, are not very constructive.

Suffice to say I don’t see many masterpieces coming from this digital slush pile, but you can decide for yourself. Check Inkitt out at http://www.inkitt.com/

I plan to keep my work on Inkitt at least until the contest ends on February 23 or they contact me and say Loving the Terrorist has tested positive for a best-seller and provide me with a list of publishers bidding on it.

Stay calm, be brave, watch for the signs

30

100 copies of The BIG PICTURE given away at

til Jan. 23, 2016 at

Abandoned Dreams

Special Preorder Price 99¢ ’til March 6, 2016

After March 6, $3.99

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191B3XDE?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at

Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

My new novels, FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and as e-books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin

Visit my publisher’s website for excerpts from, and a buy link to my Eco-Fi series ECO-WARRIORS Book 3, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92

ECO-WARRIOR Book 1, Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? is available at

ECO-WARRIOR Book 2, Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs is now available as in paperback at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/164880-saving-spirit-bear

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 15, 2016 22:51

Writing resolutions for 2016

IMG_0010 copy

With the New Year come resolutions.

Is this the year you begin, get back to, finish that novel you’ve been planning, working on, put away?

Well, good for you.

Maybe you’re thinking about taking an online course, going to a convention, or subscribing to some sort of writer’s motivational newsletter. Maybe you’ve got a completed manuscript and an inbox full of rejection slips and you’re considering self-publishing and are wondering how to launch that soon-to-be, out-of-nowhere bestseller? Perhaps you’ve already self-published and you’re wondering how to market that box of your books in the closet?

If you’re thinking about getting some help in any of these areas you might find this article helpful (discouraging?). I wrote it five years ago, updated three years ago, and have just now tweaked it with more relevant information (in brackets). With the surge of free and easy self-publishing sites it is, without a doubt, more relevant today than it’s ever been.

The Industry of Writers Teaching other Writers to Write

In less than a second (I have a very fast computer), my Google search engines provides me with the following:

How to write a query letter to a publisher – results 142,000 (five years ago 139,000)

How to pitch an editor – 56,100,000 results (8,500,000 results five years ago)

How to write fiction – 281,000,000 results (48,900,000 results five years ago)

Ever wonder why so many (more) writers are so keen to teach others how to write? Is it that writing somehow elevates the human spirit and elucidates the masses about esoteric concepts and endeavors?

Well, yes. That and money.

Here’s some statistics sobering statistics provided by a number sources:

– The average writer in Canada makes about $12,000 on book royalties.

– The average book in Canada sells 400 copies.

– In Canada a best seller is 5,000 copies.

I’m not even going to attempt the math, but suffice to say that the royalties for a best selling author in Canada would make his income below the poverty level – significantly.

The e-publishing industry is even more dismal. New Concepts Publishing, an e-publisher, had the courage to head up the submissions page of their website with the following royalty information from their stable of authors:

Science Fiction/Futuristic range: $127.89–$8455.46

Paranormal range: $78.00–$5673.50

Contemporary range: $55.18–$7913.78

Historical range: $75.16–$3863.12

Romantic Suspense range: $124.24–$1977.20

Fantasy range: $44.00–$4774.80

Average payout over the three year contract period $450.00

It’s estimated the average self-published author (anywhere) makes an average of $500 a year (I should be so wealthy).

How many hours did I put in writing my two (now six) e-published (paperback as well) novels? My wife could probably tell you, but there’s no question my hourly wage would be well below the minimum, probably closer to that of an itinerant laborer in a destitute third world country.

I’ve always believed, somewhat cynically I must admit, that those who can – do; and those who can’t – teach, give seminars, workshops, online courses, etc. I’ve rethought this now that I facilitate creative writing circles – yes, for money.

Poverty is a mighty motivator and who am I to act superior to other writers, the majority who are more skilled at the craft than myself? It does indeed take time away from my actual writing but I still adhere to the adage that “teaching is learning twice”.

Where am I going with this rambling piece, other than the poorhouse?

A while ago I had the opportunity to pitch a manuscript to an editor at a conference. Having been a sales person all my adult life it seemed to me nothing more than a cold call, of which I’ve made countless thousands.

However, my writing group loop was filled with anxious missives about what to say, how to say it, and how to present it. Was there more to this than being personable, knowing your product, and presenting it in a way to benefit the buyer? I decided to look at a few of the 8,500,000 results from my Google search.

Here’s some of the invaluable information I gleaned (actual quotes) about pitching your manuscript from a few of these sites:

– neatness counts when making first impressions… set the example by presenting a professional appearance. And leave the chewing gum, snacks, and cigarettes behind.

– remember, you must first believe in yourself and your work before you can persuade others to believe in it. Be proud of your writing.

– exude self-assurance, but not arrogance. It’s okay to convey enthusiasm, but temper your zeal with a patina of humility.

– pretend this is someone you’ve met at a party. Offer a personable handshake and some small talk to start things off in a relaxed manner. You’ll then find it easy to segue into the business at hand.

– take a couple of calming breaths before you go in, smile, and be yourself.

If you don’t think this is ridiculous and self-evident than consider the opposite. Would you go into an interview a looking dishevelled, chewing gum, giving attitude and being rude?

What does this say about the writing industry – or more specifically about all those conferences, the workshops and the online courses where writers advise, teach and coach other aspiring writers.

I was further dismayed when I took in the conferences keynote address delivered by a best-selling, making-the-circuit author. She focused on Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers – basically that practice, a lot of it, makes perfect.

No insights, no anecdotes, no secrets, not even any gossip.

I’m inclined to say that it’s all bogus. A self-serving undertaking capitalizing on the zeal and inexperience of those who dream of becoming successful writers.

Unfortunately, the best advice I’ve received about my writing comes from other writers, from discussions with them, and reading their how-to books.

It’s a conundrum.

So before seeing the editor (remember the editor?) I’m not taking any chances. I spit out my gum, slick back my cowlick, park my ego, take a few deep breaths, smile and introduce myself just like I would if I was meeting someone at a party.

Seven minutes later I’m out the door. He doesn’t ask to see my manuscript.

(And just as well, because shortly after this conference the publisher declared bankruptcy)

So you’re saying, all that’s old hat. This guy is not sophisticated at all. The way to publishing success is through social media.

Oh, really?

Last September I wrote an article for BookLikes and subsequently they invited me to be a guest blogger.

At the time, Booklikes had 3,143 followers on Twitter and 4,605 “likes” on Facebook. I don’t know how many members they have but they claim to be “The number one blogging platform for book lovers and the best way to discover new books”.

Then I discovered Promocave ,“A place for authors to find readers, and for readers to find books”. I posted my books free and submitted two articles, both which they published. Promocave says they have 16,046 followers on Twitter and 645 “Likes” on Facebook.

That’s nearly 20,000 new people on Twitter and over 5,000 on Facebook who had the opportunity to “discover” me and turn that interest into sales.

Despite all the social media exposure that month I didn’t sell one book.

This is further evidence to me, like I needed it, social media does not sell books. It also hints at something far more significant. Social media perpetrates the myth of popularity, but when put to the test nobody out there really “likes” you, “follows” you or supports you as a member of their “tribe”, at least not enough to buy your books.

So, if you’re an author, the best way to sell your books is…? I don’t know, but certainly not through social media or apparently not by any of the other methods I’ve attempted in the last year (see my previous blog: My 2015 Writing Year in Review).

So in 2016 my suggestion is to resolve to write better, and hope to get lucky,

Stay calm, be brave, watch for the signs

30

GIVEAWAYS

Enter to win a paperback of

SAVING SPIRIT BEAT or LOVING THE TERRORIST at

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/27032523-loving-the-terrorist

Contest ends January 8, 2016

100 copies of The BIG PICTURE given away at http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaway/list … til Jan. 23, 2016 at

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at

Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

My new novels, FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and as e-books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin

Visit my publisher’s website for excerpts from, and a buy link to my Eco-Fi series ECO-WARRIORS Book 3, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92

ECO-WARRIOR Book 1, Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? is available at

ECO-WARRIOR Book 2, Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs is now available as in paperback at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/164880-saving-spirit-bear

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 01, 2016 12:54

My 2015 writing year in review

MeBall_IMG_0008 This is my 2015 writing year in review.

You may want to read this for the following reasons:

– to see what I’ve tried in an attempt to promote my novels.

– to feel better about yourself because there’s someone less successful than you are.

January 2015

– I self-published FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend, as both an e-book on Smashwords and as an e-book and paperback on Amazon. I promoted the release on my website, blog, Twitter and sent about 200 personal emails to people who had expressed an interest in my work.

– My publisher released the paperback version of NOT WONDER MORE – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients.

March 2015

– I launched my video book review channel, Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Book Reviews on YouTube. These are reviews free from conflict of interest – not paid for, not swapped, not familiar in anyway. On it I review new work by self-published authors. Reviews are linked to Twitter and cover art is posted on my Pin Interest Page.

July 2015

– I began negotiating the release of two of my novels, Spirit Bear and Eagleridge Bluffs from my publisher as the contract had expired.

September

– I re-issued both these books on Smashwords as e-books and as e-books and paperbacks on Amazon independently and under slightly different titles: SAVING SPIRIT BEAR and LOVING THE TERRORIST – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs. Both were re-issued that month as paperbacks and the e-books were re-issued as pre-orders. Saving Spirit Bear was out two months, and Loving the Terrorist out three. Both were offered at a special pre-order price of 99¢ as opposed to $3.99.

These re-issues were promoted on my blog, website, Twitter, BookLikes, Promocave, and about 200 personal emails were sent to people who have expressed an interest in my work.

October

– I entered my new novel, The Widower, into the Kindle Scout promotion. This was also promoted on my blog, website, Twitter, BookLikes, Promocave, and about 200 personal emails were sent to people who have expressed an interest in my work.

– December

In an ongoing effort to produce clean and uncontaminated e-books I’m learning to purge corrupt formatting from my manuscripts with the help of Mark and his team at Smashwords. This is a result of reading so many poorly formatted books published by indie authors and not wanting my readers to get as exasperated as I do.

The first couple of times are frustrating but with a little (okay, a lot) of patience you too can learn to do this. You owe it to your books and your readers. Download a free copy of Smashwords Sytle Guide by Mark Coker at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52

I decided to try a Goodreads Giveaway. Until January 8, 2016, you can enter to win two paperback copies of both Saving Spirit Bear and Loving the Terrorist. Here are the links:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/164881-loving-the-terrorist-beyond-eagleridge-bluffs

The Widower has been re-named ABANDONED DREAMS and is now available on Smashwords and Amazon as a pre-order e-book, especially priced at 99¢ until it’s release March 6, 2016. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191B3XDE?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

I’m also giving away 100 e-books of The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic on LibraryThing. You can enter until January 26, 2016 at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191B3XDE?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

In addition, I’ve written 35 blogs (36 counting this one) and 52 book reviews.

What do I have to show for all the above?

– Royalties of $15.13 (and before you get all excited that’s Canadian, equivalent to 73¢ US)

– Blog followers 57, up maybe 5 this year

– BookLikes followers 288, up maybe 50 this year (friendly bunch)

– Promocave friends 6. All new and I don’t know where they came from since I don’t follow or friend anyone – though I do respond to comments.

I think you can safely say that nothing I’ve attempted has worked. Does that mean all these things – blogging, tweeting, networking, having a platform, pre-ordering, contests, voodoo (is that politically incorrect?) won’t work for you?

Probably, but not necessarily.

So, how do I feel about the past year?

Surprisingly, good.

The key, at least for me is to love what you do and have no expectations. And take satisfaction from small things like all my five of my novels now being available to borrow from the Vancouver Public Library, plus a couple (and I do mean two) absolutely glowing (blush) reviews that were unsolicited, came out of nowhere, written by perfect (yes, to me you’re perfect) strangers.

Look at it this way, in 2016 there’s nowhere to go but up.

You think?

Stay calm. Be brave. Watch for the signs.

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 26, 2015 20:12

Lucky – a harsh look at a hopeless situation

FrostHeaves2_IMG_0338 Ani is a photojournalist, back from an assignment in Iraq and suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. She’s got a book deal for photos she took while in Fallujah if she can ever sober up and sort out all the images she shot.

Ani is also haunted by the disappearance of Viva, her guide, interpreter and friend during her time in the Middle East.

Ani’s publisher introduces her to Levi in hopes he can encourage her to face her demons by getting to work on the book. Levi is a journalist who has covered the same beat as Ani and could perhaps provide empathy for her and text for the photos.

Author Kathryn Para skillfully weaves the past – Ani’s last assignment that took her to Fallujah, with the present – her deteriorating mental condition as a result of what happened there.

When Para recounts the past she uses the third person, for the present she uses the first person, a technique that works very well.

As the story unfolds it becomes apparent the key to Ani’s past and the salvation for her future are in the box of images she took in Fallujah, the ones she can’t bear to look at.

Lucky is a harsh story. Nothing good apparently has ever happened to Ani – her mother was bi-polar and was killed along with her father when their vehicle was hit by a fully loaded logging truck on an icy road. Her older brother is also dead. She can’t seem to have fulfilling relationships. Even her cat runs away.

The events she witnesses in Iraq and Syria are horrific. The people she meets duplicitous.

This reader had some difficulty understanding Ani’s motivation to become an imbedded photojournalist with the mujahidin defending Fallujah against the American assault. It seemed like a suicide mission – if she isn’t killed by American bombs and artillery, she’d likely be killed be the mujahidin as a spy or simply because she’s an infidel.

And for what, more photos of innocents suffering in the Middle East?

There also were a few significant instances of what I would consider author intrusion in the story. One where a folk tale is told by an old woman in great detail and at great length for no apparent reason, and another of a trip to Egypt where the same is repeated about Temple of Amun at Karak. Both these instances did not develop character or advance the plot and seemed to serve no purpose other than for the author to expound her knowledge of Syrian mythology and Egyptian antiquity.

There also were times when the author appeared to try too hard with her imagery and diction rejecting an appropriate word or phrase and reaching for something more original. Rather than enhance the narrative these too clever odd word pairings gave me pause and pulled me out of the reading experience.

When I finished this novel I was reminded of a quote by Anne Lamott in her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life:

“There’s no point writing hopeless novels. We all know we’re going to die; what’s important is the kind of men and women we are in the face of this.”

Though well conceived and constructed, and for the most part very well written, Lucky by Kathryn Para is just that, a hopeless novel.

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/164880-saving-spirit-bear

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 21, 2015 02:03

Goodreads giveaway – ever the optimist

trinityangel copy Two pre-order promotions for the re-issues of Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? and Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs, plus the Kindle Scout nomination promotion for The Widower, and, don’t forget, the corresponding blogs and tweets – it’s been a busy three months.

What do I have to show for it? One sale.

Ever the optimist I have uploaded The Widower to both Smashwords and Amazon as a pre-order which will be released March 6, 2016. That gives you plenty of time after paying your Holiday bills to save up 99¢ for this e-book.

I’m not sure about the wisdom of such a long pre-order period but since when did wisdom factor into anything I do regarding writing?

If you don’t think you can afford it (and, let’s face it, you haven’t before) you might

want to visit these sites and enter my Goodreads giveaway for two each of the above mentioned books as paperbacks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27032523-loving-the-terrorist

Contest ends January 8, 2016

I haven’t tried Goodreads before because their giveaways are only for actual books and I’ve been too cheap to offer up the books and pay the postage – which is like adding insult to injury in my opinion.

What’s changed? Did I suddenly come into a windfall?

Goodreads claims they’re the largest site for readers and book recommendations and that 40,000 people enter their giveaways everyday.

Four books x 40,000 views x 30 days … let’s just say I’m curious as to how many people actually request my books.

Watch for my year end blog coming soon entitled A Year of Futility.

Stay Calm, Be Brave, Watch for the Signs.

30

http://www.amazon.com/Rod-Raglin/e/B003DS6LEU

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 08, 2015 13:33

The distasteful business of self-promotion

If anything, self-promotion is more prevalent (and just as distasteful) now as it was when I originally wrote this article five years ago.

At that time Harper Collins had launched a website called authonomy.com. That site has since been closed. I don’t know why but perhaps they began to realize what I did right from the beginning – online votes, likes, recommendations, nominations – whatever you want to call them, don’t translate into sales.

Five years later and up steps Amazon with Kindle Scout, more or less the same deal. As you read this just substitute Amazon for Harper Collins and Kindle Scout for authonomy.com

I should mention I submitted my soon-to-be-release novel, The Widower for the Kindle Scout program (see my blog of October 24, 2015, Kindle Scout scouting for sales not quality). I didn’t get nominated and the title of this article is likely one of the reasons why, though I’m sure not the only one.

So some of you might consider this blog sour grapes. Would I still be writing this if I’d won the $1500 advance and a publishing contract? To that I say – I hope so.

The distasteful business of self-promotion

Most the lessons I’ve learned in life are not from people who excelled, but from people who were jerks, morons, mind-numbingly boring, or teeth grinding obnoxious. I have this moment when I realize I am or have been that person. I’ve actually displayed that kind of attitude or conducted myself in that manner. Believe me, this kind of epiphany is the best behavior modification I can think of.

This brings me to the subject of self-promotion, or self-aggrandizement, defined as “an act undertaken to increase your own power and influence or to draw attention to your own importance.” For me, even the definition, sounds distasteful and a huge personal turn-off. This is probably because, as a former aspiring politician, I’ve done so much of it myself – until, you guessed it, I had one of those behavioral modifying moments.

Second only to the previously mentioned calling, we writers seem to be the most flagrant self-promoters. Indeed, we are encouraged to be. Some agents and publishers, as part of their submission process, start by asking how we personally plan to promote our work – this even before they decide whether what is being submitted has merit. Many people in the industry suggest you begin building your profile even before you’re published. Just what you would say, and who would be interested I’m sure I don’t know.

A new twist to the self-promotion game came with the launching of Harper Collins website authonomy.com. Here’s what this publishing giant has to say about their site.

The site “…invites unpublished and self published authors to post their manuscripts for visitors to read online. Authors create their own personal page on the site to host their project – and must make at least 10,000 words available for the public to read.

“Visitors to authonomy can comment on these submissions – and can personally recommend their favourites to the community. authonomy counts the number of recommendations each book receives, and uses it to rank the books on the site.

HarperCollins hopes to find new, talented writers we can sign up for our traditional book publishing programmes – we’ll be reading the most popular manuscripts each month as part of this search.”

When you upload your manuscript or w.i.p. you immediately receive requests from other authors basically saying, “if you plug mine, I’ll plug yours.” There is no caveat about it being well written or a good story, or requests for suggestions on how to improve the work. The emphasis is on self-promotion and networking not good writing with these ambitious wannabes hoping to secure enough recommendations to get their work before the decision makers at HC. The assumption appears to be that HC will be so impressed with their self-promotion skills they will over look the fact the work is crap.

Frightening, but maybe they’re right.

I recently came across another writer’s version of ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’.

I was intrigued by an offer that appeared on my publisher’s author’s forum expressed as an opportunity for fellow authors to promote one another. It amounted to author’s writing positive reviews for each others books and than posting them on various sites like Goodreads, and Amazon.

What makes a review credible? The absence of conflict of interest would be a good start.

I think the importance of self-promotion is blown way out of proportion. Contributing to blogs, managing Facebook and Twitter, uploading stuff onto YouTube, keeping a website up-to-date and sending out that newsletter all takes time. Though some of this might be necessary, even essential, it needs to be kept to a minimum because it takes away from what’s important, writing.

Beyond putting you’re work out there, self-promotion is only marginally effective, in my opinion, because it lacks a most important ingredient – credibility. However, an unsolicited* endorsement has the sincerity that can generate a word of mouth ground swell that spreads exponentially. I believe a worthwhile story told by a good writer can do this, and will ultimately prevail over all the hi-tech gimmicks and new age marketing chicanery.

Naïve? Unspohisticated? Old-fashioned? Out-of-touch with reality? Maybe, probably, bu I’ve learned the hard way that, indeed, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but in the end the merit and true value of what you’re doing becomes apparent to almost everyone (except maybe yourself), and what you’ve sacrificed blowing your own horn is dignity, self-esteem and character.

Perhaps a certain amount of self-promoting has to be done but surely it can be done graciously and with humility. As we build confidence in our ability and our work, hopefully the need to applaud one-self in public will diminish. If not, we’ll be the ones avoided at social gatherings.

As Emerson said; ‘A little integrity is better than any career.’

*Unsolicited as in without conflict of interest. Anyone that stands to gain either personally or financially in supporting your writing is suspect including; your publisher, agent, publicist, spouse, friends, family, etc.

Stay calm, be brave, watch for the signs.

30

Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs

ONLY 99¢

SPECIAL PRE-0RDER PRICE ‘til Dec.6/15

After pre-order date regular price will apply $3.99

To pre-order go to

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at

Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

My new novels, FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and as e-books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin

Visit my publisher’s website for excerpts from, and a buy link to my Eco-Fi series ECO-WARRIORS Book 3, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92

ECO-WARRIOR Book 1, Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? is available at

ECO-WARRIOR Book 2, Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs is now available as in paperback at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music

http://www.amazon.com/Rod-Raglin/e/B003DS6LEU

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 29, 2015 17:40

Putting “your heart’s truth” into your stories

CoppersHawk_IMG_0163 copy Have you ever read a book and wondered why the author wrote it?

I’ve just finished reading two books and despite being quite well written I couldn’t understand why the authors put in the time and effort to produce these works.

The protagonists were weak, ineffectual and impossible to find sympathetic. It wasn’t that they were poorly drawn characters, this was how the authors chose to convey them.

Of course our heroes need to be flawed to be real, but come on, these guys had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

And the stories were like “so what?” Either nothing happened or what did happen was boring.

Readers don’t pick up a work of fiction to be reminded of their life. They read to escape their life. Most people’s lives are humdrum.

No?

Well mine sure is. There’s not one event in the last few years that’s worthy of eighty thousand words.

The solution? Don’t write about your life, at least not literally.

If your hero’s life isn’t at risk then at least the world as he knows should be. If neither his life nor his way-of-life are threatened, you’re writing a yawner.

While you’re thinking about this consider if you’re going to put immense time and effort into writing a novel why not make it worthwhile in the sense that it imparts something to the reader, something significant.

What’s significant? Well, that depends on what’s important to you.

Carol Bly, author of The Passionate, Accurate Story: Making Your Heart’s Truth into Literature, suggests you consider your “writing as a moral act …and build your fiction on strong ethical ground.

Even before beginning to write a story Bly recommends you compose a “Values Listing,” a written record of the things most important to you.

Then throughout the writing process; the crafting of the plot, the developing of the characters, the imagining of the setting, return to this list to ensure these values continue to be identified in your work. That means these values are present in the issues and conflicts your characters confront and they themselves are grounded in or address these same principles.

Here’s Bly’s four-point value listing. My responses are in italic – if you’re influenced by them, well, that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

VALUE’S LISTING:

Two goals or values which make life good or bearable or would if they were in operation. Preserving the Environment/ Encouraging the Human Spirit

Two goals or values which cause injustice and suffering or lessening of joy. Wealth-Materialism/The Need to Control

Two missing goals or behaviors. As a child, you thought grown-up life would have these. Now that you are an adult you don’t see them around. Honesty-Integrity/Responsibility-Credibility

Two injustices you see about you and should keep an eye on, even on your wedding day. Racism-Discrimination/Destruction of Wild Things and Wild Places.

The values you write down aren’t about creating or even directing your story, but since you must imbue your characters with qualities why not make them ones that are important to you? Why can’t their motives be pure or at least well-intentioned? Every story must have a conflict so make the fight a good fight, one worthy of a sympathetic hero.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if something you wrote made your readers (some of your readers, a reader) enriched, enlightened, maybe even a better person?

Anne Lamott in her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, says,

“We all know we’re going to die; what’s important is the kind of men and women we are in the face of this.”

Ask yourself, in the face of death what kind of men and women are the characters you create? Then put “your heart’s truth” into your story.

30

Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs

ONLY 99¢

SPECIAL PRE-ORDER PRICE ‘til Dec.6/15

After pre-order date regular price will apply $3.99

To pre-order go to

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors a https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

My new novels, FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and as e-books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin

Visit my publisher’s website for excerpts from, and a buy link to my Eco-Fi series ECO-WARRIORS Book 3, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92

ECO-WARRIOR Book 1, Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? is available at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

ECO-WARRIOR Book 2, Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs is now available as in paperback at http://www.amazon.com/author/rodraglin

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA

http://www.amazon.com/Rod-Raglin/e/B003DS6LEU

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 24, 2015 00:31

Pre-order book promo fails to produce sales

I warned you.

Now it’s too late.

Back on September 6th, 2015, I launched the pre-order campaign for the re-issue of the e-book version of Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? (formerly entitled Spirit Bear). Up until November 8th you could pre-order it for just 99¢. Today it’s $3.99.

You could have saved three bucks, but did you?

Well, one person did.

Thank you.

I followed all of Mark Coker’s advice – he’s the Smashwords guy. I launched my pre-order campaign using the book’s cover, a preamble and a fifteen percent free preview, offered an attractive price, gave it a run up of two months, and even scheduled the launch on the day of the week he suggested to maximize the NY Times Bestseller List.

I did the same with Amazon (Kindle Direct Publishing).

Then I sent out a hundred and sixty-five personal emails to people who have expressed an interest in my novels (not one to a friend or family member mind you) and promoted it on Twitter, Booklikes, WordPress, and Promocave as often as I could and still keep a modicum of self-respect.

Speaking of carrying on…

You still have an opportunity (13 more days actually) to nominate my new novel, The Widower, on Kindle Scout and help me win that $1500 advance and a publishing contract from Amazon.

Go to https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/25MD9OLX9C88T

Upon checking the campaign stats I see my book has had 104 page views, but has spent zero hours in “Hot and Trending”. Sounds like my life.

And though you missed the pre-order deal on Saving Spirit Bear you can still cash in on Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs. Until Dec. 5, 2015, you can pre-order it for 99¢ and save $3.00.

Go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015MK5UL6 or https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/579221

Hey, it’s not all bad news. The Vancouver Public Library (I love libraries and especially the VPL) now carry three of my novels with the other two on order. At the time of this writing all copies are in use – how good is that!

No, I didn’t take them out myself.

Stay calm, be brave, watch for the signs.

30

SPECIAL PRE-0RDER PRICE NOW AVAILABLE

Loving the Terrorist – 99¢ Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs

– order before December 6, 2015

After pre-order dates regular price will apply $3.99

To pre-order go to

Nominate The Widower,

my new novel on Kindle Scout

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/25MD9OLX9C88T

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at

Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

My new novels, FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and as e-books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin

Visit my publisher’s website for excerpts from, and a buy link to my Eco-Fi series ECO-WARRIORS Book 3, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92

ECO-WARRIOR Book 1, Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? is available at

ECO-WARRIOR Book 2, Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs is now available as in paperback at