Doris-Maria Heilmann's Blog, page 71

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: Alexa Ranking, book advertising, Book Marketing, book promotions, book publicity, how to promote free days on Amazon, how to promote your book, introductory price for book promotion, worldwide web ranking

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 11, 2013 06:40

Mystery of Book Cover Design & Layout

.

.

In a former blog: “Becoming Your Own Publisher” the book production process, you can find lots of tips and links for your book layout, cover and formatting process. Many new authors are complaining about the pre-print process at CreateSpace, other POD service companies or the printing company they use for larger quantities of paperbacks and books. They are suddenly confronted with fonts, typography, page and other book layout requirements. However, not only for printed books, but also for e-books it is essential to know a bit about the possibilities and rules.

.

To familiarize yourself with this (often) completely new field, read Joel Friedlander’s beginner

articles

Understanding Fonts & Typography

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/understanding-fonts-typography/

Understanding Book Layouts and Page Margins

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2013/08/book-layouts-page-margins/

.

Joel Friedlander explains the basic building blocks that books are made of, and the typography:

type fonts and they way they are arranged on the page. He says: “There are so many tiny details

and decisions that go into formatting a book that you pretty much have to be someone who enjoys

working on that scale to appreciate book design. It may involve differences of a hundredth of an

inch one way or the other. That’s true for the decisions you make about margins, too.”

He cautions for example that “the “minimum” margin of .25″ that CreateSpace refers to is too small for most books. This margin measurement is meant to create a “safe area” so that nothing on your page is in danger of getting trimmed off.”

.

Michael N. Marcus explains why book margins are so important: “One of my basic rules of thumb

is that the a book’s outside margins must be large enough to comfortably fit human thumbs without

covering up any text. It’s really annoying to have to constantly re-position pages while reading

through a book.” His blog is another great reading for new author-publishers how book-layout works. He also wrote a great cautionary book “How to NOT Get Screwed by a Self-Publishing Company“.

.

Want to read and learn more about book design? If you are a writer working with a publisher (large or small) or if you are a small or first time publisher, these books will help you understand the book production process and the principles of good cover and interior book design.

Book Design and Production

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Design-Production-Pete-Masterson/dp/0966981901

Basics Design Layout, 2nd edition

http://www.amazon.com/Basics-Design-02-Layout-Second/dp/2940411492/

.

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) – if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: book design, Book Layout, e-book formatting, fonts, Joel Friedlander, Margins, Michael N. Marcus, The Book Designer, typography

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 10, 2013 06:58

Use Upcoming Holidays to Promote Your Book

.

.

Pitching your book to newspaper editors – in the hope to get an invitation for an interview or a book review – benefits greatly when you add a hook in your query letter, such as a holiday that has a reference to your work. The same is true for mentioning your work on Social Media.

Which holidays, other than Christmas – or Christmas in July – can be used to promote your book?

New Years
Valentines
Spring Break
Easter
Mothers Day
Father’s Day
Christmas in July
Summer Reads
Back to School / Labourday
Columbus Day
Fall Colors
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas

.

Romance and Family

All writers of romantic (and even less romantic) love stories could contact newspapers or magazines well in advance due to a presentation of their book around Valentine’s Day. For a magazine exposure plan at least 3-4 months in advance. Mothers Day or Fathers Day are great hooks for family stories, memoirs or books describing relationships with a parent.

.

Christmas in July

And then there is July. A great time for summer specials or book sales, combined with donations for good causes.

.

Politics and Social

Is the story in your book one that could only happen in Canada or during Confederation time? Or a story telling the life of immigrants to Canada. To pitch for coverage around Canada Day is your turn then. Let it be the reason to mention Labor (Labor) Day in your query, should you write about labor relations or social aspects of workers or a story that happens on Labor Day.

.

History and Wars

Is your latest book about history, or is it about a famous person in history (and everything related to it), such as President Washington, Martin Luther King, Columbus, or Queen Victoria and her time in history? There are holidays, both in the USA and Canada, and also in Great Britain or Australia were your work fits well for an article or interview. Even war dates could be a great hook for your historical writing.

Does your novel or non-fiction book capture the last wars, including Independence War, or soldiers of this or the last century? Memorial / Remembrance Day / Veterans Day and Independence Day are great reasons to pitch to a journalist or editor and suggest an article about your book or an interview.

Have you something written that covers early settlers or the Irish, the famine there and a difficult new beginning in North America? Or does part or the whole story happens around Thanksgiving or St. Patrick’s Day? Mention it in your query and use it as a hook!

Halloween

Does your novel contain keywords such as spooky, haunted, ghosts, paranormal, super natural, Gothic or even pumpkins – then fall would be perfect to promote your book extensively.

.

The Holiday Season

Same opportunity would be Christmas Day or New Year’s Day to cover your books story that is related or happens in the holiday season, including Black Friday or Boxing Day. Writers will easily find a hook to pitch interviews or book reviews during the holiday circle, just from using the connection between their story and the upcoming holiday.

.

Prepare well Ahead!

Open with a statement that makes the editor want to keep reading. Is it really timely and in time? Send your query letter at least 6 – 8 weeks before the holiday (magazines 3-4 months!) and follow up. Make the news paper editors work easy: Be sure to close with your contact information highly visible. Do you have any clips, or a website / blog? Put it right out in plain sight.

.

Every Novel has dozens, if not hundreds of keywords, just comb through them and for sure you will find something related to a holiday! Make a list and schedule your pitches / social media or blog posts in your calendar. This way you will not miss any opportunities.

.

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) – if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: Back to School, Christmas in July, Columbus Day, Easter, Fall Colors, Father's Day, Halloween, Holidays, Irish famine, Labourday, Mothers Day, New Years, Pumpkin, Spring Break, summer reads, Thanksgiving, Valentines

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 09, 2013 06:06

Living In or Near the Canadian Capital OTTAWA, ON?

. .

Mark your calendar for October 26 and 27 – Saturday and Sunday! Visit Canada’s Premier Book Extravaganza! The Ottawa Independent Writers (OIW) invite you for a Book Fair at the RA (Recreational Association facility) with ample FREE parking.

.

At age 20, the Ottawa Independent Writers association is poised for its most buzzing, exciting event yet when the door of its tenth annual book fair bursts open on October 26 and 27. George Laidlaw, the face of and a tireless force behind the OIW, always coming up with innovations and inspiring fellow writers, is ready to receive a crowd of 2,000.

.

Ottawa Writer and member of the OIW, Margaret Kell, wrote a blog post about this event and also mentioned the “star writer” and initiator, George Laidlaw, author of 91 books. Margaret herself is the author of A Book of Kells and Kathleen’s Cariole Ride.

Read more on Margaret Kell’s blog CozyBookBasics Meet more than 50 independent writers, showing their books in Ottawa! Visit OIW’s website http://www.oiw.ca to see a catalog of members’ books.

.

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) – if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

http://pinterest.com/111publishing/ .

. Hyper Smash Pingate

Tagged: George Laidlaw, Margaret Kell, OIW.com, Ottawa Book Fair, Ottawa Independent Writers, Ottawa Independent Writers association

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 08, 2013 08:28

Aiming for a Movie Deal for Your Book?

.

.

Admit it: As an author you are dreaming of a movie deal. You might think getting a book deal with a publisher – don’t think getting a movie deals is easier! Here are some beginner insights into how movie deals work. Check out the links for more. Movie rights are part of sub rights or subsidiary rights – even so these rights are hard to sell. And if you get a foot in the door: Almost all production companies and film producers offer first an option for a film.

.

What exactly is an option?

Fred Rosen explains what options are: “It is a rental. A production company or studio reserves the right to make your work into a film, MOW or TV show for a specific length of time. In the past, the standard option was for a year, with two renewable one-year options. Taking advantage of the recent recession, producers have now been able to negotiate the first option to 18 months. Regardless, each time a company picks up the option, you get paid just for sitting on your movie rights. In the meantime, they’ll try to secure the money to make the adaptation and get someone to write the script (though it probably won’t be you—Hollywood prefers to use its own writers to adapt work).”

He furter explains: What can get optioned?

“Just about anything. Published novels and nonfiction books. Magazine articles. Short stories. Unpublished work can break through, too, when someone who has a connection with a production company discovers something and passes it on (Frank Capra based It’s a Wonderful Life on an unpublished short story by Philip Van Doren Stern). But you should generally focus on getting published first—because the print imprimatur still demands the highest price when optioned.”

.

How much is an option worth?

“Options start at $500 and go up. In today’s market, $5,000 and more is excellent. It’s impossible to offer an average because it depends on so many factors, the most important being how much the production company wants the work.”

.

Do I need a film agent to make the option sale?

Rosen says: “Generally, yes. If you have a literary agent, look at your contract and see if the agent gets points for a film sale; if so, encourage her to send your work to a film agent she’s familiar with (the two will split the commission). If you don’t have an agent, it’s fine to query film agents directly. They’re always looking for salable stuff to pitch to Hollywood. Be straightforward in your pitch: Briefly summarize the work to be optioned, where it’s published and your bio.”

Read all of Fred Rosen’s tips here and get an idea how much you might earn.

.

Tips by John Kremer

“Most movie deals involve as many as a dozen decision makers. One of the best ways to get a movie deal for a novel (I presume your book is a novel) is to target the A-list actor or actress who would be the best person to play the role of your main character. Many A-list actors have their own production companies or in-place deals for a certain number of movies – and can sometimes (not always) pick which movies they’d like to be in.

For most movie deals to get completed, though, there has to be key actors, a director, a screenwriter, and a producer committed to the movie. That’s why 90% of potential movie deals never get completed – because the package can’t be put together to sell the investors on funding the movie.

Of those four key pieces, the easiest to target is the actor or actress, because most non-industry people know what movies have been made by actors and actresses. Plus it’s generally easy for a novelist to picture who should pay the key role or roles in a movie made from their novel.

How do you get in touch with the actors you’ve identified as potential role players? You can try through their management company (agent or manager), via their personal website (if they have one), or sometimes even via a tweet to their @profile on Twitter.

But probably the best way is to use your connections to see if someone you know knows the actor you want to reach or the best friend of that actor or a close relative, etc.. Once you’ve located a connection, ask them to get you a personal introduction to the actor. Not just a kind word, or a token email, but – if possible – an in-person introduction.”

.

Tips by Courtney Carpenter

“If you don’t have an agent, and have no contacts in the business, you can still market your script on your own. Before you try, however, take one preparatory step: Register your script with the Writer’s Guild of America. Registration provides a dated record of the writer’s claim to authorship and can be used as evidence in legal disputes about authorship.”

If you want to break into television:

“It’s generally not a good idea to write scripts for a series of your invention. Full-time, experienced, professional writers earn monumental salaries doing just that; why compete with them? Instead, tape several shows of an existing series. Watch them repeatedly. Learn who the characters are, how they would behave in a situation. One writer even advised typing up the script as you watch an episode to help you understand the flow of the dialogue.”

“Also watch the credits of a TV show you enjoy, noting the names of the producers. You can write to them, asking them to read your script. While the number of scripts bought from freelancers in television is small, it does happen. After targeting a show, write polite query letters to producers or story editors – usually people who rewrite scripts and deal with freelancers), explaining your fondness for and familiarity with the show and your desire to send a spec script. Then, even if your script is rejected, it may be a good enough calling card to get you invited to pitch other ideas to the producers.“

.

Mark Terry cautions:

“Movie contracts are a byzantine mess and unless you have an agent who specializes in movie contracts, your agent might suggest hooking up with a film agent or entertainment attorney, who will either get a flat fee or perhaps another percentage ….”

“What you do have to do is to watch out for production companies that want to have an option dirt cheap or hold on to the property for an unreasonable length of time.”

However, he has also an interesting story to tell about the movie rights / options for: “Catch Me If You Can.” That book was optioned about 20 times before Spielberg made the movie with Tom Hanks. The author commented it was great, he kept getting about $20,000 per year for a book that wasn’t really selling any more.”

.

Q&A by Warren Adler:

Just a few samples of a long list of questions and answers / tips by Warren Adler

QUESTION:

If I wanted to sell my book rights to Movie producers, How would I go about doing that?

Warren Adler answered:

You would have to get yourself a Hollywood agent who believes that your book has a shot at a movie deal. Unless you are plugged into that world, have an agent or a book that has attracted some interest, your chances are pretty slim. Unfortunately there is no direct path to the movie world unless you happen to know actors, producers, directors and those deeply involved who can get a movie made.

.

QUESTION:

I have inherited the film rights to a world famous, best selling (on Amazon) science fiction novel. While I realize the worth of the property is only what a studio is willing to pay, I’m wondering what is a good starting point in the negotiations? I’m not interested in back-end royalties, ancillary merchandising, or alternate distribution modes, but rather a 1 price, get it over with deal. Is $5 million totally absurd? $3 million? Are there other avenues to explore outside the Hollywood morass?

Warren Adler answered:

I would suggest you find a Hollywood agent who is willing to negotiate a deal. Before you start counting numbers you had better see if the interest matches your expectation. There are numerous lists on the internet of agents, producers, actors and others in the movie business.

.

QUESTION:

I wrote a book ten years ago based on a real event–a horrific mass murder that occurred in GA in the 1800s. It sold extremely well but is now out of print. (It is considered a rare book on Amazon). Recently a screenwriter tracked me down and says he wants to convert my book to a script for movie. After the book went out of print I did not renew my agent’s contract. I have no idea who this screenwriter is and how to negotiate. I have no intentions of signing over the rights to just anyone. Any advice?

Warren Adler answered:

Get a lawyer who deals with intellectual properties. Never give rights away. It may be the screenwriter is willing to pay,( even a modest amount might do it) with a big bonus at the back end if he sells the script for a production. Put a time limit on it. Say a one year option, renewable for another year. If he wants the rights for nothing, walk away. It doesn’t matter if the book is out of print or not, its still your property. As for the agent, he could make a claim depending on the old contract. A lawyer will know. Try to set a price with the lawyer in advance. It could be worth it, since the book’s subject matter, which caught the screenwriter’s eye may have a lot more value than you think.

.

QUESTION:

I have written a series of books and the first one has been published. The publisher wrote me that my stories are ‘movie stuff’. How do I go about marketing these books as a miniseries or movies?

Warren Adler answered:

Find yourself an agent in Hollywood. Unless you have personal contacts in the film or television industry, the process is difficult. You might try writing a one page summary of your work and send it off to Hollywood agents, producers, actors, directors etc. There are also numerous scouts out there looking for material. I don’t mean to be discouraging, but unless you are approached the chances of your work getting noticed can be a labor intensive chore. Of course, you could get lucky and find in your networking or readership base someone who might get you to a producer.

.

QUESTION:

Recently my novel “The Family Bones” came out in print. Today, I received two separate letters, one from a major film company, and another from a major agency in Los Angeles inquiring about movie rights for my book. I am astounded. I referred them both to my agent, but what would you suggest is the going rate. These are both legitimate contacts.

Warren Adler answered:

There is no going rate. If its a producer with a studio deal the chances are it will be more than an independent would pay. They’ll probably ask for a one year option with renewal terms. Get as much as you can and be sure your agent knows how to negotiate with them. They will option thousands of books and very few will get made. It is indeed a leg up, but you are dealing with seasoned hustlers and you must protect yourself.

Dozens and dozens more questions and Warren Adler’s answers. Check them out! Interesting reads. BTW: Warren Adler is the author of the famous movie: “The War of Roses”.

.

Now, what’s an author to do?

First of all: BE PERSISTENT! Don’t stop to send out queries. Know that it is not easy to get a movie deal. Read and research everything you can find about movie rights and contracts. Perfect your query letter to movie editors, directors, A-class actors and producers. Explore each avenue and if you get an offer, first google this company carefully, together with the word complaint. Do use the help of a movie agent and a contract lawyer, at least for your first movie contract, even if it takes a percentage of your option.

.

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) – if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: Book to Movie, Fred Rosen, how to get a movie deal for your book, how to query a director, John Kremer, movie deals, Warren Adler

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 07, 2013 06:29

Survival Guide for Small Print Publishers

.

.

Books are always very popular gifts for Christmas, birthdays and other occasions. Imagine: someone in Australia saw your print book on Amazon or read about it on Twitter or Google+ and would like to order it, but doesn’t want to pay high shipping fees. To get new readers and buyers of your book in other countries, it is almost essential to have it printed on demand and distributed worldwide – and also to be present in catalogs for library purchases.

.

Would You Like to Have Your Paperback Sold Worldwide?

Author-publishers with at least three books might be better off with LightningSource / Ingram and

CreateSpace combined – until their book sale numbers are into the several thousands – also due to the

print-on-demand possibilities that both companies offer. So, if you are an author with three or more books, read on:

.

LightningSource

connects you with the world’s largest distribution channel of book wholesalers and retailers. In addition to distributing books through their parent company Ingram Books, they print to order, which means, your

book is printed and ready for shipment in 12 hours or less. With over 30,000 wholesalers, retailers and

booksellers in over 100 countries your titles will gain the maximum exposure.

.

LightningSource / Ingram

work with over 28,000 publishers of all sizes around the world. They deliver digital, print, wholesale and distribution services through a single source, and makes it easy for you to reach more customers in

more places.

.

CreateSpace

has slightly lower print-on-demand fees and set up fees per book, but it doesn’t get you into the Ingram

worldwide distribution. They offer something, called the Expanded Distribution Channel: “the potential to distribute your book to a larger audience through more outlets including: retailers, bookstores, libraries, academic institutions, wholesalers, and distributors.” Well “potential” which means actually nothing! If a bookstore is really willing to order a single book from them, they will deliver, but they don’t offer it actively to all bookstores.

.

Don’t Let You Discourage

Recently some self-publishing authors were taken aback when LightningSource recommended them to use the new IngramSpark distribution program. Aaron Shepard wrote on October 3, 2013 in his blog:

“Reports have it that Lighting Source is turning away potential clients—self publishers and other small

publishers. They’re being told to sign up for IngramSpark instead. You know IngramSpark—the service

that insists on a 55% wholesale discount for bookstores and can’t (or will not) send you a physical

proof.”

“Fortunately, I have learned it’s all a bluff! Yes, Lightning will tell you that you’re really better suited to IngramSpark and should sign up there instead. But all you need to do is come back and say you don’t want IngramSpark, you want Lightning Source. That’s the magic key that lets you in. The gate is not actually locked, they just want you to think it is. Maybe no one at Ingram understands that, if you limit new publishers to a 55% discount, they might just as well stick with CreateSpace EDC at 60%. The 5% difference simply is not enough to justify bothering with a publishing service with different technical requirements.”

.

Read the whole story by Aaron Shepard, THE print publishing guru at

www.newselfpublishing.com/blog/#IngramSpark3. He wrote two books, every author should read: Aiming at Amazon and POD for Profit

.

More information about LightningSource, Ingram and CreateSpace book distribution:

CreateSpace, LightningSource – or Both? A guest blog by author Linda Austin. And How Do You Distribute Your Print Book? at SavvyBookWriters.com

.

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) – if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: Aaron Shepard, Aiming at Amazon, Book distribution, Book Sales in other countries, Books as Gifts, CreateSpace, LightningSource, POD for Profit, worldwide distribution

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 06, 2013 06:44

Interview with Author Caro Ayre

.

Today’s Author Interview is with the lovely, talented author Caro Ayre from Kenya, who lives now in Somerset, UK. She is the author of two books – and more to come.

Caro, how would you describe your books to someone who has not yet read it?

BREATHLESS

This book is not so much about an illness, but about how the members of a family deal with or fail to deal with knowing one of them suffers from a life threatening condition.
FEAST OF THE ANTLION

This is an action packed adventure set in Kenya with a touch of romance.
.
Is there a message in your book that you want your readers to grasp?
I hope that reading Breathless will give readers an insight to the problems created by Cystic Fibrosis, not just to the person with the condition but to the extended family. I also hope to raise money for research into this disease.

With my other book Feast of the Antlion , I wanted to give the readers a taste of what a wonderful place Kenya is. I was born there and was lucky to have experienced a magical childhood enjoying the wide open spaces and getting to see wildlife in its natural setting. I hope that I have conveyed some of the magnificence of the country in this book. If it makes people want to go and experience Kenya that would make me happy. All the settings are based on places I loved and knew, but the story is certainly not autobiographical.
.
What inspired you to start writing?
I started early writing tiny books for my dolls. I day-dreamed my way through school, reading everything I could lay my hands on. Class-work seemed less unimportant, much to the despair of my teachers. Many years later while in the process of restoring a huge house and garden, I took to writing to give myself an excuse to sit down. At first the challenge was to write enough to be able to classify as a novel. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I kept at it. Then unsure what to do next, I wrote another, and kept going. It is only recently that I have taken the final steps towards publishing.
.
How did you get the idea for the novel?
Breathless started with the idea that I wanted to explore how a family might cope with one of them suffering from a serious long term illness. I wanted to see if it would make or break the characters. Discover who would cope and who wouldn’t.
The Feast of the Antlion I was trying to explore the ups and downs of creating a wildlife conservation sanctuary and keeping control of it.
.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message or moral?
I do hope with Breathless that readers will learn a little about Cystic Fibrosis and how transplants may be a sufferers last hope. If any reader feels inclined to sign the donor register as a result of reading the book I will feel I have achieved something worthwhile.
.
Are your characters based on real people?
I think all characters that any author creates are bound to have elements of people they know in them. I doubt anyone would recognize who I have based my characters on. I can usually picture the character in my head, but I don’t go so far as to find a photo of them.
.
Are your plots based on real-life experiences.
No there is nothing autobiographical about my books. But usually I know the locations well. I like to pick places and buildings I know and love, though I might move them to a different geographical location to prevent someone from complaining that I have described it wrongly.
.
How much of the book is based on real life (either yours or someone you know)?
When I started Breathless I knew nothing about Cystic Fibrosis other than it was life threatening and genetic. I never wanted the book to be depressingly about the illness, so chose to have Hannah, the daughter who has the condition, in good form because of her mother’s unstinting determination to keep her that way. I would have an idea, and then try to find out if that was something that a cystic fibrosis sufferer might do. I came into contact briefly with a lot of very helpful people online, who would tell me how they dealt with different issues. Their accounts sometimes made me explore avenues I had never considered before.
.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
“What else has she written?” Would give me joy!
.
Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Being organized would have saved me a lot of grief!

.

Considering a book from the first word you write to the moment you see it on a bookstore shelf, what’s your favourite part of the process? What is your least favourite?

Holding a copy of the book has to be the best moment. The endless editing, not helped by my knack of putting nearly as many errors in as I took out has to be worst. There is also losing a lot of work because of a power cut and failure to keep a back up.

.

What scene or bit of dialogue in the book are you most proud of, and why?

In Feast of the Antlion there was a plane crash at the beginning, which considering I have no idea how to fly, worked quite well.

.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything about your book.

Not at this stage. Though with both books I may go back to write a follow up. But that might not be for a while. I have a couple of other books that I want to finish before then.

.

What genre have you not yet written, but really want to try.

My next book is heading for the Crime shelves. Not too brutal, but not too cosy either.

.

How did you get published?
The first book I ever wrote was picked up by an agent and reached committee stage at one of the well-known publishers. Sadly it was rejected, and the agent retired, leaving me back at square one. But the experience gave me the confidence to keep writing.Personal circumstances put writing on the sidelines for a long time. And when I got going again, the publishing industry had changed. Self publish had become acceptable and the arrival of Kindle and other similar devices made it even more acceptable.I decided that I must get the editing side of writing sorted, and set to work. I published Feast of the Antlion as a Kindle book first, but so many people asked when the paperback was coming out. I knew I had to figure out how to produce one. After a lot of online research I set up my own publishing house, bought a block of ISBN numbers, and chose to LightningSource as my printer. I have to admit I made a few beginners errors, but I am happy with the route I have chosen. I think what I love most about this route is that I have total control. No one can remainder my book, because I haven’t hit some impossible target set by someone I don’t know.
.
What general advice do you have for other writers?
Pick names carefully. Write them down. Know what nicknames they have too, and who uses them. Be sure of them before you get too far into the book. Nothing messes with your head more than a name change at a later stage. It is easy enough to make the changes on the computer, but much harder to get your head round them. Beware of names that are non gender specific unless there is a reason for doing so. For example, Chris, readers may think they are reading about a man, and then discover that the character is a woman which is disconcerting. Be methodical. Have a plan and stick to it.
.
Do NaNoWriMo at least once.

Don’t worry if you get stuck on something, jump to another part of the story and carry on from there. The best character may not turn up until you are half way through the story, but if you don’t keep pounding it out you might never find him or her.
Each book starts with a different spark. The first draft I pound out the story, usually with too much back story about the characters and their families and why they are in whatever situation I have thought up.

.
What is the best part of being a writer?
Being able to decide what your characters do or don’t do, allowing them to be brave or foolish enough to do things you might not have had the courage to do yourself.

.
What is the most challenging part of being a writer?
All the steps that come after the fun of creating the story. The editing, the formatting, but most of all going out there trying to persuade friends and family and then strangers that they should buy the book.

.
Where is the one place in the world you’d like to visit.
I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt, to the Valley of the Kings.

.
What are your favourite books?

Dr Zivago by Boris Pasternack.
The historical novel Katherine by Anya Seton.
And a recent addition Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.
The Far Pavillions by M M Kaye a wonderful story about set in India. It reminded me so much of stories that I had been told as a child. I love reading about distant places, different cultures.

.

How would a close friend describe you?
This is a difficult question! I asked a friend, who was sweet enough to come up with “generous and kind, determined, artistic, quirky polymathic, thoughtful, perceptive and caring” but that’s the kind of friend she is! I think I’d probably have come up with a book bore, bonkers and a bit of a hermit.

.
Where can people learn more about your writing?

From my website. www.caroayre.co.uk which has a link to my blog and my books.

What is ONE thing you have done that brought you more readers?

Put a big pile of books on my hall table. My Bed & Breakfast guests are good customers.

.
What is the one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you?
That I get to do all the jobs round here that require the tall ladder, including fixing parts of the roof.
.
<><><><><>
.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) – if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: BREATHLESS, Caro Ayre, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Society, FEAST OF THE ANTLION, Greenham Hall B&B, Kenya, Somerset UK

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 05, 2013 09:06

7 Tips for Successful Author Speaking Engagements

.

Nina Amir, Book Marketing guru once said: “For some reason, aspiring and published authors seem to cling to the outdated idea that a publisher will do the hard work of promoting their book for them. That’s why writers often want to become traditionally published. But that’s not a good reason to pursue this publishing route. If you want your book to succeed, you will have to do the same amount of work to promote your book whether you self-publish or traditionally publish.”

.

One of the things authors can do to promote their books, other than to write blog posts, guest blogs, write magazine/newspaper articles or apply for writing contests is to get as many speaking engagements as possible. No matter if at writer conferences, library presentations or – if you are writing non-fiction books – at association meetings. One more way to create your author brand and extend your platform. At the same time sell more books and get your author name out. Best of all: Many speakers make more money with their talks than with selling their books.

.

So, How Do You Find Speaking Engagements?

Search for Writer Conferences and Book Fairs, contact libraries, bookstores, museums and book clubs – or just search the internet for keywords such as speakers wanted, key note speaker for … conference or book event. Find more through Google search under “How to find speaking engagements” or “Tips to get more speaking engagements”.

.

Practice your speeches

A great help to polish your speaking skills is to attend Toastmaster club meetings that can be found in practically every city in North America and worldwide, no matter if you are in Japan, South Africa, India, Israel or anywhere in Europe and where you can practice in small groups of like-minded people.

.

Author Hope Clark, who organized herself dozens of speaking engagements per year, gave great advice to fellow authors in one of her terrific newsletters:

“What you do is the following

1) Write a lot.

2) Write well.

3) Pitch a lot.

4) Pitch well.

5) Get depressed at rejections

6) Get over it.

7) Repeat.

The events I speak at came about from me hearing/reading about it . . . and asking to be involved.

The year before my book “Lowcountry Bribe” came out, I spent weeks pitching to every event I could find. Dozens. I chose to tag events where writers congregated because I spoke not only about my mysteries, but about FundsforWriters as well. My rejection rate was pretty disenchanting. But I still hit twenty-six events in nine states in nine months. The bottom line is people saw me, heard me, and decided they wanted me. I keep receiving requests out of the blue. And that’s how it works.

Sure, you’ll have bad events. They are the best lessons you’ll ever learn. But you’ll have great ones, too, and you’ll float on their success for a week afterwards.”

Read more about Hope Clark and her speaking engagements: http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

More tips on how to get speaking engagements and great examples of (author) websites, respectively their convincing speaker pages, can be found on Erno Hanninks’ website.

.

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) – if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: building your author brand, how to learn speaking publicly, learn to speak to the public, speaking at writer conferences, speaking engagement, Toastmasters, where to find speaking engagements

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 04, 2013 06:00

Whom to Follow on Twitter

.

.

If you want to become popular and a star on Twitter and have your tweets go viral, check out these small, but significant challenges you might not be aware of. So whom do you follow – or NOT? Here are four tips:

.

Celebrities:

Well, often they only think they are one. They do not follow back, even if they have 10’000 followers, they just follow 16 of their best friends. In writing/publishing/photo/marketing circles I found them mainly among literary agents, YA writers and business advisers. Fine with me. As they are not interacting, nor re-tweeting anything I am posting, why should I follow them?

Me, Me, Me’s:

They consider Twitter as a free advertising board. When I go to their profile and scroll down I can’t see any re-tweets whatsoever. Some even never re-tweet. Only their continuing posts, varying from three to six subjects, and this for pages and pages… What I found so far: 80% of these are male and/or are introvert writers or leadership business advisers.

Over-Social:

Too much of a good thing. They are lovely people, don’t get me wrong. They are re-tweeting, re-tweeting and re-tweeting more. And if you want to thank them and reciprocate you cannot find anything they are tweeting. Maybe on page 41… But I don’t have time to go through all these hundreds of re-tweets to find anything they originally posted to return their favor.

Veeerrrrryyyyyy long names:

Like “WriterAngelina-ChristineParastopolis”. If you take up half of the space just for your name, there is barely anything left for re-tweets or any conversation. Just cut the name at least in half, thanks.

.

OK, enough said. These are just four of many challenges that make it difficult to interact with others on Twitter – or prevents tweeps to click on Follow you and for you to build social networks and build a platform. To become popular and successful on Twitter:

Follow others, tweet something VALUABLE for others, such as helpful tips, news or something interesting or funny – and don’t use Twitter as a cheap way to advertise!
Create a nice mixture of your own, really interesting tweets and also do some re-tweeting.
Choose a short Twitter name.
Make it as easy and convenient as possible for your fellow “tweeps” to engage and interact with you.
If you are looking for readers and reviewers – choose readers and reviewers and follow them!

Is there anything you think of, people can do to become a star in the Twittersphare, other than to post really great content and be social with others? Any good advises you have for others (or for me : )

.

<><><><><>

.

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are 890+ of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: building a platform, how to built a following on social media, how to interact on Twitter, social media is not a free advertising board, social networking, twitter etiquette, what to re-tweet

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 02, 2013 18:22

Top Languages and Top Social Media Networks

.
.

OK, you transferred your book into print, digital and into an audio book. Now, how else can you leverage your hard work? Let it translate into other languages, or sell foreign rights of your book. Sell your rights separately and if you still own all the rights for your book, also consider to split it apart, in order to sell it in single articles, especially if it is a non-fiction book.

The reason to show you this info graphic is to point out the possibilities for writers to either translate (let translate) their work into foreign languages, such as Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, German etc. - or to sell the foreign rights to their books.

The info graphic lists the top languages on the Internet, countries highlighted are chosen due to the official status of a listed language in the country. Also included are tables on internet penetration by language and world population of language. Another consideration is which Social Networks to use to market your books worldwide. Let the person who translated your book also translate short articles for Google+, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. This enables you to get the attention of potential readers for your translated book.
.

Jeff Bullas, Social Media & Blogging Guru wrote:

“Twitter with its short and snappy messaging is very dependent on mobile usage and smart phones. The rise of the visual web is making Pinterest and Tumblr the fastest growing social networks on the planet. Facebook is where we share with friends and family. Google+ is embedded in Google’s web assets including Gmail, local check-ins and the mobile Android ecosystems. Google is getting the data it wants from Google+. Demographics, usage and content popularity. Meaning into it’s RANKING of SEARCH RESULTS and much more.”Here are the latest social media facts and statistics provided by the latest study by GlobalWebIndex for the second quarter of 2013. It shows clearly:

Google+ is catching up to Facebook
Google+ dominates on monthly visits
Active usage is highest on FB, then Google+ and Twitter
Pinterest is the fastest growing social network
LinkedIn is the most popular for older users

Don’t forget that on Google+ you can show cover images of your book as often as you want – contrary to other Social Media where it is only possible once a day!

.

.

Foreign Right Sales

It is not that easy to sell your foreign rights without an agent or a publisher, but it’s not impossible. Women’s fiction author Kay Raymer did the whole agent query routine in 2000, but nobody would look at her novel, Hannah Street. So she sent the manuscript to her attorney, who happened to know someone at Bertelsmann / Germany. Bertelsmann made an offer on the book, and her lawyer helped arrange the contract. As a result, Raymer’s first novel appeared in Germany in 2001, a paperback original called Das Rosenhaus.

.

Choose your foreign rights agent carefully!

Most agents charge 20% (or sometimes even 25%) on foreign sales (including British and translations). This 20% rate is justified because normally two agents are involved (the second one being in the foreign country), and they end up splitting the commission. If you are not represented already, why not try to find agents or even publishers yourself in other countries, especially if you speak more than one language? I just found a blog post from a successful writer, who did just that: searched the internet, found contact addresses of agents in other countries and contacted them. He wrote. Read more here. and here. How you can sell your rights or split your book in single articles can be found in this blog post: http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/why-you-should-split-your-book-apart/

.

<><><><><>
.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-Book-PR.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are 890+ of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.