D.R. Racey's Blog: D.R. Racey, page 8
March 11, 2013
10 Tips on Self-Publishing by Indie Authors and Books
10 Tips on Self-Publishing by Indie Authors and Books
I will start off by saying that I am not an expert on self-publishing by any means. I do not make enough from the sales of my books to call it a living. Some months my book sales might buy me one dinner at McDonalds, other months they might pay for a bit more. Last week we got to eat Wendy's. Well three out of the five of us got to eat Wendy's. The other two got leftover shepherds pie. I bet that single with cheese tasted great.
Over my journey though, I have learned lessons as to what an author should or should not do while self-publishing and wanted to share some of those tips.
Take the tips for what you will. Use them to help you, or toss them to the side like an unread book.
I offer the tips here for anyone that wants to use them to help them in their self-publishing journey. Not every tip will fit every author, but in a general sense they apply to all self-published authors.
Many authors start out the self-publishing journey with very little insight as to where they are heading. Authors contemplate whether they should publish strictly in eBook format or paperback format. Some contemplate self-publishing in both formats.
Each option has pros and cons which much be considered prior to self-publishing that first book.
The pros and cons listed below will be focused on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords (three major self-publishing platforms) as I am most familiar with these three companies.
Pros Associated with both eBook and Paperback Options
Easy to modify content and upload a new version.
Easy to change cover art and upload revised artwork.
User friendly interface for uploading your manuscript and cover art.
Book sales reports - There may be a delay in updating until the buyers credit card clears the bank.
Digital marketing through social media networks.
Sell price is easily changed through any of the major retailers.
eBook Pros
Ability to send free digital copies to help increase word of mouth marketing.
Ability to provide free digital copies of books to Read 2 Review groups on Facebook, Goodreads, and other social media networks.
No overhead cost once the eBook is edited and cover art has been created.
Target a community that seldom reads traditional paper books.
Paperback Pros
Ability to attend author book signings to market your book in local book stores.
Qualified to conduct giveaways of physical copies of your book on Goodreads (must join the author program on Goodreads)
Ability to market you book on your own website with minimal setup.
Target a community that does not use digital readers.
Ability to place your book on consignment in local bookstores.
eBook Cons
Impression that you are not fully established if your book is only in eBook format.
No physical copy of your book to provide autographed copies for giveaways.
Paperback Cons
Overhead cost is increased due to maintaining physical copies to sell through your website and for author book signings.
Profit per book is minimal due to cost of self-publishing through print on demand services.
Books must be printed prior to shipping to customers. Slows down delivery process once the book is purchased.
Now that we have covered some of the pros and cons (of which I only named a few of each) let’s focus on getting your book ready for printing.
Tip #1
Have someone else read your book.
Writing my book was the most rewarding part of the process for me. I took the time to put what I thought was what readers wanted to hear into something that they could take with them and read on the bus, in an airplane, or waiting for their kids to get out of school.
I gave the book to my wife to read. She looked at me funny a few times and asked me, “Did you know you did......?” Sometimes I replied yes, and other times I went back into the book and made changes.
The romance novel I wrote was more of an erotic novel and eventually ended up being a paranormal thriller. My wife let me know that I didn’t write romance well, and I didn’t want to publish an erotic book.
What I got in the end though was a book that I was truly proud of and was even mild enough that my parents could read it, but wild enough that it would attract readers New Adult and older.
Just so everyone is tracking.....my wife butchered the first two versions of my book.
If possible, find a few people that are “not” friends or family to read your book. Family and friends can be so polite when they read your book. You do not want people that are going to be polite to you. You want people that will give you no crap, down to earth, realistic and constructive criticism. Don’t let someone just tell you it was great or that it sucked. Get them to tell you what was great and what sucked so you know what needs to stay and what needs to change.
This is where the beta read or manuscript critique comes in. I will refer to both terms simply as a critique from here forward. By providing a digital copy of your book for critique you will get an honest assessment of your work. There are companies that will critique your manuscript for free while others will charge for this service.
Take the suggestions from the critique as a way to help you develop your book into the next true bestseller.
Tip #2
Make an investment in your book.
Hire a Copyeditor and a Content Editor to assist you in preparing your book for readers. Many authors make common mistakes in the writing process such as typing the same word twice in a row, misspelling commonly misspelled words, or minor mistakes in punctuation.
Copyediting is probably one of the most important phases in preparing a book to be published. Many readers will lose interest in a book quickly if they are always stumbling across typos and poor punctuation. Depending on the Copyeditor, you may get your word document back with the changes made to spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation. Then again you may get your word document back with notes attached throughout the document and the choice be left to you to change the mistakes or leave them. Copyediting should include two full reads of your book; even the best editors are going to miss a few misspelled words or some poor punctuation.
Content Editors look for consistency in the plot and storyline while focusing on character development and overall readability of the story. Content Editors take notes on each chapter as they go through and compare the transition the main characters in the book make as they progress through the book. No matter how talented an author is, there will always be something that can be changed in the book. You may have written a perfect book, but you need to swap two chapters to maintain consistency or flow of the story. It could be as simple as swapping two paragraphs, but normally there are more drastic changes that need to be made.
Want to go the extra mile? Hire yourself a service that provided Copyediting and Content Editing as a combined package. This costs a little more, but can save you months of pre-publishing time by utilizing one source for all edits.
Prior to utilizing the services of a Copyeditor or Content Editor, ask them to provide you a sample of their work. If possible ask them to edit the first 10 pages of your book. This is normally 3000 words or less in double spaced 12 point Times New Roman font, but will give you an idea of the quality of service they provide.
Tip #3
Make another investment in your book.
Cover art sells books. Yes, what is inside the book is going to keep a reader wanting more. What if they never pick the book up though? A reader needs to look at the cover of the book and know that they want to read the book before they ever touch it. This is even more important with eBooks as the free sample portion at the beginning of the eBook is so short. With physical copies of books they can flip through and read small samples from various places in the book.
Take the time to research reputable cover artists. Find a cover artist that has designed other covers and find one that matches the style for your book. You don’t want to have a cover that does not match the story of your book. Just because a cover artist made a great romance book cover does not mean that they can create a great fantasy book cover. Hire the cover artist that fits the style of your book.
Tip #4
Better get to Blogging.
Start your author blog and get to work. Readers and fans are hard to come by if you do not take the time to find them. Join a social media group for authors and ask for advice in launching your book.
Post regular updates on your blog as you are writing your book andput excerpts on the blog so readers get a taste of what they can expect.
Pay a few dollars and get your own domain name from one of the many website servers out there. Wordpress, Weebly, and Blogger are three of the more popular blog services. Webs.com also provides free websites or the option to pay for your own domain name.
Keep in contact with your readers and fans and ensure they don’t get bored. The last thing you want is for your readers to get bored and wander off prior to your book release date.
Make sure you keep your fans up to date on when to expect your book.
As you get closer to your scheduled launch date you may find a good time to run giveaways for ARC copies of your book, even if it is only in digital form.
The longer you are blogging about your books, the easier it will be for others to find you (or stumble onto you) when using search engines like Google and Bing. Search Engine Optimization starts early when you build your blog and can help you out immensely once you make your book available to readers. (not going into SEO details here)
Tip #5
Reviews are a must.
Some readers will not purchase a book unless it seems fully established and has had twenty or more reviews. Well how are you going to get reviews if you can’t get anyone to buy the book?
Utilize Goodreads Giveaways for physical copies of your book. Goodreads has a massive reader base that is constantly searching for new books to read. Though the purpose is to help authors get reviews, only a small percentage of the readers that win your book will write a review. Every review counts though. For one of my books I have given away over three hundred copies in paperback and digital formats, though I have only received around 15 reviews up to this date for that particular book. Those 15 reviews added up though, and they were enough to get some other readers to purchase the book.
You can also use Facebook to set up events and giveaway physical or digital copies of your book. Be cautious though about sending too many messages in Facebook as some of their policies could land you in Facebook jail for something as unintentional as sending a friend request to someone you don’t know.
Reach a fan base and the reviews will come. To get those reviews though, you are going to need to give away some free books. Do not think of the free books as money that you lost, consider them an investment.
Don’t worry if you get a couple of bad reviews, unless of course most of your reviews are bad. Readers will focus on the majority of your reviews to see what other readers think. If you have ten 5 Star reviews, six 4 Star reviews, a couple 3 Star reviews, and a few 1 and 2 Star reviews, then don’t sweat it. Not everyone that reads your book is going to think it is great and some may even hate your writing style. Consider the reviews that get posted as constructive criticism and evaluate if you could have done something differently.
Tip #6
Book pricing counts as much as the cover art does.
Price in today’s economy is probably more important than ever. I have talked to many eBook readers that will not pay more than $3.99 (USD) for any eBook unless it is from and established author that they have read books from before. Pricing on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords allow you to easily change the price of your books to see if you are able to sell more productively at a different price. At $3.99 (USD) I may make more money per book sell, but at $2.99 (USD) I may sell many more books and in the long term make more money and build a bigger fan base. Some authors make bundles by selling their book for just $0.99 (USD) because if the sheer volume in book sales.
I know of one author that has the first book in one of his paranormal series listed for free at all times for the digital version. He promotes the heck out of his free book and readers come back to buy his other books after reading the first. Technically he doesn’t make any money on the first book, but his free book promotion leads to greater sales for his other books.
Tip #7
Market your book. You do not need to tweet constantly or post repeatedly about your book every day of the week, but it doesn’t hurt to tweet and post to Facebook either. Target your readers by researching popular trends that can help you focus on people who would be interested in your genre of book.
Some authors market their book through free online advertising agencies like FreeAd and Craigslist which allow you to advertise to multiple cities around the word at the same time. This is a good way to get the name of your book out there, but is more viable for physical copies of the book. Be careful though as the category “Boats” is just above “Books” and can get your advertisement flagged for removal.
Another form of marketing is author interviews and book features. There are services that offer author interviews and book features then post the interviews and features on their website so others can see them. The interviews are a good way for readers to meet the author without the author going out to look for more fans. The author is utilizing the fan base of the blogger or website owner that listed their interview or book feature to help build their own fan base.
Tip #8
Write your next book.
Don’t stop writing once you publish your first book. Get working on your second book and start publicizing it on your blog. Put excerpts on your blog just like you did with your first book. Hopefully by this time you have built a small fan base and they are talking about your first book to their friends.
Again, keep them interested in your upcoming novel by providing them snippets and excerpts to read.
Tip #9
Find some friends.
No, not the friends you go out drinking with (though they are good too). What you want are friends that have worked in the self-publishing business. Talk to them and find out what worked for them and what didn’t work as they started out in self-publishing.
There are several groups that have years of self-publishing experience and are able to help new authors in the process of self-publishing their first novel.
Tip #10
Don’t get discouraged about book sales.
Stay motivated and keep working towards your goals. Some authors want to be the next New York Times #1 Bestseller. Some authors want to make a living from their writing. Some authors just want to publish a book that fans enjoy reading.
Stay motivated and keep working at writing the story you want to write. Don’t try to write the perfect novel, or you may never publish it. Just keep at it, and give the best you have.
I am now four hours into writing this set of what started out to be “5 Helpful Tips to Self-Publishing” and I am finally to the resources portions.
My wife tells me on occasion that I talk too much. I guess you could say that carries over into my writing as well at times.
I have not been paid to list the following links. I take no credit for their good work. I take no blame for their piss pore work.
I am simply listing some sources that you as a self-published author can look at to see if they fit what you need to finish your book, or to rework it and republish it as a better work of art.
Some of the companies/people below may offer more than one service to authors.
Self-Publishing Platforms
Amazon for Kindle: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishin...
Barnes and Noble for Nook: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit...
Smashwords (all eBook formats): www.smashwords.com
Amazon CreateSpace for Paperbacks: https://www.createspace.com/Login.do
Author Social Media Groups
Author’s Social Media Support Group: http://asmsgbooks.wordpress.com/
Independent Author Network: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/
Editing Services
Helen’s Editing and Proofreading Services: helenmoule@hotmail.co.uk
The Wordsmith, Inc: www.proffeditcheck.com
Kim’s Editing Services: http://kims-editingservices.webs.com
Amalgam Consulting: http://www.amalgamconsulting.com
Cover Art
Shannon McRoberts: www.shannonmcroberts.com
Bull Art Media: ray@bullart.com.au
J.C. Harker: http://www.thinksentient.com/covers/
Book Reviews
Independent Book Reviews: http://www.ibreviews.co.uk/
Author Interviews
Armchair Interviews: http://www.armchairinterviews.com/
Indie Authors and Books Interviews: www.indieauthorsandbooks.com
For more resources stop by the Indie Authors and Books Website and check out our resources page. The list of resources grows almost daily and provides numerous links for self-published authors.
Feel free to check out our web store in regards to the services we provide in house.
Best of luck in your self-publishing journey and we wish you the best from Indie Authors and Books.
Written by: David at Indie Authors and Books
I will start off by saying that I am not an expert on self-publishing by any means. I do not make enough from the sales of my books to call it a living. Some months my book sales might buy me one dinner at McDonalds, other months they might pay for a bit more. Last week we got to eat Wendy's. Well three out of the five of us got to eat Wendy's. The other two got leftover shepherds pie. I bet that single with cheese tasted great.
Over my journey though, I have learned lessons as to what an author should or should not do while self-publishing and wanted to share some of those tips.
Take the tips for what you will. Use them to help you, or toss them to the side like an unread book.
I offer the tips here for anyone that wants to use them to help them in their self-publishing journey. Not every tip will fit every author, but in a general sense they apply to all self-published authors.
Many authors start out the self-publishing journey with very little insight as to where they are heading. Authors contemplate whether they should publish strictly in eBook format or paperback format. Some contemplate self-publishing in both formats.
Each option has pros and cons which much be considered prior to self-publishing that first book.
The pros and cons listed below will be focused on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords (three major self-publishing platforms) as I am most familiar with these three companies.
Pros Associated with both eBook and Paperback Options
Easy to modify content and upload a new version.
Easy to change cover art and upload revised artwork.
User friendly interface for uploading your manuscript and cover art.
Book sales reports - There may be a delay in updating until the buyers credit card clears the bank.
Digital marketing through social media networks.
Sell price is easily changed through any of the major retailers.
eBook Pros
Ability to send free digital copies to help increase word of mouth marketing.
Ability to provide free digital copies of books to Read 2 Review groups on Facebook, Goodreads, and other social media networks.
No overhead cost once the eBook is edited and cover art has been created.
Target a community that seldom reads traditional paper books.
Paperback Pros
Ability to attend author book signings to market your book in local book stores.
Qualified to conduct giveaways of physical copies of your book on Goodreads (must join the author program on Goodreads)
Ability to market you book on your own website with minimal setup.
Target a community that does not use digital readers.
Ability to place your book on consignment in local bookstores.
eBook Cons
Impression that you are not fully established if your book is only in eBook format.
No physical copy of your book to provide autographed copies for giveaways.
Paperback Cons
Overhead cost is increased due to maintaining physical copies to sell through your website and for author book signings.
Profit per book is minimal due to cost of self-publishing through print on demand services.
Books must be printed prior to shipping to customers. Slows down delivery process once the book is purchased.
Now that we have covered some of the pros and cons (of which I only named a few of each) let’s focus on getting your book ready for printing.
Tip #1
Have someone else read your book.
Writing my book was the most rewarding part of the process for me. I took the time to put what I thought was what readers wanted to hear into something that they could take with them and read on the bus, in an airplane, or waiting for their kids to get out of school.
I gave the book to my wife to read. She looked at me funny a few times and asked me, “Did you know you did......?” Sometimes I replied yes, and other times I went back into the book and made changes.
The romance novel I wrote was more of an erotic novel and eventually ended up being a paranormal thriller. My wife let me know that I didn’t write romance well, and I didn’t want to publish an erotic book.
What I got in the end though was a book that I was truly proud of and was even mild enough that my parents could read it, but wild enough that it would attract readers New Adult and older.
Just so everyone is tracking.....my wife butchered the first two versions of my book.
If possible, find a few people that are “not” friends or family to read your book. Family and friends can be so polite when they read your book. You do not want people that are going to be polite to you. You want people that will give you no crap, down to earth, realistic and constructive criticism. Don’t let someone just tell you it was great or that it sucked. Get them to tell you what was great and what sucked so you know what needs to stay and what needs to change.
This is where the beta read or manuscript critique comes in. I will refer to both terms simply as a critique from here forward. By providing a digital copy of your book for critique you will get an honest assessment of your work. There are companies that will critique your manuscript for free while others will charge for this service.
Take the suggestions from the critique as a way to help you develop your book into the next true bestseller.
Tip #2
Make an investment in your book.
Hire a Copyeditor and a Content Editor to assist you in preparing your book for readers. Many authors make common mistakes in the writing process such as typing the same word twice in a row, misspelling commonly misspelled words, or minor mistakes in punctuation.
Copyediting is probably one of the most important phases in preparing a book to be published. Many readers will lose interest in a book quickly if they are always stumbling across typos and poor punctuation. Depending on the Copyeditor, you may get your word document back with the changes made to spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation. Then again you may get your word document back with notes attached throughout the document and the choice be left to you to change the mistakes or leave them. Copyediting should include two full reads of your book; even the best editors are going to miss a few misspelled words or some poor punctuation.
Content Editors look for consistency in the plot and storyline while focusing on character development and overall readability of the story. Content Editors take notes on each chapter as they go through and compare the transition the main characters in the book make as they progress through the book. No matter how talented an author is, there will always be something that can be changed in the book. You may have written a perfect book, but you need to swap two chapters to maintain consistency or flow of the story. It could be as simple as swapping two paragraphs, but normally there are more drastic changes that need to be made.
Want to go the extra mile? Hire yourself a service that provided Copyediting and Content Editing as a combined package. This costs a little more, but can save you months of pre-publishing time by utilizing one source for all edits.
Prior to utilizing the services of a Copyeditor or Content Editor, ask them to provide you a sample of their work. If possible ask them to edit the first 10 pages of your book. This is normally 3000 words or less in double spaced 12 point Times New Roman font, but will give you an idea of the quality of service they provide.
Tip #3
Make another investment in your book.
Cover art sells books. Yes, what is inside the book is going to keep a reader wanting more. What if they never pick the book up though? A reader needs to look at the cover of the book and know that they want to read the book before they ever touch it. This is even more important with eBooks as the free sample portion at the beginning of the eBook is so short. With physical copies of books they can flip through and read small samples from various places in the book.
Take the time to research reputable cover artists. Find a cover artist that has designed other covers and find one that matches the style for your book. You don’t want to have a cover that does not match the story of your book. Just because a cover artist made a great romance book cover does not mean that they can create a great fantasy book cover. Hire the cover artist that fits the style of your book.
Tip #4
Better get to Blogging.
Start your author blog and get to work. Readers and fans are hard to come by if you do not take the time to find them. Join a social media group for authors and ask for advice in launching your book.
Post regular updates on your blog as you are writing your book andput excerpts on the blog so readers get a taste of what they can expect.
Pay a few dollars and get your own domain name from one of the many website servers out there. Wordpress, Weebly, and Blogger are three of the more popular blog services. Webs.com also provides free websites or the option to pay for your own domain name.
Keep in contact with your readers and fans and ensure they don’t get bored. The last thing you want is for your readers to get bored and wander off prior to your book release date.
Make sure you keep your fans up to date on when to expect your book.
As you get closer to your scheduled launch date you may find a good time to run giveaways for ARC copies of your book, even if it is only in digital form.
The longer you are blogging about your books, the easier it will be for others to find you (or stumble onto you) when using search engines like Google and Bing. Search Engine Optimization starts early when you build your blog and can help you out immensely once you make your book available to readers. (not going into SEO details here)
Tip #5
Reviews are a must.
Some readers will not purchase a book unless it seems fully established and has had twenty or more reviews. Well how are you going to get reviews if you can’t get anyone to buy the book?
Utilize Goodreads Giveaways for physical copies of your book. Goodreads has a massive reader base that is constantly searching for new books to read. Though the purpose is to help authors get reviews, only a small percentage of the readers that win your book will write a review. Every review counts though. For one of my books I have given away over three hundred copies in paperback and digital formats, though I have only received around 15 reviews up to this date for that particular book. Those 15 reviews added up though, and they were enough to get some other readers to purchase the book.
You can also use Facebook to set up events and giveaway physical or digital copies of your book. Be cautious though about sending too many messages in Facebook as some of their policies could land you in Facebook jail for something as unintentional as sending a friend request to someone you don’t know.
Reach a fan base and the reviews will come. To get those reviews though, you are going to need to give away some free books. Do not think of the free books as money that you lost, consider them an investment.
Don’t worry if you get a couple of bad reviews, unless of course most of your reviews are bad. Readers will focus on the majority of your reviews to see what other readers think. If you have ten 5 Star reviews, six 4 Star reviews, a couple 3 Star reviews, and a few 1 and 2 Star reviews, then don’t sweat it. Not everyone that reads your book is going to think it is great and some may even hate your writing style. Consider the reviews that get posted as constructive criticism and evaluate if you could have done something differently.
Tip #6
Book pricing counts as much as the cover art does.
Price in today’s economy is probably more important than ever. I have talked to many eBook readers that will not pay more than $3.99 (USD) for any eBook unless it is from and established author that they have read books from before. Pricing on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords allow you to easily change the price of your books to see if you are able to sell more productively at a different price. At $3.99 (USD) I may make more money per book sell, but at $2.99 (USD) I may sell many more books and in the long term make more money and build a bigger fan base. Some authors make bundles by selling their book for just $0.99 (USD) because if the sheer volume in book sales.
I know of one author that has the first book in one of his paranormal series listed for free at all times for the digital version. He promotes the heck out of his free book and readers come back to buy his other books after reading the first. Technically he doesn’t make any money on the first book, but his free book promotion leads to greater sales for his other books.
Tip #7
Market your book. You do not need to tweet constantly or post repeatedly about your book every day of the week, but it doesn’t hurt to tweet and post to Facebook either. Target your readers by researching popular trends that can help you focus on people who would be interested in your genre of book.
Some authors market their book through free online advertising agencies like FreeAd and Craigslist which allow you to advertise to multiple cities around the word at the same time. This is a good way to get the name of your book out there, but is more viable for physical copies of the book. Be careful though as the category “Boats” is just above “Books” and can get your advertisement flagged for removal.
Another form of marketing is author interviews and book features. There are services that offer author interviews and book features then post the interviews and features on their website so others can see them. The interviews are a good way for readers to meet the author without the author going out to look for more fans. The author is utilizing the fan base of the blogger or website owner that listed their interview or book feature to help build their own fan base.
Tip #8
Write your next book.
Don’t stop writing once you publish your first book. Get working on your second book and start publicizing it on your blog. Put excerpts on your blog just like you did with your first book. Hopefully by this time you have built a small fan base and they are talking about your first book to their friends.
Again, keep them interested in your upcoming novel by providing them snippets and excerpts to read.
Tip #9
Find some friends.
No, not the friends you go out drinking with (though they are good too). What you want are friends that have worked in the self-publishing business. Talk to them and find out what worked for them and what didn’t work as they started out in self-publishing.
There are several groups that have years of self-publishing experience and are able to help new authors in the process of self-publishing their first novel.
Tip #10
Don’t get discouraged about book sales.
Stay motivated and keep working towards your goals. Some authors want to be the next New York Times #1 Bestseller. Some authors want to make a living from their writing. Some authors just want to publish a book that fans enjoy reading.
Stay motivated and keep working at writing the story you want to write. Don’t try to write the perfect novel, or you may never publish it. Just keep at it, and give the best you have.
I am now four hours into writing this set of what started out to be “5 Helpful Tips to Self-Publishing” and I am finally to the resources portions.
My wife tells me on occasion that I talk too much. I guess you could say that carries over into my writing as well at times.
I have not been paid to list the following links. I take no credit for their good work. I take no blame for their piss pore work.
I am simply listing some sources that you as a self-published author can look at to see if they fit what you need to finish your book, or to rework it and republish it as a better work of art.
Some of the companies/people below may offer more than one service to authors.
Self-Publishing Platforms
Amazon for Kindle: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishin...
Barnes and Noble for Nook: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit...
Smashwords (all eBook formats): www.smashwords.com
Amazon CreateSpace for Paperbacks: https://www.createspace.com/Login.do
Author Social Media Groups
Author’s Social Media Support Group: http://asmsgbooks.wordpress.com/
Independent Author Network: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/
Editing Services
Helen’s Editing and Proofreading Services: helenmoule@hotmail.co.uk
The Wordsmith, Inc: www.proffeditcheck.com
Kim’s Editing Services: http://kims-editingservices.webs.com
Amalgam Consulting: http://www.amalgamconsulting.com
Cover Art
Shannon McRoberts: www.shannonmcroberts.com
Bull Art Media: ray@bullart.com.au
J.C. Harker: http://www.thinksentient.com/covers/
Book Reviews
Independent Book Reviews: http://www.ibreviews.co.uk/
Author Interviews
Armchair Interviews: http://www.armchairinterviews.com/
Indie Authors and Books Interviews: www.indieauthorsandbooks.com
For more resources stop by the Indie Authors and Books Website and check out our resources page. The list of resources grows almost daily and provides numerous links for self-published authors.
Feel free to check out our web store in regards to the services we provide in house.
Best of luck in your self-publishing journey and we wish you the best from Indie Authors and Books.
Written by: David at Indie Authors and Books
The Escape of Princess Madeline by Kirstin Pulioff
Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern CA, she moved to the Pacific Northwest and graduated from OSU with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in North Plains, Oregon, and tries to live an adventure every day.
“The Escape of Princess Madeline”
The Kingdom of Soron is known for many things, its rolling landscape, haunting history, fiery sunsets, and its beautiful princess. Princess Madeline woke on her sixteenth birthday to realize that her future had been planned out, a life full of privilege, royalty, and boredom... a life with a husband and knight champion that she did not choose. Using her charm, strength and stubbornness, she defies the King at every turn, determined to keep her freedom on her terms.
Freedom quickly turns to disaster as she finds herself seized by a group of wandering bandits. With the kingdom in turmoil over her capture- her Knight Champion eager to prove himself, a group of dedicated suitors determined to win her hand, and a group of exiled wizards join forces in the hunt to rescue her. Follow Princess Madeline in this adventure to find freedom and love.
Purchase links:
Amazon US Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/The-Escape-Princess-Madeline-ebook/dp/B00A1Y87P0/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_3_VW5E
Amazon US Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Princess-Madeline-Kirstin-Pulioff/dp/1623750369/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Amazon UK Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Princess-Madeline-ebook/dp/B00A1Y87P0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362546364&sr=1-1
Amazon UK Paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Princess-Madeline-Kirstin-Pulioff/dp/1623750369/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362546323&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-escape-of-princess-madeline-kirstin-pulioff/1113746532?ean=2940015907421
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/246034
Amazon Author Pages:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Kirstin-Pulioff/e/B00A2498Z2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kirstin-Pulioff/e/B00A2498Z2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Contact info:
Official Website: www.kirstinpulioff.com
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/KirstinPulioffAuthor
Goodread’s Profile: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6558842.Kirstin_Pulioff
“The Escape of Princess Madeline - An Excerpt”
The Royal Ball
The melody continued, filled with deep emotion and beauty, that was lost on both of them as they painfully continued dancing. King Theodore twirled her in the detailed steps of the dance, pausing while they were apart and berating her when they were close.
“This is no way,” he started, “for you to behave.” Twirl and bow. “Or appear.” Step, step, and bend. “That dress was important to me, you should be wearing it.” Twirl, side step, twirl. The tempo increased, matching the speed of the quips in their argument.
“Father, don’t be silly,” she said, slightly out of breath. “It’s just a dress—I can wear it next time, in a few years, when I am ready to be married.”
“This is not a trivial matter, this is standard royal duties,” he countered.
“I will not sit down and let you decide whom I marry and what I wear.” Her teeth were starting to hurt from clenching them so hard. “This is my life.” She twirled with a grand flourish and curtsied toward her father. “This is my choice.” Feeling all eyes on her, she blushed under the scrutiny of her admirers and the cold glare of her father.
March 10, 2013
Book Reviews by Indie Authors and Books Website
Please join me at Indie Authors and Books Website for reviews on traditionally published and self published books.
Check out our review program. Don't just get your book reviewed, get it publicized at the same time.
www.indieauthorsandbooks.com
Check out our review program. Don't just get your book reviewed, get it publicized at the same time.
www.indieauthorsandbooks.com
Indie Authors and Books Facebook Page
Come check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indie-A...
David Rieckmann operates the Indie Authors and Books Website and provides low cost advertising for Indie Authors.
Plans run between $10.00 (USD) and $30.00 (USD) for features and interviews and for as little as $5.00 (USD) for banner placement on the Indie Authors and Books home page.
Authors are able to choose an advertising plan that fits their budget and can advertise their novels for as little as $1.00 USD) per day.
David provides features on authors and books that he aggressively distributes to potential readers through social media networks. In addition to the features, authors may purchase a personalized interview that is publicized on social media networks.
David has taken his site a step further and placed an Indie Authors Resource page on his site. The site includes links to resources that indie authors can use to help them publish and distribute their books.
Free interviews and features are also offered but are only posted to the Indie Authors and Books scrolling blog and Facebook page.
http://www.indieauthorsandbooks.com/
David Rieckmann operates the Indie Authors and Books Website and provides low cost advertising for Indie Authors.
Plans run between $10.00 (USD) and $30.00 (USD) for features and interviews and for as little as $5.00 (USD) for banner placement on the Indie Authors and Books home page.
Authors are able to choose an advertising plan that fits their budget and can advertise their novels for as little as $1.00 USD) per day.
David provides features on authors and books that he aggressively distributes to potential readers through social media networks. In addition to the features, authors may purchase a personalized interview that is publicized on social media networks.
David has taken his site a step further and placed an Indie Authors Resource page on his site. The site includes links to resources that indie authors can use to help them publish and distribute their books.
Free interviews and features are also offered but are only posted to the Indie Authors and Books scrolling blog and Facebook page.
http://www.indieauthorsandbooks.com/
March 9, 2013
Simon, The Phantom Bigfoot - Author Interview
(D.R.) Welcome, Simon the Phantom Bigfoot. It is good to have you here for an interview today and to be able to give readers some insight on you as a person, not just a name on the cover of a book. Will you please tell us a little about yourself, like where you are from and how you started your writing career?
(Simon) Well David, let me first say Phantom Bigfoot does not know where he comes from – do any of us? He first appeared one dark night as Simon lay asleep. Twin Peaks and the Broken Lizards also helped to give me birth. That surreal blend of ectoplasmic ewaves concocted the idea of this dumbass guy who spends his days keeping his tribe of Bigfoot a secret. The solid form known as Simon resides in a small town near the South Wales coast in UK where he rummages along the Jurassic coastline searching for proof of alien intervention – fossils. Simon used writing to nourish those ewaves into the book now known as Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe.
(D.R.) I have experienced writer’s block in the past. Have you experienced writer’s block as well?
(Simon) The dreaded writer’s block attacks when least expected and lasts as long as I let it. A long walk on the beach with my wife collecting shells and fossils usually cures that affliction. If not I mental boot up the ass gets me going.
(D.R.) Writing for many authors is a way to pass the time or a hobby. Do you write as a hobby or do you write full time as a means to provide an income for you and/or your family?
(Simon) At first it was a way to prove I could do something other than my dull day job. After the accident I was reborn a writer and hurtled headlong into the serious aspects of making it work. Writing also cured my depression, not helped by countless rejections and my disabilities, until I crawled out of my cocoon-like cave into the bright light of a published author, fully fledged. I never think of writing as a money-spinner, just the desire to see my work on a bookshelf.
(D.R.) Some writers use a pen name to publish their novels, is this the case you for?
(Simon) I decided under the influence of my Indie publisher to use my real name as a pen name can cause confusion with family and friends. Besides, who would take Phantom Bigfoot seriously?
(D.R.) Most writers have been influenced by other authors through the years. Can you tell us the author or set of authors that influenced you the most for your particular genre?
(Simon) Stephen King is at the top and his Needful Things inspired me to write Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe due to the pranking aspect which I took to the next level and made more fun. Dean Koontz, Tom Sharpe, Alistair McLean and last but not least, Graham Masterton – the master of horror.
(D.R.) If you could pick one of your books to be made into a movie, which book would you pick? Who do you envision playing the major roles in the movie?
(Simon) Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe would make a great gross out comedy in the Broken Lizards style. Starring Matthew McConaughey – Kate Hudson – Timothy Olyphant – Joseph Gordon-Levitt. These actors have shown their stupid side on more than one occasion which makes them perfect for the roles of Duane Dexter – Sheriff Louise Jessop – Agent Willis Johnson – Chief Mockingbird.
(D.R.) Do you currently have any works in progress? Can you tell us what the book is about and when readers can expect to find it available in ebook or paperback?
(Simon) My WIP is Eternally Yours Parts 1&2. It’s a different kind of romantic vampire tale as it is set mainly in an asylum in rural France 1925 where a traumatized woman, soaked in blood with no memory is treated. The story is based on a rare lunar cycle that happens once in a century. This Eternal Moon cycle creates the perfect vampire. Hopefully released later this year.
(D.R.) Are your books currently available in ebook format and/or in paperback? Where can readers find your books?
(Simon) Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe is available on Kindle and Paperback.
Purchase Links: http://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Loves-Bi....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Loves-...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Loves-...
Http://www.christophermatthewspub.com...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/nobod...
(D.R.) Where can your fans find information on you and your books on the internet?
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/simondokillwr...
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/simondo...
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/tassyoneill
Author’s Den: http://www.authorsden.com/simondokill
Official Website: http://tassyoneill.wix.com/the-phanto...
(D.R.) Is there anything else you would like to say for your fans and readers before we conclude the interview?
(Simon) Well, David, I would just like to say that although I am responsible for what Phantom Bigfoot has written about his wonderful tribe deep in the dark woods of Big Beaver I am in no way liable for the silly after effects my book will cause.
(D.R.) Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes my interview with Simon the Phantom Bigfoot. Thank you for sitting down with me and conducting this interview. I wish you the best of luck in your writing career and hope readers will enjoy your books for years to come.
(Simon) It was my pleasure David.
March 8, 2013
Indie Authors and Books Website
David Rieckmann has founded the Indie Authors and Books Website and provides low cost advertising for Indie Authors.
Plans run between $10.00 (USD) and $30.00 (USD).
Authors are able to choose an advertising plan that fits their budget and can advertise their novels for as little as $1.00 USD) per day.
David provides features on authors and books that he aggressively distributes to potential readers through social media networks. In addition to the features, authors may purchase a personalized interview that is publicized on social media networks.
David has taken his site a step further and placed an Indie Authors Resource page on his site. The site includes links to resources that indie authors can use to help them publish and distribute their books.
For more information go to www.indieauthorsandbooks.com
Plans run between $10.00 (USD) and $30.00 (USD).
Authors are able to choose an advertising plan that fits their budget and can advertise their novels for as little as $1.00 USD) per day.
David provides features on authors and books that he aggressively distributes to potential readers through social media networks. In addition to the features, authors may purchase a personalized interview that is publicized on social media networks.
David has taken his site a step further and placed an Indie Authors Resource page on his site. The site includes links to resources that indie authors can use to help them publish and distribute their books.
For more information go to www.indieauthorsandbooks.com
Interview with Ally Shields - Author of the Guardian Witch Series
An Interview with Ally Shields - Author of the Guardian Witch Series
(D.R.) Welcome, Ally. It is good to have you here for an interview today and to be able to give readers some insight on you as a person, not just a name on the cover of a book. Will you please tell us a little about yourself, like where you are from and how you started your writing career?
(Ally) Ally Shields is my pen name; actually it was my mother's maiden name, but it had an appropriate sound to it when I started writing fantasy. I grew up in the Midwest and still live near the Mississippi River that is the setting for my series. Like most authors, I have written all my life, but five years ago I left my career as a lawyer and juvenile court officer to write full time.
(D.R.) I have experienced writer’s block in the past. Have you experienced writer’s block as well?
(Ally) I've had non-productive periods in my writing, but never what I would call writer's block. My imagination is always working on another scene, another story. But I do write myself into corners and have to really work to get my storyline back on track. Sometimes these issues work themselves out over night. More often I brainstorm with a friend or my critique partner.
(D.R.) Writing for many authors is a way to pass the time or a hobby. Do you write as a hobby or do you write full time as a means to provide an income for you and/or your family?
(Ally) I write full time, but luckily it is not my main source of income. As a fairly new author on the market, I and my dog would starve if we relied on the royalty checks! :) I take my writing seriously and treat it as a full-time job.
(D.R.) Since you use a pen name to publish your novels, do your close friends and family know you write and do they know your pen name?
(Ally) Yes, they all know and are very supportive. In fact, I made sure my family was okay with using my mother's name before I signed the first contract. I've made no secret that Ally Shields is really Janet L Buck and both websites feature my books. I chose to use a pen name because of branding; the other series I'm writing - not yet ready to be published - is very different, a contemporary spy thriller. I hope to publish that series under my own name.
(D.R.) Most writers have been influenced by other authors through the years. Can you tell us the author or set of authors that influenced you the most for your particular genre?
(Ally) In the urban fantasy genre, I'd have to pick Kim Harrison and the early Anita Blake books by Laurell K Hamilton. But my fantasies are written within a mystery framework, and I owe that mystery/suspense flavor to a long list of mystery writers, including Sisters in Crime, a writers' organization dedicated to crime fiction.
(D.R.) If you could pick one of your books to be made into a movie, which book would you pick? Who do you envision playing the major roles in the movie?
(Ally) Since I think my series should be read in order, I'd start with Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1). I have trouble envisioning anyone real in the roles that exist in my head. My characters are distinct to me and not "like" anybody else. Having said that, if I had to cast someone, maybe Charlize Theron for Ari and Chris Pine for Andreas.
(D.R.) Do you currently have any works in progress? Can you tell us what the book is about and when readers can expect to find it available in ebook or paperback?
(Ally) I'm ready to start edits on book 3, Burning Both Ends (summer release), and I just turned in Blood & Fire, book 4 (which should be out sometime next fall). I have about three chapters written on book 5, entitled Stirring the Flames, which takes place mostly in Italy. I can't tell you much about these stories without risking spoilers, but readers can expect to see new mysteries and lots of evil characters! :)
(D.R.) Are your books currently available in ebook format and/or in paperback? Where can readers find your books?
(Ally) Both books are available in several ebook formats. Awakening the Fire is also in print, and Fire Within will be soon.
Purchase Links for Fire Within:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Within-Gua...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire-...
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...
(D.R.) Where can your fans find information on you and your books on the internet?
(Ally)
Facebook: http://facebook.com/AllyShieldsAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/allyshi...
Blog: http://allyshields.com/blog.html
Official Website: http://allyshields.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
The Fire Within by Ally Shields
A hidden evil stalks the city…
Ari Calin refuses to believe her human friend Eddie murdered a vampire—in spite of his confession. Her human partner Ryan thinks the case is a slam dunk, even though there’s no weapon and no witnesses, but Ari’s not about to let her friend take the rap without finding out more.
When Ari attends a charity event on the arm of a handsome werewolf, she finds someone she never expected to see again—Andreas De Luca, the charismatic vampire she used to date. When their eyes meet across the room, memories come rushing back. His kiss, his touch, a savage death…and a terrifying magical bond. A reconnection is the last thing she wants. Only by staying away and forgetting Andreas can she hope to avoid the Legend of Ramora.
But when vampires keep dying, one thing becomes clear: Riverdale has a serial killer on its hands, and Andreas could be next. Ari begins to fear there’s more to it, though. Something truly evil is stalking the city, waiting to take control…
March 7, 2013
Indie Authors and Books Website - Low Cost Advertising For Indie Authors
Indie Authors and Books
Indie Authors and Books is a paid advertising service for indie authors.
I operate under one main principle - “The more a reader sees your book cover, the more likely that they will purchase your book”.
The use of extensive social media networking to publicize both traditionally published authors and indie authors to readers around the world is a must to reach new readers and build the ever growing reputation as a respected author.
My network of over 5000 followers, friends, and fans on Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, and Goodreads is growing at a rapid pace and provides an additional resource for authors to advertise their books at low cost.
Pricing plans start at $10.00 (USD) and none of the plans exceed $30.00 (USD). With these economical plans you can advertise for as little as $1.00 (USD) per day.
Please feel free to check out the Indie Authors and Books website and let me know if you are interested in an Author Interview, Book Feature, or the Author/Series Feature.
View the features and interviews from indie authors.
Just click the icon on the web store for more details on each plan.
www.indieauthorsandbooks.com
Thank you and best of luck in your writing and publishing adventures.
If you have more questions you can contact me at david.rieckmann@gmail.com.
David Rieckmann
RaeBeth McGee Interview with David Rieckmann
(D.R.) Welcome, RaeBeth McGee-Buda. It is good to have you here for an interview today and to be able to give readers some insight on you as a person, not just a name on the cover of a book. Will you please tell us a little about yourself, like where you are from and how you started your writing career?
(RaeBeth) I am from a small Pennsylvania town of Fairchance. I’ve lived here for three years but I’ve grown up in the surrounding area. As for my writing career, I was published with my first book last December but I’ve been writing all of my life. I started out with poetry and short stories, and managed to expand on one of the short stories. That’s how Silenced was born.
(D.R.) I have experienced writer’s block in the past. Have you experienced writer’s block as well?
(RaeBeth) Oh I’m experiencing it a little bit now as I’m trying to finish the second book in the Silenced Series. I think it has a lot to do with being pregnant and tired. I don’t recall hitting it with Silenced though. Perhaps maybe the characters are fighting me because they don’t want their story to end. LOL
(D.R.) How did you manage to overcome your writer’s block?
(RaeBeth) As soon as I figure it out… I’ll let you know.
(D.R.) Writing for many authors is a way to pass the time or a hobby. Do you write as a hobby or do you write full time as a means to provide an income for you and/or your family?
(RaeBeth) A little bit of both. The writing is a way to express myself or get a message I care strongly about out there. I think the small amount of income from my writing is just a bonus. I’m just happy people are reading my work and enjoying it. That’s payment enough for me.
(D.R.) Some writers use a pen name to publish their novels, is this the case you for?
(RaeBeth) No. I write under my real name. Although some may be confused. The kindle version of Silenced is under my maiden name and the paperback came out as my name was legally changed. Therefore, I go by both for now.
(D.R.) Most writers have been influenced by other authors through the years. Can you tell us the author or set of authors that influenced you the most for your particular genre?
(RaeBeth) Right now there are two major influences when it came to writing Silenced. They are Patricia McCormick and Cheryl Rainfield.
(D.R.) If you could pick one of your books to be made into a movie, which book would you pick? Who do you envision playing the major roles in the movie?
(RaeBeth) At this time I only have one book available… which is Silenced. Therefore this would be the book of my choice. I haven’t thought about who would play the major roles. Crazy.. I know but I really haven’t thought about this one.
(D.R.) Do you currently have any works in progress? Can you tell us what the book is about and when readers can expect to find it available in ebook or paperback?
(RaeBeth) Right now I am working on the second book to Silenced. I’m calling it Silenced: The Overtaking. This part of the book goes more in depth with Amber’s depression and self harm. Readers will see more of her struggle and find out if she eventually goes too deep or if she gets control back. At this time I am unsure of the release date. The release date usually isn’t set until after the book is with the editor. It’s hard to tell how long an editor may need to edit a book.
(D.R.) Are your books currently available in ebook format and/or in paperback? Where can readers find your books?
(RaeBeth)My books can be found on Amazon, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores.
Purchase Links:
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Series-ebook/dp/B00ANRBNDS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355696968&sr=1-1&keywords=Silenced+by+raebeth+mcgee
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Volume-1-RaeBeth-McGee/dp/1480254665/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1355696968&sr=1-1
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silenced-rae-beth-mcgee/1022945794?ean=2940015999945
(D.R.) Where can your fans find information on you and your books on the internet?
(RaeBeth) Readers can find me at various social media sources to include Facebook.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raebethbuda
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/RaeBeth-McGee/e/B00ANXH6PG/ref=la_B00ANXH6PG_rf_p_n_feature_browse-b_0?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB00ANXH6PG%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A2656022011&bbn=283155&ie=UTF8&qid=1355839606&rnid=618072011Blog : http://raebethmcgeeswriting.blogspot.com/
Official Website: http://raebethmcgee.weebly.com/index.html
(D.R.) Is there anything else you would like to say for your fans and readers before we conclude the interview?
(RaeBeth) I want to thank you for having me here today and to help spread the word about my work. I appreciate it. As for my fans and readers, I promise I am working hard to finish the ending of Silenced: The Overtaking. I know there are many of you who are antsy to read it and find out what happens. For this is the reason I write… for my fans which are completely awesome in every way!!
(D.R.) Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes my interview with RaeBeth. Thank you for sitting down with me and conducting this interview. I wish you the best of luck in your writing career and hope readers will enjoy your books for years to come.
D.R. Racey
D.R. Racey has served on active duty in the U.S. Military since 1998 and spends much of his time off writing, developing his next story, and designing his own cover art. He has been married since 2000
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