C.C. Hogan's Blog, page 8

The Importance of Reviews

Becoming an Indie author has been a trying experience. I have spent hundreds of hours working on my masterpiece (I hope) and now I need to promote it.

But most authors, like me, do not have the money to advertise and we fear that the countless paid book-promotion websites out there will do us little or no good. What is vital to us is reviews.

Catching the writing bug

How I went from starting tons of novels, failing to finish any, to actually writing seven (and counting).

To be honest, I am writing this at least partly to try and find out for myself...

What is happening on Dirt?

I have been very busy with my ongoing fantasy Dirt.

Major updates to the website, talking to a good friend about organising a Giveaway, working on series two and, most importantly, persuading Amazon to make the first book Permanently Free.

Could Amazon improve their service for Independent Authors?

Following an email from myself to the KDP team at Amazon, they have reduced the first book in my new Fantasy series Dirt to zero so it is permanently free. This is crucial part of my sell, because as an author it is one of the few marketing techniques I can afford to help sell my whole series.

It made me think about the Amazon KDP offering and how it could be improved to help Amazon, Authors and the vital readers.

Publishing on Smashwords

If you are publishing a book, your first port of call is probably Amazon KDP. However, you may with to make your book available on other platforms too.

Publishing through Smashwords will give you access to Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo and lots of other outlets. But the set up is a little different to KDP.

My new books have arrived

However nervous I am, I love that moment when books arrive, hot off the press!

I have been slaving over Dirt for the last year, and the first four books landed with a thump on my doormat a couple of hours ago. So, what next?

Using HTML in Kindle Book Descriptions

Careful use of HTML in book descriptions on Amazon KDP can really make your book stand out. Here is a simple guide plus a FREE online editor to make life a little simpler.

The Joy of great Audio

The audiobook has been with us a long, long time. From the very early days of radio, we have enjoyed sitting back and listening as the words wash over us. But there is a huge difference between a well read presentation and one that lifts you to a new plain.

Free Story - Yona and the Beast

Start your journey on the world of Dirt today with this FREE standalone short story.

Yona is a slave, held in a cold, lightless room in the North Hoar Ridge of Bind. When she and her friends have the opportunity to escape, they are helped by an amazing, huge beast that carries them across the continent.

Creating towns in Fantasy Writing

Before you get too hung up on mapping out your towns in detail for your latest epic, painting in all the walls, working out population sizes and so on, you need to understand what a town or village is and why you are there in the first place.

Often an impression of a place will be far more helpful than facts and figures.