Brian Marggraf's Blog: Indie Hero , page 5
September 21, 2014
September 20, 2014
Big day tomorrow…
So, tomorrow’s the big day. Just checked the projected attendance for this year’s Brooklyn Book Festival. Approximately 40,000 visitors.
(Gulp, heart rate increases)
As an unofficial vendor bum-rushing the event, I am trying to decide where to set up the Singulus Books table.
I’m thinking near the subway entrances, charging stations, or food trucks.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Leave a comment.
EXTRA:
Practicing the setup / breakdown:
Singulus Books – before
Singulus Books (stocked with 100 paperbacks) – after
August 31, 2014
Brooklyn Book Festival
The Brooklyn Book Festival ( http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org/ ) is on 9/21/14, with bookend events from 9/15 to 9/21.
Here’s the official description:
“The Brooklyn Book Festival, on Sunday, September 21, 2014, is a huge, free public event presenting an array of literary stars and emerging authors who represent the exciting world of literature today. One of America’s premier literary and literacy events, this hip, smart, diverse gathering attracts thousands of booklovers of all ages. The festival is organized around themed readings and devoted to timely and lively panel discussions. The inclusion of top national and international authors and new partners has expanded the festival’s reach while continuing to celebrate and enhance Brooklyn’s contemporary and historic literary reputation.”
Singulus Books and I will have a table there, guerrilla style of course. The prep work is done: have my Square credit card reader, banners, promotional items, folding table and chair, and 100 copies of my novel, Dream Brother. Should be a great event. If you are there, please stop by and say hello.
August 19, 2014
Dream Brother: A Novel, now available on BarnesAndNoble.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dream-brother-brian-marggraf/1119923617?ean=9781497318809
August 11, 2014
Dream Brother: A Novel, now on Smashwords…
For you non-kindle users, Dream Brother: A Novel is now on Smashwords, premium catalog approved.
EPUB, MOBI, PDF, RTF, LRF, PDB, TXT Formats available.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/464055
August 3, 2014
Singulus Books – Quality fiction, one title at a time.
A stroke of good luck courtesy of the NYC permit dept: “no permit required if you sell newspapers, periodicals, BOOKS, pamphlets, or other written matter.”
In the fall, stepping things up, starting a mobile, pop-up bookstore in Manhattan.
Strategically placed in front of high-traffic locations like Barnes & Noble’s flagship store in Union Square…
or the legendary Strand Bookstore.
Singulus Books – Quality fiction, one title at a time.
Starting with mine, of course… http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HNW967G
If this experiment goes well, other titles may follow, becoming a paid service offered to indie authors.
If you can’t get your book into mainstream bookstores, start your own…
July 28, 2014
Spotlight Interview – Author Brian Marggraf
My latest interview, live now on http://indiespotlight.org
Originally posted on
In this, the first of our Indie Spotlight interviews, we speak to New York based author Brian Marggraf about his book, Dream Brother, life in the Big Apple, and his unique – some might say aggressive – approach to the challenges of self-marketing. For our part, we think it’s an approach that makes all kinds of sense and then some. But we’ll let you decide.
IS: I’ve spent the morning gathering as much information as I could on you and have come up woefully short. You’ve got a single-paragraph bio that pops up everywhere I go. So here’s my first question: Why so little? Some would argue that a colorful and detailed biography is an important part of connecting with readers.
BM: I’m a minimalist, always have been, always will be. I wanted to keep my author bio simple, just essential details. I’ve read thousands of bios that go on…
View original 2,600 more words
July 24, 2014
Elmore Leonard: 10 Rules
Among all the lists of writing rules and advice, this one ranks high, in my opinion. Simple, yet so important.
Never open a book with weather.
Avoid prologues.
Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue.
Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said”…he admonished gravely.
Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.
Never use the words “suddenly” or “all hell broke loose.”
Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
Don’t go into great detail describing places and things.
Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.
If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.
* Excerpted from the New York Times article, “Easy on the Adverbs, Exclamation Points and Especially Hooptedoodle”
Some of you might agree with these, some might not. Feel free to add links to additional lists/tips in the comment section below.
Let the discussion begin…
July 15, 2014
Amazon vs. Hachette – Indie authors and lovers of Indie Lit. – take a stand against big publishing, sign the petition.
“Self-published authors responded to Preston’s open letter on Thursday with their own petition, which now boasts over 3,000 signatures.
Launched by Howey – author of the hit dystopian novel Wool – and others including the bestselling thriller writers JA Konrath and Barry Eisler – the letter urges readers not to boycott Amazon, arguing that the online giant has liberated authors and readers alike from the clutches of “New York Publishing”.
“Major publishers like Hachette have a long history of treating authors and readers poorly,” the petition states. “Amazon, on the other hand, has built its reputation on valuing authors and readers dearly. The two companies didn’t simultaneously change directions overnight.”
“Amazon has done more to liberate readers and writers than any other entity since Johannes Gutenberg refined the movable type printing press”, the petition continues, adding that “Amazon is growing overall readership while liberating the voices of countless writers, adding to the diversity of literature”.
“A large percentage of the ebooks sold on Amazon are from independent authors. You have validated our decision to write and to publish. Don’t let the wealthiest of writers convince you to turn away,” the authors write.
Please take a moment to read and sign the petition.
Indie Hero thanks you…
https://www.change.org/petitions/hachette-stop-fighting-low-prices-and-fair-wages
July 3, 2014
INDIEpendence Day Sale – $2.99 (40% off) – Dream Brother: A Novel – Kindle Ebook
Happy 4th of July.
Be safe, and in the spirit of independence, buy an indie book.
Also, don’t blow your fingers off and definitely leash your dog so he doesn’t wage war on your campground.
“Meth, memories, and monsters.”
The Amazon Kindle version of Dream Brother is $2.99 (40% off) until midnight, July 4th, 2014. Here are the links:
Dream Brother: A Novel by Brian Marggraf
San Francisco, California. Fifty hills surrounded by the cold waters of the ocean and the bay. City of rebellion and revolution. Smothered by fog daily.
This is the place where Jacob Gavel grew up, the place he ran away from at twenty, and the place he never thought he’d come back to.
The city’s in the middle of its second financial renaissance. A century and a half earlier, gold nuggets. In the year 2000, silicon microchips. The dot-com boom created hundreds of new companies, swollen with capital and potential, profitable only in theory, run by young professionals with a lot of disposable income.
After Jacob, a fledgling sculptor, leaves a failed marriage and flees New York City, he returns home, welcomed by his mentally ill mother, subordinate father, and successful sister. As he settles in, he discovers a family secret. He had a twin brother who died in the womb right next to him. When the shock wears off, his reality becomes clear. He’s alone, broke, and unemployed. In an attempt to rebuild his life, he takes a low-paying job as a mental health case manager, but with all the tech money flooding the city, his childhood friend, Paul, has a better idea.
His fresh start spoils. Events trigger his dreams, and his dreams resurrect childhood memories, propelling him forward on a sleep-deprived, speed-fueled mission to find recognition, love, and revenge.
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