Sleuthfest: Part 2

Here is my continuing report on Sleuthfest.

Reinventing Yourself

Speakers: PJ Parrish, Carol Cope, Lisa Unger, Jonathan King, Moderated by Elaine Viets

· Keep writing; don't give up.

· Think about what you love to write and see if you can give it a new spin.

· It's humanity that pushes stories no matter what you write.

· Come out there in different forms.

· Don't count on this career to pay the mortgage.

· Pigs get fed; hogs get slaughtered (referring to modest versus big advances).

· Paperback originals are dead.

· Write every day. Write from the heart. Write from the best of your ability.

· Try to be a better writer than you were the day before.

· By the time you figure out the market, it's over. Write the book that's in you.

Nancy Cohen & Christine Kling

Pearl Wolf, Shelley Freydont, Sue Peek

 

Dr. Christine Jackson & Sharon Potts

Sue from Murder on the Beach & Randy Rawls

 

Sharon Hartley and Nancy Cohen

 

 

Alternatives to Publishing

Panelists were Paul Levine, Jonathan King, Mike Jastrzebski, Moderated by Neil Plakcy

There are three ways to get published in ebook form:

1. Legacy Publishers, who put out traditional print books and who will also make your book available in ebook formats

2. Dedicated e-publishers (sometimes called "digital first" publishers)

3. Self-publishing

For self-pubbed authors:

Unlike the other two choices, you're responsible for cover design, editing, formatting, pricing, and uploading to all the different online sites.

You've got to work at the book. You can't just put it up online. It must be your best work.

Consider the free preview. The first page and the first chapter must grab the reader.

Re Promotion:

Promotion and marketing are very distracting and time consuming and they do take away from writing time.

Think about adding the first chapter of another one of your books at the end of your self-pubbed work as a teaser.

Promote on blogs, Kindle Nation Daily, Goodreads, Library Thing, yahoo groups for readers. Add to discussions on the Kindle & Nook boards and on FB.

Post on your friends' FB pages and ask them to post to their friends.

Offer to give away a copy of your book to a reader who agrees to post a favorable review on Amazon and B&N if they like the story.

Aim for the top 100 in your chosen genre. If you get a high rating, use the snipping tool and show the pix to your fans or in your next newsletter.

If you choose to go with POD at Createspace, remember to put a spine on your book. You'll have to buy the proof and then you'll need to review and approve it. Their premium service gives you better pricing options.

Disclaimer: Any misinterpretations are mine alone. This is what I heard to the best of my ability.

More Photos may be accessed here: http://bit.ly/gj5Up3