Review: Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide To Self-publishing Success

[image error] Today, I'm reviewing a new book by authors Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson called, Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-publishing Success. Today, Tuesday July 19th, the book is also part of their Best Seller For A Day campaign. After you read the review, head over there to see how you can win a Kindle from these authors.



When I completed Dollars & Sense, one thing came to mind... Wow, this is the most complete book on creating and launching a self-published book that I have come across to date. Anytime I see the word "Definitive" in the title, I almost always find that the author is reaching to use that word legitimately. This is one book that stakes a strong claim to that word.



The three authors share their combined experience in an exhaustive book that reads like a tutorial and seminar combined into one easy to use tool. Starting from the time before your book is published, through the launch, Dollars & Sense helps you every step of the way.



This book guides you through the editing, formatting and launch of your book. It discusses the cover and categories that will help your book stand apart from the others. It also talks about garnering review by letting you know where to look for them and how to approach reviewers.



Dollars & Sense then goes into detail on how you can create a solid marketing plan for your book and looks at everything from integrating social media into your plan to working with paid advertising. It discusses a sensible pricing strategy for your book and what you need to keep in mind when you price your book. Did you know that there is a "no man's land" when it comes to pricing your Kindle title? This book will tell you what it is and why you want to stay away from it.



Dollars & Sense has three main sections:



1. Producing a Professional Product

2. Creating a Social Media Platform

3. Selling Books



Each section could easily be peeled away and sold as a stand alone product. The section on crating a social media platform itself is one of the best works I have read on how authors can integrate social media into their platform. In fact, their Twitter chapter in my opinion is worth the price of the book alone.



This book is packed with so much advice and instruction, it's unlikely you will be able to read and use it in one pass. It's definitely a reference book that you'll go to over and over as you bring your book to readers. Kudos to Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson for creating, in my opinion, one of the best and most exhaustive books on the subject. It indeed, deserves the word "Definitive" in the title.



Remember, today, Tuesday, July 19th, head over to their Best Seller For A Day page to see how you can win a free Kindle.











About The Authors



[image error] Amber Scott bio:

In between naptimes and dishes, Amber Scott escapes into her characters' addictive lives. She often burns dinner, is a sucker for chocolate and still believes in happily ever after. She makes her home in hot Arizona with her two children, husband, and one day, two cats.



Contact info:

amberscottbooks@gmail.com (for readers)

amberromances@yahoo.com (for main contact)

Twitter: @amberscottbooks

Weblog: http://amberscottbooks.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/AmberScottBooks









Carolyn McCray bio:

Carolyn McCray is a social media and sales consultant to indie authors and publishing houses alike. Her own controversial thriller, "30 Pieces of Silver" hit the #1 spot on the Amazon "Men's Adventure" list, (beating out the likes of Clive Cussler), and all four of her indie published books are Kindle Bestsellers.



Carolyn is also the founder of the Indie Book Collective, an organization with over 5,000 members which is dedicated to helping authors utilize social media to the fullest to sell their books. The Collective offers free workshops, a live advice radio show, innovative programs such as Blog Tour de Force & Bestseller for a Day, and so much more to its members.







[image error] Rachel Thompson bio:

Rachel Thompson (aka RachelintheOC) is the author of the consistently 5/5 star reviewed humorous and at times, poignant, collection of essays, A Walk In The Snark (released 1/2011), which recently hit #3 on the Amazon Humor/Parenting & Families Kindle list (beating out the likes of Jenny McCarthy!), after just a few months of release and has consistently stayed on the Amazon Top Humor Lists.



In May, 2011 A Walk In The Snark hit #1 on Smashwords Entertainment Bestseller list also.



Rachel is also one of the cofounders of the Indie Book Collective, an organization with over 6,000 members which is dedicated to helping authors utilize social media to the fullest to sell their books. The Collective offers free workshops, a live advice radio show, innovative programs such as Blog Tour de Force & Bestseller for a Day, and so much more to its members.



You can find Rachel most days on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, giving daily tips on the IndieBookIBC Twitter stream, contributing posts to the IBC blog or her own popular blog, giving free social media workshops for writers, promoting her current book or working on her next book, The Mancode: A Survivor's Tale. She lives in the OC aka Orange County, CA (home of Disneyland). Somewhere in there this redhead in a sea of blondes fits in being a full-time wife and mom to her two young children and just one husband. She loves coffee, dirty martinis, and sleep.



Rachel and the IBC were recently profiled (April 13, 2011) in the Huffington Post Books section regarding social media and ePublishing.











  



























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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.