Lend Me Your Ears
This week is a dual-subject post. The first involves Amazon's Kindle Scout program, personalized by my dear GR friend, P. Zoro, who submitted a fantasy story to it titled "The Sleeping Pool II (Destination Series Vol. 2)".
Although this is something of a departure from my normal subjects, it is a courtesy I heartily extend to all GR' member authors with priority given, of course, to friends and followers. If you wish to promote a book or have something interesting or relevant we writers should know about, you are warmly welcomed.
Kindle Scout accepts English-language, never-before-published in any format anywhere (including on Amazon) novels of 50,000 words or more. Once accepted to the program, submissions are posted publicly with the first 5,000 words available to read and individuals can vote on their favorites. For those interested, below are two links with more detail.
How it works
Eligibility and Content Guidelines
Author benefits include an Amazon publishing contract, a $1,500 advance, featured Amazon marketing, and easy rights reversion.
Here is my Q&A with author P. Zoro.
R: Before speaking about your submission to the Kindle Scout program, can you provide a bit of overview and context on African traditional publishing? Is it as challenging in Zimbabwe where English predominates as across the continent where over 2,000 languages are spoken?
P: Publishing in Africa is focused on the traditional publishing of literary and mainstream fiction, short stories, short story collections, and novels. Success has been limited to a few authors like Chinua Achebe, Tsitsi Dangarembwa, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wole Soyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o to name but a few, although over the last decade, writers like Nnedi Okorafor have expanded into genre fiction.
Success has been severely limited due to the perception that African fiction sells only if it is mainstream or literary. Getting an agent is next to impossible, and traditional publishing deals remain a near unattainable dream.
Thus Kindle Scout is a breakthrough for African writers. Though initially limited to the USA, Kindle Scout opened up to other countries. We can submit work written in English in any genre and let Amazon and the readers decide for themselves if the book is interesting without the traditional publishing industry acting as a gatekeeper.
R: Wow. Sounds just like traditional publishing here in the States. Did you achieve any measurable success in prior book marketing efforts and what factored into your decision to go with Kindle Scout?
P: Inspired by South African, Catriona Ross' campaign for her Sci-Fi novel, I currently have an ongoing campaign for "The Sleeping Pool II (Destination Series Vol. 2)", a fantasy set in Zimbabwe where I come from.
Whether they publish the book or not, the fact that Kindle Scout accepts work from an African writer for genre fiction is exciting and should be an inspiration for those creative minds in my country to get to work.
There are key factors that may assist in Kindle Scout campaigning. Social media is critical. Readers are not confined to one country and hence there is a need to develop networks with them and other authors. Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook are the ideal platforms for the aspiring African author. Though internet access, affordability, and speeds are limited in most countries in Africa, the writer must work on the social networks because they form a solid foundation for a Kindle Scout campaign and book marketing. Kboards, especially the Writer's Cafe, is also a major source of information and support from other authors.
R: As a writer, what would you say is your greatest strength? Characterization, dialogue, world building, prose, storytelling?
P: I enjoy building crazy worlds that don't exist in places that do exist and characters that no one has ever seen. That does sum up fiction nicely. But I love expressing depths of emotions, all emotions. If I write a sad story and it doesn't make me cry, I rewrite.
R: How does that strength manifest itself in "The Sleeping Pool II (Destination Series Book 2)"?
P: Mabo in "The Sleeping Pool II" is my favorite character because she has deep emotions: fear, sadness, joy, expectation, hope, love, and great courage.
R: Can you enhance your 1-minute elevator pitch with a blurb summary?
P: Destination Series tells the adventures of American twins, Shaun and Stan, across different mysterious places in Africa. In "The Sleeping Pool II", Stan has to return to Zimbabwe's Chinhoyi caves because he swallowed diamonds from a mysterious pool. He has to return them to live. Shaun has to
follow and rescue him. But they face myriad obstacles. A tribe demanding death to avenge loss of its secrets. Mabo, determined that Stan should never leave the caves, and a hit man plotting to kill Stan and get the diamonds for his boss.
R: And your hope?
P: I hope Kindle Scout accepts more African writers and publishes some of the books, if not all!
R: Thank you, P. Especially for reminding us not to take our opportunities for granted. It was a pleasure. And I've got my fingers crossed for you.
P: You're welcome, Rafael, I enjoyed it. But it didn't do a thing for my nervousness!
Below are P's relevant links so that you can support a fellow author and perhaps ease her nervousness! :-)
P. Zoro's Links:
The Kindle Scout Campaign (Ending 15 December 2016):
https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/2QJT...
Join the Campaign Team: Headtalker Campaign (Ending on 30 November 2016):
https://headtalker.com/campaigns/afri...
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/P-Zoro-34689...
Twitter:
@ZorodzaiP
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Finally, in my November 12 post, 'Pardon me, Jerry', I introduced and touched briefly on the subject of audiobooks. Another dear and always helpful GR friend, EG Manetti, mentioned the company ACX, a subsidiary of Amazon, which acts as an intermediary between authors and producers, and audiobook distributors. It has a program designed to mitigate the biggest barrier to audiobook production: cost. The catch is that an author must grant ACX exclusive audio distribution rights for 7 years. In return, ACX will contract with a producer to convert an author's manuscript into an audiobook. During the contract's life, author and producer will evenly split 40% royalties, i.e., 20% each. ACX and the distributors will keep 60%.
This is just a broad overview. Are audibooks the next thing? Who knows. But my goal has always been to provide my perspective to perhaps assist in shaping yours. Ever sit in car, commute to work, clean the house, or mow the lawn? Audiobooks are the literary equivalent of radio.
No business with large cash reserves ever thinks, lets use this money to pay the upfront costs for our customers and build up good will. That is economic suicide. Good will means nothing if you're out of business.
So why would Amazon risk their money to pay for very expensive studio and narrator time? Because they are confident of selling the converted manuscript. Is your spare novel's audio rights generating a 20% revenue stream?
The link below (or the one posted by EG in the comments of my blog post, 'Pardon me, Jerry') will provide further details.
ACX Audio
And if you already have an Amazon account, you can log right in.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Although this is something of a departure from my normal subjects, it is a courtesy I heartily extend to all GR' member authors with priority given, of course, to friends and followers. If you wish to promote a book or have something interesting or relevant we writers should know about, you are warmly welcomed.
Kindle Scout accepts English-language, never-before-published in any format anywhere (including on Amazon) novels of 50,000 words or more. Once accepted to the program, submissions are posted publicly with the first 5,000 words available to read and individuals can vote on their favorites. For those interested, below are two links with more detail.
How it works
Eligibility and Content Guidelines
Author benefits include an Amazon publishing contract, a $1,500 advance, featured Amazon marketing, and easy rights reversion.
Here is my Q&A with author P. Zoro.
R: Before speaking about your submission to the Kindle Scout program, can you provide a bit of overview and context on African traditional publishing? Is it as challenging in Zimbabwe where English predominates as across the continent where over 2,000 languages are spoken?
P: Publishing in Africa is focused on the traditional publishing of literary and mainstream fiction, short stories, short story collections, and novels. Success has been limited to a few authors like Chinua Achebe, Tsitsi Dangarembwa, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wole Soyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o to name but a few, although over the last decade, writers like Nnedi Okorafor have expanded into genre fiction.
Success has been severely limited due to the perception that African fiction sells only if it is mainstream or literary. Getting an agent is next to impossible, and traditional publishing deals remain a near unattainable dream.
Thus Kindle Scout is a breakthrough for African writers. Though initially limited to the USA, Kindle Scout opened up to other countries. We can submit work written in English in any genre and let Amazon and the readers decide for themselves if the book is interesting without the traditional publishing industry acting as a gatekeeper.
R: Wow. Sounds just like traditional publishing here in the States. Did you achieve any measurable success in prior book marketing efforts and what factored into your decision to go with Kindle Scout?
P: Inspired by South African, Catriona Ross' campaign for her Sci-Fi novel, I currently have an ongoing campaign for "The Sleeping Pool II (Destination Series Vol. 2)", a fantasy set in Zimbabwe where I come from.
Whether they publish the book or not, the fact that Kindle Scout accepts work from an African writer for genre fiction is exciting and should be an inspiration for those creative minds in my country to get to work.
There are key factors that may assist in Kindle Scout campaigning. Social media is critical. Readers are not confined to one country and hence there is a need to develop networks with them and other authors. Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook are the ideal platforms for the aspiring African author. Though internet access, affordability, and speeds are limited in most countries in Africa, the writer must work on the social networks because they form a solid foundation for a Kindle Scout campaign and book marketing. Kboards, especially the Writer's Cafe, is also a major source of information and support from other authors.
R: As a writer, what would you say is your greatest strength? Characterization, dialogue, world building, prose, storytelling?
P: I enjoy building crazy worlds that don't exist in places that do exist and characters that no one has ever seen. That does sum up fiction nicely. But I love expressing depths of emotions, all emotions. If I write a sad story and it doesn't make me cry, I rewrite.
R: How does that strength manifest itself in "The Sleeping Pool II (Destination Series Book 2)"?
P: Mabo in "The Sleeping Pool II" is my favorite character because she has deep emotions: fear, sadness, joy, expectation, hope, love, and great courage.
R: Can you enhance your 1-minute elevator pitch with a blurb summary?
P: Destination Series tells the adventures of American twins, Shaun and Stan, across different mysterious places in Africa. In "The Sleeping Pool II", Stan has to return to Zimbabwe's Chinhoyi caves because he swallowed diamonds from a mysterious pool. He has to return them to live. Shaun has to
follow and rescue him. But they face myriad obstacles. A tribe demanding death to avenge loss of its secrets. Mabo, determined that Stan should never leave the caves, and a hit man plotting to kill Stan and get the diamonds for his boss.
R: And your hope?
P: I hope Kindle Scout accepts more African writers and publishes some of the books, if not all!
R: Thank you, P. Especially for reminding us not to take our opportunities for granted. It was a pleasure. And I've got my fingers crossed for you.
P: You're welcome, Rafael, I enjoyed it. But it didn't do a thing for my nervousness!
Below are P's relevant links so that you can support a fellow author and perhaps ease her nervousness! :-)
P. Zoro's Links:
The Kindle Scout Campaign (Ending 15 December 2016):
https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/2QJT...
Join the Campaign Team: Headtalker Campaign (Ending on 30 November 2016):
https://headtalker.com/campaigns/afri...
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/P-Zoro-34689...
Twitter:
@ZorodzaiP
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Finally, in my November 12 post, 'Pardon me, Jerry', I introduced and touched briefly on the subject of audiobooks. Another dear and always helpful GR friend, EG Manetti, mentioned the company ACX, a subsidiary of Amazon, which acts as an intermediary between authors and producers, and audiobook distributors. It has a program designed to mitigate the biggest barrier to audiobook production: cost. The catch is that an author must grant ACX exclusive audio distribution rights for 7 years. In return, ACX will contract with a producer to convert an author's manuscript into an audiobook. During the contract's life, author and producer will evenly split 40% royalties, i.e., 20% each. ACX and the distributors will keep 60%.
This is just a broad overview. Are audibooks the next thing? Who knows. But my goal has always been to provide my perspective to perhaps assist in shaping yours. Ever sit in car, commute to work, clean the house, or mow the lawn? Audiobooks are the literary equivalent of radio.
No business with large cash reserves ever thinks, lets use this money to pay the upfront costs for our customers and build up good will. That is economic suicide. Good will means nothing if you're out of business.
So why would Amazon risk their money to pay for very expensive studio and narrator time? Because they are confident of selling the converted manuscript. Is your spare novel's audio rights generating a 20% revenue stream?
The link below (or the one posted by EG in the comments of my blog post, 'Pardon me, Jerry') will provide further details.
ACX Audio
And if you already have an Amazon account, you can log right in.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments.
No comments have been added yet.
