Anita’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2017)

Anita’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

And all the awards are well-deserved.

I've got two major projects. A new novel and a series of podcasts, On the Hunt, that will air on Speak up Talk Radio Network. As part of that, I will be giving away two free book shoutouts. I hope to have the promo ad up on Twitter in a couple of days. As for summer reads, I've got a few books downloaded on my computer. I want to try my hand at reviewing. Not something I've done before.

Erica

Send me the address.

Wow--this really looks good. Kudos to Brit

What does the asterisk indicate?

What is the date of the Sony show? I don't see it on the list.

This came in from ALLi about a fundraiser in the UK to help support a bookstore. Passing on the information to anyone who would like to help.

Welcome to your weekly round-up from the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)'s self-publishing advice blog. See below for news, views and advice, freely brought to the indie author community by the ALLi blog each day.
I also wanted to let you know about a fundraiser for a cause that's dear to my heart. Here in the UK, government cutbacks are closing libraries against the will of local communities. My local library was saved, against all odds, but it now needs to be kitted out and filled with books, and I'm doing a fundraiser: a reading, interview and Q&A with author, Zadie Smith. The event will be recorded and available online and there are two aspects that might be of interest to you.
1) We're running a literary lottery. You could win a full manuscript evaluation and publishing plan from me (value £950) for the cost of a £15 ticket. Further details here.
2) We're running a literary auction on the night in which we'll offer free books and other book-related goodies. If you'd like to promote your wares to an engaged audience of writers and readers, in London and online, send your offer to sarah@ornaross.com.

What I have done is set up an account on Amazon in both the UK and Canada. I order the book and have it shipped to the local individual. Even though I am paying full price for the book, I more than make it up in the savings on shipping. If you are overseas, consider setting up an account on the US Amazon site, and ship the book(s) direct to Travis.

Carole--are you accepting bookmarks again?

Sent out on Twitter

My new book, A u 7 9, is off to what I consider a great start. I've received several reviews that are all very positive, and have sold a few books. For me, that's a good beginning.

Thanks Carmel

Thanks Ted

Drum roll---my new book, A u 7 9, is live on Amazon. I am super excited. It is the eBook, the paperback will be up by the end of the week.

Carmel wrote: "Anita wrote: "Starting a new chapter on the odd page has fallen by the wayside. Even the large publishing houses don't adhere to it. It is only the first chapter that starts on the odd numbered pag..."

If you added extra pages to push the chapter start to the odd page, it might be a problem.

Starting a new chapter on the odd page has fallen by the wayside. Even the large publishing houses don't adhere to it. It is only the first chapter that starts on the odd numbered page. From that point forward, chapters will start on both the odd and even sides depending on where the chapter ends.

The reason is that it add pages. Blank pages have to be inserted to push the chapter start to the odd numbered page. This increases the cost to print the book. This applies to Indie authors as well. If the print cost increases, your royalty will decrease.

KDP also has a limitation on the use of blank pages. The following is the text from their instruction manual.

"We allow no more than two (2) consecutive blank pages at the beginning or middle of a manuscript file and/or 10 consecutive blank pages at the end. Excessive blank pages can look like printing mistakes, which may cause delays in book production.
If you wish to use more than the allowed number of blank pages, the pages must contain some type of content to indicate that the page is intended to be blank. For example, you may use lines running across the page or boxes to signify a place for writing, drawing, or note taking. A header or footer indicating “Notes,” “Intentionally Left Blank” or a row of asterisks are also acceptable, or repeated text (as in joke or gag books).

Did you have to provide a bank account?

Carole wrote: "When you are ready- I can share of a list of good blog tours and review sites- if you'd like"

I'd be interested in your list of review sites. My launch date for Au79 is May 5 for the eBook. The first two weeks, I plan to keep the price at 99 cents for any one who would like to review the book.

Carole wrote: "Yep- but I they said they are moving the files either way by Nov or dec. That means if they can't go live- they'll let the book go out of print.

I have to hop on it now in order to keep them in pr..."

They did tell me that an email with instructions on the procedures would be sent to all authors. That might help.

Carole wrote: ""The book is still published with the same ISBN at Amazon and Ingram."

That book is a Bowker ISBN or Createspace ISBN?"

My ISBNs were purchased from Bowker.

The free ISBN from Createspace cannot be used to publish at Ingram. CS owns it. That's why the publisher of record listed in the book's details on the website is Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. When you see that it indicates it is a free ISBN the author acquired from CS.

If someone bought the $99 dollar ISBN from CS, it can be used, because the purchaser of the $99 dollar ISBN is registered as the owner with Bowker. In the book details, either the author's name or their publishing name will be listed. That is a detail the author provides when filling out the form to buy the $99 dollar ISBN.

Erica wrote: "Thanks, Anita. IngramSpark runs free set up coupons all the time. Look for the promo codes for free set up and all you will have to pay for is the ISBN. Just make sure your specs for the files you ..."

The exclusive option is only for the eBooks. If you own the ISBN for the paperback, then you can publish with both Amazon, whether is it CS or KDP, and IngramSpark. I published my paperbacks with CS. I loaded both books to Ingram--paperback and hardback. I used the same ISBN for the paperback. The transfer of my book to Kindle didn't change that. The book is still published with the same ISBN at Amazon and Ingram.