Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

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

Carole wrote: "Theodore wrote: "D.J. wrote: "I just saw it as another possible avenue to be visible. But not at a price.

I have to admit, I'd rather have a writing award than a cover award. Right now I have noth..."

Yes, Kirkus is probably among the best, but they are extremely expensive, and they take a long time to receive.

Dale wrote: "Thanks for the list, Ted. I'm not much pursuing awards right now, although I will be entering Ice on the Bay in the 2018 Maryland Writer's Association Novel Competition, which should start in a cou..."

Good luck. Trying to get ratings is like stirring up reviews, I'm sure.

D.J. wrote: "That's great, thank you Ted. I'll take a look. I've always been someone who knew how well I was doing by the certificates I earnt. Of course if these competitions are based on the number of people ..."

No, they are judged awards.

D.J. wrote: "I just saw it as another possible avenue to be visible. But not at a price.

I have to admit, I'd rather have a writing award than a cover award. Right now I have nothing. So something would have b..."

DJ, the are three places I suggest you look at when it comes to awards; I have used all three for reviews and awards and although you may consider them somewhat expensive (the price of a "union card"?), you may just get that "award-winning" author title for your resume. They are:

Pacific Book Review:

http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

I have known Nicole and Gary for many years. They are professionals through and through. You may want to write Nicole first (nicolesorkin@pacificbookreview.com), mention my name, and ask whatever questions you may have. She is simply wonderful when it comes to corresponding with authors and caring about their needs. (Give her my love. (;>))

I also have used Readers' Favorite for many years.

https://readersfavorite.com/

James, who is their front-office man, is another who responds quickly to all inquiries. You can reach him at:

support@readersfavorite.com

They just closed their 2018 Award Program (winners to be announced on September 1st), but there's always next year!

And, of course, there are the Pinnacle Awards. Carole and I have won several of these. They are sponsored by the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs (NABE):

http://www.bookmarketingprofits.com/P...

These run throughout the year. And of the three, this probably is the least expensive. If your book doesn't fit one of their categories, you should provide a category that does. Al Galasso, who owns the Association, is very responsive to any and all inquiries.

BTW, I also have used Feathered Quill for book reviews, though I've never entered their competitions.

https://featheredquill.com/

As well, years ago, I used to use Reader Views, though not since Irene passed away:

http://readerviews.com/

On the children's side of the house, one of my books did win a Royal Dragonfly Book Award from Story Monster Ink Magazine.

I hope this helps.

Ted

Dale wrote: "Theodore wrote: "It is truly amazing the ways there exist today to separate indies from their money."

Yeah, buyer beware. I've often wondered about all these awards people plaster on their book co..."

I use award seals on a number of my covers...I think it draws attention to my books and adds credibility. It certainly makes them stand out against others when placed side-by-side with competitors' covers without awards.

D.J. wrote: "Hmmm. Somehow the website All Author got hold of my details and said I could enter their cover competition. OK great. I signed up. Then I find it appears you need an author profile rather than a ba..."

It is truly amazing the ways there exist today to separate indies from their money. And what benefit to you, pray tell, would derive from winning their competition? How many more books would you sell? How many more people would even click on your Website URL.

I used to think that winning a book competition would result in at least a few sales, but my experience over that last nine years, sadly, indicates even that is a false expectation. The awards are great for posting on one's Website and other advertising venues, but the fact is, they do little if anything to stimulate sales. Your marketing and sales dollars (pounds) are better spent in venues where you can meet readers person-to-person or, as I have learned, running discount Kindle sales on Ereader News Today (ENT).

Thanks, Gang! (;>)

Dale wrote: "I think I may have gotten one sale once upon a time from there, although it probably wasn't for my book. It was probably for someone else's that we published through our company. We've had sales in..."

I've gotten sales in Canada (the people who burned down the White House in 1812 (;>)), England, Germany, India, and a few other places, but they usually resulted from communications with friends. Still, strange things do happen.

M.J. wrote: "LOL!! Still, a great accomplishment to get our words read around the world. Congrats."

You got to wonder how they found the book.

Thanks, Alex and Anna...

I will take my wife to the show at the clubhouse tonight. It's $2US...she can kick in the change. (;>)

Ted

I know. Is that crazy or what?!

D.J. wrote: "Don’t spend that all at once lol."

I know, one can't be too careful. (;>)

So, I'm looking at sales of my latest anthology on Kindle, and I see:

Marketplace Currency eBook Royalty Paperback Royalty Total Royalty
Amazon.co.jp JPY 212.00 0.00 212.00

And then, I realize, the royalty is in yen! (;>(

212.00 JPY = 1.927606 USD

Back to 8-course meals: two burgers and a 6-pack.

Carole wrote: "Love the audibles. lol cha-ching!!"

Well, we'll see. But my producer seems to love the Martelli mystery/thrillers, and she just asked for Books #3 and #4 in the series! So, time to buy some silk sheets. (;>)

The audiobook for my second Detective Louis Martelli, NYPD, mystery/thriller, House of Cards: Dead Men Tell No Tales, was just released:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFS6356?...

Free with your Audible trial.

Carole wrote: "Please Read and Share my article with Publisher's Weekly! :)

https://booklife.com/authors/05/25/20..."

So neat!

Carole wrote: "horrible"

He had gone back to the lab to finish something and was to leave the next day with his family for vacation. He was the only one in the building at the time. The four bombers thought the building was empty. They escaped to Canada...and they never faced justice.

Carmel wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel wrote: "Thanks, Ted! My oldest uncle served in the Vietnam War when he was just 17 years old. Needlessly to say he was not the same when he came back. It severely changed him..."

Those were terrible years around the RVN War. I lost a classmate in the bombing of Sterling Hall at the University of Wisconsin (if you recall that incident). He was a PhD candidate in solid-state physics, researcher Robert Fassnacht.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterlin...

Angel wrote: "Thanks, Ted! My oldest uncle served in the Vietnam War when he was just 17 years old. Needlessly to say he was not the same when he came back. It severely changed him forever mentally and emotional..."

We never can thank them enough for their service, Angel. It's truly a shame that few of us even know someone in the service today. When I grew up, almost everyone on the block either was in the service or knew someone who was. Most people today have no idea the sacrifices our military and their families make, much less respect what they do.

Margaret wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel, that was beautiful. I had uncles who served in WWI and WWII, and like you, am so proud of them. There are others I would like to honor as well, including a friend of Susan's..."

Thanks, Margaret. You would have liked him (and, I'm sure, he, you.)