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

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

Hey, Gang...

Alyssa Devine wrote this week’s story…it’s about something strange that happened at an archeological dig in the American southwest. I think you will find it interesting and hope you will vote for her here:

https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/...

Ted

Dale wrote: "Now I'm going to ask a really bold (or foolish) question. ;-) This is just to allow me to gather food for thought from all you insightful and generous people.

Somewhere in January or February, I ..."

Well, if you're releasing a Kindle edition, NOW is the time to put it on Pre-Sale and market the hell out of it.

I am releasing my first Flash Fiction anthology on February 5, 2018, and just put it on Pre-Sale. I not only have had my Webmaster work up a new page on my Website, but also, link it to the Amazon.com page for the new book:

https://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077RMWGTG

You can do a Pre-Sale 90 days in advance of a book's release.

Of course, I also did a blog piece on the Pre-Sale that is linked to my Author Central site.

Carole wrote: "Ted is 100% right! But it sure is fun and feels great when you get an award. It does validate your writing, I think. Even if it's just for you.

Wow! That is an impressive award, all right.

Congratulations.

Carmel wrote: "I'm glad this got asked, because I'm seeing lots of awards mentiined, and have had solicitations to enter some contests and have not known how legit it all was."

Don't expect to sell books simply because you received an award. Think of them as a way of lending credence to any assertions you or others might make about your writing abilities.

Carole wrote: "The first time I won an award I didn't know until my publishing rep from Createspace called to congratulate me. My first book was chosen as one of Kirkus' Best of 2012. You can't enter the book- it..."

Congrats on Monsterland!

Awards are interesting...my books have won awards issued by Pacific Book Review, Reader Views, Readers' Favorite, Monster Ink Magazine, and National Association of Book Entrepreneurs (Pinnacle Award). I've also won Honorable Mention in a short-story literary competition and like you, Dale, have won several Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction competitions (though not an Editor's Choice, yet...but they are running six months behind, so we shall see). I enter my work for purposes of demonstrating credibility (see my Website). To date, I have yet to trace ONE book sale to any award received.

There are, of course, any number of competitions into which authors can enter books. I prefer to limit my entries to those organizations named above. It only takes a few wins (and the posting of awards on your Website) to lend credence to assertions of being an "award-winning author."

Dale wrote: "Congratulations! I like the cover, too, but one small question: does anyone else find that the white lettering gets lost where it crosses the glare on the pen? The visibility of the title might be ..."

Good point...if I find a solution, it's easily fixed. That's the beauty of CreateSpace and KDP. Thanks, Dale.

Theodore wrote: "This is to announce the Pre-Sale of the Kindle Edition of our new book, Creative Ink, Flashy Fiction: Flash Fiction Anthology – Book 1, by Alyssa Devine and me.

Comprising 73 stories in a wide va..."

Thanks so much, Sam. I do all my own cover designs. Have since 2009.

This is to announce the Pre-Sale of the Kindle Edition of our new book, Creative Ink, Flashy Fiction: Flash Fiction Anthology – Book 1, by Alyssa Devine and me.

Comprising 73 stories in a wide variety of genres, these tales—each 250 words of less and “prompted” by an intriguing photograph—are sure to enthrall you with their humor, pathos, and intrigue. A reprint of what can be found on the back cover is below, as is the link to the book’s page on Amazon.com.

If you like your fiction entwined with fact (“faction”), this collection of flash fiction (less than 250 words per story) is for you! Theodore Jerome Cohen is an award-winning author who has published more than ten novels—all but one of them mystery/thrillers—two short-story anthologies, and one Young Adult (YA) mystery/thriller written under the pen name Alyssa Devine. During his 45-year career he has worked as an engineer, scientist, CBS Radio Station News Service (RSNS) commentator, private investigator, and Antarctic explorer. What he’s been able to do with his background is mix fiction with reality in ways even his family and friends have been unable to unravel!

Many of the stories featured here, in Book 1 of the series Flash Fiction Anthologies, were award-winning entries in the weekly Flash Fiction Challenges sponsored by the Website Indies Unlimited. Others are based on or inspired by Cohen’s Antarctic Murders Trilogy, Cold Blood; his Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, series of mystery/thrillers; his two short-story anthologies, The Road Less Taken; or Devine’s YA novel, The Hypnotist. Specifically, in this volume, you’ll find the story of a distraught woman seeking answers from a fortune teller regarding her wayward daughter; a story about a French doll that predicts the future; a tale about a sharecropper whose family lost everything; and a chat over breakfast with a man who was on the posse that hunted down and killed Bonnie and Clyde. In short (pun intended), there is something in this book for almost every genre and taste.

The book is scheduled to be released both in Kindle and paperback formats on February 5, 2018. Two additional anthologies are scheduled for release later in 2018 (most likely in April and July). I hope you enjoy them and would love to hear what you think of the stories. As always, reviews are welcomed with open arms!

You’ll find the book on Amazon.com at the URL below:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077RMWGTG

If you’d like to see one of the stories, visit the book’s Webpage on my Website, and click on the hotlink for “View and Excerpt.” There, you’ll find a story about Bonnie (of Bonnie and Clyde fame).

https://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com...

As always, thanks for your support.

Ted (aka Alyssa Devine)

Carole wrote: "Good stuff."

Thanks.

Carole wrote: "shared!!"

Thanks, Carole.

I just completed a short piece of Flash Fiction that, believe it or not, had been rolling around in my head for well over a year. I originally had wanted to do it as a short story, but never could find the "right" photographic prompt. Today I did, and the piece came together in 15 minutes. It will be in my third book for this genre, which I'll release (perhaps) late next summer.

Thanks, Gang! You pulled my fat out of the fire, this week!

Theodore Jerome Cohen Wins Flash Fiction Challenge
by Administrators

https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/...

Alyssa has already posted a story for next week! (;>)

Have a good weekend.

Ted

Troubling, but it's not going to stop me from running ENT discount sales. This whole marketplace is so complex it won't be long before we all will have to hire lawyers to keep us apprised of the latest ins and outs. Life is too short for this nonsense...and besides, who among us is up to taking on Amazon?

Brock wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Brock wrote: "Carmel wrote: "Hi all you knowledgeable, seasoned veterans!

I am beginning the process of learning how to put my paperback book into ebook form, hoping to put it on ..."

Indeed LOL All is forgiven (;>)

Brock wrote: "It was years ago that I quit Smashwords, so I can't recall all the formatting issues I had. Given my experience over the years I imagine I could do it now, but that first impression left me feeling..."

Well, I agree with you about Smashwords. I was totally turned off by them from the get-go.

Brock wrote: "Carmel wrote: "Hi all you knowledgeable, seasoned veterans!

I am beginning the process of learning how to put my paperback book into ebook form, hoping to put it on the market in that secondary fo..."

Brock, I rarely had problems with Createspace's formatting requirements. I patterned my book template after a novel I read years ago (pretty standardized format, including the header and footer), and they're never rejected one of my submissions except as noted below (re pagination).

I've heard of authors having books removed because of editing issues (based on reader complaints), so I would urge everyone, regardless of how you publish your books, to have them edited less Amazon remove them for such issues.

I've also seen books rejected because of pagination issues, including my own (Word can really cause problems, at times; I've lost a lot of hair figuring some of those issues out). I suspect (but do not know, of course) that some of your issues, Brock, may have resulted from page numbering errors.

I only use KDP and CreateSpace at this point. No muss, no fuss. It has simplified my life immensely. And if I discover an error, typo, etc., I can fix it immediately in either the eBook or paperback format.

Amy wrote: "Well done Ted."

Thanks, Amy.

Trishna wrote: "Oh wow! Congratulations :)"

Thanks, Trishna.

Kay wrote: "Congratulations!"

Thanks, Kay!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ted