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

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

I switched to a pen name for my YA novels because I thought most YA readers were young women...hence, the use of a woman's name for this genre. I use my real name for adult and children's books.

Carole wrote: "Sounds like fun"

It's like anything else...practice makes perfect (or something like that). If you really want to test yourself, jump in some week and give it a try. It's only 250 words...a full story, with, we hope, a surprise ending (or something significant, at least). Any genre, as I said...anything that makes you feel comfortable. You don't have to do it every week, maybe once a month if that's all the time you have. But what the hell, lots of opportunity to participate.

Carole wrote: "shared."

Thanks! These really keep you on your toes...great exercises...you can write in virtually any genre...romance, sci-fi, mystery, YA...you name it, you can write in it. No limits, except it has to key off the week's photo and cannot exceed 250 words.

Winning is always so much more fun!

Thanks, gang, for your support!!!

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/0...

Next week's story is about the Mob! What's not to like!

Carole wrote: "I've used parts of reviews in the editorial section of the Amazon page. I always quote the source. I used many reviewers from Goodreads- that don't leave reviews on Amazon.

This is one of my son'..."

Wow!

Ellie wrote: "I was wondering if anyone knows the protocols for using quotes from people who have read you book in marketing and on websites. Can we just use them and highlight who they are from or do we have to..."

Carole has given you good advice. You can see many examples on the page below, which includes a Kirkus example:

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

Alex wrote: "Carole wrote: "Being indie certainly lets you be in the driver's seat. It's one of the things I like best about it."

Very true. Right now I think the only thing that would encourage me to take a d..."

As I understand it, legacy publishers are clawing back royalties where profit targets are not achieved. As well, they are placing more and more of the burden regarding marketing on authors, which is why they like those who bring strong platforms to the table. The legacy publishers are getting squeezed, for sure. That will trickle down to the agent sector, as fewer and fewer titles make it to press. I suspect there may be a significant number of mergers there in the next few years.

Alex wrote: "That kind of thing would be no good for me, I've published 3 novels and 2 shorts in the past 10 months and I can't say I've been pushing myself all that hard. I could work a lot quicker, and did wi..."

I'm with you on that. I've gone from a blank page to a full-up, published, 65,000-word novel in one month. A year? I would go stark raving mad.

Carole wrote: "You are so right. My son was picked up by a publisher- they gave him a two book deal- one book is being republished with a new cover- the other is a continuation. They have the book since last year..."

Congrats to your son! That's a nice feather in his cap!

Justin wrote: "I've been trying to get my books into my local library since I first became an author. Unfortunately they gave me the run around for years until they recently reached out after I contacted the libr..."

I know it's rough, believe me...being an independent writer carries little respect among local papers, local bookstores, local libraries, etc., etc. But you can see from what I posted above what the local libraries in my area, at the least, are looking for.

It's an uphill battle, to be sure. I'd love to have an agent and to be working with a legacy publisher, but frankly, it's more for the validation than anything else. And even then, based on some studies I've done, the time between the selling of a book by an agent (never mind the time to find the agent) and the release of a book often is more than a year. I have no patience...ask my ever-suffering wife of 53 years (who's only let me live this long, she tells me, because she not "finished" with me yet). So, waiting a year to see my book in print, and having to work with an editor, would absolutely drive me into an early grave!

Carole wrote: "I understand. They are hard. I have amazing results though, I have to say. If you google my name you'll see hundreds of them pop up- What can I say- I have no life. lol."

I think, sometimes, my wife thinks the same of me. Should join her to watch the news. LOL

Back later.

Ted

Carole wrote: "I understand. That's why I use one at a time and wait to see where I have the most results. Honestly, the best bang for the buck in Mommy bloggers. Disney trucks them in by the busload to watch the..."

I've tried several...their efforts didn't produce anything except in two cases...and neither resulted in any sales. As well, regarding homeschoolers, I sent e-mails to ten, five weeks ago, received three replies and sent books to those three. So far, I haven't seen any of them post reviews. Frankly, I'm not sanguine. I don't know about your results, but I expect your running less than 5-10% response (not to mention them actually producing a review) . Do you know how successful your efforts have been with bloggers or homeschoolers. I have to tell you, I'm not enthusiastic about either of these groups at this point.

Carole wrote: "It's hard, but you hit the nail on the head- it's all about repetition. One ad in an expensive magazine will usually not yield much. They have to see your name repeatedly. That's why I look for les..."

Even then, of course, there are no guarantees. I ran add after ad in Irene's publications for librarians...issue after issue, and I never could point to ONE sale as a result of those ads.

Erica wrote: "I have had similar experiences. Libraries that have me for author events will typically accept on the spot, but all others have a different list of requirements."

Interesting...will have to keep an eye of the county's event calendar. Thanks.

Carole wrote: "People like MJ Rose have programs- (they are expensive) that get your books into the hands of librarians. Also, librarians do look at Kirkus and Foreword's magazines. Booklife with Publisher's Week..."

Agreed...there are paths, as you've noted...but they do take a toll on the budget.

I tried putting my YA novel into a show for librarians, but not one query resulted. The group I contracted with just put the book on the shelf in their booth, and that was that (besides the brochure they printed). A total waste of time and money. Unless you can go to a show, it's simply not worth if. I'll try the local route and see what develops. (And I've tried Forward magazine...several years ago. Nada.) The thing is repeated ads. I did try month after month in Reader Views when Irene was running the show, but here again, nothing (despite assertions librarians were reading their publication). Another waste of dead presidents.

Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "Thank you for sharing this valuable information, Theodore. I'm sorry you didn't receive a more receptive welcome. Hugs"

The resource specialist was very pleasant, engaged, and enthusiastic, The great disappointment was the children's specialist. I understand they have procedures, and I have sent an e-mail. But it's sad when the person responsible for children's books seemed not to care at all. I've read these books in several elementary schools in the country, and the children, teachers, and parents are thrilled. I always leave a set for the class. It's days like today when I begin to question why I do this.

While attending a community meeting last night I was surprised when a neighbor who volunteers at the local branch of our country library system told me she checked out one of my short-story anthologies to a reader that morning. I didn’t know the country library system even had a copy of the book!

Feeling generous, I drove over to the branch this morning armed with a box of my books, including my Antarctic Murders Trilogy, the Young Adult (YA) novel I wrote under a pen name (The Hypnotist), and copies of all of my illustrated children’s storybooks, including the foreign editions.

Alas, the branch’s resource manager would not accept them, though she spent a lot of time reading the anti-bullying storybook (Pepe Builds a Nest) and talking about the county’s anti-bullying program. (Alas, the children’s reading specialist, who she called over, could not have cared less, took one look, and walked away.)

While not yet in the “no good deed goes unpunished” category, the resource manager did hand me a pro forma “congratulatory” printed statement from the county library system, indicating their interest in county author’s books, an e-mail address to where information on such books can be sent, and the type of information they sought. Here’s what they were looking for:

Reviews: Was your title reviewed in Booklist? The New York Times? Local county newspapers? If so, they wanted to know details.

Media Coverage: Was your book on a “Best Book” list? Were you doing any author events, nationally or locally?

Publisher: Legacy or self-published? They were open to both.

They were specific about NOT wanting to see copies of your books. But they did say that they were happy to support local authors and that if they decided your book was right for their collection, they would gladly purchase a copy.

The bottom line (literally) is this: contact your local library system regarding their procedure for submitting information on your books for their consideration.

Just one problem...I don't have, and do NOT want, a Facebook account. Do you have any plans to provide a way for me and others like me to access this great feature?

Thanks.

Ted

Life does have a way of intruding, doesn't it. (;>)

I hope you will enjoy the story I submitted for this week's competition...it's to die for.

You can read it here...and cast your vote here for me here as well!

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/0...

Thanks.

Ted