Month: December 2011

Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

5 Reasons to Self Publish in December

As 2011 winds down, you may be wondering if December is the right time to self-publish your book. Here are five reasons why it is a great month to start the self-publishing process.

Great Promotion

Many self-publishing companies are getting in the holiday spirit by offering great deals on publishing packages and marketing options.

A Christmas Gift to Yourself

Publishing a book is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The sense of accomplishment and pride is better than any box of chocolates or new sweater.

Plenty of Time to Market

By starting the self-publishing process in December, you will have your printed book early in 2012. This gives you the rest of the year to market your book.

A Jump Start on Your To-Do List

If you are reading this, “publishing a book” is probably on your 2012 to-do list. Start the year off right by checking it off the list before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.

Be a Part of a Great Trend

According to Outskirts Press, total book sales in the self-publishing industry will exceed 32 billion dollars. You can still be a part of that amazing statistic.

Happy Holidays!

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Adventures in Political Theory

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:

Adventures in Political Theory

Norman Patrick Peritore

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432750190

Reviewer: Andrey Bilko

“Adventures in Political Theory” embarks the reader onto a journey through time to learn about the most influential Western thinkers and philosophers, from Socrates and Plato to Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida. The author explains the importance political science plays in people’s lives and every day world; it tries to explain the “unexplained” and answer rhetorical questions that have been troubling one generation after another for many centuries.

The logic, deductive reasoning, wisdom and praxis are all integral parts of the prospering world. Great thinkers of the Western world are key players in shaping hundreds of years of human existence. From Ancient Greece to modern times, each chapter in the book tells stories of particularly important and groundbreaking thoughts and movements, which changed the society, politics and how the world operates.

Moving along the chronological timeline of human progress in political thinking, the reader finds out the historical circumstances leading to the formation of particular ideas, is presented with clear description of those powerful statements and is exposed to the critiques. It is not just a one-sided argument, but a collection of ideas presented from different angles, allowing the reader to make up his or her own mind without being blindly guided by the author.

This is an easy-reading, clear text about essential historical figures and their theories, which have shined their never-dimming lights onto the world. These thinkers have shown the power of the human mind and extraordinary dedication to serving and influencing the society. A perfect introduction into the world of vibrant political science! This book is very enjoyable and educational, containing a lot of information presented in an efficient and succinct manner. Concurrent themes are brought together. Main concepts and commentary are presented. It is a wonderful anthology of major influences which shaped and are still shaping the Western world. It is unbelievable how much a single idea can change the way things operate, sometimes irreversibly. And the author makes it ever so clear! There is a lot to learn on this exciting journey; therefore, get started now. There is no time to waste!

Cheri Speaks

Self Publishing for the Eco-Conscious

As our society becomes more concerned with environmental issues such as climate changes, pollution and land use, many authors want to know how they can publish a book that fits their environmental values. These authors want to know about the practices of the companies they publish with as well information about the materials used to print their books. If sustainability and conservation are important to you, here are a few things to consider before publishing your book.

1) Ask About the Ink – Some self-publishing companies use non-toxic ink. This is important for many reasons. For instance, it means…

  • Your book can later be recycled or composted without the fear of toxic ink seeping into the soil.
  • Once recycled, the finished product will not have a grayish-yellow appearance like the recycled papers of the ’90s.
  • The ink in your book will pose no threats to those who come in contact with it. (If your two-year-old child decides to nibble on the pages, he or she is perfectly safe.)

2) Ask About the Paper – Some self-publishing companies will print your book on recycled paper. There are also companies that use certified paper products. For instance, Outskirts Press uses bookblock paper that is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certified and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Mixed Credit. These practices are important to prevent deforestation, which causes global warming and species endangerment.

3) Ask About Certifications – It is important to find out about the practices and products used by your self-publishing company. One way businesses prove that they use environmentally conscious practices and products is certifications such as SFI Certified and FSC Mixed Credit. Most companies will be more than willing to share this information with you, so ask your publishing company what certifications they have.

4) Ask About Best Practices – There are plenty of ways individuals and businesses can help the environment. Just a few ideas include energy-efficient appliances, telecommuting and recycling. Ask your self-publishing company what they do to reduce their carbon footprint. Do they value sustainability and conservation? Do they encourage their staff to share their values by taking small, eco-conscious actions?

When choosing a self-publishing company, it is important to find a company that shares your goals and values. Before committing to a self-publishing company, do your research. Find out about their practices and products. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. An honest company will be more than happy to answer them.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Wendy Speaks

Famous Self-Published Authors: Benjamin Franklin

Have you ever read The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin? The inventor and politician self-published this composition of advice and proverbs in 1758. The book shares his wisdom on personal finance as well as essays about his life. Since publication in 1758, the piece has been reprinted and translated countless times. Today, the book is read by students and financial professionals around the world. Many people believe that the words Benjamin Franklin self-published hundreds of years ago are still relevant to people today. In fact, many of today’s popular clichés are found in The Way to Wealth. Here are just a few you might recognize:

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
“There are no gains, without pains.”
“Time is money.”
“Get what you can, and what you get hold.”
The next time someone suggests that self-published books shouldn’t be taken seriously, quote a line from Benjamin Franklin’s book and ask if they have ever heard it. (Most likely, they have.) Then, tell them that the book self-published by one of the most famous men in America is still read and quoted over two hundred years later. Not only are his words still printed and read, but countless people still follow his financial advice everyday. Who knows which self-published books of today will have a similar impact in the years to come.
ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: The Killing Game

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:

The Killing Game

J.C. Stevens

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432769086

Reviewer: Marty Shaw

“The Killing Game” takes place in the 70s, which is a fitting time period for a book that evokes the spirit of a 70s-style pulp thriller. The main character, Bronk, is an old-style tough guy that doesn’t apologize for the things he’s done, and Bronk has done some things that make him a very bad boy. One particular dirty deed committed by the world-weary assassin might factor in to you deciding if you can root for the “hero” of the story or not, because author J.C. Stevens has mixed fact with fiction so that Bronk was part of the conspiracy that killed John F. Kennedy.

Shortly after that infamous episode of his life, Bronk got out of the assassin game and lived his life as a barber, but a guy who lives by killing others can never really retire so Bronk is once again sucked into his old lifestyle. The job seems deceptively easy – grab a government witness from her FBI babysitters and deliver her to the guy that can make sure the wrong information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Unfortunately for Bronk, there are more than two players in this particular game, and knowing who his allies are becomes an impossible act.

The plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, and the action has that gritty feel of pulp novels from the past. Bronk might not be a likable guy, but he’s realistic. He’s good at what he does, but he’s not superhuman and he’s far from perfect. His motives reveal some of the pain he feels from past sins he’s committed and he knows that his future is more likely to hold visions of fire and brimstone than a glimpse at the pearly gates. He knows this and he’s comfortable with the knowledge of it.

“The Killing Game” has a large supporting cast of characters, and it’s occasionally easy to lose track of who’s who, but the story never veers off course and the ending offers a bitter-sweet conclusion that is very fitting for Bronk. While he might not be a hero, he’s not actually a villain either. In the end, he’s just a guy who’s good at his job, and it’s not entirely his fault that his job is killing people.