And now for the news!
Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically interviews with or articles written by self-publishing authors and experts!
“Today’s generation can easily upload and publish a book for free online,” writes Vanessa Garcia in this July 15 article for the Amarillo Globe-News: “But with so many potential authors, those who choose to self-publish face the challenge of standing out from the ever-growing online crowd.” So, how does one go about doing just that? Garcia elaborates on the experiences of several key self-publishing authors in the Amarillo area, including Ryan McSwain (who is, according to the article, preparing to self-publish his second book, “Four Color Bleed,” on Amazon) and Tracy Schamburg (whose latest book, “The Common Sense Guide to Landing on Your Feet,” has recently been self-published). McSwain touts the importance of good copy editing and presentation–being “error-free”–in making a book marketable, while Schamburg agrees and recommends seeking out a support network of experienced and skilled teammates … such as an editor. Both authors and Garcia have a lot to say about the process of going indie, and the article is well worth a look. You can find it at the link!
In this article, posted to the Latin-American Herald-Tribune, readers are introduced to Argentinian self-publishing author, Susana Oro. “One of Argentina’s most prolific writers in the romance-novel genre,” Oro reputedly “touted the advantages of self-publishing platforms, saying they allow for greater creative freedom and enable authors to establish their own rhythm of production.” If you happen to be a reader of Spanish genre fiction, this is one author to watch, as Oro has already published 12 novels, and puts out an average of three to four a year–a trend which she attributes entirely to the rapidity and responsiveness of indie publishing. She has no illusions about traditional publishing, saying that unless a person was to write Fifty Shades of Grey, “the big companies are unlikely to take an author seriously and promote their work sufficiently to allow them to make a living from literature.” You can read the full article on the Latin-American Herald Tribune website.
This August 13 News & Advance article by Casey Gillis spotlights the work of Ron Sisson, author of the children’s books Lost on Big Otter River and Stalk Eyes, each of which features engaging characters and places a premium on a sense of place. Sisson, now 82, has a background in a very different kind of writing. Says Gillis, “As a draftsman and, later, engineer with General Electric, he worked in research and development in New York before transferring to Lynchburg in 1972, where he joined the bids and proposals and project management department.” The fit was a natural one, according to Sisson. Lost on Big Otter River, his first book, “was inspired by a boating trip he took with two of his three children near Lynchburg in 1976. Geared toward kids ages 9 to 12, the creative nonfiction tale came out in 2015.” Stalk Eyes, his second book, was published more recently.
What follows is a lengthy interview between Gillis and Sisson, touching on all aspects of his experience in self-publishing these two works, and well worth your time if you too are considering going indie with your next children’s book. The News & Advance, which covers Lynchburg, Virginia as well as Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell counties, makes for a happy home for this article, which you can read here.
You can find all of these authors’ excellent books for sale online.
Self Publishing Advisor 