Author: Kelly Schuknecht

Kelly Schuknecht is a marketer with a background in the publishing industry. She is passionate about all things related to books and loves helping authors navigate the world of social media for book promotion. She recently launched the course Marketing Your Book on TikTok.
Kelly Speaks

4 Reasons to Fall in Love with Self Publishing

Self publishing is changing the world of publishing, and there are many reasons why authors, even people who previously used traditional publishing firms, are turning towards self publishing. Once you learn more about self publishing, you may just find that you love this option, too. Here are four reasons why:

1. Control

With traditional publishing, the author has very little control over the fate of his or her book. Editors and agents decide if your book is print worthy. The publishing firm decides the cover art, layout, and price point for your book. Once you hand over your manuscript to a traditional publishing company, you are giving up control. With self publishing, you are in charge. You decide when your manuscript is ready to be published, and you control the final outcome.

2. Quality

The quality of POD books has come a long way. In addition to better printing quality and a wider variety of formatting options, many self publishing companies offer a variety of professional services (for example, editing and cover design) to ensure that you publish the best book possible. If you want to produce a book of excellent quality, you can.

3. Speed

Traditional publishing is a slow process. There is the dreaded query letters. The time spent waiting to hear back from agents or editors. If your book does get picked up by a firm, it can take over a year to see your book in print. The self publishing process is often completed within a few months (or even just a few weeks). Not only does this mean you don’t have to wait to see your book in print, but it also opens up even more doors for authors. You can now publish books that are current and in response to readers’ desires.

4. Diversity

Traditional publishing is all about making money. Editors are looking for books that they know will sell large quantities. They want books that appeal to the mass market, but not all authors are targeting the mass market. Self publishing allows you to write for a niche market.

I’d love to know, why do you love self publishing?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self Publishing Week in Review: 2/19/13

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self publishing process, which will lead to a greater self publishing experience. To help you stay current on self publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Tuesday to find out the hottest news in self publishing this week.

Military Serviceman Turns to Self Publishing to Make his Mark

S. Cameron Roach has been in the military for 24 years. He has been to three wars, speaks Arabic and is an expert on Middle East matters. However, there is one more aspect to his resume that he recently revealed to the world: he writes novels, the first of which is available now as an e-Book and online in print format from major retailers.

Why eBook Retailers Are Embracing Self-Published Authors

Self publishing is changing the publishing industry. This is especially apparent if you look at e-book retailers such as the Apple iBookstore, which is now showcasing books by self published authors. This article talks about the many reasons why readers and retailers love self published e-books.

Five Slightly Unexpected Tips For Self-Published Authors to Find Success

This article has some great tips for self publishing authors — from traditional tips such as copyright considerations to more modern tips such as maintaining relationships with your audience through social media.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Top 3 Articles for Romance Writers

It is the month of love and what better way to celebrate than by trying your hand at romance writing? If you want to write novels that make people’s toes curl and hearts melt, check out these great articles for romance writers.

How to Write a Romance Novel: The Keys to Conflict

When writing romance, there needs to be a believable conflict, or series of conflicts, that is sustainable throughout the novel. While conflict is important in all fiction writing, it is especially essential in romance writing because the ending is often predictable. This article offers great advice on how to write amazing conflict.

3 Ways to Know When to End a Chapter

Another way to keep readers interested is by ending chapters at a spot that makes them want to keep reading. While there aren’t specific rules for breaking up chapters, this article discusses three different techniques you can use to determine when you should end your chapters.

The 7 Tools of Dialogue

Every great romance novel needs great dialogue. However, believable and interesting dialogue can be one of the most difficult things to write. This article offers wonderful tips on how to write compelling dialogue.

I’d love to know, what made you want to self publish a romance novel?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Use Social Media to Promote Your Book

Social media is one of the best marketing tools available to self publishing authors. It is the digital era’s version of word of mouth marketing, and it is free, easy to use, and effective. Some of the most popular sites include Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Regardless of which sites you decide to use, there are a few tips to maximize your marketing efforts. Here is what you need to know about using social media to promote your self published book.

  • Always include a cover photo. Ideally, this photo should be the cover of your book. You could also use a picture of yourself if you plan to promote yourself as an author, but make sure the pictures are professional and appropriate.
  • Invite all of your friends and contacts to “like” or “follow” you. The more people see your postings, the more effective your marketing will be.
  • Post regularly. Social media is not effective if you never post once you create the page. Fans expect frequent (but not excessive) postings. If updating regularly is a challenge, you can use programs such as HootSuite to schedule your posts.
  • Include a link on your website. For every social media site you use, make sure there is a link on your website so readers can easily find your social media profiles.
  • Check your page regularly. Social media is about conversation. You want people to comment on your posts, so you need to make sure you are responding to the conversations.

I’d love to know, how are you using social media to promote your book?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by Self Publishing a Book

This week, we are celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This federal holiday celebrates the nonviolent activist who was the main spokesperson during the civil rights movement. Not only does this day make us reflect on our country’s history, but it also reminds us of the power of words. Violence doesn’t solve problems, but words can inspire change.

This year, celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. by using your own voice to spark change. What are you passionate about? What changes do you want to see in your country, community, or family? What is your vision for the future? Rather than just sit back and resent the problems around you, make a difference by using your voice. Write a letter, poem, short story or book about the problem, and share it with others by self publishing. You could even ask other people to contribute their words to your project.

We are not helpless individuals who must sit back and tolerate the problems around us. If you want change, help make it happen.

I’d love to know, what will you write in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.