selfpublishingadvisor

android, e-readers, ebooks, ereaders, google play, Kelly Speaks, samsung galaxy tab

The Current State of E-Readers | An Author’s Guide (Part IV––the Samsung Galaxy Tab)

Last week, I examined the dedicated e-reader designed for use with Barnes & Noble’s stores, both digital and brick and mortar––the NOOK. And if you read that post, you’ll recall that I mentioned Barnes & Noble will no longer be producing a dedicated e-reader, and in fact is no longer producing an e-reader at all; it is, however, lending its name and all of the might of its online platform to the latest incarnation (or should I say “one of the latest incarnations?”) of the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The resulting hybrid will give Barnes & Noble customers the necessary continuity to keep using the interfaces to which they have become accustomed, while also lifting the burden of production and distribution (at least, partially) from a company that is still, ultimately, struggling to keep its foot in the door of print book distribution. Amazon’s Kindle store and Apple’s iPad have collectively changed the course of ebook distribution and consumption, whether we like it or not––and like so many others, Barnes & Noble and Samsung are hoping to create the next best thing, or a near-approximation of the iPad that still gives the bookseller an edge of control over the end user.

(There are altogether too many options on the iPad for a bookseller’s tastes––too many apps and too many readable file formats within those apps. The more options, the less easily a bookseller can drive sales in a particular direction––and profits.)

But we’re not here to talk about the new tablet (although you can read a most thorough CNET review here). We’re here to talk about the original Samsung Galaxy Tab series, which is now up to at least its tenth iteration … if not a higher number (they throw in variant names, with the “Galaxy Tab S” and “Galaxy Tab Pro” and so on complicating a neat and orderly numbering system). The entire line is noted, however, first and foremost for being the first (or among the first, depending on who you ask) to embrace a full Android operating system––and as such, it became a solid, distinct, and direct competitor to both the iPad (which runs on Apple’s iOS) and the Kindle (which varies a bit from iteration to iteration, but for the most part employs a heavily modified and limited version of Android). I think it’s worth mentioning both tablets like the iPad and dedicated e-readers like the Kindle in the same breath when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy, because the relationship between the two is hybridizing so quickly as partnership projects like the Samsung Galaxy NOOK become the new normal.

Here’s the thing with the Samsung Galaxy Tab series that gives it an edge over the Kindle and the original NOOK: it’s a fully-fledged tablet, with a far wider range of capabilities as a device than a dedicated e-reader. You can access the Google Play store, and run a whole slew of apps that have little or nothing to do with books, and yet the reading-related apps you can download are beautifully designed and presented, so the e-reading experience is still highlighted and underscored as important to app developers. Many people rate the average Samsung device as somewhat less responsive and intuitive than the iPad, but Apple is famously canny about using software to create closed loops around its hardware (that is, the average iPad has to be “jailbroken” before it is “hackable”––you have to actually tamper with the operating system to render it more adaptable). Basically, Android-based operating systems like the ones the Samsung Galaxy Tablets run are way more easy to customize, tinker with, and generally geek out over.

And there are a lot of Samsung Galaxy Tabs out there. There are no hard and fast numbers for me to quote to you, but it’s safe to say they’re not hurting too badly if they have the capital to launch “boutique” or specialized lines like the NOOK hybrid. (Each iteration costs a lot of money and time and talent capital to design and maintain and run support for.) Some recent reports do, however, indicate that sales were not quite as high as they should have been––and as the company supposedly reported them to have been––and this is a matter of great concern. Samsung has the benefit of a large support network and a diverse portfolio to fall back on if one project or device doesn’t sell well; Barnes & Noble had no such safety net, and thus lost its ability to respond effectively to rapidly shifting market demands.

Here’s what you need to know as an author when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy Tab: it’s not going anywhere. Oh, iterations come and go the way my love of rain comes and goes (and boy, does that one fluctuate a lot). But the great thing about a series like this one is that Samsung will continue to make new additions as long as the market exists and as long as there is a demand for Android-based devices that aren’t locked into being dedicated e-readers like the Kindle. Customers want variety and customizability, games and work and literature all in one device, without the need to untangle multiple cables or swap out chargers on the nearest wall outlet. And as long as there are Android-based operating systems, the Google Play store will remain an important distribution point to keep an eye on.

Are you selling through Google Play? I personally hope so, and if you are and would like to share your story, please (please please) drop me a line in the comment section with all of the details.

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or contributions, please use the comment field below or drop us a line at selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com. And remember to check back each Wednesday for your weekly dose of marketing musings from one indie, hybrid, and self-published author to another. ♠

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com.

Advocacy in Self-Publishing, distribution, from the archives, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Self-Publishing

From the Archives: “The Importance of Distribution in Self Publishing”

Welcome back to our new Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years. What’s stayed the same? And what’s changed? We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

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[ Originally posted: April 6th, 2010 ]

If a publisher focuses on discounts to an author who buys their own book in bulk, that often communicates two things. 1) That publisher is more concerned with selling to you than to other readers. 2) The publisher is charging you too much for lower quantities. Do you really want to be forced to buy 100 books at a time just to get a fair price? “Bulk” discounts simply trick the author into buying more books than they need, which defeats the whole advantage of on-demand printing.

I’ve seen many authors go down that road, and then end up with lots of books sitting in their garage or basement that no one knows about, because the distribution piece is missing. The power of the on-demand printing and EDI distribution offered in custom self-publishing take advantage of wholesale availability via multiple sales channels including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Baker and Taylor, and Ingram—North America’s largest distributor. Look also to see that your book is available through I-Page, the book ordering system available at over 25,000 bookstores and retail chains world-wide.

Do look also for a publisher that will sell your book to you at a special author discounted price as well. It’s never a bad idea to have access to an inventory to compliment your virtually endless on-demand inventory.

The power of distribution when paired with flexible pricing creates an advantageous sales combination for the self-publishing author.

There’s no easy way to sell books, but as this post back in 2010 points out, there’s no point to purchasing in bulk if you can’t actually move the copies into the hands of your readers. And as the original post expounds, an effective means of distribution remains absolutely essential in order to steer clear of stocking your basement and not those same readers’ bookshelves.

So how do you distribute books? Word-of-mouth can work, certainly, as is illustrated by the extraordinary case of Christopher Paolini, although one might argue that his case is only extraordinary because it was eventually “discovered” by the traditional publishing industry and afterwards became a massive hit. Paolini only relied on word-of-mouth and his own ardent self-marketing methods for a short while, when looking at the total “life cycle” of his Inheritance series.

It seems that selling through an online distributer is perhaps the way to go, especially when those distributers (namely, Amazon and Barnes & Noble) come with all of the might and power of a massive international company. There are certainly some extraordinary benefits to taking advantage of their systems, toward which end many hybrid publishing companies (such as Outskirts Press) provide packages geared specifically to exploit. And their digital distribution platforms, while perhaps too bulky to be truly “cutting edge,” do have all of the perquisite customer support and technical maintenance that you could wish for. There’s always an upside to walking down a path that many others are also walking down. (I’m thinking specifically of user how-to guides and FAQ forums, here––since I take advantage of those, and often.)

The ultimate point is, however, not to rely on making bulk purchases of your own book as an author, even with the possibility of an author discount. You want readers to be connecting some of the dots themselves, and buying through these (socially networked and easily findable) ecommerce platforms instead of only through you. If you are the only person who is selling your book, then that creates a kind of bottleneck for sales. Diversifying who sells your book and where it can be found is a vital component of any effective self-marketing strategy. ♠

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive 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, kellyschuknecht.com.

Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Self-Publishing Week in Review

News From the Self-Publishing World: 10/19/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Sussex author tells about the book she always wanted to write

This week, the interview that caught our eye was one between Sussex author Fiona Cane and Argus news editor Lucy Pearce, published on October 16th. In the interview, Cane reveals that Peter James and Eddie Izzard had a hand in her choice to pursue self-publishing her latest book, The Other Side Of The Mountain. “It’s just so difficult now; publishing companies take on maybe one or two authors a year,” says Cane. But she didn’t want to become bogged down in the politics of publishing––she wanted to get her book out there, despite encouragement from other quarters to chase after a more traditional route to publication. The Other Side of the Mountain is not Cane’s first book, but it is the one she is most proud of: “It is much more the book I have always wanted to write but was never sure if I could.” Lucky for us that her childhood schoolfellow Izzard happened to stop by with some sage words of wisdom at just the right moment! “He told me that I had to really push, and want it, and believe,” says Cane. And now we have yet another stellar entry into the canon of self-published geopolitical dramas; The Other Side of the Mountain takes place in Haiti in 2001, and amidst the political and social chaos of that year.

Authors Without Borders

Ever wondered where exactly AmazonCrossing stands in respect to the world of self-publishing? How about self-publishing abroad? Just last week, on October 15th, Porter Anderson of The Bookseller published an article with some of the much-needed details––but he admits that it wasn’t easy to put together the material: “As more indie authors focus on opening international markets, more questions than answers are at hand. It is early days in the deep field of foreign self-publishing.” According to Anderson, the matter of translation remains a huge stumbling block for foreign authors seeking self-publication; AmazonCrossing has, however, been taking steps to help ameliorate the difficulties. Quoting Chad Post, director of the University of Rochester’s (New York) Three Percent translation project, Anderson reveals one key detail: “With more than 150 books translated now, this Amazon Publishing traditional imprint has become the US’ most prolific translation publisher.” That’s a lot of books, but it’s nowhere near, in our humble opinion, enough! (Though let’s face it, there will never really be enough….in our opinion.) Throughout the remainder of his article, Anderson attempts to unspool some of the complicating factors that surround self-publishing a translated work (or, more correctly, finding cost-effective ways to translate your already self-published book). Well worth a read, we think.

Packers Great Jerry Kramer’s Son Publishing Packers Photo Book

It’s an exciting time to be a Green Bay Packers fan! Daniel Kramer, son of the legendary Packers player Jerry Kramer, recently revealed his plans to fund and self-publish a book of his photography and essays to PRNewswire in an October 15 press release. The project, which is being funded by a Kickstarter campaign (ending on October 20th), reached its funding goals days before its deadline … and then some. The book itself, which takes a close look at the 1996-1997 football season, will include material co-written with award-winning author Dick Schaap and feature Jerry Kramer’s own photography, taken on the ground with a privileged insider’s view of the goings-on. The book will be released on the 20th anniversary of the season it documents. And even if you’re not a Packers fan, any self-published, crowd-funded project that reaches this kind of stratospheric public acclaim is very, very good news.

UM Professor Self Publishes First Novel, Celebrates in Oxford

In more news from across the pond, celebrated Blues scholar Adam Gussow is releasing his first piece of fiction––a novel, to be precise––through BookBaby. In an October 15th article for HottyToddy, senior managing editor Callie Daniels Bryant writes that Gussow’s book is already receiving stellar reviews on Kirkus, where the book is said to be “a fast-paced, enjoyable one, with the harmonica blues angle putting a unique spin on the European trip narrative.” If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite, consider the fact that Gussow is “noted for his longtime partnership with guitarist Sterling “Mr. Satan” Magee as the duo Satan and Adam.” As a self-publishing author, Gussow has found success through alternative means of self-marketing, and has captured the attention of many potential readers through his carefully curated YouTube channel. Gussow’s own experience as a street performer, or busker, provided much of the fundamental texture of his novel––Busker’s Holiday––so necessary to conveying the actual and authentic experience. If you’re looking for something to take away from the news this week, here it is: the pairing of authenticity with a tech-savvy approach to social media may just be the start of something great.

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 Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

Book Reviews, janice viraht, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, t-bone's traveling circus, weekly self published book review

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: “T-Bone’s Traveling Circus”

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, courtesy of the Midwest Book Review:

T-Bone’s Traveling Circus

Janice Viraht

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478729105

Synopsis:

Defeat bullying with love, laughter, and acceptance! In this imaginative sequel to T-Bone the Flying Horse, meet Rita Bonita the young horse who is constantly the target of teasing and bullying. Her life is transformed in a wonderful way when she meets a girl and her colorful cast of misfit friends. The girl, inspired by her great friend T-Bone, has formed a circus to help the teased love themselves and stand up to bullying! Join Rita Bonita and her new circus friends as they share laughter and spark the imagination in this fantastical rhyming tale about love and acceptance.

Critique:

I found this to be such a delightful book. First of all I loved how colorful it is. The cover has a drawing effect to it that makes you want to sit down and see what is inside, and you will not be disappointed. We meet Rita Bonita, a poor little horse who is the victim of bullying. One sad baby, but her world is about to be turned around when she meets up with several young and misfit friends, and a circus. With them she is accepted and loved, and her world is turned around.

In this read you and your child will be reminded of the cruelty of bullying. It is a sad fact that this type of behavior goes on day by day. In this read children will see how sad and rejected it can make another, even if it is an animal, and how kindness and acceptance can change the world around for the bullied person. The illustrations are top-notch and the story is simple, yet has deep meaning that is brought front and center. This book addresses a serious problem by showing those under attack they are not alone, are not below others, and can find friendship and love. Well done, great read.

[ reviewed by Shirley Johnson ]

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

Rita Bonita is a horse that was teased and ridiculed for being different when she was growing up. They laughed at her ears, color and size, telling her that she was not a real horse. Then one day a wagon came slowly up the road and the cover said “T-Bone’s Traveling Circus.”
In the wagon there were many animals that could be considered misfits for they were unable to do what their kind was supposed to do or be. A lion that could not roar, a fairy with only one wing and a dragon that could not breathe fire were only some of the creatures in the circus.
From them, Rita Bonita learned that there are many creatures that are different and that is what makes them special and that her difference makes her special as well. When she marched with all the animals of the circus, for the first time in her life Rita Bonita walked tall and proud.
Being different in size, shape or appearance can be hard when you are young, especially when you are made fun of. Virant uses this theme to create a book that will impart the lesson that teasing about such matters is hurtful and it may turn out that the person you are teasing may be better than you at some things. That is an important lesson that needs to be given and reinforced until internalized.
The text is presented as a series of simple four-line segments where the even numbered lines rhyme and the text is embedded in an image that is very colorful. That coloration is not bright yet is distinctive and attractive enough to catch the eye of the child.

– Amazon Hall-of-Fame Reviewer Charles Ashbacher

T-Bone’s Traveling Circus is an adorable kids storybook about a group of misfits who are ‘different’ Whether it’s furry snakes or floppy-winged fairies, each of the characters have something about them that is different, and outright silly. My little girl loves T-Bone’s Traveling Circus and the colorful illustrations in the book.

As a parent I like the fact that it teaches children that it’s okay to be different. Whether it’s a disability, a weight, height or another characteristic that makes them different, this books helps kids realize it’s okay to be different.

– Amazon Reviewer So Simply Stephanie

Thanks for reading! Keep up with the latest in the world of indie and self-published books by watching this space every Saturday!

Self Publishing Advisor

Advocacy in Self-Publishing, Royalene Speaks, Writing

Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer: 10/16/2015

THE NOAH WEBSTER LEGACY – PART III

WHEN we publish our books we are wisely advised to promote them in every venue we can access—to even pre-promote to the Readers we know will be interested in our topic and/or genre. When Noah Webster was writing his book A Collection of Essays and Fugitiv Writings on Moral, Historical, Political and Literary Subjects, he promoted it right into the office of President of the United States.

First he talked to his friends and acquaintances about his soon-to-be-published book and enlisted them in “subscribing” to it. It is understood that many of these people financially supported (subscribed) the work.
Secondly, he published their names on the first several pages of the book—in alphabetical order. These scribers included: Vice President John Adams (indicating that he received two copies of the book), as well as many Senators, Representatives, Aldermen, Attorneys, Physicians, Merchants, Judges and ordinary folks from every location he’d visited.
Then, following the list of “subscribers,” Webster addressed this book as if he were writing a personal letter to: “The President, The Vice President, The Senators, and The Representatives of the United States of America, The following PUBLICATION, designed to Aid the Principles of the Revolution, to Suppress Political Discord and to Diffuse a Spirit of Enquiry, Favorable to Morals, to Science, and Truth, Is most humbly inscribed as a Tribute of Respect for their Characters, of Gratitude for their Public Services, and a Pledge of Attachment to the Present Constitution of the American Republic, by their most obedient and most humble servant, The Author.”

Now THAT is marketing—book promotion with flare! Certainly everyone was talking about this book and the boldness of the author. For Webster, the reality was that his often abrasive and know-it-all attitude kept him from being IN the “in-crowd.” However, it is widely accepted that Webster’s passionate nationalism was a major influence on the Founding Fathers. Reading his essays, newspaper articles, and dictionary word definitions gave them much food-for-thought in their daily lives and formation of our country.

So, where are you in pre-production planning for the book(s) you are writing? In today’s publishing world the group of supporters (subscribers) that Webster had would be called a Tribe. These are the folks who know you are writing—know a little about the story—and could be Tweeting about it or posting Facebook comments about how much they are anticipating the book’s arrival in their hands.

And, if you need financial support I know of several self-publishing presses who offer GIFT CARDS that family and friends can purchase to be applied to the publishing process and marketing of your book. The teams of marketing experts in these self-publishing houses can be a great help in connecting with Readers through the Internet and other media which takes the burden off your shoulders giving you the time to write your next book.

May the writing legacy left to us by authors such as Noah Webster give you encouragement and inspire you to accomplish great things with your writings. ⚓︎

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.

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