Author: selfpublishingadvisor

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: The Cult Worship and the Warriors

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:

 the cult worship

The Cult Worship and the Warriors

Maria Sanctissima Trinidad

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432776534

Professional nurse and devout Christian Maria Sanctissima Trinidad shares a chilling true story (names are changed to protect those mentioned) in The Cult Worship and the Warriors, written partly as a warning to readers of all faiths against the insidious pull of cults that may mime Christian faith, but in practice put other gods before the one true God. Maria tells of her personal experiences of being drawn into a small cult led by “God’s chosen teacher” that called its members Warriors. Gradually, Maria came to understand that the abuse, bullying, and even life-threatening humiliations of the cult were against the will of God. The Cult Worship and the Warriors concludes with a cautionary description of distinguishing features of cult leaders – notably their magnetism, and the common prevalence of negative character disorders among them, even psychopathy – and an explanation of why people are lured to join exploitive cults. “To be informed is to live a life and prevent living and keeping up to a deceptive cult standard that is both an insult to human spirituality and human intelligence. It is degrading in the sense that freedom of worship is stalled and hampered by a sick psychopath with no regard to society’s norm and standards.” A strong cautionary tale, The Cult Worship and the Warriors is highly recommended.

 

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 6/17/14

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.

The Guardian’s first self-published book prize winner

The Guardian, a major newspaper, is now showcasing self-published authors. The publication has announced the first winner of its new monthly self-published book contest: Dinosaurs and Prime Numbers. It is important for authors to study other successful self-published books to help improve their own success.

Self-publishing boom lifts sales by 79% in a year

Self-published books’ share of the UK market grew by 79% in 2013, with 18m self-published books bought by UK readers last year, according to new statistics. This article details the findings in the study that shows self-publishing is still booming. This is a must read for self-publishing authors.

Writers Who Rocked Self-Publishing

This Publisher’s Weekly article features three successful self-published authors and shares their secrets to success. This is a must read for all self-published authors.

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.
Uncategorized

How to Price Your Self-Published Book

One of the many benefits of self-publishing is the ability to determine your own retail price. When considering how to price your book, consider your distribution needs and income goals. Here is what you need to know when determining your book price.

Retail Margin
The retail margin is the difference between your book’s selling price at a retail store and the price that store paid to acquire the book (either from you, the publisher, or the wholesaler). For example, a book with a selling price of $10 that the store purchased from Ingram for $6, has a retail margin of 40%, which is the most common industry standard.

Trade Discount

The trade discount is the percentage off the retail price that a wholesaler or distributor pays for your book.Since the retail margin is a portion of the trade discount, the trade discount always exceeds the retail margin. Because distributors typically take 10%-25%, they typically expect between 50% – 70% in order to provide an acceptable margin to the retailer.

Retail Price

Retail price is often the same as cover price or selling price, but it doesn’t have to be.  Most publishers do not allow you to set your pricing, but some do, like Outskirts Press. If you or the publisher set a price, you are setting the suggested retail price. The retailer can take it as a suggestion. They may, however, sell your book for whatever price they want, which is the list price, or selling price. If the list price is lower than the suggested retail price, the retailer is usually absorbing the difference in their portion of the margin.

Physical offline retailers typically expect a margin of at least 40%. This gives them the flexibility of offering the book for sale (selling it below the suggested retail price) and still making money on the book. A retailer’s margin is determined by the price they sell the book compared with the price they paid for the book (usually by buying it from a wholesaler like Ingram).

Distribution

It should come as no surprise that the amount of distribution your book enjoys rests largely upon its trade discount. Generally, the higher the discount, the greater the distribution.

The proper trade discount depends upon each author’s intentions, and can vary from author to author just as readily as from book to book. Usuaully, the higher the retail margin, the higher the cover price, so authors interested in maintaining the lowest cover price possible will often opt for a lower retail margin. For some authors, mainly those planning on selling online, this is often an acceptable plan. For other authors, mainly those planning on selling offline, lowering their trade discount may end up crippling the book’s chances for success.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; 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, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 6/13/14

WALK THIS WAY

Are you ready to PUBLISH?  Maybe close to being ready?  Knees knocking at the thought of sending out query letters to publishers or trying to find the right literary agent?  As ancient outrigger pirates and outerspace starship captains are known to shout, “Belay THAT!”

Don’t you just love the word belay?  It is one of those transitive/intransitive verbs that allow writers some creative latitude without totally making up our own definitions.  SO, using the intransitive imperative form, I say, BELAY (stop/quit) focusing on your publishing fears!  And, using the transitive form, I will add, BELAY!  MAKE FAST (secure) your authorship plans with the goal of self-publishing!

At this very moment I have three clients—yes THREE—who are approaching the moment of being a published author through the avenue of self-publishing.  One client (and I) have just completed her manuscript and submitted it to her TEAM of professionals for the finishing stages of this marvelous process.  It is quite comforting to know that you (the author) have your own crew of talented and creative assistants who will help you navigate this brief voyage and make sure you and your book reach the shore with ease.

Over the last ten years or so I have queried, spoken with and worked with several self-publishing representatives in this growing industry which most folks are now calling the Print-on-Demand Publishing industry.  They all have a vision toward the future that utilizes current printing technology at its peak performance while incorporating the professional skills and abilities of real people.  I cannot explain how the technology works so I’ll let you research that for yourself.  Wikipedia is always a good place to start.  However, I can offer my opinion on why this industry is thriving.

First: As our world population grows—so grows the number of creatively inspired writers in all genres.  This self-publishing industry is FILLING A NEED—offering the opportunity of publication to everyone.

Second: In the past, authors were forced to march-to-the-drum of the big publishing houses—and their editors.  If a creatively addressed topic was sent to such a publisher and they actually considered printing it, their editorial process could (and often did) strip the heart right out of the original manuscript.  However, the author had signed the editing agreement and learned to promote the book “as published.”  Of course, other exciting manuscripts were “rejected” and never saw the light of day.

Third: Today, what was once called (disparagingly) “vanity press publishing,” is now Print-on-Demand Self-Publishing and a highly recognized and established business.  The entrepreneurs of a generation ago picked up their dreams and developed what many are calling “a truly legitimate power to be reckoned with;” “an explosive and exciting arm of publishing” that will impact the publishing industry in positive ways for generations to come.

MORE on this next-time…

Thanks for reading, writing and encouraging every fellow author you meet.

Royalene ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

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:

 now you see it, now you don't

Now You See It, Now You Don’t

John Daly

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432777319

When murder is on your trail, you start to wonder why the world seems out to get you. “Now You See It, Now You Don’t” delves into the chronicles of two buddy cops Mason and Striker, who have a storied past. But as they try to work their way through a web of cruelty and unsavory nature in their world, their friendship and duty will be tested. “Now You See It, Now You Don’t” is a fine pick for anyone who enjoys mysteries and the buddy cop dynamic.