Author: selfpublishingadvisor

Jodee Speaks

Save $200 When Self-Publishing With Outskirts Press This 4th of July

If you have been considering self publishing, now is the perfect time!  In honor of the July Fourth holiday, authors ordering their publishing package from Outskirts Press before July 5th can receive a twenty percent discount on each of two top-of-the-line publishing packages: the Diamond and Pearl package.

The promotion code is JULY42012, and the deadline is July 5, 2012. Happy 4th of July!

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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: The Pony Principles

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 Pony Principles

Keith Elkins

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432775827

Focus is a powerful thing. “The Pony Principles: Lessons in Optimism, Because of Adversity” is an inspirational guide from Keith Elkins as he advises readers to steadfastly focus on their chosen goal in life and make the most of it. Using a pony as an extended metaphor, he advises that realizing one’s dreams in the mind is the first step to making them reality. “The Pony Principles” is a choice pick for inspirational collections.

Jodee Speaks

Should You Create Your Own Cover?

Many self-published authors debate whether they should submit a print-ready cover they have created or whether they should hire a professional graphic designer to create the cover for them. Like any self-publishing decision you will make, there are pros and cons to each method. Here is an overview of the two options.

Creating Your Own Cover

  • If you have the skills to create your own cover, you can save money by doing the work yourself.
  • Creating a professional cover requires both skill and talent. Most writers do not have the ability to create a great cover.
  • You need to know how to format the cover correctly.
  • If your cover doesn’t look great, your book may not sell well, even if it well written.

Hiring a Graphic Designer

  • When you hire a professional, you can expect a great cover every time. Afterall, that is what you paying the graphic designer for.
  • You have a lot of options. If you design the cover yourself, your skills and talent may limit your options, but when you hire a professional, you can tell the designer exactly what you want.
  • This option does cost money, but it is often well worth it.
  • Many self-publishing companies offer a custom cover option. This saves you the time and stress of finding a great designer.

Remember, your book cover has a huge impact on your ability to sell your book! Unfortunately, people don’t listen to the cliché “don’t judge a book by its cover,” so be sure to choose an option that will make your book look professional.

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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Queen Vernita Visits the Islands of Enchantment

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:

Queen Vernita Visits the Islands of Enchantment

Dawn Menge

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432773120

In this book, there is a person named Queen Vernita. She goes to a place called the Islands of Enchantment. In this place, she has a different person come and visit her every month for a whole year. Every time someone visits they learn something every day of the week.

My favorite part was when David came to visit her, and they learned about sharks. I learned that there are 440 species of sharks in the ocean. I learned that the great white shark gets to be 12 to 16 feet long. I also like learned about eels. They can get to 10 feet long. They can weigh 100 pounds! That is a big eel!

“Queen Vernita Visits the Islands of Enchantment” is good if you want to learn about things in the ocean. I learned a lot of new things by reading it. I liked how they had something new to learn every day of the week.

Jodee Speaks

Paperback vs Hardcover: Which is Better?

I frequently work with authors who can’t decide whether to self-publish a paperback or hardcover book. My recommendation is to do both. There are pros and cons to each style of book. By having both paperback and hardcover versions, you can appeal to different types of buyers. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of each style.

Paperback

  • Cheaper
  • Appealing to the majority of buyers
  • Easier to travel with
  • Less durable

Hardcover

  • Make great gifts, especially if it is autographed
  • Look good on display at signings and/or speaking events
  • More expensive
  • Tend to be more durable

I’d love to hear your opinions: do you prefer paperback or hardcover books?

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.