Author: selfpublishingadvisor

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: A World of His Own

aworldofhisown_coverA World of His Own
by Arlette Gaffrey

This self-published Fiction/Historical book was recently reviewed on reviewyourbook.com.

A WORLD OF HIS OWN IN THE LAND OF THE CREOLES: Andre de Javon escaped the French Revolution as a child. Now as an adult, he arrives in New Orleans determined to make a new life for himself. In due time he becomes one of the wealthiest plantation owners in the Territory. He is helped by his mentor Jean-Claude Charlevoix, whose young daughter Julie falls in love with Andre, and hopes he will wait for her to grow up and marry her. But, Andre marries Gabrielle Ste. Claire who turns his life into a nightmare. Gabrielle dies leaving Andre with her illegitimate son. As Julie grows up Andre realizes how much he loves her, and wants to marry her. But will Julie still have him, a man who is eleven years her senior with an illegitimate child? The pirate Jean Lafitte and General Andrew Jackson are but some of the colorful characters woven throughout the story.

Visit the Author’s Webpage: outskirtspress.com/arlettegaffrey

Read the full review here.

Choosing a Publisher

self-publishers raking it in…

That was the subject line of a recent email sent to me by my good friend and author currently writing and teaching writing at the University of Massachusetts.

I had yet to see the New York Times article he was referencing. Despite our professional inclinations, email conversations between Mr. Anderson and I generally involve topics like beer, music, or YouTube videos.

I was interested in what brought Mr. Anderson’s attention away from his highbrow academia to the world of self-publishing. His email read only one line – something like ‘looks like you’re in for a raise…’ followed by the link to Wednesday’s Times article, “Self-Publisher’s Flourish as Writers Pay the Tab.”

Good news for self-publishing authors…

The Article opens stating that booksellers, hobbled by the current economic situation, are struggling to lure readers. And with traditional publishers and brick and mortar retailers exercising cutbacks and layoffs, readers are still finding their way books. And the fact that they are suggests that one aspect of the industry is, according to the Times, “…actually flourishing.”

Of course the article discusses some of those alleged downsides of self-publishing (there are some less attractive options out there), but concludes with a quote from Louise Barker, publisher of the traditional house, Pocket Books, “Self-Publishing is no longer a dirty word.”

Ms. Barker’s Pocket Books recently contracted Lisa Genova, an author profiled on this blog previously. Despite the suggestions from many industry professionals, including her agent, that self-publishing would destroy her chances at success, Genova’s book, Still Alice, saw considerable independent success prior to being picked up by Pocket Books on a 6 figure contract. 

Barker goes on to comment that publishers now trawl for new material by looking at reader’s comments online about self-published books.

Self-publishing is truly changing the way we write, read, and retail books. That is good news for authors.

Have fun. Keep writing.

– Karl Schroeder

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing: The New Black

Last Friday I happened to run into a new friend at a coffee shop down the street from my home. She also works in the publishing industry as a consultant, but more on the traditional model side. We enjoy running in to each other and talking shop.

This last run-in she mentioned a new author for which she’s providing ghostwriting and consulting services. Amy was evidently reserved in progressing with the project and I pressed for a bit more information. As it turned out, this particular author Amy was working with has a timely book topic on the table with a pressing eagerness to see it published; and with business savvy, the author wanted to see an attractive return on investment.

“Okay, what concerns do you have?” I asked. Amy first responded that shopping for an agent to pick up the book would push the timeline way back, and then between the agent’s and then the publisher’s cut, what could she reasonably expect to provide as an incentive to her author.

I couldn’t help but smirk. With self-publishing, authors retain exclusive control and full royalties, while having their books published in full-service style – start to finish – in around 12 weeks. Amy’s look was one of almost disbelief. When I mentioned all of these things along with the advantage of unlimited on-demand, international distribution offered by the best full-service self-publishing options she was noticeably, informed.

If you are an author, or publishing professional, revisit this question: What are your publishing goals? For many authors, the most important goals are:
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1) Keeping 100% of your rights and creative control to your book
2) Keeping 100% of your author royalties
3) Setting your own retail price, profit, and author discount
4) Publishing a high-quality book that is available worldwide

I hope that helps. Keep writing…

– Karl Schroeder

Book Promotion

Promoting your Self-Published Book to Borders

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been giving you tips on where to go to promote your self-published book. Did you know there is an easy way to get the addresses and phone numbers of every Borders bookstore in the United States?

Just go to: www.bordersstores.com/locator/locator.jsp

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Book Promotion

Promoting your Self-Published Book to Books-a-Million

As I mentioned last week, the hardest part about promoting your self-published book is knowing where to go. Finding the location of Books-a-Million bookstores is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1: Go to: www.booksamillion.com
2: Scroll all the way to the very bottom and find the “Store Locator” link
3: Enter in the zip code you want to search.

Voila!

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com