Category: outskirts press

Book Reviews, charles a. santangelo, outskirts press, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, turning point, weekly self published book review

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: “Turning Point”

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:

turning point

Turning Point

Charles A. Santangelo

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432793968

Synopsis:

It’s a new day in America: The United States’ new Democratic president combats hostile political opponents and right-wing media while tackling the challenges of terrorism, global warming and a financial crisis. In the midst of the fray of a charged first term, the president’s liberal daughter, Karen, falls for a decorated Air Force pilot turned Secret Service agent, Capt. John “Rawhide” Cunningham – who, as the grandson of a conservative, swing-vote Supreme Court justice, stands at the opposite end of a vast, ideological chasm. Inspired by his work in the real-life presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, author Charles A. Santangelo weaves a tale of love and political intrigue that speaks to the very core of American values and the integrity of the political process. Told through a progressive ideological perspective, Turning Point makes a compelling case that a scant few with strong values and a willingness to place the nation’s interest above their own can change the course of history. The political/historical thriller blends the action of a Tom Clancy tale with sharp political storytelling and a measure of romance.

Critique:

The 2000 election was a swamp of controversy, no matter how you cut it. Turning Point is a political fantasy from Charles Alfred Santangelo, veteran government official at NASA and Homeland Security. For sake of hypotheticals, he does away with the names of Bush and Gore, instead crafts a What If scenario of a Progressive Democrat claiming the White House in 2000, and what would have followed in many crises, from the environment to a different handling of 9/11. Turning Point is an intriguing look at a very different political world.

[ reviewed by Able Greenspan ]

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

WOW, what an amazing topic to write about…. an election that tore the country apart and what a fascinating idea to write a novel about what this author believes the world might have been like if Al Gore had assumed the role of President. Whether you side with the Dems or the Republicans — no one can argue that it is intriguing to know just what direction life would take if things were to have come out differently– such as with everything in life, decisions that seem simple enough really have the chance to change the course of history. My politics are somewhere in the middle, but I found learning “Turning Points” ideas of how life could have been very interesting!

– Amazon Reviewer DBT

This terrific novel is not only a page turner, but is also a fascinating and comprehensive look at a wide spectrum of American life, including election fraud, legal intrigue and the economy, all set against a backdrop of a compelling story of love and political tension. Alternative history novels are difficult to bring off, because you have to account for a myriad of ripple effects across the societal spectrum, but the author has accomplished this in an impressive and authoritative manner. Quite an achievement. I’m waiting for the movie, which is inevitable.

– Amazon Reviewer Andrew

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

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editing, Editing Your Self-Published Book, guest post, outskirts press

GUEST POST: Rob Mangelson of Outskirts Press on Editing

Every once in a while, we have the pleasure of featuring a blog post written by an expert outside of our small circle here at Self Publishing Advisor.  This week, we get to hear from Rob Mangelson, an independent contractor and marketing professional affiliated with Outskirts Press, a hybrid self-publishing company based out of the Denver, Colorado area.  We’ve actually run across the folks from OP before–as recently as two weeks ago, as a matter of fact–but here we have a chance to catch a few words direct from the source, so to speak.  So with no further ado, here are some of Rob’s thoughts on the subject of editing.

A professional editor is your last, best hurdle before sending your book off to publish. While it may seem an optional service, there are compelling reasons why you may not want to think of it as “optional” – not when your reputation and product quality are at stake.

editing

It’s humbling to submit a highly personal work to someone we imagine gleefully buying red ink by the barrel. However, in this case, red ink is your best friend. Here are three ways your investment in a professional editor will pay for itself:

  1. An editor is your best beta-tester. Your book is your product, and there’s no better way to “test” your product before it goes to market than with a professional editor – more than one editor, if it’s feasible. A test run of how your product might perform in the marketplace more than pays for itself, allowing you to tweak your writing and marketing to reach the right readers and keep them hooked once you do. In a perfect world, every publishing author would have the luxury of both an editor and a team of beta readers, but if you have to choose, hire a pro.
  2. Editors help you get your point across. You know what you mean to say – but will readers understand the ideas you’re trying to get across? There’s no way to know until you get someone “outside your head” to view your work from the perspective of a potential reader. This is one of the main missions of the editing process, and one that ensures that your words have the intended effect on the intended target audience so you can resonate with readers – and sell more books!
  3. Editors see “invisible” problems. By the time a book is close to finished and nearly ready for publication, most publishing authors have gone through it with a fine-toothed comb, often multiple times. But no matter how thoroughly and how often you review your own work, even the most conscientious authors can become blind to errors in their own prose. Even a couple of minor errors in your book can destroy your credibility and hurt your sales, making the services of a professional editor well worth a modest investment.

Remember, editors are, like you, avid readers and writers with the added advantage of having expertise in their field. Use that expertise to your advantage to get the most polished product possible. You’ll never regret it.

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with our guests and our archival visits by watching this space every Tuesday!

Self Publishing Advisor

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