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Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 1.4.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

In his first annual list of prescient insights for the year ahead, Tom Chalmers writes in this December 28th article for DigitalBookWorld.com that we’re likely to see both more of the same kinds of things we saw in 2015 and some new and key trends emerging.  What makes the list?  Here are a few of the more pertinent bullet points as pertaining to self-publishing authors:

  • Continued regrowth of print sales.
  • Amazon spending some time under the radar.
  • Book fair evolution and the emergence of the micro-fair.
  • Struggle for subscription but steady digital sales.

Chalmers, who touts his stellar inter-office record at predictions (“I regularly point out in the office that I predicted [trends] two or three years ago. Given that I’m generally met with bemused looks, I thought I would make an official record of some predictions for 2016.”) has plenty of industry experience and data to back up his predictions for the year ahead.  For the complete list as well as lengthy descriptions of the points above, check out the original article!

In this week’s highlighted interview, Dorothy Thompson interviews science fiction author Roxanne Bland in this January 1st article for the Examiner.com.  Bland, who struck out on her own to start her own publishing house rather than abide by the constraints of traditional publishing, prefers to identify herself as part of the “indie” community (“short for independent author or publisher. It’s not quite such a mouthful as “self-published,” and it sounds way cooler”), but doesn’t hesitate to defend the choice to self-publish.  “For one,” she says, “there are no deadlines imposed by others. I don’t do well under that kind of pressure—I freeze, and make stupid mistakes. There’s also the satisfaction of doing everything yourself. I don’t know, it’s exhausting, but the feeling I get is one that I’ve really accomplished something great.”  And it’s true––whether you call yourself “indie” or “self-published,” one central fact remains the same: you’ve done something truly and magnificently grand by opting to maintain creative control of your own story.  For more of Thompson’s interview with Bland, follow the link!

Remember our primer guide to the benefits of merchandising through various obscure platforms?  Wattpad made the list as one among several up-and-coming possibilities to watch out for.  Well, in his December 28th post for GoodEreader.com, Michael Kozlowski writes that e-book retailer Kobo “has quietly unveiled a new section of their website where readers can purchase e-books published by Wattpad.”  The e-books, which sell for anywhere from $1 to $12, aim to take advantage of Wattpad’s massive user base, which “currently attracts over 40 million users per month, growing at a rate of over 1 new user per second.”  The decision may have been made entirely for pragmatic reasons, Kozlowski attests, but there’s a certain degree of circumstantial resonance to the partnership: both Kobo and Wattpad are based out of Toronto, Canada.  How’s that for coincidence?  For more information about it, check out Kozlowski’s full writeup.

Closing out this week’s top headlines is a story we can all feel good about!  In a December 28th article that made the Arts & Life section of the Halifax Herald, contributor Jennifer Taplin highlights the work of local author Joanne Light.  Light, who “was teaching in Malaysia in 2003 when she decided to go for a hike near Poring Hot Springs in Sabah on the island of Borneo,” was so struck by her interactions with native orangutans in the wild that when she later “learned about the plight of the orangutans—killed, injured or run off by palm oil manufacturers,” she couldn’t help but want to transform her love for them into a children’s book.  Light––an educator, artist, and writer––found herself an illustrator in Lindsay Alchorn and has since self-published her book, with all of the proceeds going to Orangutan Outreach and Rainforest Rescue.  Says Light, “Self-publishing is a very viable way of publishing,” especially now with the rise of e-books.  To read more about Light and her book, follow the link!

spa-news

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.

KellyABOUT 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.

amazon reviews, Book Reviews, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Uncategorized, weekly self published book review

Saturday Book Review: “Doggie Delicious”

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:

doggie delicious

Doggie Delicious

by Mary Jo Wisneski Johnston
Illustrated by Malinda Raines

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN:9781478722779

Synopsis:

A Uniquely Talented Dog!

Life at the ranch is fun and happy, but nobody could have imagined how much more interesting it would become when Bibi, a very unusual dog, came to add an exponential level of joy. As Bibi explores her gifts and chases her dream, surprises abound as all the animals at the ranch find themselves catapulted out of the status quo and into a new world where anything is possible. A magnificent ranch play day evolves, where each animal makes a special contribution to share the best and most unexpected parts of themselves with the neighborhood children. The play day goes so well that the animals can hardly wait for the next adventure. Bibi’s success in realizing her intentions shows the animals what determination and courage can accomplish, and as she models faith and trust in the greater wisdom of life, all the people and animals around her begin to understand that there is much more to themselves, and to the world! This charming beginning chapter book with its positive, inspiring message is sure to become a favorite with readers of all ages.

Critique:

I was very impressed with this read as it touches on living life with all its joys and sadness. Life, death, eternity all play a roll in our lives, be it with other humans, or animals that we treasure so deeply. This is a story of living, not dying, of hope, imagination, caring, and joy. It is about a family, not just made up of humans, but made up of lives that are all a part of one another’s day, and life. It is about Babi, a special dog, with special traits, that brings front and center imagination, hope, inspiration, and love to all the animals and humans that this special creature comes in contact with. Babi is the example for all others of forging ahead, open to the tasks, the challenges and the victory to be had. It is a story of love, encouragement, faith, hope and winning. Very moving read, well done. Recommended..

[ reviewed by Shirley Priscilla Johnson]

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

 Doggie Delicious by Mary Jo Wisneski Johnston is a special book about love and finding your inspiration to follow in order to make
your special contribution to life. This is a chapter book. It can be read to your child or if your child is a reader then they can read it alone
or to you. It is a great book to add to your child’s book shelf. It is about Bibi who is adopted and lives on a ranch with many other
animals. She soon develops wings. Bibi uses her wings to help people, her animal friends and her “Master.” A ranch play day is
planned, neighbors are invited and all the animals participate with their special contribution. Everyone begins to understand that
there’s more to themselves that than they thought. The party ends with everyone looking forward to the next play day. I gave this book
5 stars but it deserves many, many more. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I look forward to more from Mary Jo Wisneski
Johnston.

– Barnes & Noble Reviewer MargieS1

In this captivating children’s story we meet the Bibi. She is a lovely white pup who comes to live at the ranch. She quickly entrenches herself into the hearts of her owners and then the fun begins. Bibi has a great adventure and has a very special talent (but I’m not going to spoil it here).

This is a chapter book with full colour page illustrations by Malinda Raines. I think many children will enjoy Bibi’s story. If you’re looking for a children’s chapter book that your child will treasure then this will make a great addition to your library.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book there were times when I worried about the complex language and sentence structure. On reflection though I don’t think it would put a good reader off. Also, it’s important to challenge children as they require the necessary skills and develop their appreciation of our language.

The story is well thought out and engaging. I found it delightful and can highly recommend it.

– Goodreads Reviewer Susan Day

saturday self-published book review

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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Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Holidays, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 1/1/2016

IT’S A NEW DAY! NEW MONTH! NEW YEAR!

 

What Now? That’s the question before me and maybe it’s the question you’re asking yourself as 2016 slips into existence. After several years (nine-plus to be a little more exact), I published my first major book in 2015 and ever since people have been asking me WHEN the next book is coming out. REALLY? My labor with that one book has exhausted me!  And yet—there are several scenarios that are brewing in my innards.  So WHAT NOW?  Well, because I have at least three (3) BIG IDEAS, I’ve decided to flesh out each one just enough so that I can reach a point-of-no-return on ONE of them and complete it before year’s end.  Here are the steps I’ve begun…

new ideas new year

1st Week in January…

Monday…Select your clearest book concept.

  • Write one sentence that defines the heart of this story—the theme—the BIG IDEA that will grab Readers. Rewrite this sentence as many times as needed to satisfy Then place it in the file folder for this book concept and relax.

Tuesday…

  • Write 3-5 sentences about the main character and the main supporting What is their ancestral heritage? Family makeup/dynamic? Faith background and current belief? Physical appearance—hair color, eye color, clothing style, etc. BE SPECIFIC and brief. If you have a specific film actor in mind to “play” these characters, google them and add their photo to that description. Then, again, place these in the file folder…and relax.

Wednesday…

  • Write one paragraph that describes THE main setting. Keep this paragraph short using very specific imagery. Use the thesaurus! PAINT the setting you want a film-maker to design with color, texture and tone. If there is more than one geographic locale, write this paragraph about the main locale. Then add one sentence about other locales. Google photos of these locations will be helpful. Add to page(s), place in the folder…and relax.

Thursday…

  • Create the conflict chart. I like to use the peaks-and-valleys graph although recently I’ve used the circle-within-a-circle illustration starting with the 1st conflict at the center of the circle, then adding “rings” for each new conflict point. If you’ve read newspaper reports about these types of conflict (home invasions, natural disasters, wars, murders, etc.) research examples and add the site address and/or photo of the encounter. Keep this day’s efforts focused ONLY on the elements of conflict. Then, again, place this information in your folder…and relax.

Friday…

  • The above diagram doubles as my PLOT graph—with the addition of one written paragraph that offers me ideas about how my main character (and supporters) will act/react to these conflict events—AND—suggests THE END—or at least how I think it will end.

 

2nd Week in January…REPEAT above elements for the 2nd Book Idea.

3rd Week in January…REPEAT above elements for the 3rd Book Idea.

4th Week in January…REPEAT above elements for the 4th Book Idea.

 

By February 1st excitement will be flowing in your veins! It may be difficult to select ONE project to complete—however—you must. Author Rick Warren is quoted saying, “When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.” This is especially true for the characters we bring to life in THEIR life stories. Happy New Year, my writing friends. May the days and months before you lead to PUBLISHED SUCCESS!  ⚓︎

 

RoyaleneABOUT 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.
Advocacy in Self-Publishing, Book Marketing, from the archives, karl schroeder, Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “Self-Publishing – A Growing Industry”

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.

∗∗∗∗∗

[ Originally posted: January 11th, 2010 ]

Did you know that over 40% of all book sales in the United States last year took place online, through e-retailers like Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com? More and more people are becoming comfortable with (and even accustomed to) shopping online. What’s more, consumers are more likely to purchase lesser-known and self-published books, according to Inc. Magazine.

What does this mean for the self-published author? With the convenience of on demand-printing and full-service self-publishing options: Good things. Selling books online is more cost-effective than selling through a typical bookstore, and that means more money in your pocket. Again, make sure your publisher lets you set your own retail price, royalty, and discount to take maximum advantage of shifting consumer trends.

Just something to keep in mind as you write and investigate the publishing options best in-line with your goals.

Have fun and keep writing!

by Karl Schroeder

sales growth

Almost six years on from Karl’s original post, we now have the benefit of hindsight to apply to many of his predictions–and fortunately for all of us who happen to be involved in the self-publishing industry, most of them came true!  According to Statista.com, “some 41 percent of global internet users having purchased products online in 2013”–and the numbers have continued to climb steadily from there.  And in respect to total e-commerce sales, a separate Statista article shows that Chinese retail giant Alibaba had a massive 23.7% market reach (outright) in 2015, but that Amazon and its affiliated sites together had an aggregate market penetration of 39.6% (the affiliates earned 22%, and Amazon proper 17.6%).

Many companies might struggle to find their niche in a market so overrun by big business, but smaller, more nimble organizations (including hybrid and self-publishing firm Outskirts Press) have shown they’re more than capable of keeping their footing.  Outskirts, which ranked in Inc. Magazine‘s top 500 or 5000 for four years in a row starting in 2009, continues to ensure that its authors make waves in the Amazon bestseller listings–and get their books onto actual physical bookshelves, as well.

And Outskirts Press is just one company among many who are succeeding at delivering on the promises of self-publishing as laid forth by Karl in his article: convenience in on demand-printing and full-service self-publishing options, cost-effective marketing, and more money in authors’ pockets, not to mention control over retail price, royalties, and discounts.  Inc. Magazine and others have come forward to bolster our knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of the publishing and self-publishing business, with articles like “How to Self-Publish Your Book” (2011), “How to Self-Publish a Business Bestseller” (2012), and “Publisher’s Note: Celebrating the Power of Partnership” (2015) underscoring new ways to adapt in an ever-shifting landscape of opportunities and challenges.

Some things have changed since 2010: Barnes & Noble seems to be stuck in a slow and gradual decline, print books seem to be on the rebound after Hachette and the other Big Five traditional publishing houses won their battle in the Amazon price-fixing war, and so on.  But other things haven’t changed: self-publishing is succeeding where traditional publishing continues to fail–in providing vital and necessary services and support to authors whose books are too daring, too interesting, and too precious to fall through the cracks.

What does this all mean, though?  It means, as Karl’s article so eloquently stated, that self-publishing remains a “Growing Industry.” ♠

 

KellyABOUT 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, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 12.28.2015

This week in the world of self-publishing:

2015 been a “quiet” year in publishing, writes Jonathon Sturgeon for FlavorWire in this December 23rd article––and self-publishing has not been exempt.  As a small bright note, however, says Sturgeon, “adult coloring books and books ‘written by’ YouTube Megastars helped keep print books out of the red in 2015″––and many of these books were put out by indie, hybrid, and self-publishing authors.  Looking ahead to 2016 may prove a bit more complicated, as Sturgeon goes on to say: “I will now make a series of extravagant claims about what will happen in book publishing in 2016. Some of these claims, I’ll admit right now, rest on little but the shaky edifice of intuition. Some rest elsewhere.”  Among his predictions for 2016, Sturgeon predicts: “we will see the rise of the novel written by group or committee,” “we’re also likely to look on helplessly as computers write novels with increasing sophistication,” we should “Look for increased investment in Hollywood-style superprojects, and look for content that is fabricated especially for this purpose,” and “that publishing will lean harder on the multimedia blockbuster model of Hollywood because the ‘unexpected comeback of actual books’ is not as strong as we’re making it seem.” Sturgeon goes on to take a quick look at erotica and young adult literature, and given their huge popularity he concludes with one final prediction: “I also wouldn’t be surprised if we see a literary novel that emulates an erotic novel.” Whether or not he’s right on all fronts, FlavorWire is a massive distributor of information, much like BuzzFeed and PopSugar.  It may not have the literary cachet of a Publisher’s Weekly article, but Sturgeon’s piece is likely to be read far and wide as an indicator of millennial attitudes towards publishing.

“Gone are the days where a writer had to send their manuscript by courier and hold their breath while waiting for a response,” writes Unity Blott in this December 24th article for the Daily Mail. “Now, thanks to e-book publishing, armed with just a laptop and an internet connection, anyone can be their own editor, agent and publisher.”  She goes on to introduce four women––Mel Sherratt, Stephanie Hudson, Tracy Bloom, and Louise Ross––who, in her words, “got bored of waiting and took matters into their own hands.”  Blott, who transcribes a brief interview with each woman, is keen to impress upon her own readers the value of independence and authorial control when it comes to publishing; each of these four women struggled to find their place in the world of traditional publishing, and found their homes––as well as an excellent sense of community and support––when they made the decision to strike out into the barely-tested waters of self-publishing.  For more of Blott’s articles and information about Sherratt, Hudson, Bloom, and Ross, follow the link!

Says Pratima Shantaveeresh of the New Indian Express on December 24th, “Everyone has a book in them, but not all can put the first sentence down or sell the first book to a publisher.”  Luckily,  says Shantaveeresh, “there is The Write Club Bangalore, started in August 2011 to encourage aspiring authors.”  The Write Club, only four years old, now has more than two thousand members––around 35 of which show up every week in Bangalore to practice, give each other feedback, and participate in a casual but rich atmosphere of mentorship and mutual support.  The club’s principal organizer, author Sharath Komarraju, says that the group attracts “all kinds of writers … Those who treat it as a light hobby and want to write something fun every weekend, those who enjoy the social aspects of the club and attend to catch up with friends, and those who want to write and publish novels.” With a population of well over two million, Bangalore is the capital of India’s souther Karnataka state and a hotbed of literary talent and self-publishing.  For more of Shantaveeresh’s article and an update on what’s happening in the publishing world in India, click here.

Echoing Shantaveeresh, Robert Kay begins his article for Hawaii Reporter (dated December 26th) with the line: “It’s been said that ‘everyone has a book in them.'”  Kay––whose interest is, like Shantaveeresh’s, rather local––goes on to write that “Thanks to the Internet and the commensurate growth of technologies that support self-publishing, a number of Hawaii writers have taken the leap” into self-publishing.  One of these authors, Mike Schmicker, has seen a great deal of recent success with his book The Witch of Napoli (“selling like hot cakes on Amazon,” says Kay).  In March of 2015, The Witch of Napoli “hit the Amazon Top 100, ranking No. 41 in paid books out of 3.3 million books for sale in the Kindle bookstore”––and briefly “earned the No. 1 slot in both the historical fantasy and victorian historical romance categories in three countries — the U.S., Canada and England,” says Kay.

To read Kay’s full article and interview, chase the rabbit through this looking glass!

spa-news

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.

KellyABOUT 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.