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

Saturday Book Review: “Why Not? Conquering The Road Less Traveled”

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:

Why Not? Conquering The Road Less Traveled

by John Brown & Donna Brown

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478742265

Synopsis:

Cerebral Palsy, a developmental disease impacting motor coordination, affects 3 out of 1,000 births. While medical intervention such as physical or speech therapy, ambulatory aides like wheelchairs or braces, help a child achieve a productive life, John Brown was determined that he would leave his mark on the world. Born in the early 50’s with a type of spastic CP impacting his gait and balance, but leaving his speech intact, John and his strong willed mother fought against the times’ conventional wisdom and doctors’ predictions that he would never walk.

After an early childhood of repeated muscle lengthening surgeries and body braces, he insisted upon leaving a special education school to be mainstreamed in the Philadelphia Catholic, then public, school systems, and went on to play Catholic grade school football and developed a keen interest in high school wrestling and football. After completing a degree in broadcast journalism, he embarked on a 44 year career as an award winning Philadelphia radio disc jockey, traffic reporter and meteorologist, retiring in October 2013.

From the childhood specialists who viewed him as just another special needs child, to his first radio program director who called him a diamond in the rough, John was determined to be the best in his field and demonstrate that hard work, perseverance and, some luck, can help one trump the odds no matter the obstacles. John’s is a story of the American spirit, how tears, determination and true grit can get you to the top.

Critique:

Exceptionally well written and presented, Why Not? Conquering The Road Less Traveled is a an extraordinarily candid and moving personal account of triumph over tragedy. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library American Biography collections, it should be noted that Why Not? Conquering The Road Less Traveled is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.95).

[ reviewed in the Memoir Shelf of Midwest Book Review ]

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

Why Not is the perfect title for this heartwarming, simple book about a man who refuses to be ruled by his limitations created by Cerebral Palsy.
Childhood can be difficult at the best of times but when you are the slightest bit different from the crowd, it can be brutal. But John Brown decided to face his fears and the jeers of classmates head on and prove to them and himself that despite the CP he was a force to be reckoned with.

Many of his childhood exploits sound typically normal for kid his age… borrowing a car with a friend, driving too fast and wrecking it, skipping school to hang out with his buddies, etc. Of course at times things were difficult and he was miserable but his positive attitude was the prevailing factor he chose to cling to when things got rough. The author goes on to enjoy a very successful career and a long and happy marriage and he takes us along for the ride.

Why Not? is an inspiring story about one man’s triumph over the adversities in his life and how he made the choice to live his life to the fullest. One quote from the book sums it up perfectly, “You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” John Brown is living proof of this as you will see if you read this engaging book. Five stars for John Brown and Why Not? Conquering The Road Less Traveled.

– Amazon Reviewer terrylynn

Such an inspiring memoir sharing multiple poignant messages, eliminate the word ‘CANT’ from your vocabulary and life, TRY everything even if it’s a miss, maintain a POSITIVE attitude and outlook. Sage words and advice from a man dealing with an extended challenge from birth as John Brown tells of his past, present and future.

John Brown tells of his life with Cerebral Palsy. He begins with childhood through to his retirement. As you read John’s story his challenge becomes invisible as he never uses his CP as a crutch, or an excuse, rather a vehicle propelling him to forge ahead no matter the hand dealt. He has CP but CP doesn’t have him. His positive outlook is evident, he zest for life apparent and his fearlessness to try new things apparent. He sets a wonderful example for all to follow.

His mother played a key roll in his attitude, she never treated him ‘differently’ and she disregarded physicians early bleak prognosis. John continues with his story and the reader learns of his wife and her influence in his life as well. No doubt this man is blessed with a strong line of support by family and extended family. Donna (wife) shares her feelings regarding life with John in a loving candid manner.

John’s story is honest, filled with humor and unfailing optimism you’ll find yourself motivated and heady from the intoxicating impact of John’s words and actions. He also provides advice for those dealing with disabilities.

A wonderful story full of inspiration and encouragement. A man limited only by the limits he sets himself. John Brown is an example of living life on your terms even when aspects are out of your control, embrace your imperfection and live life to the fullest no holds barred. Lovely memoir.

– Goodreads Reviewer Melinda

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

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

Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer: 12/18/2015

LET ALL THE WORLD KNOW (Part III)

For over thirty-five years I participated in a monthly creative writing workshop. We brought several pages of our current projects and read them aloud to the group—then received feedback. Their critique not only helped me develop better writing skills, it also gave me confidence in my current project and me—as a writer. However, possibly the greatest gift I received from this group was the memory of the stories written and the characters who came to life. Thus it is that I’m sharing with you today this thought:

Memorable Characters = Memorable Moments = Memorable Books

Giving to Us the Daily Reminder of Why We Write.

Today, we live in a world where an estimated 5.3 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s disease. Their memories are literally being stolen from them. However, in a New York Times article written by Milt Freudenheim (April 22, 2010), a wonderful fact is discussed: Books read by or to those with Alzheimer’s help them engage in life. There seems to be a comfort-connection made during times of holding a book, reading a book and/or listening to someone read aloud. Even those who have difficulty with verbal communication understand and respond to words on the written (printed) page.

As of this month, I have been part of sixteen (16) writing projects that set in print—for future generations—memorable moments in the lives of the authors. The topics range from Love Search where the author writes about her search for love in all the wrong places, to God Stories From the Ends of the Earth, real stories of faithful missionaries walking with new friends beside jungle rivers and into city slums, and The Midnight Call written about the author’s son who was trapped in a world of alcohol and drug addiction. So it is that I offer a few thoughts on Why we Write—Why we develop Memorable Characters who live Memorable Moments.

Great IDEA! Shaky writing/communication skills. The author of R.’s Memorable Meals wanted to share his favorite recipes while adding “bits and pieces” about his life experiences. This was a fun project because it included photos of his military service, career as a linotype operator for a major newspaper, tomatoes from his garden and more. His family will, indeed, enjoy his memories for generations.
Grieving with a Purpose. The author of Selma’s Life Journey: A Portrait of Love and Devotion…a Memoir began his book by sending me 13 hand-written pages of events in Selma’s life. We walked this journey together—page by page—completing a 155 page spiral-bound book that will sew her passion for life, Faith, love, and hope-for-the-future into many generations of their family and friends.
Sharing Nature’s Beauty. My neighbor is the author of From Delicate Lily Pads to Sculptured Peaks and Impressions of Nature in Black and White, both excellent books of landscape photography with accompanying verse. What JOY these books bring to all of us who appreciate the constantly changing vistas around us! There are never two moments in Nature alike, so each of these captured moments represents a timelessness for the peoples of the world to see and remember.

These are just a few of my client/authors, their stories, and the multi-layered gifts their books bring to the world. Even though I am writing a novel (or two) of my own, consulting and ghostwriting for authors such as these is Why I continue to Write. Each and every project sets me on a new “learning curve.” It is an enriching experience that I highly recommend. And should the ability to remember fade in the lives of those I love or in my own life, I pray that someone will read these books—and many of my favorite fiction books from my shelves—to me. Are you writing one that I will add to my collection? Please publish it. Soon! ⚓︎

ABOUT 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, elizabeth speaks, Holidays, in your corner, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

In Your Corner : The Gift of Self-Publishing

Today, if you’ll let me, I’d like to speak a little bit about the gift of self-publishing–about how it’s a gift not to have to wait for an agent to accept your book, how you no longer need to give away your rights, and how with self-publishing, you’re in control of your book, your creation. I want to speak about how self-publishing is a gift that keeps on giving to–quite literally–everyone who is touched by the process, from authors to readers to–yes, I mean it when I add–those who publish through or work within the boundaries of traditional publishing.

A Gift to Authors

I’ve already mentioned the fact that, with self-publishing, you maintain full creative control over your masterpiece from start to finish. You also retain your rights, your royalties, and total control over your book. The profit goes where it should go (into your pocket), the look and feel is exactly what you dictate, and you get the satisfaction of knowing you have brought your original vision into the world exactly how you wanted to, full-fledged and ready to meet its ideal readers.

A Gift to Readers

And let’s not neglect to give those readers their moment in the sun! With self-publishing exploding onto the market in recent years, there’s an ever-more-broad and ever-more-diverse range of books for readers to choose from, new discovery tools to use to find new books, and ever-evolving ways to read those books. I’m talking about e-readers and ebooks, smartphones and tablets, social media platforms and websites like Wattpad and Fanfiction.net. Many of these websites lack the “respectability” of a professional product only in the eyes of purists; by and large, people are coming around to the idea that what makes for good reading and good writing boils down to personal taste–and there’s absolutely no reason to denigrate another person’s preferred reading material. I’m even talking about websites like LinkedIn and Etsy, which smart authors and smart readers are repurposing to serve as new conduits for self-published works. More options doesn’t always equate to more reading, but many of the tech-savvy silicon generation are connecting the dots and teaching each other how to leap that gap.

A Gift to Traditional Publishing

By broadening the field to make room for more authors and more works, self-publishing has raised the bar for the entire publishing industry. Traditional publishing houses have been forced to adapt, evolve, and rise to the challenge presented by a diversified, richly textured market. They can no longer sit back and take it easy when it comes to dominating sales; instead, the traditional industry is turning away from relying on mass-marketed and mass-printed books and towards so-called “niche” offerings. This is good news for everyone, because niches are petri dishes for innovation and further change. Authors can experiment more, readers can expect to find more cutting-edge work on bookstore shelves, and so on. Which leads beautifully to my next point:

A Gift to the Marginalized

When reinvention is the name of the game, even the stodgiest of stodgy institutions tends to open its doors–or at the very least, crack a window––to let in texts or conversations that might previously have been deemed unacceptable or controversial. As Zetta Elliot writes for the School Library Journal, “Like racism in police forces across this nation, racism in publishing is cultural and systemic.” And why is racism a problem, specifically, in the publishing industry? Miral Sattar of Mediashift puts it another way:

Ever since the birth of my daughter last fall I’ve become more acute to the fact that we live in a whitewashed world, and I don’t want her to go through the same experiences that I did as a child. I became more conscious about buying books that tell stories with characters from varying backgrounds. It’s hard to come by these books from traditional publishers since less than 6 percent of books published in 2012 had diverse characters. You have to look really really really hard or resort to buying books that have talking animals.

Sattar, who grew up in a Pakistani-American household, writes of attending publishing conferences and often finding herself the only woman much less the only woman of color in a room. Like Elliot, she has felt the sting of underrepresentation, and understands what it means to grow up almost entirely locked out of the day-dreams and fantasies that others so take for granted. (Astronauts, anyone? President of the United States? Mage in a fantasy universe?) And skin pigmentation is just one reason that traditional publishers have historically used as an excuse to not publish certain books (and it’s a terrible reason, let’s face it). With a new film adaptation of Annie and the advent of the new Hamilton musical, it might seem like we are making progress on this front–but authors like Elliot and Sattar warn of the dangers of complacency, especially since there are so many other factors that publishers still use and abuse in the same fashion.

Here’s the good news, though: self-publishing has become a safe-haven for authors of color, neurodivergent authors, and authors keen to address civil rights issues. And readers are hungry for these books, hungry enough to prompt traditional publishers to get in on the movement. Change to any institution so dead-set in its habits will be hard-won and slow, but it is happening. If you have felt that there was no room for your work in the market, cast your eyes upon self-publishing!

You’re not alone. ♣︎

ABOUT ELIZABETH JAVOR: With over 18 years of experience in sales and management, Elizabeth Javor works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable publishing consultants, pre-production specialists, customer service reps and book marketing specialists; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process 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, Elizabeth Javor can put you on the right path.

news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Self-Publishing Week in Review, Uncategorized

News From the Self-Publishing World: 12/14/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Self-Publishing Stars of 2015

As the editors of Publisher’s Weekly explain in the introduction to this December 11th compendium, they set out to celebrate “the best of the best: the self-published books that received starred reviews in 2015. And [they] check in with some of the authors of these titles, asking them for writing advice and self-publishing tips for aspiring writers.” Those they touch base with include science fiction authors Mary Fan (Artificial Absolutes) and D.L. Orton (Crossing in Time), fantasy authors Terry Irving (Day of the Dragonking) and Mike Duran (The Ghost Box), fiction authors Barbara Valantin (False Start) and Elizabeth Buhman (Lay Death at Her Door), and the graphic novelist duo Damian Wassel and Nathan Gooden (The Gifted)––to name just a few. It’s never a bad idea to check in on what’s new and what’s recommended in the world of self-publishing, so if you’re looking for a good place to start you might consider checking out the full list of PW recommendations at the link!

Vermont farmers create ‘unicorn of self-published books’

Speaking of what’s new and recommended, a December 10th article by Wilson Ring of the Associated Press made it to the WTOP (Washington’s Top News) website detailing the advent of a magical addition to the self-publishing canon––and luckily for us, it’s a book we introduced you to just four weeks ago, John and Jennifer Churchman’s The Sheepover. And now for an update! It would be lovely to think something along the lines of we spotted it first! but let’s face it, when your self-published book starts a bidding war between the Big Five and leads to a three-book deal, a little attention from us here at Self Publishing Advisor isn’t quite prescient but rather very thoroughly earned! Store owner Elizabeth Bluemle, who first took note of the Churchman’s book and is at least partially responsible for the book’s success after publishing an article to a Publishers Weekly blog, says: “This is the unicorn of self-published books because you never find the trifecta of beautiful production, a lovely story and authors who understand what it takes to create a wonderful book that kids love.” We beg to differ on one crucial word: “never.” (You, dear readers, are proof that Bluemle’s “trifecta” may be less uncommon than she thinks.) There may not be any unicorns on the Churchman farm, but one will certainly find quite a lot of talent and, according to Wilson Ring, some sequels in the works.

What Should Authors Expect to Earn?

Brooke Warner, in this December 9th article for HuffPost Books, is out to readjust our definition of “good sales.” Says Warner, who started She Writes Press, “I used to ask the authors what kinds of sales they expected from their first book–generally a debut novel or memoir. I heard one number come up pretty often: 10,000 copies. That seemed to be a benchmark authors deemed to be possible, perhaps attainable.” And while it’s attainable for some, Warner goes on to say, it’s not common and it’s not a healthy indicator for success––especially for the self-publishing author. She digs into the statistics put out by websites like Author Earnings (a Hugh Howie venture), and points out that it’s “self-evident” (emphasis mine) “that self-published authors would make more money (hand-over-fist more, actually) than traditionally published authors on ebooks because they take home 70% of their earnings whereas traditionally published authors take home 25%, minus their agent’s commission.” But Warner’s article takes a turn away from statistics in its second half and delves instead into a discussion of what success might look like if untethered from unrealistic expectations. It’s well worth reading in its own right, not least for Warner’s reiteration of the foundational marketing precept: the best way to sell books is “to publish often and well.” She explains her reasoning in depth, but don’t take my word for it––check out the full article here!

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.

ABOUT 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.

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

Saturday Book Review: “What I’ve Learned” (NOTE: coarse language)

What I’ve Learned : An Encyclopedia of Perpetual Bullshit

by Christopher Heist

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478742487

Synopsis (from Amazon):

What I’ve Learned: An Encyclopedia of Perpetual Bullshit covers topics that affect us every single day, as seen through the eyes of Chris Heist. Just like you, he’s a nobody that wants to be a somebody. So he set out to write this book, losing two jobs, an apartment, and a marriage along the way.

In this book you’ll learn how to properly reject etiquette, how to legally stare into your neighbor’s windows, how to properly support suicide, how to make sense out of idiotic laws, how to insult people’s mothers, how to piss off religious people, how to write a screenplay, how to use taboo words without getting your ass kicked, how to play drinking games, how to handle holidays, how to use the bible to avoid paying child support, how to spot a scumbag boss, how to disgust hotel staff, how to behave online, how to deal with addiction, how to properly be patriotic, how to skip high school, how to say impolite things in German, how to choose heroes, and how to enjoy what you have with the time you have to enjoy it.

In his small circle of friends, he is both a legend and an asshole. But now, Christopher T. Heist can invade the lives of complete strangers as he shares his twisted perspective of everything he’s been exposed to. And yes, nothing is sacred. As a self-proclaimed actor, activist, poet, porn star, comedian, screenwriter, atheist, author, body-builder, recovered addict, part-time alcoholic, part-time racist, leader, winner, loser, counselor, ex-soldier, runner, bicyclist, laborer, prisoner, freethinker, singer, rapper, boxer, criminal, pimp, victim, street fighter, dirty fighter, dealer, director, graduate, guardian, sucker puncher, lover, photographer, model, artist, father, inventor, slave to the system, and all around survivalist; you may find yourself nodding in agreement to some of the crazy shit he hammers out in this book.

Critique:

A unique compendium, What I’ve Learned: An Encyclopedia of Perpetual Bullshit is a compelling read from first page to last. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, What I’ve Learned is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. A seminal work of iconoclastic relevance to the world we all live in, What I’ve Learned is very highly recommended and instructive reading.

[ reviewed in the Reviewer’s Choice section of Midwest Book Review ]

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

This is a 782 page epic, filled with the musings, memories and meditations of one, Christopher T. Heist. Christopher touches on an assortment of topics, in alphabetical order, from Abortion and Addiction, to Video Games and “Ya’ Momma'” jokes. This book covers the entire spectrum of life, growing up as a wild child Philadelphia, PA and becoming a man abroad. Christopher Heist’s debut is clearly filled with passion and zeal, as he runs through the gauntlet of his life’s meaning and the messages that he wants to communicate with other “30-somethings” and a younger generation who are in the process of navigating their souls through this crazy world, or have already been through some crazy bulls***.

This book has made me laugh out loud and also connect with Christopher like a kindred soul. Not only are we from the same city, but we also both grew up in the same neighborhood and went to some of the same local schools. In fact, Chris’s mother used to babysit myself and my younger brother when we were very little kids, and I can even remember playing with Star Wars action figures and watching “Fraggle Rock” on HBO at Chris’s house. Our age and our circumstances aren’t exactly the same, but our philosophies, experiences and our defiance against the mundane nature of the current social and political orders that surround us, all line up in the same brackets.

This book is like a time machine, which takes the reader back in time to the 1980’s and in to the mind of an above average intelligence, lower middle class white kid, growing up in a racially mixed neighborhood, being raised by a family of hard working, stressed out and exhausted parents while trying to keep up with the pace and pressures of school, friends, bullies, gangs, drugs, thugs and violence that started to over take the neighborhood as the 1980’s became the 1990’s. I call this book “epic”, because of the vast scope of topics and issues that Christopher tackles in this book. It is an excellent read, and perhaps I am biased, because we both hail from the same global coordinates, but even if I grew up in some far away land, I would still love reading this book.

I’m looking forward to having my book signed and I hope that this book will help to launch Christopher T. Heist’s writing, sensibilities, philosophies, wisdom and his perspective in front of the eyes of as many fellow “bipedal apes” as possible.

– Amazon Reviewer mightydragoninc

If you have picked up What I’ve Learned expecting some enlightening book about life and the meaning and purpose of life, why we are here and what you need to do to enjoy life then you found the wrong book. If you picked it up for a humorous look at life, with a slightly irreverent tone and some sarcasm then you definitely found the right book! Author Christopher T. Heist takes a conversational approach and writes a book that flows from topic to topic about life, what he has experienced and been through, yet without the rose-colored glasses that most people tend to write with. This book tells it like it is, with a slightly irreverent, sarcastic and humorous tone.

What I’ve Learned flows more as one person talking to another than having a typical book like structure which makes it feel more casual and friendly. It also lends itself well to the whole concept of the non-serious and funny tone of the book. The subtitle of the book is An Encyclopedia of Perpetual Bullshit, that alone ought to tell you this is not going to be a serious tome! Author Christopher T. Heist takes a natural look at everything that comes to his minds, and lets it all flow out as it comes. This is a fun read and something that would be a great airplane ride read. It’s an adult book, although older teens would be fine reading it, and its just something fun and enjoyable with a little of everything.

– Goodreads Reviewer Michelle Randall

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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LET ALL THE WORLD KNOW (Part III)

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A Gift to Authors

A Gift to Readers

A Gift to Traditional Publishing

A Gift to the Marginalized

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