Category: Uncategorized

Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Moms, Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Publishing

I hope all of you moms out there had a great Mother’s Day. I hope your children blessed you with little treats to show their love and that you got a chance to relax and enjoy being with your family. Too often, mother’s feel overworked, overtired, and underappreciated. This year, why don’t you stretch that Mother’s Day bliss into the rest of the year… by allowing yourself to work on your writing project and finally reaching your dream of publishing a book. Here are three reasons why you should give yourself the gift of self-publishing.

1. You deserve a break.

Many moms give all their time and energy to their families and work. They struggle to find time to do the things they love, but you deserve a break. Let the dishes sit in the sink for the night, and spend some time writing.

2. It’s good for your family.

Moms who make time for their passions feel more fulfilled and are able to be happier, more patient parents. Giving yourself permission to work on your own project isn’t denying your children your time, it is giving them the gift of a happy, successful mom. They will be proud of you.

3. It’s also a gift to your family.

Self-publishing a book can be a great way to create a special, unique gift that your children can have forever. Whether you write a novel and dedicate it to them or pen a book filled with life lessons you want to teach them or publish a memoir sharing your life story or create a children’s books of the stories you tell them before bed, they will cherish your work forever.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 5/09/14

PUPPY PAWS AND CAT TAILS

Who doesn’t love their critter companions?  Don’t answer that if you’re “one of those” who don’t get the affection we animal lovers have for our pets.  Please, just smile, and continue putting up with us.  The benefits pets bring to us—calming our nerves and bringing joy to daily living—are also of benefit to you.

PET TALES are among the very top sellers online and in bookstores!  The topics they cover range from the miraculous to the memorable to the money-makers and everything in-between.  If you have had any exposure to animals and/or pets, you have a story to tell!  Here are a few ideas that I hope will inspire you to write and jump into the self-publishing marketplace.

Guard Dogs!

Would you step into the yard where a Doberman slept on the porch?  There are many dog breeds that instantly set off human alarm bells: German Shepherds, the Rottweiler and Bulldogs to name a few others.  What IF a writer could do a little research and tell the stories of these breeds from a different perspective—the viewpoint of the Hero.  Recently, we’ve seen many individual dogs in these breed lines searching rubble after earthquakes, tornados and bombings.  A few stories have been told about them; in my opinion, there are thousands of stories left to tell.  When those “puppy paws” return to handlers, raw, cut and bleeding, we can understand something very human about their efforts to rescue loved ones trapped in very dangerous places.

Big Cats—Little Cats!

Yesterday someone posted a picture on my Facebook page that delighted me to the point of sharing it with everyone I knew.  It captured the moment just after a leopard had curled itself into a too-small empty box.  The expression on its face showed great satisfaction.  The caption read “Cats will be Cats.”  My husband and I have two ordinary tabby cats (now 16 years old).  We instantly understood ALL the moments of laughter the photographer must have enjoyed as he watched that “big cat” circle and settle into place.  The opportunities our feline friends offer us on a daily basis—to write their stories—are endless.  Doing a captioned photo-book is just one possibility; a whole series of gift books could be created and quickly self-published, ready for future holidays.

What Would the World Be Like Without Them?

There are two sad facts about human interaction with the animal/pet population.  Abuse is at the top of that list.  The second is overpopulation.  Humane societies, animal control agencies, veterinarians and rescue groups have long stories to tell about these very big problems.  One of my writer friends (who raised several litters of show dogs) “thought” of writing the stories of the dogs (pure-bred and mutts) that she had rescued.  “If only people knew,” she’d tell me, “these things would happen less often.”  This category of True Stories is wide open.  Certainly, they need to be told to protect the animals.  However, there is another big “truth” behind the actions of humans who mistreat animals.  Law enforcement will tell you that how people treat helpless animals is a main indicator of criminal behaviors.  They are developing programs to “rescue people” who have been identified with these issues from future lives of crime and imprisonment.

Royalene ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Why You Should Add Photographs to Your Self-Publishing Project

Imagine you are reading an ordinary book, with page after page of black and white text. The prose is beautifully written and the descriptive language helps you craft images of the characters and settings in your head…

Now, imagine you are reading a book filled with photographs like these…

Farm

mountain

HauntedCastle

These beautiful pictures can make an ordinary book a remarkable reading experience. They can take readers on a vacation without them ever leaving their homes. They can help readers imagine scenes they’d otherwise never dream of, and they can give readers a rare glimpse into worlds they’d otherwise never see.

Photos are a great way to bring life and value to your book. Readers love looking at quality pictures, and the book possibilities are endless. If you are writing a memoir, you can include real photos of yourself, family, and friends. If you are travel writer, you can include images of the places you write about. Even if you write fiction, your book can benefit from a few quality photos.

If you are a photographer and not a “writer,” you can still publish a book showcasing your work. You can collaborate with an author or work with a ghostwriter.

May is National Photograph Month! This is a great opportunity to share your beautiful photos with the world, and start a self-publishing project filled with stunning photographs.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

3 Reasons to Self-Publish in May

After the crazy winter most of the country has experienced this year, it is great for spring to finally be here. Spring, which is associated with new beginnings and rebirth, is the perfect time to start a new self-publishing project or breathe new life into an old manuscript. Here are three reasons why May is the perfect time to self-publish.

1. You can put your tax refund to good use.

If you haven’t already, you will soon be receiving your tax refund. Instead of letting it sit in the bank or wasting it on material items you’ll forget in a month, invest in something great: yourself! Whether you’re a creative writer wanting to publish your debut novel or a professional wanting to increase your platform, publishing a book is a wonderful investment.

2. Spring is a time for new beginnings.

Spring is often associated with new beginnings and rebirth. So start your new beginning today by going from aspiring author to published author.

3. Take advantage of promotions.

Every month, self-publishing companies offer promotions. Check with your self-publishing to learn about current promotions.

I’d love to know, why did you decide to self-publish in May?

 

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

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 5/02/14

WRITING COOKBOOKS

What’s the big deal about writing a cookbook?  Just throw together forty or fifty favorite recipes and you’re done!  All your relatives will buy it; your co-workers who have been sampling those delicious dishes will want you to autograph their copy; and all those “cookbook addicts” who absolutely must have any and every cookbook available on the market will be snatching it off the shelves.  All true.  All excellent reasons to put that collection of tasty treats together and publish!

Now, let me offer you a challenge—the writing of a cookbook.  The topical ideas I’m about to share with you have not yet been developed.  The writers have passed from this earth, leaving their work unfinished, and (as far as I know) no one else has attempted to complete the projects.  However, I know that there are many authors out there who can (and should) pick up the gauntlet and write these books!

Concept #1:  Puddle Recipes

When the weather outside is frightful and the snow (or rain) is so delightful, what better thing to do than cook up wonderfully warming meals and tasty treats!  Of course, the recipes themselves are unique to each author, and the unique story that goes along with it will be the main attraction.  Those who live in (or grew up in) climate-challenged parts of the country—or the world—will have the most fuel for this project.  The main character (you) will be living weather-related survival adventures—always returning to rebuild strength and courage while enjoying a meal or snack (recipe included) that only you (the author) can provide!

Concept #2:  World War Recipes

This idea could easily be created as a series that includes remembrances of the many (too many) wars and conflicts we’ve lived through.  I’ve had two clients start this type of cookbook; sadly neither finished.  The first had a World War II background, complete with photos of this gentlemen on a Navy ship.  My favorite picture was seeing him as a “teenager” standing next to their anti-aircraft gun.  His hook for turning this into a cookbook was talking about the meals “all the guys dreamed of,” those home-cooked memories that live on forever.

Concept #3: Ranch Recipes

This cookbook was specifically “measured” to feed a lot of ranch-hands BIG portions.  The author enjoyed the banter of the boys around her table so much, she started collecting their stories.  Of course, she soon realized that the same “true story” had many versions, and the telling of those versions was bringing this recipe book together with lots of love and laughter.

SO…there you have it!  I know you can do it!  These ideas are too good to waste!  PLEASE pull out your laptops and get to work.  AND…if you need some inspiring help, there are a few of us ghostwriters around who will happily help you.  Bon Appetite!

Royalene ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.