Category: Uncategorized

Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Celebrate Veteran’s Day by Self Publishing A Book

I’d like to begin this week’s post by thanking the men and women who have served our country. Without your courage, dedication, and sacrifice, our country would not have the pleasures and privileges many of us take for granted. I sincerely thank each of you for your service, and you will be in my thoughts and prayers as I celebrate Veteran’s Day this week.

Many people don’t take the time to remember the importance of this holiday. For most people, it is simply a day off of work or school. For other people, they don’t even consider it holiday.

If you want to show your service men and women how much you appreciate their service, consider self publishing a book in their honor. There are many ways you can use your goal of self publishing to honor veterans or to share your own story of being a veteran. Here are just a few ideas.

  • Write a memoir – You may choose to do this for the sole purpose of using writing to heal or with the goal of sharing your story with the world.
  • Write a suspense novel rooted in a veteran’s story – You could use your own life as inspiration, or interview other veterans.
  • Write a book celebrating veterans – Share positive and inspiring stories about veterans. This is a great idea if you have many family members or friends who are veterans.
  • Write a book to help veterans with life after the military – If you choose this topic, make sure you offer quality advice and seek professional input if necessary.
  • Donate your proceeds to veterans – There are various organizations that strive to help veterans with issues such as adapting to life after war. If you’d like to help these causes, you could donate a portion or all of your book’s proceeds to the cause.

I’d love to know, how are you honoring veterans this Veteran’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.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Top 5 Reasons for Self Publishing in October

Has publishing your book been on your to-do list for months, or even years? Does your book always get pushed to the end of your to-do list because you are overwhelmed with work and home responsibilities? Are you one of those people who always finds a reason to wait? Well, wait no more. October is the perfect time to take the leap into self publishing. Here are five reasons why.

1) Complete Your 2012 News Year’s Resolution

When the clock struck 12 on January 1, 2012, did you vow to publish a book this year? Now that it is October, are you feeling guilty for not fulfilling that resolution? Well, if you start the self publishing process in October, your book will be complete by the end of the year. A high quality self-published book typically takes 6-15 weeks to complete. If you start now, your book will be done by the end of 2012.

2) Get a Head Start on Your 2013 Resolution

So maybe publishing wasn’t one of your resolutions this year, but you want it to be one of your resolutions next year. Why not get a head start and start the self publishing process now? This way, you can show off your new book in 2013 instead of rushing to publish before the year is over.

3) It’s A Great Time for Spooky Reads

Do you write horror or thrillers? Do you want to write a children’s book about Halloween? October is a great month to work on these projects. The cool air and pumpkin lattes at your favorite coffee shop can set the tone for a fall book and help motivate you to complete great Halloween stories.

4) Avoid the Holiday Chaos

November through January are the busiest months for most people. You are scrambling around to shop for gifts, bake goodies and attend holiday parties. If you start the self publishing process in October, you can begin before you become consumed by twinkling lights and sugar cookies.

5) Free Amazon Extreme

Amazon Extreme is a marketing package (worth over $300) available through Outskirts Press. It helps self-publishing authors sell more books by taking advantage of the various options available through Amazon. For authors who start the self publishing process in October, the package is FREE! Yes, free. Click here to learn more.

So what are you waiting for? Make October the month you made your dreams come true.

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.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

6 Ways Self-Publishing Authors Can Make Their Book a Stand-out

Hundreds of thousands of books are published each year. As a self-publishing author, it is important to make your book stand out from the crowd. Here are six ways you can make your book a stand-out

1) Hire a Copy Editor

Self-publishing authors are sometimes perceived as amateur authors because many choose not to have their manuscripts professionally edited. Copyediting is an important step in the publishing process at traditional publishing companies. As a self- publishing author, it is essential that you still complete this step. If you want your book to be perceived as professional, it must be edited by a professional.

2) Consider Cover Scribing

Even though we were all told by our English teachers to never judge a book by its cover, all readers do. In fact, your book’s cover is one of the most important factors when readers decide whether or not to purchase your book. If you want your book to stand out from your competitors, cover scribing is a great option.

3) Splurge on a Custom Cover

Another great way to enhance your cover is by choosing a custom cover. The art as well as the words on the cover represent both your book and you as an author, so you want a cover that is unique and appropriate for your book.

4) Consider an Enhanced Interior

The interior of your book is especially important if it includes many pictures or tables. Readers expect your book to be formatted professionally, so it pays to hire a professional to help format your book.

5) Don’t Forget About Pricing

The price of your book can prevent readers from purchasing it. You want to price your book competitively. This means that the price is high enough for you to make a profit and be seen as credible but low enough to attract readers.

6) Marketing and Promotion is Key

No one will buy your book if they don’t know it exists. There are many ways to market and promote your book, and many self-publishing companies offer marketing and promotion services. To learn more about the options available, contact your self-publishing company.

I’d love to know, how do you plan to make your book stand out?

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.
Uncategorized

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: I Want To Know My Future

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 by Midwest Book Review:

I Want To Know My Future

Linda Dipman

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432773526

Reviewer: Carol Hoyer, PhD,

Elizabeth thought she had the ideal life — a wonderful loving husband and great kids and faith in God. What she didn’t know was all of that would be tested when she and her husband Eric got a divorce. Eric was highly involved in their church and presented himself as an upstanding citizen and loving husband, but behind closed doors, he was totally different. He seemed intent on getting revenge on Tori, his wife’s good friend, as he thought they were having a homosexual relationship. He was embarrassed about the relationship and started turning the church against Elizabeth and Tori.

Tori had her own set of problems as she got an emergency divorce from her abusive husband, Alan. Not only had Alan verbally, emotionally and physically abused her, he did the same to their son. Due to the abuse Alan inflicted on his son, there was some concern the son might have a learning disability or brain damage, but Alan wouldn’t do what the courts asked him to do in getting his son evaluated.

Even though Elizabeth and Tori were doing all they could to get custody of their children, they realized that they were fighting a corrupt court system and an intoxicated judge. In one final desperate attempt, Tori and Elizabeth decided to run away with their children. All this did for them was land them in jail and irritate their ex-husbands even more.

Both Elizabeth and Tori were tired of fighting the system, their church and their parents, so they turned to God to let it be in his hands. Each and every time they were tested, God found a solution for them. God spoke to them in a variety of ways, always ensuring them that he had made them into the people they were and no one else had the power to do that. Elizabeth took the spoken words of God and studied the messages, read her Bible and learned how God chose to make some with homosexual lifestyles.

Once readers start “I Want To Know My Future” by Linda Dipman, they will not be able to put it down. It is fast paced, keeps your interest and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Through the book, when Elizabeth is going through a crisis or tough times, God speaks to her by saying “My ways are not human ways. Trust in me. God has spoken.” “I Want To Know My Future” isn’t just about leading a different lifestyle; it is about how God hears prayers and guides all his children through life.

Book Promotion, Contests, Uncategorized, Wendy Speaks

First Call: The 2013 Eric Hoffer Book Award

Contests are a great way to gain positive publicity for your book and increase your credibility as an author. One of my favorite awards for self-published authors is The Eric Hoffer Book Award. Here is all of the information you need to enter.

The Eric Hoffer Book Award recognizes excellence in publishing. A single registration gives you six ways to win: by genre, press, the Montaigne Medal, the da Vince Eye, the First Horizon Award, and the Hoffer grand prize. There is a category for every book.

Award/Benefits:

* $2,000 Grand Prize (The Eric Hoffer Award for Books)

* Winner of the Montaigne Medal for the most thought-provoking books

* Winner of the da Vinci Eye for best covers

* Winner of the First Horizon Award for debut authors

* Winner and First Runner-Up awarded for every category

* Honorable Mentions for every category

* Individual Awards for Micro, Small, and Academic Presses, as well as Self-Published Books

* Coverage in The US Review of Books (www.theUSreview.com) and on http://www.HofferAward.com

* Gold Seal Certificates

* Worldwide Exposure

> Categories: Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Children, Young Adult, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Self-Help/Spiritual, Legacy Fiction, Legacy Nonfiction, E-book Fiction, and E-book Nonfiction.

Submission Guidelines:

  •  Entry deadline is January 21, 2013.
  •  Awards are open to academic, independent, small press, and self-published books that were released or copyrighted in the last 2 years, including unique books with small print runs. (Books over 2 years old may enter the Legacy Fiction or Legacy Nonfiction category.)
  • For each entry, submit the book, entry form, and $50 fee (check, money order, or Internet payment receipt) to Hopewell Publications, LLC, PO Box 11, Titusville, NJ 08560. Be certain to specify award category and press type. Registration will be confirmed via e-mail. In May, all entrants will be notified of winners. Submissions must be postmarked by January 21, 2013.
  • Judges may include authors, editors, agents, publishers, book producers, artists, experienced category readers, and health and business professionals. Note: The contest is closed to the staff of Hopewell Publications and previous WNBA winning entries. At the low entrance fee, it is not feasible to provide judge’s critiques for each entry.

To learn more and enter your book, visit  www.HofferAward.com.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and 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, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.