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

Self-Publishing News: 4.9.2018 – The Interviews!

the word "april" from the wooden letters

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically interviews with or articles written by self-publishing authors and experts!

It’s not every day you see the expression “unexpected author,” but thanks to Alex Brown of the Lewis County Chronicle, that’s exactly what we’re hearing this week. Brown covers the story of Stefanie Bridges-Mikota, whose book  By His Hands “unexpectedly” reached publication this year. Self-professing as “not a person who likes to just sit and do nothing,” Bridges-Mikota got into writing as the inevitable consequence of reading–specifically modeling reading for her kids, a practice which took on a life of its own as her kids grew older and she began reading as much for her own reasons as for them. Writes Brown:

Her tale follows the path of Allie, who’s fleeing an abusive situation, set the amid the Great Fire of 1910 that burned through the Northwest. The intertwining of history and fiction was spurred by Bridges-Mikota’s genealogical research, tracing her great-grandfather’s death as a railroad worker in Montana. The region and its past proved fertile ground for her creative energy.

After having no luck with the traditional publishing route, Bridges-Mikota heard about, then pursued, self-publishing. “When you actually hold the book in your hand,” she says, “it’s just a feeling of completion.” With her children now just as involved in the self-publishing process as she is, those long hours investing in reading to and with and for them seems to really be paying off. And yes, there are more books on the way!

Speaking of worthy causes, here’s one out of Fort Wayne: teenager Madison Turpin has written and self-published a work of science fiction geared towards tackling tyranny in all of its forms, including that of the digital space. (And if that’s not timely, we don’t know what is!) According to KPC News: “It was a passion of mine, definitely, from the start,” Turpin said. According to the article, she began writing at age 5, and when she turned 11, she announced to her parents her intentions to publish a book before graduating high school. And she has! Her first book, Wired: The Original Resistance, tackles issues which will be familiar to many of our readers. According to KPC News:

“Wired” is a futuristic, science fiction novel which follows the journey of Bree McAnderson as she navigates a world dominated by electronic devices all produced by a single company. What seems like an age of great technological advancement has a dark secret as these electronics start to take over the minds and bodies of all human beings. Bree joins a rebellion dedicated to ending the electronic company and its devices’ power over humanity, but Bree has secrets of her own.

If you enjoy stories of young heroes overcoming systemic obstacles and beginning new lives, then you might enjoy the story of Madison Turpin. Oh, and you might like Wired: The Original Resistance, too. And when push comes to shove, it’s authors like Turpin who are the future–not just of self-publishing, but of publishing at large and the social movements which enable widespread, positive change. We’re cheering for her!

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.

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Alternative Marketing Methods, Book Marketing, elizabeth speaks, in your corner, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Uncategorized

In Your Corner: Ask the Right Questions!

questions ideas

Regardless of whether you are holding out for an old-fashioned publishing contract or taking matters into your own hands with custom self-publishing, here are 5 questions you should know the answers to when you decide to publish:

  1. What is the minimum number of books you have to purchase, and what does
    each book cost you? Many require certain quantities to be purchased at highly marked up prices. That is how they ‘get you.’
  2. Who determines your retail price? How much is it? Here’s another one to look out for. You should have that control. Publishers that don’t allow that are often in the business to make money on your book. You’ve done the work. You should see the rewards.
  3. Who determines how much money you make from each book? Another good test. Your publisher should pay 100% of the difference between the wholesale price and the production price of the book. Most publishers pay anywhere from 5%-50%.
  4. Do you receive marketing support after publication? Free services like the Marketing COACH offered by Outskirts Press is an invaluable collection of proven tactics shared to help improve your book sales.
  5. Do you retain all the rights to your book? You definitely should. Check the contract of wherever you publish.

Whatever questions you ask, the sheer willingness to ask them will make a world of difference to your self-publishing experience. Those who don’t ask questions end up trapped in contracts which leave them underserved, or worse, while those who do ask questions are on a constant quest for self-improvement and the improvement of their circumstances and sales. That questing spirit? That’s one of your greatest assets.

Never be afraid to ask the hard questions.

You are not alone. ♣︎

Elizabeth

ABOUT ELIZABETH JAVOR: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Elizabeth Javor works as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Outskirts Press. The Sales and Marketing departments are composed of knowledgeable publishing consultants, 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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Uncategorized, weekly self published book review

Tuesday Book Review: “Sunaru”

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:

sunaru larry lueder

Sunaru

by Larry Lueder

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432713553

Synopsis*:

Manators, horrex, bull-bears and …

In all the universe, only humankind stuggles to settle into distant planets on faraway galaxies. Sunaru is one such life supporting planet and this is one in a series of stories of such life struggles.

 * courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review

The author has taken us into the future, with space travel made easy, new planets discovered and the dangers of setting up a new civilization. One cannot take on the expedition if they do not meet the requirements, one of which is that you are an ex-con and willing to fight. Also on board are frozen embryos, clones and a mix of people from other planets.

The discovery of Sunaru is one of excitement and danger- no civilized person has been here before. What they didn’t realize is that they are not alone- Manators, horrex and bull-bears are in hiding waiting for them. In an instant they will appear and one of the explorers will disappear.

Through the author’s excited voice and description, the readers are able to imagine that this one-day may be where we live. It is filled with drama, daring escapes and creatures you couldn’t even imagine. Mr. Lueder brings in new concepts of families, medicine, weaponry and survival that none of us might even imagine.

I must say that science fiction isn’t something I read a lot of; however, while reading “Sunaru” by Lawrence Leuder I felt that the author was giving us a preview of what’s to come. This is the first in a series for the author; the ending of the book leaves you wanting more.

– reviewed on Reader Views

Book Trailer

tuesday book review

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with the latest in the world of indie and self-published books by watching this space!

Self Publishing Advisor

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

Self-Publishing News: 4.2.2018 – The Company Files!

april

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically news from or regarding self-publishing companies!

Ever wondered where to get started when it comes to self-publishing? Mashable, one of the great pop culture news archives and indices, and its Team Commerce are this week advocating that you take a class–or rather, several classes–on the subject. The classes they’re specifically recommending are not, unfortunately, free, but they are proprietary to Mashable and therefore not underwritten or selling any one specific self-publishing platform or company–an important fact, given how much industry-related material is generated to drive publicity and sales; to find (at least mostly) neutral and objective material like this is rare. Even if you don’t invest in the course series, which is called “The eBook Self-Publishing Bundle,” the points it covers make for a great summary of what’s hot and important in self-publishing today, from building a responsive website to preparing your manuscript for reading on the Kindle to how to use the writing software Scrivener to ways to boost writing productivity habits. If this course series is any indication, we can look for a lot more high-quality self-publishing-related news and information from Mashable in the future.

Every now and again, we like to cover material that we may not personally agree with, but which we think might have some bearing on how we perceive the process through which we are all going here on Self-Publishing Advisor (that is, the self-publishing process). This article, which comes by way of Cornelia Scott Cree of the American Thinker, is less of a think piece than it is a make-you-think piece, a warning or signpost on the way to self-publication. It’s not easy, Cree indicates, to parse what’s real and what’s not in the industry, and what’s going to help you out in the long run versus what’s doable and easy in the present. You might use words like “venting” or “diatribe” to describe Cree’s piece, but the fact remains: many authors get into self-publishing because no other avenues forward present themselves, and then they find themselves woefully under-prepared to both navigate the system and succeed. If for no other reason than to see your own struggles reflected back at you, take a look at Cree’s original article … and then dig in and do your due diligence, and find a partner or reliable self-publishing company which doesn’t offer empty promises.

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.

icon logo self publishing advisor

brent sampson, Brent Speaks, Uncategorized

7 Tips to Highly-Successful Interviewing for Self-Publishing Book Promotion

share your story author interview

All self-publishing authors should be well-prepared to give interviews. Whether in writing (email/blog interviews), over the phone, or in-person in front of a microphone or camera, the ability to speak articulately about you and your book pays endless dividends. These tips will help.

  1. Anything you say during an interview can be recorded, so choose your words wisely. Off-color jokes may be entertaining in context, but taken out of context can shed a negative light on your image. Try to ensure nothing you say can be misinterpreted.
  2. There is no “off the record.” Even if the interviewer or journalist honors that particular disclaimer, things you say “off the record” still paint a particular “picture” for the interviewer, which will reveal itself within the slant of the piece or from other questions when the “record” is turned back on.
  3. Don’t use acronyms, confusing terminology, or jargon. Your book may be very complex or scientific, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. Demonstrate your intelligence and proficiency in your subject matter by “translating” those confusing terms and concepts so the lay-man can understand it, too.  If you absolutely must use a term that few people will understand, be sure to define/describe it.
  4. Identify three key points you want to convey during the course of the interview.  Prioritize them like this: The most important point falls at the end of the interview, the second most important point falls at the start of the interview, and the third most important point falls somewhere in the middle.
  5. A popular writing adage is “Show, don’t tell.”  Show the interviewer (and the subsequent audience) how your book will entertain/educate them through a personal story or analogy.  This is much more effective than telling them…
  6. Write down ten potential interview questions.  Make the questions a part of your media kit, your book club kit, your virtual book club kit.  Many interviewers may just ask your questions verbatim (less work for them), or may ask a slightly paraphrased version of them.  There’s nothing quite as comforting as answering an interview question you wrote yourself.
  7. Practice, practice, practice. Practice answering those ten questions in front of a mirror. And then practice answering those questions in front of a friend or family member. Try to avoid reading your answers. Have them memorized.  As Seneca said: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

seneca luck quote

brent sampson
In 2002, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Semi-Finalist Brent Sampson founded Outskirts Press, a custom book publishing solution that provides a cost-effective, fast, and powerful way to help authors publish, distribute, and market their books worldwide while leaving 100% of the rights and 100% of the profits with the author. Outskirts Press was incorporated in Colorado in October, 2003.
In his capacity as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, Brent is an expert in the field of book publishing and book marketing. He is also the author of several books on both subjects, including the bestseller Sell Your Book on Amazon, which debuted at #29 on Amazon’s bestseller list.