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

Tuesday Book Review: “Gramma Darling”

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:

gramma darling lissa schroeder

Gramma Darling

by Lissa Schroeder

illustrated by Doron Ben-Ami

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478757900

Congratulations to Lissa Schroeder & illustrator Doron Ben-Ami for winning a CIPA EVVY Merit Award in the Children’s Picture Book category, as well as Outskirts Press’ Best Book of the Year Award! You can learn more about the book at www.grammadarling.com as well as by visiting the book listing in the Outskirts Press bookstore.

outskirts press best book of the year 2017

Synopsis*:

It is truly extraordinary, the difference one woman can make in the life of a child. Beautifully written and stunningly illustrated, this delightful book for children, parents, and grandparents paints a nostalgic picture of unhurried summer days at a dear grandmother’s house. Seen and felt through the eyes of a child, every discovery is full of innocence and wonder; from an attic brimming with treasures to running through the fields at twilight catching fireflies. You will laugh and remember your own childhood and feel as though you are there sharing in all the small adventures of her little world; the baby birds, the gardening, the stormy days, and bedtime baths. And through it all, in the background, is Gramma Darling and her laughter. You sense the atmosphere of nurturing, protection, and worth that she provides; and far more importantly, you get a glimpse into the wisdom of a woman whose genuine genius for simply loving, inspires wholehearted lifetime devotion. It will leave you uplifted and looking for ways to spend quality time with the little ones in your own life.

* courtesy of Amazon.com

Featured Review:

Do you remember Grandma sitting at her sewing machine? Teaching you how to play card games and dominoes, or maybe reading you adventure stories from times past? Or perhaps serving milk and cookies after a long day in school? Grandmas have a unique bond with their grandchildren. Gramma Darling by Lissa Schroeder is the real-life account of a woman’s memories of her childhood spent with her Gramma. Gramma Darling does everything from helping her grandchildren learn to walk to sewing clothes for dolly and teddy. She is the warm memory of love and complete security. Whether she is baking in the kitchen, tending the vegetable garden or serving food at the local diner, Gramma Darling is busy, but always full of love. Quick to laugh and always ready to have fun, Gramma Darling is never too busy to play with or help her grandchildren. Gramma Darling’s house is eternally warm with her love and laughter, and full of countless adventures for her grandchildren. Patient and kind, Gramma Darling is always around for her grandchildren. Just as a Grandma should be.

A heartwarming story, Gramma Darling by Lissa Schroeder is a beautifully illustrated non-fiction children’s book that will entertain both adults and children. Although this story is about only one special Grandma, I felt that this book is a loving tribute to grammas everywhere. Reading the story, it brought back warm, happy memories of my own grandmothers. As the author says, my memories with my grandmothers held a sense of love and security. With colorful illustrations and a delicious looking recipe in the back, this book is a sweet act of love. This book would make a perfect gift for Grandma!

– reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers’ Favorite

Other Reviewers Are Saying …

This book is an absolutely WOWZER! if there is such a word. I was very stunned and drawn in right from the start by just taking a picture walk. The illustrations are so detailed. You think they are real. They come alive. They make the story. As an adult the whole way through reading the book, I was going back and reliving my childhood. There is a warm, nostalgic mood through out this book. It is an amazing book. Beautiful in message and illustration. Just take a picture walk and see for yourself watch the book trailer below.

– reviewed by Apple Blossom for The Blended Blog

Schroeder’s reminiscences of childhood days spent at her grandmother’s house make a wonderful picture book. Whether it is the memory of playing in the enclosed front porch during a rain storm while Gramma works at her sewing machine, or Gramma tucking kids in at the end of another long summer day, the memories are full of love and warmth. Anyone lucky enough to have a grandmother like Gramma Darling will feel an instant kinship with the remembrance of delicious desserts made with lots of love or the safety of performing a song or skit knowing that she is always there to applaud. The circular nature of the story is a reflection of the “circle of life,” with the book opening on the scene of a grandchild just learning to walk across the rug and into Gramma’s arms, and closing with a similar scene -but this time with a great-grandchild toddling into those arms.

Doron Ben-Ami’s illustrations are so clear and crisp readers may double-check to make sure that they are not really looking at photographs. The happiness on the children’s faces as they explore in Gramma’s yard, the pleasure on her face as she watches them eat her homemade pie, and the love beaming from her smile as she waits for those hesitant steps to carry her grandchild across the room and into her arms are all captured perfectly. This is a book that will become a family tradition among readers. And what’s better than snuggling in a grandmother’s lap for a read-aloud? (Although offering the recipe for Gramma Darling’s Chocolaty Cherry Cake is also very nice.)

– Amazon Reviewer Suzanne R. Costner

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

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

Self-Publishing News: 10.9.2017 – The Interviews!

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!

Local memoirists share experiences

There is literally nothing more exciting and potentially explosive (in a literary sense) than a group of like-minded individuals getting together to accomplish something, and when that something happens to be writing and publishing one’s memoirs, the possibilities are endless! Or so the experiences of the Toledo Writer’s Workshop, interviewed at length by Nicki Gorny for the Toledo Blade, would seem to indicate–everyone there has a different story, both in terms of what they want to write and how their publishing process has gone. The workshop, which is made up of Chris Kwapich, Sarah Charles, James C. Mack, Chris Cummings, Don Slessman, Mohan Pandey, Bob Beach, and Mary Bush Shipko, is just as varied in terms of who chose to pursue a traditional publishing route and who opted to self-publish. Gorny dedicates page space to each author in turn, and each has something valuable to say about the process of writing a memoir. You can read the full article at the link!

Author sees sci-fi book about dystopian future published after losing job (just like his protagonist)

Talk about a story for the ages! “Author Mark Cantrell was never expecting to have something in common with the protagonist of his latest novel,” begins Philip Cullinane’s article for the Stoke Sentinel, “But when the company he was working for went bust, the 46-year-old suddenly found himself unemployed, much like the character in his new book Citizen Zero.” So the story begins, yes, but it definitely doesn’t end there, as Cullinane chronicles Cantrell’s journey to self-publication, and his recovery after such a major career check. Citizen Zero, according to the article, conveys a world in which the gap between rich and poor is continually growing, where heavy-handed authoritarian governments are considered normal, and jobs are continually at risk of being rendered obsolete by artificial intelligence. Sound familiar? Well, maybe most of us don’t have to worry about AI yet, but some of us do. For more of Cullinane’s article interviewing Cantrell, visit the Stoke Sentinel website.

The CXC Interviews – Marnie Galloway on Parenting, Time and Particle Wave

Every now and then, we like to talk comics, graphic novels, and heavily illustrated works on this blog, in part because they are just as commonly self-published as “word-based” literature, and in part because some members of the comics community are so totally, incredibly dedicated to their work–and we ant to honor that! This interview, conducted by Philippe Leblanc as part of a series at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC), takes advantage of the four-day festival’s intense concentration of independent artists to interview Marnie Galloway. Galloway, a Chicago cartoonist whose latest collection of publications includes Burrow, self-published in part with funds from the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, also uses Patreon to raise support in order to pay for daycare. A new mother, she speaks openly and frankly about the pressures of being both parent and artist in this interview, which you can read in full on The Beat.

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.

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

Conversations: 10/6/2017

CONNECT WITH EXPERT ASSISTANTS

Have you ever considered working with a Writing Assistant (Editor/Coach), or Ghostwriter? If you have a novel, memoir, poetry collection, or any other manuscript that is buried in your basement, I hope you will consider bringing it back to life by joining forces with an expert collaborator. Here are two True Stories I hope will encourage you.

True Story: My friend Sue (not her real name) and I met at a writers’ conference last year. Instantly we knew we’d be good friends because we had so much in common. On the last day of the conference we exchanged cards and wished each other well in our writing adventures. Several months later Sue called me and asked to “get together.” We met at a local coffee shop and barely sat down with our steaming cups of caffeine before she announced, “This idea hit me—like an epiphany—and I know it’s supposed to be a book. It just has to be written, so I need your help.” That was the beginning of a two-hour conversation that sent us on a wild ride. I became her “writing assistant,” her editor, writing coach and friend. The manuscript is now with a traditional publishing house.

True Story #2: While sitting at dinner with our neighbors, Bill mentioned that he’d written a little poetry over the years. “When I’m looking at the beauty of nature, words just seem to come to me.” Of course I encouraged him to continue writing because his observations of the world around us are as unique as a finger print—no two are alike. Not long after that conversation, Bill called and asked if I’d like to take a look at some of his work—poetry that he’d matched to his prize-winning photography. To my delight, his extended dining room table was covered with small “prints” of his favorite photographs. Then he handed me a thick stack of hand-written poetry. Over the next three years we worked together to produce two beautiful collections of his photography and verse: From Delicate Lily Pads to Sculptured Peaks, and Impressions of Nature in Black and White by William A. Carlson. Would these books have ever been published without the friendship connection and the TLC of expert assistance? Maybe. “But doubtful,” says Bill.

From Delicate Lily Pads to Sculptured Peaks by William A. Carlson

Impressions of Nature in Black and White by William A. Carlson

As my writing life developed into the business of being a “writer’s assistant” I discovered a whole new level of JOY walking through the creative process with another writer and helping their works “find the light of day.” Writing a book (fiction or nonfiction) is a big commitment, and having support from a trained and experienced writer is just what the “book doctor” ordered. Assistant classifications include:

The Writing Consultant who can brainstorm the plot/concept with you and help you smash through any writer’s block.
The Coach/Editor who reads and offers editing, word choice, and enhancement ideas.
The Ghostwriter who develops your original ideas to complete the manuscript. And, like one Ghostwriter is fond of saying: “When it comes to our clients, we are as silent as Jeeves.” Yes, indeed, the professional Ghostwriter never reveals the names of their clients—unless, of course, the client gives permission, places their name on the cover as, written with, or decides the Ghostwriter’s input deserved the co-author title.

How do you find these experts? Most of us are proficient using Google to find any category of experts we’re looking for, including writing consultants, editors and ghostwriters. Their websites may be big and beautiful, however, finding the right FIT with someone you can work with is the real Key to Success.

Most writers’ conference (like the one that I attended with the author in the first True Story—above) set up a panels of experts for writers to talk with which is an excellent way to meet experienced assistants. Even if you’re not able to meet with them at length, and discuss your project, you can at least take their card and contact them later.

However, my go-to place to find professional help is the self-publishing company where I (and several clients) have published. If authors don’t find a perfect fit with one of their Consultants, Editors, or Ghostwriters, they offer other in-house expert connections. AND, unlike traditional houses who hire experts to create books that meet the “projected value” of their business, self-publishing companies hire professional individuals who will listen to each author, and offer their very best help to complete the book that the author has written.

So DIG OUT your old manuscript(s) and find the specialized collaborator who will pump life back into it. You owe it to yourself and your Readers! ⚓︎

Royalene

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.

news from the editorial desk, Uncategorized

We are under construction!

website under construction

I know, ugh, right? But we have so much in store for you over the coming months and we want to get it right right. So we’re taking a moment to pause and regather our thoughts, to brainstorm new subjects and new ideas to bring to you here on the Self Publishing Advisor blog–from all of our contributors, yes, but especially from our Wednesday time slots. As we’ve mentioned in the past, we’ll be introducing a new contributor in the coming weeks, and we’ll also be tweaking what we have already been doing a little bit as well.

First stop: the survey! We’ll be asking you some questions next week in the form of a brief (5 minutes or fewer) survey as to what content you’ve enjoyed and found useful here on the blog. It will stay open past that week, but we will start using its results to craft our content right away.

Second stop: the changes await! Check back next week as we begin our next stage of evolution! Oh, I know, we’re not Neopets or Chia plants or Pokemon, but we’re still pretty cool. And we want to provide absolutely top-notch material for our self-publishing authors to work with!

Ready your fingers and minds!

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

Self Publishing Advisor

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

Tuesday Book Review: “Finally, Now You Can”

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:

finally now you can peter kange

Finally, Now You Can

by Peter Kange

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781521337059

Synopsis*:

How to rise, up and out of any situation, reinvent yourself and live the life you are intended to live.

* courtesy of Amazon.com