Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self Publishing Week in Review: 4/9/13

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news in self publishing this week.

Self Publishing is the Future — and Great for Writers

I’m always talking about how great self publishing is and how it is changing the industry. This article sings even more praise.

Podcast: How Hugh Howey’s Wool became a self-published smash hit

Here is yet another author who has had self publishing success.

Successful Self-Published Ebook Authors Sells Print & Movie Rights For $1 Million, But Keeps Digital Rights To Himself

You frequently hear about authors who have success selling their self published books. Here is a man whose book is so successful he was able to sell the movie rights for $1 million.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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

Top 4 Reasons to Self Publish in April

Authors choose to self publish for a variety of great reasons: creative freedom, control over pricing, the speed of publication and more. But, with the promise of spring in full gear, there are four more great reasons to self publish now:

  1. New beginnings. Spring is the time for renewal. Renew your commitment to your self-publishing dream by publishing that manuscript now.
  2. Tax refund. Put your federal and state tax refunds to work on something meaningful by realizing your dream of self-publishing. If you play your cards right, that investment will pay you back in sales revenue and the deep satisfaction you’ll get from being able to say you’re a published author!
  3. Summer book fairs. April is the perfect time to self-publish if you want your book ready for book fair season, which really ramps up in June. Self-publishers, like Outskirts Press, can get your manuscript to print in a matter of weeks, so you could have your book ready just in time!
  4. National Poetry Month. Honor National Poetry Month in April by publishing your volume of poetry now. (Outskirts Press offers a Poetry Formatting Kit that makes formatting and publishing a high-quality book as simple as cutting and pasting text.)

While there’s never really a bad time to get going on your self-publishing dreams, April’s the ideal time to plant the publishing seed that will bear fruit later in the year.

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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self Published Book Review: The Beads of Lapis Lazuli

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:

The Beads of Lapis Lazuli

The Beads of Lapis Lazuli

Doris Kenney Marcotte

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432760540

Cincinnati housewife and mom Katheryn Marshall was on vacation with her husband Dan in Crete when she purchased an ancient strand of lapis lazuli. They went back to Ohio, but for the next two years she obsesses over returning to Greece to visit Dhia Island in order to complete the ancient historical romance she is writing. Her husband Dan objects, but though rare in their marriage, she informs him she is going anyway.

Accompanied by psychic archeological hunter Jake Deupree, she goes to Greece without her family. There she begins to examine the three and half millennia Minoan mythos of Theseus and Ariadne. She finds anomalies with the legend, so she digs deeper seeking the truth.

This is an entertaining look at the Minoan ancient culture mostly through the historiographical lenses of twenty-first century interested parties but with a neat twist enhancing the glimpse through time. The cast is solid but the conflict even between the married couple is muted. Still this is an interesting tale as a Buckeye housewife obsesses over looking beyond the legend of Theseus and Ariadne.

Kelly Speaks

Who Reads Poetry?

In honor of National Poetry Month, I’ll be sharing tips and news for poets this month. Today, I’m going to address the common question, “Does anyone still read poetry?” A recent study called Poetry in America by the Poetry Foundation revealed some interesting information on this topic. Here are the highlights.

  • Readers in general, and poetry readers in particular, tend to be women and adults with higher levels of education.

  • While some people may imagine that poetry readers are quiet and perhaps loners by nature, we find that they are a vibrant, active and sociable group.

  • Parents and teachers are most often cited as people who were influential during people’s early experiences with poetry.

  • Slightly less than one-third of current users read contemporary poetry exclusively and an additional 23 percent read both classic and contemporary poetry.

  • Non-users do read or listen to poetry when they come across it in unexpected places.
  • People share poetry with one another.
  • Libraries, books clubs and the Internet are among the untapped resources for sharing poetry.

  • Regardless of whether people still read or listen to poetry, many of them can recall the names of poets, titles of poems, and can recite lines of poetry.

You may be wondering why this information is important. As a self publishing poet, it is essential that you understand who your readers are and how to reach them. This will help you publish work that is appealing to your audience and to market your books effectively.

I’d love to know, how often do you read poetry and what types of poetry do you read?

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.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self Publishing Week in Review: 4/2/13

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news in self publishing this week.

Jim Carrey to Self-Publish a Children’s Book

Actor Jim Carrey is going to self publish a children’s book. In an interview, he explains why he is choosing to self publish. He plans to release the book in September.

Indie Authors: Six Questions To Ask Before You Self-Publish

Before self publishing, there are several things you need to consider to help make your book successful. This article has some great questions to ask yourself before self publishing.

Essential Elements of a Successful Self Published Book

Have you ever wondered what makes some authors successful while others struggle to sell copies of their book? This article offers great insight into what helps make an author successful.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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.