Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Life on Grayson Island

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:

Life on Grayson Island

E. R. Champion

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432765798

Reviewer: Charline Ratcliff

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I asked to review “Life on Grayson Island” by E.R. Champion, but having found it listed in the “Humor” section, I did expect it to be funny. It was funny…just not as much as I had hoped. Don’t get me wrong; I’m sure there are those who will find this book hilarious, but unfortunately, I am not one of those people.

The premise of “Life on Grayson Island” is this: Brent Williams has just recently moved to Grayson Island in lieu of completely retiring from the police force. However, Grayson Island is a private island, which means that all of the standard infractions that would normally cause some form of citation, ticket or even an arrest do not apply to the “natives” of Grayson Island. Needless to say, most of the training and experience that Williams acquired during his stint as Lieutenant for the Department of Defense cannot be applied in his new position as “Special” Policeman of Grayson Island.

Grayson Island is also a crazy island. The people who live there are extremely wealthy and amazingly eccentric. Opinions are provided on an over-the-top regular basis to be made into the island rules for the non-natives to live by, and each resident seems to have their own reality that doesn’t mesh with anyone else’s. In summary, two hundred and eight pages of inane antics by the mainly over forty crowd and the question you have to ask yourself is: how long can Brent Williams and his wife deal with the idiocy before they decide enough is enough and move back to a more “normal” part of the country?

All in all, “Life on Grayson Island” was a decent read. To be fair, the book did manage to hold my attention/keep me occupied on the two-hour flight from Oakland to Phoenix. “Life on Grayson Island” was well-written, and due in part to the craziness of today’s society, the characters were totally believable. At times, there was a little too much innuendo/cynicism for my taste, but I do understand that’s kind of the premise of the book.

Kelly Speaks

What is an ISBN?

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. Every book that is sold has a unique number known as an ISBN to help book purchasers identify it.  It is like a social security number for your book.

Books published as of January 1, 2007 have ISBNs that are 13 digits long. Prior to 2007, ISBNs were 10 digits long. While it is not necessary for all books to display an ISBN, most book stores only carry ISBN-bearing merchandise, so it is very important that your book has a printed ISBN.

While there is a method to how the ISBN is determined, it may not be necessary for every self-publishing author to understand this process. What is important to know is how to get an ISBN for your book. The exact steps vary depending on your publisher of choice, but sometimes the ISBN is simply included in your self publishing package. Check with your publishing company before you start publishing to make sure your book will have its own ISBN and that they will handle the details of this for you.  After all, that is a benefit of using a full-service self-publishing company!

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

You Can’t Sell Your Car in the Garage

If you have a car for sale and you park it in your garage, there is a very small chance you will ever sell that car.  Your family, friends, and maybe a handful of neighbors might know the car is for sale, but that’s it.

If you are really serious about selling it, then you need to advertise. You might place ads on Craigslist, in the classifieds, or on bulletin boards. You will probably even put a for sale sign on the car and drive it around or park it on a corner with lots of traffic so people can see the sign.

The same is true with self-published books.

You can get your book published and distributed through Amazon and Barnes and Noble online, but no one will know to look for it there unless you tell them about it.  As you are planning and saving for your book publishing project, don’t forget about the ongoing need to market and promote your book.  It could be the next best-seller, but not if no one knows about it!

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.

 

Wendy Speaks

Self Publish a Book to Increase Credibility

Are you an industry expert who wants to increase your credibility and client base? One of the best ways to establish yourself as an expert and grow your business is to self publish a book. By writing and publishing a book, you prove you are knowledgable in your field and attract new customers.

In addition to showcasing your expertise, publishing a book increases you visibility. Plus, people respect “published authors.” Not only will this attract new clients, but the book can also serve as an additional revenue stream. Self publishing isn’t just for  creative writers; it is also perfect for industry experts.

If you aren’t a great writer, don’t worry. You can always hire a ghostwriter to help you bring your dream book to life.

I’d love to know, how has self publishing a book improved your business or career?

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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: The Plea for Righteousness

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 Plea for Righteousness

Marquette and Scott Frazier

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432773199

Through knowledge of scripture, one can find their own righteousness. “The Plea for Righteousness” delves into the scripture as Marquette and Scott Frazier discuss the nature of scripture and the many things that have led us away from it throughout history. Arguing that the scripture can teach us much about virtue, world history, and more, they encourage biblical study in a more natural form. “The Plea for Righteousness” is a read to consider for those who seek another perspective on the scripture and some wise wisdom to avoid the false prophets in general.