Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: My Dreams, My Choices: be courageous, do what you have never done, go where you have never been, and you will see the change

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:

 

My Dreams, My Choices: be courageous, do what you have never done, go where you have never been, and you will see the change

 Clementine Wamboye Girenge

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432771768

Reviewer: Carol Hoyer, PhD

 Felly lived with her extended family in rural Kenya. Given the area they lived in, many obstacles came her family’s way, yet she learned to look at the positives and pursue her goal of getting a good education.

Felly’s grandmother was a bitter old woman and didn’t really care about what was happening to anyone else, including her husband who was sick. Her grandmother lost several of her children to the famines of Africa and didn’t  want anyone else to be happy.

When Felly went to Nairobi to attend school, she was dismayed at the treatment she got because she couldn’t afford the same things as everyone else, and the staff at the school was very mean, beating the children on a daily basis.

When the staff at the school was replaced due to poor performance, many of the students were shocked. But in her heart, Felly knew she could finish her education regardless of what happened.

Through her own strength and the strength of others, she was able to accomplish what she wanted.

“My Dreams, My Choices” is a very inspiring book written by Clementine Wamboye Girenge. There are times in one’s life where things don’t always look bright, but, as the author says, you have to look at the bright side in all that you do

Book Promotion, Cheri Speaks

Would You Consider Ingram Advance?

Ingram Advance is a publication read by wholesalers that lists published books.  Many self-publishing companies include a graphic advertisement in Ingram Advance as one of their many marketing services. By listing your book in the publication, you are announcing your new book to the people who are most interested in buying it. In addition to Ingram Advance, there are topic specific publications such as Children’s Advance and Christian Advance. These publications are similar to Ingram Advance, but they focus on a specific category of books.

I’m curious, which of these publications would you consider advertising in? Please leave comments.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Wendy Speaks

Famous Self-Published Author: Walt Whitman

Have you ever read Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass? This poetry collection were self-published in Brooklyn in 1855. The first edition contained only 12 poems, but the final edition contained almost 400.

The first edition found offensive due to its homosexual undertones. However, not all responses were negative. Some critics considered Whitman’s work a classic. Today, Whitman’s book is still read by college students and literature lovers. His book has held up to the review of classic rather than the one of offensive.

Whitman’s self-publishing journey was not a walk in the park. He struggled to sell his book, and he was subject to censorship and criticism. However, he did not give up. He continued to revise and stand behind his book, and in the end, his title became an American classic.

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: Saving Snowflakes in My Pocket: Love’s Survival Through Years of Deception

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:

Saving Snowflakes in My Pocket: Love’s Survival Through Years of Deception

Barbara Jean Ruther

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432773281

Reviewer: Leslie Granier

Sarah thought she had a pretty good existence. However, after celebrating her thirtieth birthday, she realizes she has not found the things she wants most out of life. Although she has a well-paying job at a prestigious academy, she was much happier at the previous school at which she taught because she actually felt like she was making a difference in the children’s lives. She has not met the right man nor had children of her own. Her loneliness is magnified by the death of her Aunt Emma who raised Sarah after she was abandoned by her mother. Sarah goes to a remote cabin in the woods to reflect on her life and something incredible happens. She meets Michael, who has issues of his own. He is trying to recover from a bad marriage and desperately needs to regain his faith in the human race. As Sarah and Michael become closer, they begin to help each other heal. However, a secret could end up tearing them apart and affecting many other people in the process.

The plot is good, but the characters in this book are its greatest asset. The author expertly constructs characters with whom it is easy for the reader to connect. Whether it is through Sarah who so eloquently expresses her feelings with poetry or Michael and his brother Jonathon who are wealthy but believe they are called to serve the less fortunate members of society by running a clinic for abused women and children, the goodness and honor of people shine forth. The specially crafted interactions between the characters provide additional enjoyment.

My only criticism of this book is the language used by the characters. Their conversations are too formal. The author does not seem to be a fan of using contractions, which leaves the speech sounding stiff and unnatural.

“Saving Snowflakes in My Pocket” is an uplifting story about love, forgiveness, and service to others. It centers around family, but the author emphasizes that family is not just about biology and genetics. Rather, it is based on the love and acceptance people provide to each other. Although the target audience for “Saving Snowflakes in My Pocket” is adult women, anyone who reads it will undoubtedly experience an emotional response to its content.

Cheri Speaks

The Truth About Copy Editing

You’ve probably heard that if you want your self-published book to be taken seriously, you should hire a professional copy editor. Before you do, there are a few things you should know.

There might still be errors.

How many times have you read a national publication or a book by a top publishing house and found an error? Even the best editors and proofreaders make mistakes.  While hiring a professional will significantly improve the quality of your book, don’t be surprised if one or more errors make it into print. An occassional error does not mean that the editor did a poor job; it just shows that editors are human.

You get what you pay for.

Copy editors charge per word, hour, page or project. The cost of the edit depends on the number of times the editor readers through your manuscript. If you only pay for a single line edit, the editor will only read your manuscript once. Therefore, there is a good chance that there will still be errors in your book. If you want a more thorough edit, you must pay the editor to spend more time on your book. When hiring an editor, be sure to find out how many times he or she will read through your manuscript.

Editors must be paid.

I’ve occasionally had to deal with writers who refused to pay for editing services because their manuscript was not flawless or the writer disagreed with some of the editor’s recommendations. Editors are professionals, and they earn their living by editing materials such as books. You cannot decide to not pay for services because they did not catch all of the errors, especially if you only paid for a single line edit. You need to be realistic about your expectations and respectful to the person working on your book.

 

Don’t let this information discourage you from hiring a professional copy editor. This service is an important part of the publication process, and it will significantly improve the quality of your book. However, you need to be realistic about your expectations. You cannot pay someone pennies to make your book flawless, and you cannot expect perfection every time. Copy editors desire fair wages for the time they spend on your book, and writers need to recognize that even the best copy editors make mistakes.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.