Contests, Kelly Speaks

2012 Global Ebook Award Now Accepting Submissions

Contests are a great way gain exposure and credibility. By winning awards, you can convince readers that your book is worth reading and you can generate word of mouth marketing. Well, Dan Poynter, founder of the Global Ebook Award, has announced that his program is now accepting submissions. Why should you submit your book?

Awarded ebooks will enjoy these benefits:

–an official “sticker” on your ebook cover, website, Amazon page, and promotion materials
— buoyant feedback from judges with experience in your category of book.
–a free listing in Publishing Poynters Marketplace offering copies of your book for reviews in prestigious
ebook dealers’ sites such as Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and others.
–being honored at an award ceremony in gorgeous Santa Barbara.
–media coverage for you and your book.
–being listed on the official Global Ebook Awards site.
— a Global Ebook Award certificate attesting to your honor.
–a news releases announcing that you won
–discounts on video trailers for YouTube, Amazon
and your website
–discounts on other services for authors and publishers
And much more…

So, how do you apply?

Eligibility:
eBook released anytime on or before March 11, 2012.

Application deadline:
March 12, 2012 (midnight Pacific Time).

Award ceremony
in beautiful Santa Barbara: Saturday, August 18, 2012.

For more information on how to apply, visit http://globalebookawards.com/.

 

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT:
Kelly Schuknecht works as 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.
Cheri Speaks

5 Things You Need to Know About the Interior Design of Your Book

As you prepare for publication, you probably have a vision of what you want your book to look like as a finished product. This is especially important for certain genres such as poetry, children’s books and cookbooks. One of the most common complaints among new authors is that they are dissatisfied with the interior design of their book. Here are five things you need to know so you will love your book once it is published.

1) Know Your Vision – Before you select a publisher, spend some time thinking about how you envision your book. What aspects are important to you? Don’t assume your publisher will read your mind. You need to have a clear vision before you tell a publisher what you want.

2) Review Other Books – Go to a bookstore or library and browse other books in your genre. Make note of the different types of layouts and designs. Compare this information to your vision. You may discover that your original vision needs some tweaking. Let yourself be inspired and innovative.

3) Look at Your Options – Before you choose a publisher, look at the interior design options available. Are they able to accommodate your requests? Do they offer specific templates you must choose from?

4) Ask Questions – Talk to the publisher about the interior design process. Tell them exactly what you want your book to look. Make sure you ask about any additional costs your design might require, and find out if you will get to review the gallery proofs prior to printing. Also, ask if the gallery proofs are an exact representation of how your book will look printed.

5) Make an Informed Decision – After you have considered your goals and reviewed your options, you need to make a decision. This includes choosing a publisher and a design package. Always be clear about your needs and goals. Don’t wait until your book is printed to decide what you want your book to look like.

Happy publishing!

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

5 Reasons to Self Publish in November

As the end of 2011 approaches, you may be wondering if now is the right time to self publish your book. Well, here are five reasons why November is a great time to self publish.

1) End of year promotions – Many self publishing companies are getting in the holiday spirit by offering great deals on publishing packages and marketing options.

2) An early 2012 release – If you start the publication process now, your book will probably be complete in early 2012. The beginning of a new year is a great time to begin marketing a book.

3) The calm after the storm – For most people, November and December means rushing around to decorate, shop and entertain, but January and February are typically slow months. If you are start the publishing process now, you can take advantage of the after-the-holidays-calm and use the slow months to perfect your book.

4) Get an early start on your 2012 resolution list – Publishing a book is a common task on the New Year’s resolution list. By self publishing in November, you can get a jump start on your to-do list, and enjoy the satisfaction of completing a resolution in the beginning of the year.

5) An early Christmas gift for yourself – When we write and publish, we often think about the reader, but at the end of the day, publishing is also about the writer. It is a major achievement to write and publish a book. Give yourself the priceless gift of seeing your book in print this year.

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-Publishing Book Review: Deceit

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’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:

Deceit

John Austin Sletten

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432771683

Power corrupts, and the FBI has plenty of power to corrupt itself with. “Deceit: A Novel of Lies, Duplicity, & Fraud” is a novel that author John Austin Sletten claims is a true expose behind the FBI and how he turned from his bright-eyed hopes and dreams to make a difference in the world by exposing the stark corruption of the  FBI. Speaking on much of what he saw, “Deceit” tells a story of a corruption that grows stronger and that may be too powerful to be challenged.

 

Cheri Speaks

3 Tips for Authors Self Publishing in November

It is hard to believe, but the end of 2011 is almost here. As the weather turns chilly and stores become Christmas factories, you might be wondering if now is the right time to self publish your book. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind if you are working on self publishing your book this November.

1) Change your copyright year to 2012 so the book appears new even if it publishes before 12/31/11. Readers like to feel like they are reading the newest version of books.

2) If you’re interested in publishing to market for the holidays, it’s time to get moving and finish up before the end of November. As the holiday approaches, more people are buying and shipping, so it may take a bit longer to print and ship. While you don’t want to rush the creation of your interior and cover proofs, the holidays are an ideal time to market. Also, keep in mind that the general reader doesn’t see the book as the author does; for example, an author keeps checking the spelling and grammar, rewriting sentences, and tweaking the cover image. If you’ve carefully reviewed the chapters to make sure they are error free and have carefully reviewed the design at least 2-3 times, then let it go and move on to the next steps.

3) If you’re signing up just to publish by year-end or for Christmas sales, you need a reality check. There is the possibility that your book won’t be finished before the year’s end or that your marketing efforts won’t generate a large  number of holiday sales because you didn’t spend enough time marketing your book. (Think about how early retail stores begin marketing for Christmas. You can’t throw together a book and expect to sell dozens of copies a few weeks before Christmas.) Instead of obsessing over holiday sales and the end of the year, focus on starting the new year off with a bang. Publishing a book is a great way to start off a new year, and you will have more time to plan for success if you consider all of 2012 instead of the few weeks left in 2011.

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.