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.
Wendy Speaks

Famous Self-Published Authors: Virginia Woolf

Almost everyone who has ever taken a literature course has heard of Virginia Woolf. She is regarded as one of the most important women writers; but did you know that most of her work was self published?

Virginia Woolf wrote essays, short stories and novels, most of which were self published through Hogarth Press. Woolf and her husband founded the company in 1917 to hand-print books. According to Beja Morris in “Critical Essays on Virginia Woolf,” today Virginia Woolf is considered “one of the greatest novelists of the twentieth century and one of the foremost modernists.”

Next time someone tells you that real writers only use traditional publishing houses, tell him or her that Virginia Woolf self-published most of her work and is now considered one of the best writers in history. Sure, many successful writers traditionally publish their books, but many writers also successfully self-publish their books. Don’t let stereotypes determine the destiny of your book. Do what is best for you. Self-publishing might just make your dreams come true.

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: I Want to Know My Future

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:

I Want To Know My Future

Linda Dipman

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432773526

Reviewer: Tracy M. Riva

With nothing left, not even family, God may be the only thing left. “I Want to Know My Future” is a Christian memoir from Linda Dipman who ponders her rough journey when she was thrown in jail and forgotten by her church and family. When all seemed lost, she relates how God was still there for her, and she hopes her story will help other readers remember this important fact. “I Want to Know My Future” is a powerful and highly recommended read.