Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing Success for The Shack

You can’t walk through WalMart or browse through an online bookstore without catching a glimpse of The Shack. This 256 page novel was written by William P. Young, a former salesman, and self-published with the help of two business associates. Once copied and bound at Kinko’s, The Shack is now a New York Times Bestseller.

Published under an imprint, Windblown Media, created by Young and two former pastors, The Shack had a $300 marketing budget. The three embarked on a viral marketing campaign (word-of-mouth, church-to-church, blog-to-blog) to get copies out.

The moral of the story: as a self-published author, you’ve got to know your readers, discover how to reach them and start spreading the word.

Not every self-published author aspires to be like Young, and for those who do, the chances may be one in a million. However, The Shack proves that traditional publishing is not the only path to success for authors.

Next week we’ll discuss viral marketing tips you may find helpful for your book.

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: Son of the Great River

sotgr-CoverSon of the Great River

by Elijah Meeks

Son of the Great River is an adventure story set in the distant past, with pen-and-ink illustrations interspersed throughout the book.  It follows a boy named Saffu, who is forced to leave his tribe and travel to the land of cities and kings to return a strange artifact.  His journey takes him across the Bronze Age landscape and through his own, sometimes troubling, coming of age.  He quickly loses sight of his quest and gives up, but tragedy forces him on and when he discovers civilization, where he befriends two other young people, the hunter Samhail and the brilliant runaway girl, Rheem.  Despite his desire to return to his tribe and his love, Naganawae, he finds himself embroiled in the plans of an ancient king and a war not of his choosing.  Each character responds differently to the temptations and corruptions of civilization and power, and their choices are sometimes contradictory.  Throughout, Son of the Great River reveals that despite the trappings of bronze weapons and strange cultures, the people of this ancient time are much like the people we know today, with the same courage and weakness that define us.

You can visit the author’s website at www.sevenlions.org
You can buy the book on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601457723



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Book Promotion

Viral Marketing for Self-Published Authors – Tip #1

Tip #1 – Give something away

Everyone wants something for free.  Strategically advertising a free giveaway (a copy of your book, a service, free information) is one way to attract attention.  This attention may not turn into profit immediately, but in general more interest in your self-published book means greater potential for sales.

Look at Squarespace for example.  This website software company is currently running a contest on Twitter.  They are giving away an iPhone to one contestant each day for 30 days.  In order to enter, the contestant must send out a “tweet” with the #squarespace hashtag.  This “free” advertising tactic quickly brought Squarespace onto the top ten “Trending Topics” list on Twitter, which means everyone on Twitter user (approximately 1.3 million daily) will see that Squarespace is popular topic and many will click on the links to find out why. 

The good news is you don’t have to give away an iPhone a day to attract attention for your book, but consider your audience and think about what you can give away that may spark their interest.  It could be a copy of your self-published book or it could be a service you provide.  Whatever it is, be sure to include your book and/or web site in your promotional materials.

I’ll have more viral marketing tips for you over the next few weeks.

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

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Book Promotion

Self Published Authors Tell Your Story

Daryn Kagan of CNN fame is seeking personal stories for her popular website at www.darynkagan.com.

Go to the area that is called “Tell Me Your Story” and share your experience of self-publishing your book. Or, share the experience that lead to writing the book in the first place. You will be able to write a brief description of your story. If you have photos of book signing events, any book videos or audio clips of interviews you have done, be sure to check the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side. This a great cathartic exercise and gets your book “out there.”

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: The Vampires Minotaur

9781598007145_cov.inddThe Vampires Minotaur

by Levant DuPrae

This self-published book was recently reviewed by Reader Views:

In “The Vampires Minotaur” author Levant DuPrae takes us through his version of the story on how the Minotaur was conceived. Minos’s wife uses her cunning mind to create a way in which she can mate with the Cretan Bull who is attacking and killing people. From this mating, came the abomination of the Minotaur.

Other mythological events are described in this story, and as they are happening Naamah, who is the daughter of Lilith, watches over them. Sometimes she just watches, other times she seeks to interfere for her own gain. This usually involves her getting revenge on others. She also witnesses the intervention or sometimes interference of Gods such as Poseidon.

What makes this story so unique is that in addition to being The Fury Megaera, Naamah is also a vampire. She feeds off of the blood of others, usually the innocent. She has no morals or scruples, she operates on pure emotion. She is a very dangerous character. Having the power to transform into a shadow form allows her to secretly watch what is happening. She also can heal herself quickly. After seeing the Minotaur’s mother mate with the bull, Naamah also does so in her own manner.

“The Vampires Minotaur” by Levant DuPrae is a very complex story. I admired the author’s use of
his own creative ideas to add to the mythological stories. However, there is a reason that this book is
listed as a horror novel. Some of the events described are extremely graphic and brutal. Readers
who enjoy being shocked will definitely enjoy this unique story.

For more information or to order the book, visit the outskirtspress.com/TheVampiresMinotaur