Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: BOLIVIA

frontcoverBolivia
by Ron Dubin

Ron Dubin is a master photographer and frequent commenter on asian ramblings. It’s a pleasure to announce the publication of his new book.

Ron Dubin wanted to get away. He’d had a trying year: Moving across country, from Los Angeles to Florida, coupled with the illness and death of his mother, Dubin was ready for something else.

“(If I had been offered) an assignment in Pompeii the day before it got buried I would have asked if I needed a visa,” says Dubin in the forward of his book, Bolivia, A Journey.

Ron is a man of many photographic talents. Over the last four years, his images have been featured in food and travel publications, regionally, nationally, and online. Dubin has also shot in Peru, France, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and extensively in the U.S.

Dubin’s book, 86 pages of extraordinary photographs and the stories behind them, offers readers a look into Bolivia’s diverse scenery and people. His landscape images are striking: Bold mountains under remarkable skies. The local creatures, llamas, snakes, and flamingos, have also been photographically captured in their native habitats.

The photographs of the people, going about their daily lives, give readers a revealing look into Bolivian life. The images document small-town residents going about their daily routine. These images, captured by an impartial observer, offer a glance into another place and culture.

Dubin’s image, The Sisters, captures two siblings at Isla del Sol. According to Ron, they were the most frightening thing about the town. The encounter resulted in him purchasing two palm fronds from the pair.

“She kicked my butt… There are three-card Monte dealers in New York that could learn a thing or two from them,” he says.

The architecture: Basilicas, moments, and ruins, were not overlooked by Dubin’s lens. The buildings, combined with the wide blue sky, are a visual pleasure to view. The images of the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, near the banks of Lake Titicaca, illustrate the sacredness of the site to both the indigenous and Catholic people.

Built in the 16th century, Dubin explains, “It is a popular custom to get your car blessed in front of the church which considering the roads, couldn’t possibly hurt.”

Dubin admits to knowing little about Bolivia before setting out on his expedition. “What I did know couldn’t fill up a trivial pursuit card,” he says. He did know about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. One of the final images in the book is of Ron brandishing the famous outlaws’ pistols.

Bolivia, A Journey can be purchased at Blurb. Ron Dubin maintains a photo blog at blog.rtd13.com

For more information or to order copies, visit the author’s web site: www.rondubinphotography.com

Book Promotion, Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing simplifying the Traditional Paradigm

We’ve discussed previously the new, revolutionizing self-publishing model and how it is quickly changing the industry.

As one industry expert recently noted, “The traditional model for print publishing is broken.” He is right, it seems as though everyone has gotten a hand in the process between penning and publishing: agents, editors, and bookstores. That process not only bogs the system, it takes rights and royalties from authors.

Sure there are advantages there coming in the form of editors, distributors, and bookstores. A good self-publisher will include all of those details, but keep the author in the driver’s seat. What does that accomplish? It keeps authors one step closer to their prospective reader, and at the top of the royalty food chain.

Look for a self publisher that offers an e-book option as well as a quality published trade paperback and hardback option – that’s authors touching readers on every level. What author could ask for more?

Have fun. Keep writing.

Sincerely,

Karl Schroeder

Book Promotion

Top 7 Radio Interview Tips for the Self Published Author

Have you done any radio interviews to promote your self-published book yet? If this is something you’re considering, here are the top 7 radio interview tips to keep in mind when you step in front of a microphone for a radio interview:

1. Your goal is to entertain the audience. Be lively and upbeat.

2. Your second goal is to get invited back by the host. S/he may do that if you are a good, lively, entertaining guest.

3. Your third goal is to have the host recommend you to other hosts. S/he may do that if you are a good, lively, entertaining guest.

4. Radio is not television. Normal communication is 80% non-verbal and you don’t have that advantage. Your voice inflection and energy has to pick up the slack.

5. Ask for a recording (mp3 or similar) in a follow-up communication to the host, which also expresses your thanks for being invited on the show.

6. Use the recording to secure future interviews and in your promotions.

7. Be clear about a “call to action” up front with the host. Will s/he be mentioning your book, or will you? Is the “call to action” to call into the show or is it getting the listeners to go to your webpage and order, or is it to go to Amazon and order? That’s up to the host. Asking them up front allows them to set the rules and that way you know what’s going to happen in advance. Word it like this: “I want to be sure I don’t over-step my bounds because I want to be entertaining for your listeners. Will you be mentioning my book at the beginning of the segment or the end? What’s best for you?”

Good luck and have fun!

Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Uncategorized

Ask the Book Doctor – Writing Flashbacks

Q: My question has to do with formatting. Is there a

standard way to insert a flashback? For example, should I

have an extra line space before and after the flashback?

Should I indent the flashback five spaces on both sides?

 

A: Formatting is not the only way to indicate a flashback;

it must also be handled with a narrative transition from

the present to the flashback and from the flashback back to

the present at the end. You can, however, also add a line

space before and after the transition, but do not indent on

both sides, which is a formatting device reserved for long

quotations. Do indent the beginning of each paragraph,

through.

 

What’s your question for Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas? Send

it today to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.

Book Promotion, Networking

Self-Publishing – Finding Versatility in Your Writing

Comedian Steven Wright once dryly noted, “I’m writing a book. I have the page numbers done.”

Writing is something that takes time and effort. In fact, it can take several years to produce a manuscript ready for publication. But that doesn’t mean your writing has to sit on your hard drive collecting digital dust. Using your written material more than once can be a great way to stay motivated and market your writing to readers.

This advice holds true whether you are writing a book, a poem, or a blog entry. Some may find this concept to be similar to recycling—diluting to the original work.

I tend to dislike the term “recycle” too (unless it has to do with conservationism), but recycling your writing is absolutely necessary. There is no other way to keep up with all the self-marketing and promotion you will be doing.

Once your book is published, consider repackaging your chapters into articles. Obviously, this is much more applicable to non-fiction than fiction—but even fiction chapters can be repackaged or modified into short stories or “excerpts” for duplicate use.

Give this a try: When you are finished with a chapter of your book, repackage it into a stand-alone article or excerpt by adding a beginning and ending paragraph to it. Now you have a stand-alone product that you can use to promote your whole book when it is published!

Again, one of the many benefits of self-publishing is the exclusive ownership rights you retain that allows you to use your work, however you see fit and for your benefit. 

I hope that helps. Keep writing!

Karl Schroeder