Tag: book

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Publishing Book Review of the Week: Looking for Closure

Looking for Closure

by Maria Stewart

This self-published book was recently reviewed by Mary Cowper of Midwest Book Review:

When you aren’t satisfied with the answer, the only response is to dig deeper. “Looking for Closure: The Therasa Ferrara Story” is a niece’s journey to find out the truth of what truly happened to her aunt over two decades ago. With a suspicious comment when she last saw her, Maria Stewart does not buy the simple homicide verdict she was given by the police, and offers a true crime drama that has to be read to be believed. “Looking for Closure” is a solid and recommended read that should not be missed by true crime readers.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/lookingforclosure


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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Publishing Book Review of the Week: Tales of Wordishure

Tales of Wordishure

by Mick McArt

This self-published book was recently reviewed by Michael J. Carson of Midwest Book Review:

A good bedtime story is invaluable and can impart values. “Tales of Wordishure” Is a collection of stories aimed to be read to young children at bedtime to better impart Christian wisdom and values to them. With much to stimulate the imagination, these tales make “Tales of Wordishure” very much worth picking up for parents who want to mix in faith at bedtime.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/talesofwordishure


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Book Promotion

Using Newspapers to Promote your Self-Published Book

There are two diverse tactics for promoting your self-published book:

1) Paying for advertising
2) Acquiring free advertising through press

Well, a subset to that second option is this: create press for yourself.

How? By writing for the newspaper.

Newspapers are in constant need for fresh content on a daily or weekly basis. Most general interest articles can be written by anyone, anywhere, and you don’t even need to live in the area where the paper is distributed (although it certainly helps as you get your feet wet).

Writing freelance articles for newspapers is an effective way to get your book “out there” because your byline will always be included with your article, and your book will always be mentioned in your byline.

Many freelance writers concentrate solely on contributing to magazines or websites, but you will be missing out on thousands of great markets if you ignore newspapers.

How do you get started? You can easily find information about newspapers, including contact information and addresses, by going online to www.usnpl.com or www.newspapers24.com

Have fun and keep writing.

Book Reviews

Getting your self-published book reviewed

A standard procedure for book promotion is mailing copies of your book out for book reviews. You can conduct a search on Google for “freelance book reviewers” to find reviewers, sometimes categorized by subject. Freelance reviewers often have writing assignments for larger media venues and it is often more successful to contact them directly than through larger magazines or newspapers.

As you seek out reviews on your own, remember that some magazines are more inclined to only review books that have not yet been published while others will want the chance to review it immediately after publication, so it is in your best interest to start this part of the process right away.

If you are serious about getting book reviews, you should send out copies to these publications sooner rather than later.

Also, ask yourself what the specific market is for YOUR book. Once you know your answer, ask yourself what sort of magazines, newspapers, websites, or periodicals those people read.  The more you narrow down your audience, the more efficient and cost effective your book marketing campaign will be.  Send a review copy to every magazine, newspaper, website, blog, or newsletter your potential audience may read.

When you send out a book for review, always include a complimentary copy of the book, a professional cover letter, and a sales sheet and/or a press release.

To get you started, here is contact information for a syndicated book reviewer who is known to write reviews for self published books:

Gary Roen

Syndicated Reviewer

1600 Hull Circle

Orlando, FL  32806

Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Self-Publishing

2009 LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL AWARDS Calling for SELF-PUBLISHED ENTRIES

London Book Festival Awards calls for unique self-published book entries:

The 2009 London Book Festival will hold its annual awards program celebrating books that deserve greater recognition from the international publishing community on January 21, 2010 at the city’s famed Grosvenor House. The awards ceremony is open to competition entrants and invited guests of the festival.

The awards ceremony is open to competition entrants and invited guests of the festival. The 2009 London Book Festival will consider books in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese and Italian in the competition. The works may be published, self-published or independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children’s books, poetry, art/photgraphy, teenage, how-to, audio/spoken word, comics/graphic novels, e-books, wild card (anything goes!), science fiction, romance and biography/autobiographical works.

A panel of judges will determine the winners based on the following criteria:

1) The story-telling ability of the author;
2) The potential of the work to win wider recognition from the international publishing community.

Our grand prize for the 2009 London Book Festival Author of the Year is $1500 and a flight from your city of entry to London OR Los Angeles – your choice!

ENTRIES: Please classify your book and enter it in the following categories. Multiple entries must be accompanied by a separate fee for each book.

1.General Non-fiction
2. General Fiction
3. Children’s books
4. E-books
5. Comics/graphic novels
6. Wild Card
7. Teenage
8. Science fiction
9. Romance
10. Biography/Autobiography
11. Audio/spoken word
12. How-To
13. Poetry
14. Art/Photography

FESTIVAL RULES: London Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain a print-out of the official entry form, including your e-mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.

NOTIFICATION AND DEADLINES: We will notify each entry of the receipt of their package via e-mail and will announce the winning entries at the LondonBookFestival.com web site.

Deadline submissions in each category must be postmarked by the close of business on November 25, 2009. Winners in each category will be notified by e-mail and the results posted on the site. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions.

TO ENTER: Entry forms are available online at http://londonbookfestival.com or may be faxed/e-mailed to you by calling our office at 323-665-8080. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee via check, money order, credit card payment or PayPal online payment of $50 in U.S. dollars for each submission. Multiple submissions are permitted but each entry must be accompanied by a separate form and entry fee. Entry fee checks should be made payable to JM Northern Media LLC.

Entry packages should include one copy of the book; a copy of your official entry form; the entry fee or receipt from online payment; and any relevant marketing materials, i.e., press kits or other material that illuminates the background of your book. Entries should be mailed to:

JM Northern Media LLC
The London Book Festival
7095 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 864
Hollywood, CA 90028, USA

AWARDS: The London Book Festival selection committee reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project.

The London Book Festival is produced by JM Northern Media LLC, producers of the Hollywood Book Festival, New York Book Festival and DIY Book Festival. We are sponsored by the Larimar St. Croix Writers Colony, eDivvy, Westside Websites and Shopanista