Tag: self publish

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Shantibux

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

 Shantibux

Shantibux

Ramesh A. Bakshi

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432776992

Reviewed by Natalie Summers

The cruelty of man will never allow world peace. “Shantibux” is set in a far flung future where after war, mankind finally tries to find its peace and unity, only to have rampant greed and crime challenge it. A story of hopes and dreams and the reality that challenges it from a professional man of India in Ramesh A. Bakshi, “Shantibux” is a read that is very much recommended read with a good bit to think about.

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing: Getting Paid To Do What You Love

Gone are the days of being stuck in the same career your entire life. Gone are the days of being confined to a boring, 9-to-5 job. Gone are the days of longing to be a published author. Gone are the days of unpublished manuscripts stashed away with piles of rejection letters. With the growing trend of self-publishing and the constant advancements in technology, you now have the power to make all your dreams come true. Here are three ways self-publishing can help you get paid to do what you love.

1. Increase your credibility and build your brand.

Whether you are a yoga instructor, doctor, or any other professional, self-publishing a book is a great way to build your brand and increase your credibility. Many professionals use self-publishing to publish books within their niches. These books are a great way to showcase your expertise and educate current and potential clients.

2. Add to your revenue stream.

Self-publishing is popular among public speakers, mentors, and other entrepreneurs because books can be an additional source of revenue. For instance, many public speakers sell their books at their speaking events. This not only increases their credibility and branding, but it is also provides a simple way to increase revenue at the event.

3. Be the writer you dream of being.

Many authors have found significant success in self-publishing. Depending on your goals and determination, it is possible to earn supplemental or a full-time income by writing and selling your self-published books. While it takes hard work and dedication, it is possible to make a living as a writer.

I’d love to know, what is your dream career?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is 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.
Choosing a Publisher, Jodee Speaks, Self-Publishing

How to Compare Self-Publishing Companies

So you’ve decided to self-publish, congratulations! Now it’s time to pick a self-publishing company. As you’ve probably already realized, this can be a stressful task since comparing self-publishing companies is like comparing apples to oranges. At first glance, you might think it is simple to compare packages from different companies, but once you dig deeper, you’ll realize that each company’s packages feature different services.

When choosing a self-publishing company and package, you should consider the following:

1) What services do you want and need?

Before you start researching companies, make a list of the services you want and need. Reference this list when you are comparing packages as some packages may include services you don’t need, and thus don’t want to pay for, or may not include the services you want. This will help you narrow down your options.

2) Consider add-on options.

In addition to publishing packages, self-publishing companies offer add-on services, such as custom cover design or editing. In some cases, it is more cost effective to purchase a cheaper package and add-on options than purchasing a more expensive package.

3) Get a true comparison.

To get a true comparison, you need to determine the per author cost for books after publication and the per book royalty you will earn . (See an example here.) You may find it is better to spend a little more upfront to reap the benefits of higher royalties on the back end.

4) Think about your after publication needs.

The work doesn’t end once your book is printed. To be successful, you will need to market and promote your book. Self-publishing companies offer a variety of marketing options, so be sure to consider the after publication services when choosing a self-publishing company.

If this seems a little overwhelming, don’t worry. Self-publishing companies have great teams of professionals to help you pick the best options for you.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; 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, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Friday Conversations With A Self-Publishing Writer 2/21/14

Imagine THAT!

I love a good mystery!  The eccentric sleuth who investigates; the endangered victim(s); the crime; the witnesses; and the release of clues—puzzle pieces that pop around in the reader’s imagination until they fit.  However, when an author adds the intricate details of forensic investigation to the mix the mystery becomes much more detailed and satisfying for most readers.

Some time ago I spoke with a group of avid Mystery Readers who met once a month to discuss the novel they’d selected.  They followed one simple rule—DO NOT read the last chapter (conclusion) until the next meeting when they would read The End together.  Each person wrote out their “professional opinion” on a 3×5 card, signed and dated it; these were collected in a basket as they arrived at their gathering place.  No matter who or how many reached the author’s selected culmination-of-clues, their enjoyment was made much richer by becoming the detective/investigator themselves.

The combination of clues—whether placed in dialogue or footprints or microscopic detail—opens the reader’s imagination.  So it is that the author must explore all avenues of investigation, allowing the words on the page to create an image in the reader’s mind.  For example is the cliché statement “Blood is thicker than water,” true?  That concept is used in many ways, but for the Mystery Writer the factual answer to this question is vital.  While an anatomy professor might tell us that 83% of blood is water, how can that “fact” be useful in story form?  What could an investigator learn from a victim’s blood that has only 50% water and higher elements of something else?  What might that something else be?

In 2010, an exhibition of the human body was brought to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  A German anatomist, Gunther von Hagens, had invented a technique called “plastination” that preserved elements of actual human anatomy (donated for his scientific research) with an exactness that shocked many viewers.  More than 37 million people around the world now know what a human body looks like beneath the skin.  And they are the Mystery Readers who will be reading your next book.

Are you prepared for their critique?  Do you have writing partners to review your manuscripts before they go to print?  There are many ghostwriters who love research and could offer their expertise.  Self-publishing teams of writers, editors and author representatives can guide and support the Mystery Author.  And there are other helpers, such as the International Thriller Writers organization, who offer mentor contacts—authors who have walked this trail and know how to avoid the pitfalls.

I applaud the Mystery Writers of today—each one finding their niche within the genre.  Some are comfortable with the “cozy” mystery; some will jump into the end of the pool and give us the full dose of well-researched and well-written scientific criminology.  May you all succeed and fear-not making the step to self-publish and set your stories FREE.

Royalene ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Anamnesis: The Further Adventures of Struth Digger

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

Anamnesis The Further Adventures of Struth Digger

Anamnesis: The Further Adventures of Struth Digger

J. Wyant

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478715122

Reviewed by Natalie Summers

“Anamnesis: The Further Adventures of Struth Digger” by J. Wyant is about two sisters, Salle and Anna Kate Limoux, who stay with their Uncle Jason and Aunt Jen while their parents are on a cruise. They love spending time with their cousin Bunkie as well as his neighbor across the street, Struth Digger, and this summer will not disappoint them with the prospect of a possible hidden treasure to find and a spooky old hospital to explore. The old Wagner Hospital has a mysterious past regarding a doctor whose wife went missing and was never found. This particular hospital was off limits to the children of Pocawa, a small town in New Orleans. The hospital was old, falling apart, and dangerous to anyone who entered. Until one day when 3 children chasing their dog ended up in the basement of the old Wagner Hospital, only to come upon a mysterious box and a great discovery.
I found “Anamnesis: The Further Adventures of Struth Digger”, to be a fast read with the promise of a new adventure in the up and coming sequel “Rubicon: A Struth Digger Further Adventure”. Some areas in the story were bogged down with too many descriptive words, and caused the reader to pause more than once in the story line. It is always good to have a clear picture of where the author is taking you in the story, but too many descriptive words can have an effect on how the story flows. I enjoyed the story, plot and conclusion and would recommend it to ages 10-16 as an easy read adventure type book. I look forward to seeing what the Author has in store for the reader in the “Rubicon”.
“Anamnesis: The Further Adventures of Struth Digger” by J. Wyant has a lot of potential as an entertaining adventure novel, and the story line is an interesting read that keeps you hanging on, reaching for the next page to find out what happens next.