Tag: self publish

Cheri Speaks

What You Might Not Know About Copyrights

Working in the self-publishing industry, one of the most common problems I see is copyright issues. For instance, authors will take pictures or text from websites or quotes from television shows and use them in their work. Many of these authors believe that it is okay to use these materials without permission. The truth is these materials are copyrighted and using them without permission can result in plagiarism and other legal concerns. Whenever you use photos or text that were not created by you, you need permission, even if you obtained them on the web.

Another issue that surfaces regularly is pictures taken by the authors themselves. Even though you own the picture, you need permission from the people and places in the photo in order to distribute the picture. This is a privacy issue and can result in serious legal consequences.

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 Author: Beatrix Potter

Did you know that the first Peter Rabbit book was self-published? When Beatrix Potter submitted the first manuscript, she received several rejection letters. She decided to self-publish a limited edition. After seeing the printed book and recognizing the commercial possibilities, Publisher Frederick Warne changed his opinion and agreed to publish a color copy of the book. To date, the story has been translated into 36 languages and has sold over 45 million copies. This could be your children’s book.

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-Published Book Review:Digging Deep

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:

 

Digging Deep

Boyd Lemon

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432768461

No life in love is ever simple. “Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages” is a memoir by Boyd Lemon. He reflects on his life through the twentieth century and the changing attitudes about women. From the super moralistic 1940s to the sexual revolutions of the 1960s and much more, “Digging Deep” is a thoughtful look at life, love, women, and marriage from the perspective of a man who has seen all of it.

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Parallel Lives

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:

Parallel Lives

Martin Gwent Lewis

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432772093

Reviewer: Tia Bach

Can you imagine being at the lowest point in your life and reviewing all your past decisions? Not just reviewing them, but meeting your alter egos who made different decisions. This is the basis of “Parallel Lives,” an intriguing story about a man struggling with life and past decisions. The story opens on Richard’s darkest day; he is about to end it all when a voice yells, “Don’t do it! The repercussions are beyond your wildest dreams.” His savior is his counterpart in another reality, known as Historian.

As the story progresses, Richard meets three versions of himself, each formed by a major decision in his life. Known as Historian, Singer, and Missionary, they are all Richard in a parallel universe. Important events in Richard’s life create a strong pull through the dimensions to bring them all together. The suspense builds from there and takes the characters through London, Geneva, and Africa.

Between realizations and pangs of regret, Richard finds a new job with the World Health Organization and also falls in love. His new job responsibilities send him on a dangerous mission to Africa where nothing is as it seems. The mission culminates in an entertaining and unique battle with unexpected participants.

The scenes where Richard meets with his doppelgängers are intriguing. Who hasn’t looked back on past decisions and wondered how their life would be different if only they had taken another path? Richard gets to see several paths, none perfect, and realize the potential in his own life.

The last half of the book is a thrill ride, and I felt more and more invested in the story. I only wish the first half was as successful. To be fair, there was a lot of necessary explanation and scenes where Richard meets his counterparts and discovers how each came to be. In the end, it all comes together. The love story with Madeline, although rushed, adds a softer side to Richard. My biggest complaint is the story deserves a much more interesting cover. There are so many possibilities for an amazing cover, and the author missed a great opportunity to better showcase his work.

If you enjoy twists and turns, action, and thought-provoking themes, this book is for you. Don’t give up in the beginning or you’ll miss the best parts.

Uncategorized, Wendy Speaks

How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish?

Many authors ask, “How much does it cost to self-publish?” The question should be “What should an author invest in their project based on their marketing goals?” Most authors self-publish in hopes of selling their book. While your book needs to be appealing and have good content, a solid marketing plan is essential to selling to your book.

I always recommend professional copyediting and a custom cover to all authors who are serious about sales. Authors are given approximately eight seconds for potential buyers to decide if they like the cover enough to consider purchasing the book. Therefore, the cover needs to be unique and eye-catching. In addition, nothing will “kill” a sale faster than a manuscript that is riddled with typographical errors or bad grammar. This is especially important for non-fiction books that are positioning the author as a credible expert.

Self-publishing should be looked at from a business perspective. I cannot imagine any business, new or old, not budgeting for advertising. When prospective authors ask me how much money they need to include in their self-publishing budget, I typically respond that $2500.00 is the average amount. In this estimate, I have allotted $1500.00 to the actual production of the book.  The additional $1000.00 should be used for marketing services. The cost for professional copyediting is not included in this amount, but I do recommend investing in professional copyediting.

 Although many people spend more or less than this amount, I believe this is a good estimate for self-publishing authors. However, it comes down to each individual’s goals for their book and their individual reason for publishing.

 

 

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.