Tag: self publish

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: Looking for Closure

Looking for Closure: The Theresa Ferrara Story

by Maria Steward

This self-published book was recently reviewed by Rebecca’s Reads:

For anyone that loves a great mystery “Looking for Closure” will keep the pages turning. The story of Theresa Ferrara is one shrouding in confusion & intrigue. A beautiful, young beautician goes out to make some fast money on a February day without her coat or keys and disappears into oblivion. Her niece (author Maria Stewart) discovers that the woman she thought she was best friends with was leading a double life. Could she really have had information on the notorious Lufthansa Heist? Was she an informant for the cops? Could it have been the FBI that whisked her away into Witness Protection Program?

For over 20 years Maria Stewart tried to put the pieces together of what happened that afternoon. They had found partial remains and were told that it was her aunt but they were never sure. The pieces of the puzzle are scattered and Maria along with help from friends and family are determined to sort it out.

The ending of the book was not what I was expecting as all the evidence leads us down a road only to find that even with the answers handed to us, we still have no closure. I can only imagine how the family is dealing with all the information they have acquired. I believe there is much that the family still doesn’t know and may not ever find out.

I was very impressed with Maria Stewart and how she pulls everything together for the reader. I was engrossed in “Looking For Closure” from the beginning and finished in an evening. However, die hard readers must keep in mind this is the author’s first book and it was a bit choppy. She often repeats herself, sometimes using the exact same wording which makes it a bit of a rough start. However, she chronicles the story beautifully and does not add fluff just to take up pages. Her insertion of actual articles that give credence to her true crime tale only make the story more compelling.

Looking for Closure: The Theresa Ferrara Story
Maria Steward
Outskirts Press, Inc (2009)
ISBN 9781432730260
Reviewed by Melissa Koltes for RebeccasReads (10/09)

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 Published Book Review of the Week: Turkey’s Treat

Turkey’s Treat

by Marie Sanderlin Metroke

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

“The Turkey’s Treat” is a great holiday paperback tale that teaches young Jeff a new definition of Christmas dinner. Humorous illustrations impel each page turn through the end, which has a few unexpected twists and turns. A fine way to learn about respectfulness for others and the true underlying meaning of a winter holiday, “The Turkey’s Treat” will be a hit with readers age 6 and up.

The Turkey’s Treat
Marie Sanderlin Metroke, author
Victor Guiza, illustrator
Outskirts Press, Inc.
9781432733247, $9.95, www.amazon.com

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


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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Published Book Review of the Week: Embellish

Embellish

by R.L. Sloan

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

This book is a fun addition to the vampire romance novels in circulation. The book begins with a frightening description of a distressing event in the main character Solis Burkes’ life. This event would determine the rest of her life. Her past is known by her family and a secret admirer. The premise is that a group of very evil people have begun to take control of the town and threaten to influence everyone with their dark magic and voodoo. Solis Burkes decides that she will exact revenge on these evil people. She joins forces with a man who has been watching over her for many years. She wants revenge, and she gets it. Her family and friends are all in danger with her involvement in revenge against the evil doers. Solis must make a decision to save her family and friends or continue with her revenge.

Overall, this is a great book and the most unique part is the addition of such a young character’s voice. She is funny and brave, and her inner thoughts are fun to read. I thought the author did a good job capturing a young teen’s voice. For example, Sloan writes: “I once again slammed the phone down as hard as I could. It felt good to do that! It might have been childish for me to do, but I was beginning to feel a newfound confidence that was starting to make me feel alive. It made me want to start regarding myself with some value, and not be pushed around or taken for granted anymore.” The characters are very interesting to read about, a protective grandmother, a nice teen with a big heart and a sad past, and a secret admirer, are all well developed. It is a very good read, both fast-paced and thrilling.

I think anyone would enjoy this book, especially if you like romance and the paranormal. It is the first book in a series, but is very worthwhile to read. R. L. Sloan is a good writer; she captures a youthful voice perfectly and she makes it fun to read about Solis and find out what will happen to her next. The dialogue between the characters is very interesting because she uses New Orleans colloquialisms and the characters’ names are very unique, for example Childress, Olvignia, and Erland. “Embellish” is simply a good book, and hopefully the sequel will come out soon!

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

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Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self Published Book Review of the Week: Portraits in Lavender

Portraits in Lavender

by Connie Torrisi

This self-published book was recently reviewed by Rainbow Reviews:

Portraits in Lavender (subtitled Flash Biographies of Some Famous Lesbians for the Newly Out Lesbian) is a historical biography with a double purpose. First of all, the goal is to reach lesbians who are newly out, whether young adults, adolescents, or chronologically mature women just stepping out of the closet. Second, the book intends to bring out of the historical closet the lives of fifteen divergent figures whose actions have marked civilization, yet whose orientation has either been overlooked or deliberately obscured. Included are famous writers, activists, a President’s First Lady, and even a notorious “criminal.”

Portraits in Lavender is not intended as a book of erotica nor as a call to lesbianism, but rather is an awakening for readers ~ gay and straight alike ~ to understand the lives of historical figures whose sexual orientation only deepened, not denigrated, their achievements. Some of those mentioned are widely known but others may be new to the reader.

The importance of this book is to alert readers to a depth of history previously unexplored, and to inspire them to investigate further into the lives of these individuals, and to commemorate their accomplishments, both public and private. This reviewer, for example, is intrigued to read further into the works of some of the very special writers mentioned in this collection. The short biographies are easy but thought-provoking reading for all of us: gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or straight.

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


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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.