Self-Publishing – Page 79 – Self Publishing Advisor

Self Publish a Book in 2013

It is hard to believe another year is already behind us. As 2013 approaches, many of you will set New Year’s resolutions for yourself. One of the most popular resolutions is writing and publishing a book. Whether you write fiction, non-fiction, adult or children’s books, the Self Publishing Advisor blog is here to help. Every week we share tips, advice and news about self-publishing to help you achieve your goals, and I’m dedicating my January posts to authors whose 2013 resolution is to write and self-publish a book before the year ends.

Whatever your writing obstacles have been in the past (a busy schedule or a fear of failure), I am here to help! Enjoy the last night of 2012 and get ready for the best year of your life — the year you become a self-published author.

Happy New Year’s!

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.

Kelly Speaks

3 Reasons to Use a Pseudonym When Self-Publishing Your Book

Some of the most famous authors in history have used pen names, including Dr. Seuss, J.K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, and Mark Twain. When self-publishing a book, you too may want to consider using a pseudonym. Here are three reasons why.

1. Gender

In today’s society, it is hard to believe that women authors still use men’s names when publishing, but it is true. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote about two female mystery writers who decided to use men’s names because they read a study showing that men prefer to read books by men. It is common for female writers to use a male name when the main character is a male or when the topic is “masculine,” such as military, science fiction, and thrillers. This helps the author connect with the readers. Think about it: would you be less likely to take a story with a female main character and a feminine topic seriously if you knew it was written by a male? Females aren’t the only ones who decide to keep their gender a secret when choosing a pen name. If you don’t want to pretend to be the opposite sex, simply choose a gender neutral pen name.

2. Privacy

Self-publishing a book can lead to stardom for successful authors, but not everyone wants their readers to know their real identity. Many people prefer to keep their personal and writing lives separate. This is especially true for authors whose two lives contradict each other. For instance, an elementary school teacher may not want her students and their parents to know that she writes racy romance novels in her free time. Choosing a pen name allows you take on a different persona when you write and promote your book.

3. Legal Issues

Unfortunately, there are lsometimes egal issues that go along with self-publishing a book. If you are writing about real life events or people, you could find yourself in court if you don’t get proper permission from the people in the story or if the details aren’t 100% accurate. To avoid legal issues, use a pen name to protect your identity. Also, if you want to write a book based on your life, only call it a memoir only if it is 100% accurate. If you change events to make a better story, it is fiction.

I’d love to know, would you ever use a pen name? Why or why not?

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.

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self Publishing Week in Review: 12/25/12

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self publishing process, which will lead to a greater self publishing experience. To help you stay current on self publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Tuesday to find out the hottest news in self publishing this week.

Self-Publishing: No Longer Just a Vanity Project

There was a time when self-publishing companies were called vanity presses, and self-publishing authors weren’t taken seriously because they didn’t take the traditional publishing route. This is no longer the case. Now self-publishing authors are hitting bestsellers lists and being reviewed in the New York Times, and they have access to the same professional services as traditionally published authors.

Another First for Self-Publishing

This article talks about self-publishing in 2012. Some of the highlights include self-publishing having $100 million in revenue, numerous authors who were picked up by major publishing houses, and self-publishing books hitting bestselling lists. The real story was about a first for the industry: a self-published book being named to the best-books of the year list of the highly respected and ultra-tough book reviewer for the New York Times, Michiko Kakutani.

Senior Authors Embrace Self-Publishing

This article talks about the popularity of self-publishing among seniors. Many of them want to share their story or finally publish the book they’ve spent their whole lives wanting to write. With the ease and affordability of self-publishing, they are now able to do just that.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

Jodee Speaks

Merry Christmas Self-Publishing Authors!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all my readers! Unfortunately, there are many people who will not have the joyous holiday they imagined this year. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting. Despite the tragedy they are recovering from, I hope they are able to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas: faith, love and family. For those of us who are blessed to be in the company of all of our loved ones, please keep those who need your support in your thoughts and prayers.

Too often, Christmas is associated with expensive gifts and frivolous spending, but Christmas should really be about love and family. This year, I challenge you to take a few moments to appreciate your blessings and to help those who are less fortunate. One of the easiest ways to do this is by spending a few minutes writing this holiday. You could write a poem, a letter, a short story, or even begin a chapter of the novel you’ve been putting off. Write about Christmas or your family, or use writing as a way to cope with the heartbreak that is saddening our country. Whatever you write, let it come from your heart.

Merry Christmas.

Kelly Speaks, Kindle

The Bestselling Self-Published Kindle Books of 2012

Amazon recently announced its Top 100 Kindle Books for 2012. I was very excited to see that 15 of those books have self-publishing origins! One of the most notable titles is the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, which was originally published by an Australia-based e-book and print-on-demand establishment. Many of the other self-published titles were also in the romance genre. However, several of the titles were from other genres. Here is the complete list:

2012’s Bestselling Kindle Books (Self-Published Origins)

1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

2. Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

3. Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

4. Bared to You by Sylvia Day

5. Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

6. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

7. Snake Skin by CJ Lyons

8. Wool by Hugh Howey

9. The Sweetest Thing by Barbara Freethy

10. The Lion, the Lamb, the Hunted by Andrew Kaufman

11. Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee

12. The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden

13. Blood Stained by CJ Lyons

14. Secret Lives by Diane Chamberlain

15. Down to You by M. Leighton

This list is great news for self-publishing authors! It proves that you don’t have to go the traditional publishing route to be successful, and it provides significant insight into the types of books that have been successful. If you are considering self-publishing, you may want to check out some of these books to see what makes them hits among readers. However, never feel obligated to follow trends. Just because 2012 was a huge year for the romance genre, does not mean you must write romance novels, and it doesn’t guarantee that the genre will remain popular.

I’d love to know, what is your favorite self-published e-book?

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