Topic: Self Publish

Authors Need to Ride Surfing the Publishing Wave

Authors Need to Ride Surfing the Publishing Wave

Thirty plus years ago, one of my author friends coined one of my favorite book titles: Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers. It’s all about change and slashing through the things that continually hold people and companies back. Fast forward 20 years. I ran into the author Bob Kriegel at a conference we were both speaking at. He was still talking about burgers and he reminded me of a story he told me long ago …

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Is There a Book in You? How’s It Doing? Get Resources for Success

Is There a Book in You? How’s It Doing? Get Resources for Success

Question: If you are an Author, are you happy with your book sales?
Question: Would you like to be an Author of a successful Book?
Question: Do you really know how Authors become rock stars who get minimal advances, if any, yet soar?
Question: Would you be thrilled with a few hundred copies of your book sold (average is less than 500) or would you like to sell thousands?
                       
Answers: The answers are in front of you. Within the …

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Book Editors & Publishing Are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

Book Editors & Publishing Are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

Book Editors & Book Publishing Are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly
Why so many authors think that their friend who teaches literature at the local college, or their sister who
loves everything they write and do is the perfect editor for their work is beyond me.

Your editor can make or break your work—she can shape and shore it up … or, put in some commas and check your spelling. There are now more self and independent …

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Talk Targets™: How To Inspire Conversation

Talk Targets™: How To Inspire Conversation

Susan RoAne is the leading expert in how to connect with anyone in any room at a time. It’s what every author needs to know and do to succeed in selling and marketing books. Get ready to learn from the pro at the Extravaganza.

People who produce, sell books and people who buy books, the better positioned we are as authors to build essential long-term relationships.
Being a Talk Target—someone who makes other people feel like brilliant …

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Get Your Print Books Reviewed Pre and Post Publication

Get Your Print Books Reviewed Pre and Post Publication

The Library Journal, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and ForeWord Reviews are the gold standard in book reviews. Some (Publishers Weekly, ForeWord Reviews  and Kirkus have also created a paid for review service—this doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed a blue ribbon with your payment for it. It means that you are guaranteed a review, sometimes “wow”, sometimes not-so hot. Blue Ink Reviews (also an Author U member and Extravaganza Exhibitor) has garnered an …

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Don’t Wait til Next Year … Set Book and Author Goals Now!

Don’t Wait til Next Year … Set Book and Author Goals Now!

Most authors wait until the new year to think about goals for books and themselves.

Don’t.  Get out your crystal ball, shake it up, and gaze into it. What worked this past year? What didn’t? If you have the magic wand, what would you like NEXT year to do for you … for your book? Whatever it is … you need a plan.
No author plans to fail; what they do is fail to plan.      
                                              -Snappy Sassy Salty                                                  
When …

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Don’t Confuse Independent Publishing with Self-Publishing

Don’t Confuse Independent Publishing with Self-Publishing

Indie, Independent and Small Press Publishing Are So, Soooooo Different from Self-Publishing, Vanity Presses and Pay-to-Publish “Publishing”

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a zillion times: yes, dear author-to-be (and those already published), there is a difference between self-publishing, vanity presses, pay-to-publish, a small press, and independent publishing. Don’t mix them up. Don’t get confused.
Use Wikipedia as an initial guide:
“The terms “small press”, “indie publisher”, and “independent press” are often used interchangeably, with “independent press” defined …

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Why Publishing on Your Own Is a Very, Very Viable Option

Why Publishing on Your Own Is a Very, Very Viable Option

Once upon a time, in a land no so far away, there were two types of publishing: the coveted traditional route, where thousands of books were printed, media releases created and publisher reps marketed the books that only real authors wrote; and the disdained vanity press—here the giant spitting sound. Authors went the vanity press route only as a last resort. Under the vanity umbrella dwelled the small presses and self-publishing, costly ventures where mass …

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Authors: Make Up Your Mind

Authors: Make Up Your Mind

Are you a procrastinator? Are you looking for the perfect phrase, word, idea? Are you stuck? Wouldn’t getting unstuck and moving forward be a fantastic goal. 

                       
Make a decision to go forward or eliminate vs. the one that you have practiced—to do nothing.
Moving from wannabe author to the real thing is totally possible this coming year. Moving from wannabe speaker to the …

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5 More Publishing Blunders to Avoid … Part II

5 More Publishing Blunders to Avoid … Part II

Publishing Blunders aren’t fun … as pointed out last week with the first 5 Publishing Blunders.
Last week, I identified the first 5 on my hit list of blunders: Not niching your market-get over that your book is for everyone–it’s not; not grasping that this thing called authoring and publishing is a business; using the wrong editors (sorry Mom); not creating a Author and Book GamePlan from the get-go;  and believing that your book will …

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