How much does it cost to self-publish a book? This seems like a simple enough question but there is no simple answer. There are three basic types of self-publishers. I’ll call them the casual hobbyist, the serious hobbyist and the professional. Before I can answer “How much?” you need to determine which type fits you best. Today I am … [Read more...]

There are many ways to make a publishing firm succeed, but there is one sure way to make it fail -- conducting business without a marketing plan. That is especially true when preparing your special-sales marketing plan, since this is usually foreign territory for the traditional independent publisher. In this case, a strategic plan is like a … [Read more...]

(Adapted from The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living, by Peter Bowerman. Fanove, 2006. www.wellfedsp.com). Note: The following guidelines for the layout of your back cover are for non-fiction, where my expertise lies. Needless to say, fiction, where you simply need to entrance someone with a good story line, … [Read more...]

The major holidays are over and we’re tippy toeing into 2007. Your greatest seasonal opportunity to sell books ended last month. Your books will probably remain untouched in storage until the next big gift-giving holiday. Right? Not necessarily. There are plenty of reasons to pitch your book all throughout the year. And what better time to … [Read more...]

I know you have heard this before, but anyway check your spelling and grammar. The good thing about being a self published author you are able to make the necessary changes that you like. You can change and add endings, beginning or climaxes to your story before every print. It’s yours. My most lofty obstacle is marketing. Read all the … [Read more...]

Its book award application time! Book awards bring exposure to books. Exposure generates sales. Sales mean more money in your pocket. Pursuing those book awards that allow publishers or authors to nominate their own titles can be a worthwhile activity for your book marketing efforts. The literary community hosts a myriad of book awards. These … [Read more...]

Last week I went to pay some bills online. I looked at my account and realized there were charges listed that I had never made. I called the bank immediately. We shut down all of my accounts and opened new ones. I went to the bank 10 business days later, and I still did not have a functioning ATM card. That meant that rather than simply go to an … [Read more...]