And You?

 

Are you affected? Monster or normal?

        

The Art Of Self-Publishing... Part 2

At least we are on our way to book publishing. In part 1 we read about starting to writer a book, design a cover, copyright it, proofreading, editing, etc. What comes next? Let's in which direction we must go to get it published. Following all the steps in part 1 and here in part 2 will help you get there easier.

Next you will need an ISBN number. You can either purchase one or get one free if published via Smashwords, Amazon, etc. This is to make the book legit. There are folks who don't have books/eBooks with ISBN numbers, especially if these books are given away freely. Then it is not always necessary for such a number, but it would be better to get one. This makes the book more "legit" and popular when it is "stamped" with such a number.

The final step is to either print your book or do it electronically [eBook]. There are many places where you can do it as an eBook, whether Kindle for Amazon, or other formats such as .mobi, pdf, etc. For paper printing make sure you have a good quality paper that is used. This will also determine the price that you sell it at. Cheap paper tends to lower the selling price. Remember the binding and the colours, such as the cover and if it has any pictures, photos or diagrams within the pages. This too will determine the quality of your book. Electronic books are easier. Places like Smashwords translates and converts your eBook into a few different formats automatically.

But there is more after your book is done and ready to sell. Maybe you can secure a website for it. A personal author website for all your books will help to get it out into the market place. If you can't afford one, use social media then. Create a Facebook page as an author and use that as the first step platform. Then you can link up to Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and so on. Find other useful sites where you can send out "messages" related to your book. Finally comes the actual marketing. Social media is a good start. You can do it yourself or approach self-publishing companies that do it for you. Yes, it will cost you a few dollars though.

That's it! And you are on your way to become a self-published author. Go for it and enjoy the future as an author and be an indie author. Have fun!

End of 2017

And 2017 is coming to an end soon and I'll be taking a well deserved rest and a holiday with my loving wife and family. I have 2 more books to read and review for this year so watch this space. And coming as well, one or two more articles. Don't miss it!

Book Review - From Pastor to a Psych Ward

Book Review - From Pastor to a Psych Ward... by Steve Austin

What can I say, but Wow! Having read this book page upon page one can only feel it deep within one’s heart the sadness, the hurt and pain one can go through in life. At my age I was close to tears seeing what Steve overcame in this journey with mental illness. His ups and downs, his own pain and joy; I felt it all. This book is written in essays, but I see a great prose style here. It is to me, my own opinion, rather a very deep and touching testimony of a man who journeyed through childhood to adulthood with much pain, trials and a life which nearly ended in tragedy – but did not. God was there all the time. His grace saved Steve and healed his marriage to wife Lindsey. Blessed with two children, Steve [the author] told a story that pierces into our hearts and minds.

A book definitely worth purchasing and reading. And I thought that my life’s journey was something to boast about and how God saved me. It doesn’t even compare to Steve’s journey. I rate this book 5 stars [and if I could it would be 10 stars]. A life from a Christian journey [whether righteous or not] to a young pastor who attempted suicide that failed, landing up in a psych ward and the journey it took to a point of being ALIVE again; the healing process had started and still continues. To me this is a “living and ongoing” testimony that should be told to the world, even to other pastors and churches. I couldn’t stop reading and I felt like I was right there. What a read! It was worth every page. You must get it and find out yourself. Well done Steve for such a great book [I skipped the checking of spelling and tenses mistakes as there were some] and speaking out your life and journey related to mental illness.

Amazon Book Review Policies

Amazon Book Review Policies Are Killing Self-Publishers An Amazon book review cannot be posted for free ebooks? Correct. In case, you missed this very quiet, yet extremely nasty change of policy by Amazon, and are sti justpublishingadvice.com/amazon-book-re… #amwriting #indieauthor #writerslife Article by Just-Publishing on Twitter...

Is this not awful now. Maybe everyone should start to bring Amazon to a standstill for a while by not interacting with them; all authors that is. Use someone else for a month and let's see what Amazon has to say about that. Anyone want to offer their input? Enjoy!

The Art of Self-Publishing... Part 1

Where does one begin? In the beginning of course. To publish a book/eBook, one must write something. Yes, start writing your book, although in its raw state, it will take shape as you fill the pages [paper or electronically] with a storyline and characters. That's the beginning. Write, write and write.

Now you have completed your book. For it to be "seen" as a book it must at least surpass 60,000 words. This is then known as a book, maybe a novel, non-fiction or fiction, depending on the genre you want to write about. It could be Christian based, a teaching, a fiction novel, fantasy, science fiction, crime and suspense, etc. What now? The time for re-editing/proofreading commences. You will read it through once, twice, three times, even more, and along the way you edit it, change sentences, plots are varied, changed slightly. When this is done you are ready for your next step.

What about a title for your book? What about the cover, or e-cover? Looks and a name is what attracts readers. If you can't do it on your own, find some who can. There are publishing houses who assist self-publishers here, even with editing/proofreading, etc. You may have had a title when you started with the manuscript but your thoughts start to roam; a better title is out there some where - in your heart and mind. The cover is what will "sell" your book at the first glance. Make it stick out.

What next? Some may need a copyright to their end product. You own it, plot, characters, title, cover, and whatever else is related to your book. Get it copyrighted. Find the right folks who help you with that. Online books [eBooks] are easier as places like Smashwords and others offer you a "line" or small "paragraph related to copyrights which you "fit" into the first pages of the book before chapter 1.

Watch this space for Part 2 of The Art of Self-Publishing. More to come soon!

Book Review - The Deceived by E. C. Fisher

Having read this book slowly [mainly due to overload in my business], and making notes as I went along, I was wowed by it. The author truly knows how to keep you riveted “to your seat” if I may state it in such a way. As a born again Christian, this book was a testing if something like this were really true. A well written prose and a great fantasy which takes you on a journey of checking reality, between what you read and what you know the Bible says; about God and Lucifer. This book is a “tale of weirdness” and it drags you along into a depth of wanting to get to the bottom of the story. The storyline is intriguing and leads you into a battle with your mind.

I give this book a 5 star rating. The author truly went overboard when writing this book, preparing the content [with much research I am presuming] that would baffle us folks into arguing our belief and faith. I was glued to the book the minute I had the opportunity to continue reading it. What if everything we believe in is not true? Can you just see that picture in your mind? The Deceived does just that and it does make you question your faith until one realises it’s only a fantasy story, but what a story. Well done E.C. Fisher!