Today at jexbo, we talk to self-published author Eugene Stovall. Eugene has written four, self-published books, and has some great information to share:
Tell us about your self-published books.
I have four self published books:
Frank Yerby: A Victim's Guilt [2007 IPPY Bronze Medal winner]
Blood And Brotherhood: A Novel Of Love In A Time Of Hate
The Idumean Covenant: A Novel Of The Fall Of Jerusalem
Cassandra's Curse: A Black Life In A Police State
My books are historical fictions written in the genre of Frank Yerby's costume novels and are intended not only to entertain but to debunk historical myths.
The books are available on my website, http://www.eugenestovall.com/. And also at Amazon.com, Eloquent Books [eBook], Kindle Books [Amazon Electronic Reader] and Borders Books.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I could not interest any publisher, distributor or agent in representing my work.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
In the beginning, my challenge was to believe that I had something to say… something important. But the major obstacle I faced, not only in the past, but even now, is the question frequently posed by friends and family: “Who will buy a book that you’ve written?”
Frank Yerby put it another way. He said that all writers must overcome the obstacle of believing that their writing is an aspect of hubris or arrogance.
Even after deciding to write, I had to face the simple fact that I needed to do a lot of work before I could focus my thoughts, research my facts and develop the literary style expected of an accomplished writer. So I spent a great deal of time writing before I could overcome the skepticism of either my friends and family... or myself.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
By working at my craft for almost ten years now, my writing style as a costume novelist continues to develop. I have learned to make my readers laugh and cry ... and end my novels in a way that makes the reader gasp because the ending was unexpected.
I have received a number of excellent reviews, both online as well as in literary magazines, which tells me that I am on the right track. At the same time, my understanding of the business of publishing and selling books is resulting in a number of solid opportunities. Thus, the best part of what I do is that I grow not only as a writer, but also as a business person.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
The most important advice I can offer any writer, whether self publishing or not, is to read.
I have always read for my own enjoyment, but once I became serious about writing, I realized how important it was to study the various literary styles and discover the right one for me. Each writer must make this same discovery, if that writer hopes to discover the road to success.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I believe my recent trip to China to participate in the 2010 Beijing International Book Fair was successful. Several Chinese publishers are currently reading my books. One has even inquired about my financial requirements. So I am very excited about the prospect of selling the rights to my books to a Chinese publication house.
That’s great news Eugene! We wish you all the best! Thanks for your insights.
How about you? Do you have questions about writing and selling a self-published book? Please write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Interview with Self-Published Author, Tom McQueen
For today’s self-published author interview, we talk to Tom McQueen, author of “Letters to Ethan: A Grandfather’s Legacy of Live & Love.” Here’s what Tom had to say:
Tell us about your self-published book and where it is available.
Patients who had come to see me for counseling for over 25 years who had lost a parent or grandparent motivated me to write “Letters to Ethan.” They said that while they may have been left a house, a car, or some other material possessions, what really would have been meaningful and helpful to them would have been to leave a letter or note from their loved one containing some affirmation of love or advice that they would have treasured as a legacy.
When my son was born, I began writing him "legacy letters" on his birthday, recounting the experiences we shared during the year and telling him how much I loved him and what faith I had in him. Then when my grandson, Ethan, was born those letters turned into a book which has been endorsed by Coach Lou Holtz, Dick Vitale at ESPN, Rudy Ruettiger (inspiration for the movie, Rudy) and others.
The book is available at http://www.legacynationusa.com/, http://www.letterstoethan.com/, and as of November 1st, at http://www.amazon.com/ as well as other retail outlets.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I decided to self-publish because I wanted control over my work. I also wanted to keep 100% of the royalties and use them to help fund projects associated with our not-for-profit, American Family Foundation, Inc.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
My biggest challenge was developing an effective marketing and PR plan. To respond to that challenge I sought endorsements from recognizable public figures that I thought would complement the theme of the book. I was actually surprised at the people who were willing to reach out and help after they had read the manuscript.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
The best part of self-publishing has been the ability to control the outcome of the final product and maintain both the integrity and the intent of the theme of the book. To me, this was the tipping point when the decision needed to be made as to whether or not to accept the offer of a publisher or to do it myself.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
My advice is that if you have a clear vision of what your book project needs to look like, and you have the drive and ambition to make that happen, then by all means self-publish. In addition, you have to be willing to partner with editors, cover designers, typesetters and others who may not always share your vision or who, in fact, may have a better idea for getting your message out.
Collaboration and cooperation is the key, and writers have to be of that mind set to be successful with self-publishing.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sometimes I think that authors aren't aware of the tremendous power and potential that they have to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Being an author isn't a job or a career.... it's a vocation...and while the calling that we have is a special gift, it also carries with it a tremendous responsibility to contribute to the common good. Thanks for the opportunity to share these thoughts....
Your book sounds very interesting Tom. Thanks for your inspiration, and we wish you all the best!
How about you?
Do you have some inspiring information to share with other, self-published authors? Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/. I’d love to hear from you!
Tell us about your self-published book and where it is available.
Patients who had come to see me for counseling for over 25 years who had lost a parent or grandparent motivated me to write “Letters to Ethan.” They said that while they may have been left a house, a car, or some other material possessions, what really would have been meaningful and helpful to them would have been to leave a letter or note from their loved one containing some affirmation of love or advice that they would have treasured as a legacy.
When my son was born, I began writing him "legacy letters" on his birthday, recounting the experiences we shared during the year and telling him how much I loved him and what faith I had in him. Then when my grandson, Ethan, was born those letters turned into a book which has been endorsed by Coach Lou Holtz, Dick Vitale at ESPN, Rudy Ruettiger (inspiration for the movie, Rudy) and others.
The book is available at http://www.legacynationusa.com/, http://www.letterstoethan.com/, and as of November 1st, at http://www.amazon.com/ as well as other retail outlets.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I decided to self-publish because I wanted control over my work. I also wanted to keep 100% of the royalties and use them to help fund projects associated with our not-for-profit, American Family Foundation, Inc.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
My biggest challenge was developing an effective marketing and PR plan. To respond to that challenge I sought endorsements from recognizable public figures that I thought would complement the theme of the book. I was actually surprised at the people who were willing to reach out and help after they had read the manuscript.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
The best part of self-publishing has been the ability to control the outcome of the final product and maintain both the integrity and the intent of the theme of the book. To me, this was the tipping point when the decision needed to be made as to whether or not to accept the offer of a publisher or to do it myself.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
My advice is that if you have a clear vision of what your book project needs to look like, and you have the drive and ambition to make that happen, then by all means self-publish. In addition, you have to be willing to partner with editors, cover designers, typesetters and others who may not always share your vision or who, in fact, may have a better idea for getting your message out.
Collaboration and cooperation is the key, and writers have to be of that mind set to be successful with self-publishing.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sometimes I think that authors aren't aware of the tremendous power and potential that they have to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Being an author isn't a job or a career.... it's a vocation...and while the calling that we have is a special gift, it also carries with it a tremendous responsibility to contribute to the common good. Thanks for the opportunity to share these thoughts....
Your book sounds very interesting Tom. Thanks for your inspiration, and we wish you all the best!
How about you?
Do you have some inspiring information to share with other, self-published authors? Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/. I’d love to hear from you!
How Do You Get Book Publicity? – Interview with Melanie Rembrandt, author of “Simple Publicity”
Ever wondered how to get publicity for your book without spending a lot of money?
Well, Melanie Rembrandt, owner of Rembrandt Communications, http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/, and jexbo’s publicist, has summarized her extensive, publicity and SEO copywriting experience into a simple guide anyone can follow to build buzz.
Instead of spending a fortune on a big agency or service, you can do your own public relations with this simple and inexpensive book. Here’s what Melanie had to say:
Tell us about your self-published book and where it is available.
After spending years helping entrepreneurs who wasted time and money on public relations agencies and SEO scams, I decided to create a simple guide to help them do their own public relations. It’s called, “Simple Publicity – How to do your own public relations to boost sales, awareness and credibility fast… without spending a lot of money.”
Inside, you’ll learn the number one way to get press easily, what never to say or do during a media interview, the four big myths about getting publicity, and a lot more. There are easy guidelines for creating a press release, preparing a media kit, optimizing your site for the search engines, and more.
In a matter of hours, you’ll be able to start generating media attention for your book, business or organization – for less than $25.00!
“Simple Publicity” is available on my site at http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/, on jexbo at http://www.jexbo.com/items/211 and on Amazon at http://amzn.to/simplepublicity.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I wanted to share my simple, publicity tips with entrepreneurs as soon as possible. And self-publishing allowed me to get my message out fast.
In a matter of weeks, I was able to share the book with new buyers and my established audience (via my free newsletter and various blogs at StartupNation, PINK, Smallbiz America, and others).
By self-publishing “Simple Publicity,” I have complete control over the entire process including creative, editing, marketing, sales, and promotion.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
The entire self-publishing process, including the writing, editing, research, and marketing, takes a lot of hard work. The biggest challenge was finding the time to finish the book while continuing to run my public relations and SEO copywriting business.
To overcome this challenge, I got up in the wee hours of morning to finish my “to do” list for the book. This process worked out well, and I was able to work on the self-publishing process before starting my “regular” workday.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
The best part about the self-publishing process was being able to provide struggling entrepreneurs with the information they needed quickly to start publicizing their businesses.
All of the PR and marketing data out there can be overwhelming. And it was a real joy to simplify the publicity process and distribute the information to those who needed it as fast as possible. Now, instead of being overwhelmed and broke, entrepreneurs can learn how to do their own PR for the book cost of $19.99!
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Write down your goals, conduct research on the services available to help you with the process, set a schedule for writing and marketing, and then, stick to your schedule. By working on your book a little each day, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a few weeks, and your book will be done before you know it.
Plus, there is a lot of great information available to help you succeed at http://www.jexbo.com/, http://www.selfpublishing.com/, http://www.copyright.gov/, http://www.bookmarket.com/ and more.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Writing a book and self-publishing are a lot of work. But you will enjoy complete control and the satisfaction of selling your book when, where and how you want! Go for it, and don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done!
And if you want some free information on how to build buzz for your books, please check out my site at http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/. I offer a free, weekly newsletter, reports, blog entries and a lot more.
Thanks for your inspiration and tips, Melanie. All the best with “Simple Publicity”
How about you? Do you need help selling your books online? Please let me know here, or visit http://www.jexbo.com/ to post your book for free and get some valuable information on self-publishing.
Well, Melanie Rembrandt, owner of Rembrandt Communications, http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/, and jexbo’s publicist, has summarized her extensive, publicity and SEO copywriting experience into a simple guide anyone can follow to build buzz.
Instead of spending a fortune on a big agency or service, you can do your own public relations with this simple and inexpensive book. Here’s what Melanie had to say:
Tell us about your self-published book and where it is available.
After spending years helping entrepreneurs who wasted time and money on public relations agencies and SEO scams, I decided to create a simple guide to help them do their own public relations. It’s called, “Simple Publicity – How to do your own public relations to boost sales, awareness and credibility fast… without spending a lot of money.”
Inside, you’ll learn the number one way to get press easily, what never to say or do during a media interview, the four big myths about getting publicity, and a lot more. There are easy guidelines for creating a press release, preparing a media kit, optimizing your site for the search engines, and more.
In a matter of hours, you’ll be able to start generating media attention for your book, business or organization – for less than $25.00!
“Simple Publicity” is available on my site at http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/, on jexbo at http://www.jexbo.com/items/211 and on Amazon at http://amzn.to/simplepublicity.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I wanted to share my simple, publicity tips with entrepreneurs as soon as possible. And self-publishing allowed me to get my message out fast.
In a matter of weeks, I was able to share the book with new buyers and my established audience (via my free newsletter and various blogs at StartupNation, PINK, Smallbiz America, and others).
By self-publishing “Simple Publicity,” I have complete control over the entire process including creative, editing, marketing, sales, and promotion.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
The entire self-publishing process, including the writing, editing, research, and marketing, takes a lot of hard work. The biggest challenge was finding the time to finish the book while continuing to run my public relations and SEO copywriting business.
To overcome this challenge, I got up in the wee hours of morning to finish my “to do” list for the book. This process worked out well, and I was able to work on the self-publishing process before starting my “regular” workday.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
The best part about the self-publishing process was being able to provide struggling entrepreneurs with the information they needed quickly to start publicizing their businesses.
All of the PR and marketing data out there can be overwhelming. And it was a real joy to simplify the publicity process and distribute the information to those who needed it as fast as possible. Now, instead of being overwhelmed and broke, entrepreneurs can learn how to do their own PR for the book cost of $19.99!
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Write down your goals, conduct research on the services available to help you with the process, set a schedule for writing and marketing, and then, stick to your schedule. By working on your book a little each day, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a few weeks, and your book will be done before you know it.
Plus, there is a lot of great information available to help you succeed at http://www.jexbo.com/, http://www.selfpublishing.com/, http://www.copyright.gov/, http://www.bookmarket.com/ and more.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Writing a book and self-publishing are a lot of work. But you will enjoy complete control and the satisfaction of selling your book when, where and how you want! Go for it, and don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done!
And if you want some free information on how to build buzz for your books, please check out my site at http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/. I offer a free, weekly newsletter, reports, blog entries and a lot more.
Thanks for your inspiration and tips, Melanie. All the best with “Simple Publicity”
How about you? Do you need help selling your books online? Please let me know here, or visit http://www.jexbo.com/ to post your book for free and get some valuable information on self-publishing.
Self-Published Author Interview – Diane Marentette of The New Brain for Business Institute
If you have questions about self-publishing your book, check out my interview today with Diane Marentette. She and Richard Trafton are the authors of “A New Brain For Business,” and Diane had some great information to share…
Tell us about your self-published book.
Our book is "A New Brain for Business: Leadership Practices that Unleash the Very Best from Your People and Your Business." We wrote the book to capture the work we had been doing with our clients, because they were asking for it (you may want to watch our video on our site to hear more about this)!
We published it in May of this year, and it is now available in three formats: a hard copy is available directly from our website at www.newbrainforbusiness.com and both a paperback copy and a Kindle version of the book are available at www.Amazon.com.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
We submitted eight or nine proposals to publishers or agents and ultimately spoke with five of them. In every case where we had a conversation, they were all interested in our completing an “author’s marketing plan” that would convince them that we would do what it takes to sell books.
At the time, that felt like it was taking us in a direction that would pull us away from our work with our clients, which is where our hearts are. In addition, a good friend had self-published a book and was very pleased with the results, so we decided to take that route.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why? How did you overcome that challenge?
We started with website providers who published “on-demand.” The company we started with turned out to be extremely unresponsive and unhelpful with technical problems (we work exclusively with Apple products, and that company only wanted Microsoft output).
We struggled with that for several weeks, finally got the book to “proof” and were very dissatisfied with the output. The big learning, however, was that “on-demand publishing” meant that if a client wanted to order a book, it could take literally weeks to receive a copy.
Once we realized that, it became pretty easy to shift gears. We then found a printer and a fulfillment house and got on with the process of publishing the book for sale on our website. (It was inexpensive and easy to then get a Kindle version on Amazon. We just made a paperback version available, too, and that was remarkably easy and fast!)
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
We were able to do it quickly and “control” the process and output. We got the book out and are able to use it in our business.
Getting it published has had a huge impact on our approach to our business and our future, a real milestone for us. So, there have been many “best” parts of self-publishing our book!
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Clarify your intentions and expectations. Are you hoping for a best seller? Are you hoping to make much money? Are you wanting to have a book available for any specific reason, such as supporting other work you do? Will you be satisfied if no one buys the book but you got it published? Are you willing to spend some money to get it published - although most self-publishing efforts are extremely inexpensive, they also do not get you much return.
Self-publishing is hard because of the potential “false” promises it holds - thinking through the promises you think self-publishing holds for you and asking questions to find out if they are real is the best advice we can give!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you want a “professional looking” book, get an editor to read and help you at least get the language and syntax correct. Get an illustrator for pictures and layout, and a great cover.
Think through every aspect of the book, and don’t accept your proof just because you are tired of the entire process! You’ve made it this far (written the book) but you are not done. Bring it home.
Fantastic advice Diane! For more information about Diane and Richard’s book, “A New Brain For Business,” and how to use your new brain for business success, visit http://www.newbrainforbusiness.com/.
And if you have questions about selling your book online, please write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Tell us about your self-published book.
Our book is "A New Brain for Business: Leadership Practices that Unleash the Very Best from Your People and Your Business." We wrote the book to capture the work we had been doing with our clients, because they were asking for it (you may want to watch our video on our site to hear more about this)!
We published it in May of this year, and it is now available in three formats: a hard copy is available directly from our website at www.newbrainforbusiness.com and both a paperback copy and a Kindle version of the book are available at www.Amazon.com.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
We submitted eight or nine proposals to publishers or agents and ultimately spoke with five of them. In every case where we had a conversation, they were all interested in our completing an “author’s marketing plan” that would convince them that we would do what it takes to sell books.
At the time, that felt like it was taking us in a direction that would pull us away from our work with our clients, which is where our hearts are. In addition, a good friend had self-published a book and was very pleased with the results, so we decided to take that route.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why? How did you overcome that challenge?
We started with website providers who published “on-demand.” The company we started with turned out to be extremely unresponsive and unhelpful with technical problems (we work exclusively with Apple products, and that company only wanted Microsoft output).
We struggled with that for several weeks, finally got the book to “proof” and were very dissatisfied with the output. The big learning, however, was that “on-demand publishing” meant that if a client wanted to order a book, it could take literally weeks to receive a copy.
Once we realized that, it became pretty easy to shift gears. We then found a printer and a fulfillment house and got on with the process of publishing the book for sale on our website. (It was inexpensive and easy to then get a Kindle version on Amazon. We just made a paperback version available, too, and that was remarkably easy and fast!)
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
We were able to do it quickly and “control” the process and output. We got the book out and are able to use it in our business.
Getting it published has had a huge impact on our approach to our business and our future, a real milestone for us. So, there have been many “best” parts of self-publishing our book!
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Clarify your intentions and expectations. Are you hoping for a best seller? Are you hoping to make much money? Are you wanting to have a book available for any specific reason, such as supporting other work you do? Will you be satisfied if no one buys the book but you got it published? Are you willing to spend some money to get it published - although most self-publishing efforts are extremely inexpensive, they also do not get you much return.
Self-publishing is hard because of the potential “false” promises it holds - thinking through the promises you think self-publishing holds for you and asking questions to find out if they are real is the best advice we can give!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you want a “professional looking” book, get an editor to read and help you at least get the language and syntax correct. Get an illustrator for pictures and layout, and a great cover.
Think through every aspect of the book, and don’t accept your proof just because you are tired of the entire process! You’ve made it this far (written the book) but you are not done. Bring it home.
Fantastic advice Diane! For more information about Diane and Richard’s book, “A New Brain For Business,” and how to use your new brain for business success, visit http://www.newbrainforbusiness.com/.
And if you have questions about selling your book online, please write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
