Today we’re talking to self-published author Mike Brennan, who has been covering cyber security news for more than a decade at his news portal site, MITechNews.Com. This is what he had to say:
Tell us about your self-published book and where it is available.
"Cyber Styletto" is the first in a series of novellas that takes an insider’s look at the security threats on the Internet today. The story – developed by a technology journalist, a cyber security expert and an award-winning novelist - focuses on super hacker Yvonne Tran, part of a secret government agency called CyberCom, who is brought in to investigate a malicious network attack that kills eight innocent people in California. She and her team follow the trail to Hong Kong and Afghanistan, where they must pinpoint the cause before the next attack, which could kill thousands more people in the United States.
The book is available now at www.cyberstyletto.com, www.lulu.com, www.smashwords.com, Barnes & Noble.com and iTunes. Soon it we will be available at Amazon.com, Schuler Books in West Michigan and on jexbo.com.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
We are breaking new ground in fiction, creating a new genre about cyber crime, and we didn’t think a traditional publisher would see the big picture until we sold a few thousand books on our own. We also wanted to get the book out quickly, since many of the facts in it are ripped from today’s headlines. We wanted to make more money and get paid faster than if we went the traditional publishing route, too.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
Marketing the book, getting the word out to the target audience worldwide. We’re still figuring out that part of the book publishing business. But we plan to have Cyber Styletto translated into German, French, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish. I’m sure there are a lot of folks who would be interested in reading "Cyber Styletto" that are non-English readers.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
Total control over distribution and sales. We also earn a much higher profit than if we went the traditional publishing route.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
Make sure you connect with veterans of the book self-publishing industry who can help you learn the ins and outs. We had Gian DeTorre, our novelist, who handled this part for the team.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Follow your dream. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. You can. You can achieve anything you believe.
Your book sounds very exciting Mike! Thanks for sharing your information, and good luck with book sales!
Showing posts with label market your book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label market your book. Show all posts
An Interview with Jim Miller of "Mined Your Own Business"
Today at jexbo we’re talking to Jim Miller, author of “Mined Your Own Business.” Let’s see what he has to say:
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I decided to self-publish for a number of reasons. In no particular order, but of equal importance are; royalties, more overall control of my novels, the ease of publishing today and a kind of ego related, "I did it all".
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
The biggest challenge for me was the initial hurdle of getting a book published. I have been writing for many years, but my novels all seemed to get stuck on disks or manuscripts in drawers, all waiting for the best time for me to move. I would often tell people that the marketing side of writing was where I didn't apply myself. I was doing tons of writing, but not much of 'getting it out there'.
A friend who worked for a small press asked if I had anything ready for print that he could have a look at. I gave him the story 'Mined Your Own Business' and after a couple of weeks he emailed me and said that the publisher wanted to offer me a contract to put it out as an ebook. At that time I was busy working on entering the self-publishing world, but I said okay.
A few weeks later, in May, 2011, he notified me that 'Mined Your Own Business' was up on Amazon. After the thrill of seeing it up there and both my wife and I purchasing a copy I settled down and realized that I was now a published mystery writer. That realization gave my level of confidence a boot upwards and when a few reviews showed up and people actually liked it, I was ready to accept the fact that I could be a writer for real. Notwithstanding that I had had a ton of articles published in newspapers and other little clips, friends telling me who good my work was. All of that didn't seem to matter to some inner me. But, now? Now I've got the confidence to go out and self-publish with enthusiasm.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
I think that some of the above fits this category. But the sense of accomplishment was huge. A kind of validation of myself.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
I can't say enough about just going for it. Without that little bit of a shove from my friend I might still be storing up manuscripts and writing for myself. I have to admit that I do re-write a lot, and put long hours into making it the best I can. My inner voice will tell me, "Nope, that scene, Jim, it sucks." And try as I might to shut him, up, we both know it's not the best I can do. So I go back and re-do it. It might be days before I finally accept the fact that if I left it, I was only fooling myself. So, in summary, write it as many times as is necessary - you shut up that little voice, and then you ignore the next little voice that says, "You ain't good enough." and you do it.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Yes, Jerry Cleaver, a writing teacher has a book out, 'Immediate Fiction' and in that are two rules a writer needs to live by:
I can do it!
Whatever writing problem you have there will be a writing solution.
A bit about the ebook selling. The evening of the book launch on Amazon I got an email from my editor who said, "We've been up for four hours and already sold two copies of 'Mined Your Own Business'."
I had to reply, "Yes, I know, Bev bought one and I bought the other."
My temporary blog site is rabbihawkins.blog.spot.com
'Mined Your Own Business' is on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XMZXX0
Thanks for sharing your information with us Jim, and good luck with book sales!
If you’d like to share your self-publishing story with jexbo readers, please write to me here. Thanks!
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I decided to self-publish for a number of reasons. In no particular order, but of equal importance are; royalties, more overall control of my novels, the ease of publishing today and a kind of ego related, "I did it all".
What was your biggest challenge to overcome in self-publishing your book and why?
The biggest challenge for me was the initial hurdle of getting a book published. I have been writing for many years, but my novels all seemed to get stuck on disks or manuscripts in drawers, all waiting for the best time for me to move. I would often tell people that the marketing side of writing was where I didn't apply myself. I was doing tons of writing, but not much of 'getting it out there'.
A friend who worked for a small press asked if I had anything ready for print that he could have a look at. I gave him the story 'Mined Your Own Business' and after a couple of weeks he emailed me and said that the publisher wanted to offer me a contract to put it out as an ebook. At that time I was busy working on entering the self-publishing world, but I said okay.
A few weeks later, in May, 2011, he notified me that 'Mined Your Own Business' was up on Amazon. After the thrill of seeing it up there and both my wife and I purchasing a copy I settled down and realized that I was now a published mystery writer. That realization gave my level of confidence a boot upwards and when a few reviews showed up and people actually liked it, I was ready to accept the fact that I could be a writer for real. Notwithstanding that I had had a ton of articles published in newspapers and other little clips, friends telling me who good my work was. All of that didn't seem to matter to some inner me. But, now? Now I've got the confidence to go out and self-publish with enthusiasm.
What has been the best part about self-publishing your book and why?
I think that some of the above fits this category. But the sense of accomplishment was huge. A kind of validation of myself.
What advice do you have for other writers who are self-publishing their book?
I can't say enough about just going for it. Without that little bit of a shove from my friend I might still be storing up manuscripts and writing for myself. I have to admit that I do re-write a lot, and put long hours into making it the best I can. My inner voice will tell me, "Nope, that scene, Jim, it sucks." And try as I might to shut him, up, we both know it's not the best I can do. So I go back and re-do it. It might be days before I finally accept the fact that if I left it, I was only fooling myself. So, in summary, write it as many times as is necessary - you shut up that little voice, and then you ignore the next little voice that says, "You ain't good enough." and you do it.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Yes, Jerry Cleaver, a writing teacher has a book out, 'Immediate Fiction' and in that are two rules a writer needs to live by:
I can do it!
Whatever writing problem you have there will be a writing solution.
A bit about the ebook selling. The evening of the book launch on Amazon I got an email from my editor who said, "We've been up for four hours and already sold two copies of 'Mined Your Own Business'."
I had to reply, "Yes, I know, Bev bought one and I bought the other."
My temporary blog site is rabbihawkins.blog.spot.com
'Mined Your Own Business' is on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XMZXX0
Thanks for sharing your information with us Jim, and good luck with book sales!
If you’d like to share your self-publishing story with jexbo readers, please write to me here. Thanks!
How to Motivate Yourself to Finish Your Book
Writing a book is hard work and it takes time. It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re halfway through something and you just can’t think of the next thing to write, or you just can’t face sitting in front of the computer (or opening a notebook, if you’re writing your book longhand) for one more minute. Some ideas that might help are take a break, work according to a schedule, or give yourself a deadline.
If you’ve been working so long on your book that you just can’t face another minute on it, rather than give up on it completely, take a break. If you don’t want to take a break from writing completely, how about starting work on a new book? Maybe write a short story, or an article for a magazine or blog. Writing can be great fun, and if you give yourself something else to work on, when you’re ready to get back to writing your book, you’ll be refreshed.
Another thing to try is set a schedule and stick to it. Give yourself a goal of a certain number of words per day, or a certain amount of time to write, and then do it. Every day you’ll be a step closer to finishing your book!
Last, give yourself a deadline to finish your book. Are you close enough to the end that you can finish it in a month if you work hard? How about by the end of the year? If it helps you stick to the deadline, tell someone and have him or her hold you accountable. If I know someone’s going to be checking on me, I’m much more motivated to do things I said I’d do.
Do you have any tips to keep yourself motivated? I’d love to hear them! Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/!
If you’ve been working so long on your book that you just can’t face another minute on it, rather than give up on it completely, take a break. If you don’t want to take a break from writing completely, how about starting work on a new book? Maybe write a short story, or an article for a magazine or blog. Writing can be great fun, and if you give yourself something else to work on, when you’re ready to get back to writing your book, you’ll be refreshed.
Another thing to try is set a schedule and stick to it. Give yourself a goal of a certain number of words per day, or a certain amount of time to write, and then do it. Every day you’ll be a step closer to finishing your book!
Last, give yourself a deadline to finish your book. Are you close enough to the end that you can finish it in a month if you work hard? How about by the end of the year? If it helps you stick to the deadline, tell someone and have him or her hold you accountable. If I know someone’s going to be checking on me, I’m much more motivated to do things I said I’d do.
Do you have any tips to keep yourself motivated? I’d love to hear them! Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/!
3 Top Tips for Dealing with Rejection Letters
Most writers, myself included, have received their share of rejection letters from publishers. While it is disappointing every time, there are some things you can do to make the rejection hurt less.
First of all, remember that a rejection of your book is not a rejection of you as a person. Although our books are like pieces of ourselves to us, to an editor it’s just a book, and you are just getting their opinion.
Second, make sure you are submitting books in the proper format that each editor asks for.
Are you sabotaging yourself by not including a cover letter if one is required?
Is it a publisher who requires you to have an agent?
Do your homework before sending anything so you can be sure your book won’t be rejected for a reason that would’ve been easily corrected before you sent it.
Finally, take action if your book is rejected. If there are comments from the editor, read them to see if you can make changes in your manuscript. Maybe it’s just a small change you need to make and you can resubmit it with a greater chance of having your manuscript accepted the second time around. Or do what I did, and find a self-publisher and publish your book yourself.
Do you have questions and need help with writing and marketing your self-published book? For additional resources, check out our self-published interview series on this blog and the information http://www.jexbo.com/.
First of all, remember that a rejection of your book is not a rejection of you as a person. Although our books are like pieces of ourselves to us, to an editor it’s just a book, and you are just getting their opinion.
Second, make sure you are submitting books in the proper format that each editor asks for.
Are you sabotaging yourself by not including a cover letter if one is required?
Is it a publisher who requires you to have an agent?
Do your homework before sending anything so you can be sure your book won’t be rejected for a reason that would’ve been easily corrected before you sent it.
Finally, take action if your book is rejected. If there are comments from the editor, read them to see if you can make changes in your manuscript. Maybe it’s just a small change you need to make and you can resubmit it with a greater chance of having your manuscript accepted the second time around. Or do what I did, and find a self-publisher and publish your book yourself.
Do you have questions and need help with writing and marketing your self-published book? For additional resources, check out our self-published interview series on this blog and the information http://www.jexbo.com/.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Decide to Self-Publish a Book
Self-publishing is a great way to go to get your books out to readers, but it might not be for everyone.
First and foremost, you’ll need to think about the cost involved, a cost that you might not recoup. Self-publishing means you’ll be buying your books from a printer, and then selling them yourself. How many books can you afford to have published, and are you able to risk purchasing more than you’ll be able to sell?
Also, you need to be prepared for the huge amount of work you’ll have to do in order to market your book yourself. Do you have both the time and interest to do this? If you don’t, do you have a friend or family member who would do this for you? Would you be willing to pay someone a percentage or a flat fee to promote your book for you?
These are just a few questions to ask yourself before you decide to self-publish your book. Do you have any other questions you’d advise writers to consider before they choose to self-publish?
Did you think through any of these questions before you self-published your book? Please let me know – I love to hear from you!
First and foremost, you’ll need to think about the cost involved, a cost that you might not recoup. Self-publishing means you’ll be buying your books from a printer, and then selling them yourself. How many books can you afford to have published, and are you able to risk purchasing more than you’ll be able to sell?
Also, you need to be prepared for the huge amount of work you’ll have to do in order to market your book yourself. Do you have both the time and interest to do this? If you don’t, do you have a friend or family member who would do this for you? Would you be willing to pay someone a percentage or a flat fee to promote your book for you?
These are just a few questions to ask yourself before you decide to self-publish your book. Do you have any other questions you’d advise writers to consider before they choose to self-publish?
Did you think through any of these questions before you self-published your book? Please let me know – I love to hear from you!
Author Tips for Saving Money
I’m a firm believer in clipping coupons and shopping at sales, but there are other things you can do to save money while still enjoying your life.
Something I like to do is make copy-cat recipes of favorite restaurant food. When you cook at home, it costs a fraction of the price of eating out. A family favorite at my house is the Benihana fried rice I make using the recipe from the Benihana website! You can do a search for copy-cat recipes for your favorite restaurants and see if your family likes it better when you make it.
Write down everything you spend in one week, and the next week try to take spend 10% less than the previous week. Then the following week see if you can take 10% from that week. Or you can even try cutting your spending in half.
Limit your shopping as much as possible. I once heard someone say, “What the eye sees, the heart wants,” and I find that very true. If I’m in a store, I find myself wanting everything I see, so the trick for me is to stay out of the stores as much as possible.
What are some money-saving tips you have? I’d love to hear from you! Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
Something I like to do is make copy-cat recipes of favorite restaurant food. When you cook at home, it costs a fraction of the price of eating out. A family favorite at my house is the Benihana fried rice I make using the recipe from the Benihana website! You can do a search for copy-cat recipes for your favorite restaurants and see if your family likes it better when you make it.
Write down everything you spend in one week, and the next week try to take spend 10% less than the previous week. Then the following week see if you can take 10% from that week. Or you can even try cutting your spending in half.
Limit your shopping as much as possible. I once heard someone say, “What the eye sees, the heart wants,” and I find that very true. If I’m in a store, I find myself wanting everything I see, so the trick for me is to stay out of the stores as much as possible.
What are some money-saving tips you have? I’d love to hear from you! Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
How to Get Your Self-Published Book Reviewed by a Blogger
One tip to help you promote your self-published book is find a book reviewer who blogs about books online, and get your book mentioned on that person’s blog. When I did a search for “self-published book review blog” I found more than 30 million results! You can narrow your search by searching for the type of book you’ve written, or by a location if you want a local reviewer to read your book.
Check out what sort of reviews someone writes before you decide to send them a copy of your book to review, then ask the reviewer some questions. Do they write harsh reviews? Do they have a large audience? If you send them a copy of your book, does that guarantee they will review it?
Many people believe all publicity, negative or positive, is good, but some do not. If you don’t want a negative review, be sure the blogger knows that and will not include your book on his or her blog if he doesn’t have anything good to say about your book.
Or ask if you could read the review before it’s posted on the blog. If you do have a negative review on a blog, find out if you can write a comment at the end of the article and tell what you think of the review.
Getting your book reviewed by a blogger is a great way to generate publicity for your book, and a great way for readers to find a book they might be interested in!
Do you have questions about being a self-published author? Please write to me here or at info@jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Check out what sort of reviews someone writes before you decide to send them a copy of your book to review, then ask the reviewer some questions. Do they write harsh reviews? Do they have a large audience? If you send them a copy of your book, does that guarantee they will review it?
Many people believe all publicity, negative or positive, is good, but some do not. If you don’t want a negative review, be sure the blogger knows that and will not include your book on his or her blog if he doesn’t have anything good to say about your book.
Or ask if you could read the review before it’s posted on the blog. If you do have a negative review on a blog, find out if you can write a comment at the end of the article and tell what you think of the review.
Getting your book reviewed by a blogger is a great way to generate publicity for your book, and a great way for readers to find a book they might be interested in!
Do you have questions about being a self-published author? Please write to me here or at info@jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
How to Organize Your Workspace
Although I am a fairly, well-organized person, I think it’s a good idea to at least once a year completely reorganize my workspace. Some of the things I do to help myself might also work for you.
I sort through my files completely once a year, and I keep a shredder nearby to use when I throw anything away from my files. If you don’t have a shredder, you can buy an inexpensive one from an office supply store, or you might check your local library to see if they have one available for the public to use.
I keep my in- and out-boxes up to date. At the very least, once a month file what needs to be saved in a binder or folder. It will be one less thing to search for when you start to prepare your taxes. I also keep a 3-hole punch next to my inbox and I immediately punch holes in documents I print off from the computer.
I keep a number of directories and address books on shelves next to my computer. Check to see if you are using current directories, and not wasting space by storing out-of-date books when you only need the most recent issue.
Make a space for printer ink cartridges and extra paper and keep them next to your printer. If you can see at a glance that you’re running low on supplies, it means there’s less chance of running out of things in the middle of printing something.
Staying organized is an ongoing job, but you should annually go through your workspace to be sure you have the room to work without holding on to clutter.
Do you have questions about being a self-published author? Please write to me here or at info@jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
I sort through my files completely once a year, and I keep a shredder nearby to use when I throw anything away from my files. If you don’t have a shredder, you can buy an inexpensive one from an office supply store, or you might check your local library to see if they have one available for the public to use.
I keep my in- and out-boxes up to date. At the very least, once a month file what needs to be saved in a binder or folder. It will be one less thing to search for when you start to prepare your taxes. I also keep a 3-hole punch next to my inbox and I immediately punch holes in documents I print off from the computer.
I keep a number of directories and address books on shelves next to my computer. Check to see if you are using current directories, and not wasting space by storing out-of-date books when you only need the most recent issue.
Make a space for printer ink cartridges and extra paper and keep them next to your printer. If you can see at a glance that you’re running low on supplies, it means there’s less chance of running out of things in the middle of printing something.
Staying organized is an ongoing job, but you should annually go through your workspace to be sure you have the room to work without holding on to clutter.
Do you have questions about being a self-published author? Please write to me here or at info@jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Tips for Running a Business and Self-Publishing a Book While Raising a Family
As the New Year approaches, I thought I’d share some of my tips with you on running a business, self-publishing a book and raising a family at the time. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating:
Be organized and work ahead as much as possible.
Something I love are the free, printable calendars available from a number of websites (search “free printable calendar” and you’ll find a number to choose from). When I need to have a day organized carefully, I print off a calendar with everything for that day in set blocks of time so I can follow it closely.
Most of the time, I just need a weekly calendar-page printed with the jobs I have to do, and I print off one copy to keep next to my computer and one copy to keep in my purse. I check it every night to be sure I know exactly what I need to do for the upcoming day.
With the school calendar, I need to change some of my schedule to include carpooling, after-school practice times, and additional school and church activities. For me, this means back to working early in the morning, rather than in the middle of the day. For you, it might mean working later in the evening.
Finally, be sure you set yourself some sort of schedule to follow, even if it’s as simple as doing laundry on Mondays, sending e-mails at 8:30 am, or writing 3,000 words per day. It’s easy to let time slip away if you don’t have a goal to reach each day, but it’s also just as easy to accomplish something if you put your mind to it.
Do you have questions and need help with writing and marketing your self-published book? Please contact me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
Happy 2011!
Be organized and work ahead as much as possible.
Something I love are the free, printable calendars available from a number of websites (search “free printable calendar” and you’ll find a number to choose from). When I need to have a day organized carefully, I print off a calendar with everything for that day in set blocks of time so I can follow it closely.
Most of the time, I just need a weekly calendar-page printed with the jobs I have to do, and I print off one copy to keep next to my computer and one copy to keep in my purse. I check it every night to be sure I know exactly what I need to do for the upcoming day.
With the school calendar, I need to change some of my schedule to include carpooling, after-school practice times, and additional school and church activities. For me, this means back to working early in the morning, rather than in the middle of the day. For you, it might mean working later in the evening.
Finally, be sure you set yourself some sort of schedule to follow, even if it’s as simple as doing laundry on Mondays, sending e-mails at 8:30 am, or writing 3,000 words per day. It’s easy to let time slip away if you don’t have a goal to reach each day, but it’s also just as easy to accomplish something if you put your mind to it.
Do you have questions and need help with writing and marketing your self-published book? Please contact me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
Happy 2011!
How to Plan for a Successful New Year as a Writer
The start of a new year is a great time to set some goals for yourself. Here are some ideas for writers to consider to plan for a successful new year:
There are a couple ways to set writing goals.
Manage Your Time.
Do you want to work for a certain amount of time per day or week?
Or would you prefer to write a certain number of words per day or week?
If you can put a manageable amount together, it will be much easier for you to stick with it than if you start with an unreasonable amount.
Join a Writer’s Group.
You can check community center boards, or libraries or bookstores. These groups can support you throughout the year and keep you from getting discouraged and giving up on your goals. If you can’t find a group, start your own!
Ask around or advertise locally to find others who are interested in meeting once a month or so.
Reward Yourself.
Set up some rewards to keep yourself motivated. For instance, every 10 pages written you get a day off from writing, or an extra 15 minutes of sleep.
You can have bigger rewards for reaching bigger goals – a new computer game for 100 pages written. Think of something you’d really like, and use the thought of it to keep you working.
Do you have questions about self-publishing? Please write to me here or at jill@jexbo.com.
There are a couple ways to set writing goals.
Manage Your Time.
Do you want to work for a certain amount of time per day or week?
Or would you prefer to write a certain number of words per day or week?
If you can put a manageable amount together, it will be much easier for you to stick with it than if you start with an unreasonable amount.
Join a Writer’s Group.
You can check community center boards, or libraries or bookstores. These groups can support you throughout the year and keep you from getting discouraged and giving up on your goals. If you can’t find a group, start your own!
Ask around or advertise locally to find others who are interested in meeting once a month or so.
Reward Yourself.
Set up some rewards to keep yourself motivated. For instance, every 10 pages written you get a day off from writing, or an extra 15 minutes of sleep.
You can have bigger rewards for reaching bigger goals – a new computer game for 100 pages written. Think of something you’d really like, and use the thought of it to keep you working.
Do you have questions about self-publishing? Please write to me here or at jill@jexbo.com.
Tips for Writing During the Holidays
I know the holidays are always a busy time, and with all the preparation that everything requires, writing can sometimes take a backseat to everything that’s going on around you.
Something you might try is working ahead in your writing so you can take a break. If you have a certain number of words you like to write a day, try to write more on some days so you have a free day that won’t make you feel like you’re cheating yourself on writing time.
Another thing to do is adjust your schedule by a small amount, such as get up 15 minutes earlier a few days a week, and use that time for holiday preparations. Use one day to get all the presents organized in a pile and another day to get the wrapping paper together and then another day to start wrapping. It might be slow-going, but if you break it into small amounts, it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
Finally, ask for help with getting everything ready. Friends and family might be able to do some shopping or meal preparations that you need done, and that gives you the time to write that you would otherwise have to spend running errands.
Do you need help finding the perfect gift? Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
Something you might try is working ahead in your writing so you can take a break. If you have a certain number of words you like to write a day, try to write more on some days so you have a free day that won’t make you feel like you’re cheating yourself on writing time.
Another thing to do is adjust your schedule by a small amount, such as get up 15 minutes earlier a few days a week, and use that time for holiday preparations. Use one day to get all the presents organized in a pile and another day to get the wrapping paper together and then another day to start wrapping. It might be slow-going, but if you break it into small amounts, it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
Finally, ask for help with getting everything ready. Friends and family might be able to do some shopping or meal preparations that you need done, and that gives you the time to write that you would otherwise have to spend running errands.
Do you need help finding the perfect gift? Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
How to Thank the People Who've Helped You with Your Writing Career
Actually, writing a book may be a job you do alone, but nearly everyone has help along they way. You might not have someone who does research for you, or who types as you dictate, but you more than likely had a friend or two read through your book as you wrote it, or perhaps someone stopped by with dinner so wouldn’t have to stop working one night.
There are several things you can do to thank them for their help, and to let them know you appreciate what they did for you.
First of all, consider including them in a dedication or “with special thanks” section at the front of your book. Just as it’s thrilling for you to see your name on your book, it’s thrilling for your friends to be included.
Second, think about something special you could do for your friends who helped. It doesn’t have to be expensive – maybe just invite everyone over for a book launch/thank you party and order pizza for them.
Finally, don’t forget the best and simplest way to thank someone – just tell them. Say how much you appreciate their help and friendship and let them know how much it meant to you while you were working on your book.
Do you have questions about self-publishing or finding the perfect gift? Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
There are several things you can do to thank them for their help, and to let them know you appreciate what they did for you.
First of all, consider including them in a dedication or “with special thanks” section at the front of your book. Just as it’s thrilling for you to see your name on your book, it’s thrilling for your friends to be included.
Second, think about something special you could do for your friends who helped. It doesn’t have to be expensive – maybe just invite everyone over for a book launch/thank you party and order pizza for them.
Finally, don’t forget the best and simplest way to thank someone – just tell them. Say how much you appreciate their help and friendship and let them know how much it meant to you while you were working on your book.
Do you have questions about self-publishing or finding the perfect gift? Please write to me here or at http://www.jexbo.com/.
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.
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