Readers! Please let me know what you think of this proposed cover for my new book. Would you pick this up and check it out? Or click on it, to read the description?
Category: Independent author angst
The First Ladies Club First Draft is Finished!
I just sent off the manuscript to my proof-reader (whew!) and am looking for beta-readers (no intellectual property pirates, please!) willing to give some honest feedback, in a timely manner.
I want to publish in early February, if possible. Interested?
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Learning by doing
An author exposes a piece of him or herself with every published work.
As independent authors, we are also displaying the learning process we are going through. Beginning with our first efforts at self-publishing our every typo, formatting error and novice blunder is available for the world to see.
When I published my first book, Hollow, I had no plans for a second book, let alone a series. Readers wanted to know more about what happened next to Bunny and Max and urged me to write a sequel. That led to a four book series, basically chronicling their relationship, midst the murder and general mayhem.
It’s been great fun and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
Because I wasn’t planning a series, and because I was learning more about how to create a good cover as I went along, my covers in the series are not cohesive. Just looking at the books on a shelf, there is no family resemblance to jump out at the readers to let them know they are a series, as you can see from the covers displayed on the header of my blog.
I am considering having the covers re-designed as a series and would love some feedback on which element or elements should be consistent on each of the new covers.
Any and all feedback will be read, considered and appreciated.
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Nook Hardback Self-Publishing
I got an email last week announcing Barnes & Noble’s new hardback self-publishing feature. You can now have your books printed in hard cover and even with a dust jacket.
When I read this I was so excited. How cool to have hardback copies of my works on my own bookshelves and available for readers to buy. My first four books are currently on the shelves of my local library in paperback and I thought I might donate hard copies, once I have them all formatted, etc.
My enthusiasm dimmed when I read a post from a fellow independent author criticizing the quality of the hardback books and making me aware that any books I have printed through this service will not be available from resellers.
I double-checked this information on the B&N site and this is what they say when asked:
No. The NOOK Press print platform program is for you to print books for your personal use, and does not include selling those books through Barnes & Noble stores or BN.com. You may sell the books you print on your own, however.
So, my fellow author is correct. This facet of the Nook self-publishing service is merely a vanity press.
I may still print single hardbacks of my books for personal display and as gifts, but my enthusiasm has been replaced with disappointment.
This incident illustrates one of the many benefits of joining Internet groups of fellow Independent Authors. It was a member of the Sweet Cozy Mystery Writers’ Support Group, a closed group on Facebook, who alerted me to the limitations of this Nook service.
While it may be overwhelming to see just how many other independent authors are writing in your own genre, the blessings of shared experience and the support we give each other more than outweigh possible feelings of competition or discouragement.
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Amazon Pre-order for Indie Authors on Kindle
As I get closer to completion of my current work, I am considering whether there might be an advantage to offering the Kindle version of the new novel for pre-orders.
This is what Amazon says:
We’re excited to announce that you can now make your new books available for pre-order in Kindle Stores worldwide. With a few quick and easy steps you can create a pre-order page up to 90 days in advance of your book’s release date–your pre-order product page will be created within 24 hours. When you make your book available for pre-order, customers can order the book anytime leading up to the release date you set. We will deliver it to them on that date.
One advantage of using pre-order is that you can start promoting your Kindle book pre-order page on Author Central, Goodreads, your personal website, and other places ahead of its release to help build excitement for your book. Also, pre-orders will contribute toward sales rank and other Kindle Store merchandising ahead of release, which can help more readers discover your book.
Have any of you Indie authors had experience with Kindle pre-orders?
What about you readers? Does the pre-order option pique your interest?
I’d love to hear your thoughts as I try to make up my mind about taking advantage of this new Kindle feature.
Thanks!
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Reader Mailing List
I’m creating a mailing list to keep in touch with readers of my books. I sent out an email to those who have asked to be notified about new releases.
If you did not receive the email invitation (check your spam folder) and would like to be notified of special promotions and new releases, please complete the form below, with the comment “Add me”:
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Returning to the scene of the crime
When this blog is posted, I will be visiting my family in northern Italy.
As well as enjoying being with them, I will have the opportunity to revisit many of the locations featured in “Vain Pursuits.”
When I stay in a monastery hotel in Rome, or throw coins into the Trevi Fountain, I will be remembering Bunny’s experiences, as well.
I’m looking forward to tucking into some authentic Italian pizza, but you may be assured, if I visit the roof gardens of the Grand Palace while in Napoli, I will stay well away from the edge.
I spent so many hours creating and editing Bunny’s Italian adventure, sometimes I mistake her memories with my own. It will be enlightening to see just how well we remember these exciting places.
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Reader Feedback is Priceless
I am about a third of the way through my current work in progress, The First Ladies’ Club.
At this stage of a novel, I sometimes hit a dry patch where I wonder how to proceed, or if I should even bother writing another word.
I felt myself slipping down into just such a slump this week, but then one of my local readers dropped by my office to let me know she’d just finished “…and Something Blue,” and was eager for my next book.
I thanked her for the kind words and assured her I was hard at work on the next. It was a simple exchange, but her words sparked the fires of my imagination and rekindled my enthusiasm for my work in progress.
Whether you are a writer or a reader, never underestimate the power of reader feedback.
To encourage feedback, writers need to be accessible to their readers.
I make my Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/jbhawker2012] open to public comment, my author email address [j.b.hawker2012@gmail.com] is posted on my site and my Amazon author page [http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B009I3H95Y] is part of my email signature. This blog links to my author page and posts on my Twitter account [@HawkerJB].
I’m trying to make it easy for my readers to contact me.
Of course, I frequently check out the reviews of my books for sale on Amazon. The reader who takes the time to post a review deserves to have those comments considered, be they encouragement or helpful criticism.
As a reader too, now I understand how important it is to the author, I try to offer encouraging reviews of the books I read. My words just may be helping a fellow author out of a slump.
Words are powerful; words of encouragement are priceless.
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Pulling back the curtain
Like many new independent authors, I was naive about the publishing and marketing world. I believed when an author wrote a book, if it was published and got good reviews, it meant success was right around the corner. (Great American novel…or at least great american cozy, here I come!)
After publishing four novels, all getting pretty decent reviews, and finally dipping my toe into promotion and marketing, my fantasy bubble has well and truly burst.
While there are a few lucky authors whose writing careers took off the way I’d ignorantly imagined, most of us must scramble frantically simply to get our books noticed and begin to build a reader base.
I was surprised when I learned of some of the ways being used to get reviews and push good ones to the top of the list. I had foolishly assumed after the first few reviews from the author’s friends and family, all the rest were authentically from readers who cared enough about a book to post a critique.
Imagine my dismay to read a nasty “revenge” review of a friend’s book, after she had given an honest, but unflattering review of another author’s work. Who does that?
Loss of innocence can be a painful experience, but usually one which leads to greater wisdom and maturity.
I’m looking ahead with eyes more widely open than before, but with hopes and dreams intact, as I learn to swim in the turbulent waters of the independent author.
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Patience and the editing process
Everything I read about self-editing, after the caveat, “Hire a pro,” says to set your work aside after the initial proofing and beta-reader corrections and come back to it with fresh eyes after at least a few weeks.
I’ve never been able to do that. I’m too eager to see my words published, so I edit, proof, submit to beta readers, edit, proof, edit, proof again and publish.
I’ve been pretty lucky, so far, not to have too many major clinkers slip through.
I’m currently in the process of reformatting my Bunny Elder series for a Kindle bundle. In the process I’m proofing the published versions of the four books, once again.
Now, I understand the wisdom of that waiting period advice.
How could I have missed so many typos? Aargh!
My readers and reviewers have been kind to overlook the misplaced periods and foot symbols substituted for apostrophes, but I would never have published my books if I’d noticed them.
When I complete the re-edit/re-format process for the bundle I will be uploading new interiors for the individual Kindle and print-on-demand editions of all the books, too.
With this lesson well-learned, you can be sure my current work-in-progress will undergo an aging or gestational period before I proof it for the final time, allowing the mists of ego to clear from my vision so I can honestly assess and correct the work before publishing.
