Do you go with a small publisher or self-publish?

An author friend of mine asked for some help. Her question was: do I go with a small publisher or self-publish? For me it’s self-pub but read my thoughts…

Don't pay a publisher any money! Everything they can do; you can do.

1). Editing! Pay an editor! Quality is important. Here's the name of the person I used on my last book, SHOCKWAVE. She's not free...For me she was worth it. I'm going to work with her again on my next book.

Deborah Levinson, she a friend of mine on my Facebook site. She is good.

Norm's Facebook 

2). Cover work! check out the cover for Shockwave, my thriller and short story Jumpers. Nice work...

Contact James Rone at jameron713@gmail.com tell him I sent you. He's an art student in Phoenix.

3). Use Amazon...they are the largest book distributor in the world.

Amazon Kindle for ebook. Look up Kindle Direct Publishing.

Amazon's Createspace for paperbacks. Here's the facts...1% of my sales are from paperback. Yes, it true...it all about ebooks now. I self publish on Createspace so I have paperbacks to give away.

4). Product Description: I looked at a pile of book descriptions on Amazon. I believe what I’ve done works. I combined what I liked from a number of successful authors. Look up my books on Amazon and you'll see the description I use. Lots of stuff for people to read...

5). Price…the ebook price for a new book is $2.99 your older stuff $0.99. However you might consider starting at the $0.99 price point. I know it's cheap but that seems to be the market, check out authors on Amazon not the big names, the indie authors. HEADS-UP - This may be shifting. Some authors are raising their ebook price to find the sweet spot, the right number of sales at the maximum price to generate the most profit. Remember, at $2.99 on Amazon you get 70%. At $0.99 it’s only 35%.

6). Go to Smashwords and format your ebook yourself from their guidelines. They have the best outline for formatting an ebook and publish on Smashwords. That gets your book into Apple's iPad, B&N. Sony. Diesel and Kobo...

7). Start a blog, use Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and any other sites you have time to post stuff on.

...that was a lot of stuff...hope it helps.

all the best

Norm

Shockwave

Into the Basement

International Intrigue: Sadist Has Arrived

It's been a couple of months. Physical copies of "Sadist," finally arrived. About three months ago a couple of copies were sent to me from the Turkish publisher, never got them. Then on Sept 21, five books were sent. I got an email with the record tracking number. Goggled it each week. The return message was, "original post being processed." Friday, a different message. The books had arrived in Jacksonville. Today, Saturday the doorbell rang...got em!
The original bag had been ripped open, four books inside. I don't know how many were sent, maybe one was stolen? International intrigue. Hahahahaha...

Here's a photo of all my novels. Shockwave is the latest, a thriller.

Link to Shockwave, Amazon Kindle, $2.99:
Shockwave

Amazon Kindle in France and 100 countries

Here’s an interesting news release from Amazon. They announced in early October that authors and publishers worldwide are now able to make their books available in the Amazon.fr Kindle Store (www.amazon.fr/kindle) using Kindle Direct Publishing (http://kdp.amazon.fr).

The Cloud Reader is another cool tool from Amazon that allows you to read ebooks on your computer. I use a Macbook Pro and it works smooth.

They also state, authors and publishers can utilize the new KDP website to make their books available in France, Germany, the UK, US and more than 100 countries worldwide, while continuing to own the rights to their books.

I didn’t know about 100 countries. So just for fun I selected the links at the bottom of an Amazon page for China, Japan and Italy and wow…my books are there.

So now the question is how do authors market in these foreign countries. It’s back to Twitter and Facebook. Curious if anyone has other ideas…I’m interested in hearing about them.

Norm Applegate author of:

Shockwave

Getting published in foreign countries

I posted this a while ago. Thought I would add an update. In April I received an email and thought it was a scam. In fact I’m still waiting for the hit. An editor for a Turkish publisher   ARVO Basim Yayin, saw my novel Into the Basement on AmazonUSA and UK and wanted it. Come on, horror in Turkey? What did I know?

Basement is currently #1 on Amazon USA and has been in the top 5 on Amazon Uk since March.

Into the Basement Amazon USA

Into the Basement Amazon UK

We exchanged emails, worked the deal, I signed the contract and this week saw the cover. I’m thriller. The name for the Turkish release is: “Sadist,” very creepy.

This morning I received an email. Attached is an advertisement going into a Turkish magazine called Sabitfikir. Look who I'm with: L.J. Sellers, Joanne Ellis and one of my favorite horror authors John Everson. How cool is that. I met John at the World Horror Convention in 08, Salt Lake City. Great author...

Norm's latest novel is a thriller on Amazon Kindle:

SHOCKWAVE

WRITING TIGHT SENTENCES

Among the scores of verbose constructions that can be whittled down (usually) to one word with no loss of, and often with a net gain in, clarity are those phrases in the following sentences beginning with in.

The replacement words are not necessarily the only (or the best) choices, and the sentences could be further refined, but employ this list to help you be on the lookout for — that is, be aware of — phrases like the ones presented below. They need not be automatically excised, but examine your writing for an abundance of such prolixity, and revise at your discretion. 1.  Please submit your report in advance of the meeting. Please submit your report before the meeting. 2.  We received a check in the amount of $1,000. We received a check for $1,000. 3. We’re implementing this policy in an effort to streamline our process. We’re implementing this policy to streamline our process. 4. Which section is this question in connection with? Which section is this question about? 5. Do not use in excess of the recommended dosage. Do not use more than the recommended dosage. 6. Are you in favor of the new system, or do you oppose it? Are you for the new system, or do you oppose it? 7. Use Form BFF in lieu of Form OMG. Use Form BFF instead of Form OMG. 8-9.  Improvement will be noted in most cases (or instances). Improvement will usually be noted. 10. They have changed the procedure in order to reduce the necessary steps. They have changed the procedure to reduce the necessary steps. 11. She is attending the meeting in place of her vacationing supervisor. She is attending the meeting for her vacationing supervisor. 12. I am in possession of damning evidence. I have damning evidence. 13. They are in proximity to the epicenter. They are close to the epicenter. 14. We are in receipt of your letter. We received your letter. 15-17. I wasn’t sure what the question was in reference to (or regard to or in relation to). I wasn’t sure what the question was about. 18.  You will notice these side effects in some instances. You will sometimes notice these side effects. 19. In spite of the fact that the box was clearly labeled, he could not find it. Although the box was clearly labeled, he could not find it. 20. In terms of reducing costs, the strategy has been a failure. The strategy has been a failure in reducing costs. 21. In the absence of Smith as manager, Jones was left in charge. Without Smith as manager, Jones was left in charge. 22. In the case of duplication, rename the older file and place it in the Archive folder. If duplication occurs, rename the older file and place it in the Archive folder. 23. We were speaking in the context of yesterday’s discussion. We were speaking about yesterday’s discussion. 24. In the course of the session, little progress was made. During the session, little progress was made. 25. In the event that no decision is made, the current procedure will remain in effect. If no decision is made, the current procedure will remain in effect. 26. In the final analysis, it is up to us to decide. Ultimately, it is up to us to decide. 27. He will return in the near future. He will return soon. 28. It took in the neighborhood of two weeks to complete. It took about two weeks to complete. 29. They are in the vicinity of the headquarters now. They are near the headquarters now. 30. In view of the fact that you suggested it, I think you should propose it. Because you suggested it, I think you should propose it. Author of Shockwave & Into the Basement Shockwave Into the Basement source:dailywritingtips