P.O.D Preference?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Print_on_demand POD a Definition

How many authors like the option of POD or Print on Demand today?  According to “The Economist” in February of 2010:

“About 6% of books in America are now printed on toner-based or inkjet machines—a rough proxy for print-on-demand (POD)—as opposed to on offset presses, estimates InterQuest, a market-research firm. Over the next five years, it predicts, this figure will increase to 15%. In 2008, the latest year for which data are available, about 285,000 titles were printed on demand or in short runs—132% more than in 2007 and for the first time more than in the conventional way. Amazon, the world's biggest online bookseller, uses POD machines, although it does not reveal how often.”

With all of us saving the trees, the atmosphere and time, a POD option is a novel idea! (no pun intended)  As more people turn to their e-readers for book purchase, the POD option is equally tantalizing for those that like to have a book “in hand”, to turn actual pages. For authors this is a great way to control printing costs. With POD, purchases can be “on call for print”.  A customer online can simply click purchase (ie AMAZON) and the printing process begins for the book they have chosen. For the Author this means the novel sits on a computer server until someone clicks purchase.  Now books are printed on demand. There is no “out of stock” or two week waits for replenishment.  But just a few years back an analysis was made that claimed large print runs won’t go away for any novels that are in high demand….hmmm, in 2013 it seems you can get your e-book and read it now, regardless! So times are changing…and FAST! I wonder what will happen 5 years from now in the POD realm. I'll check back with blogger with statistics when they become available.

For now, all is good. Authors take note when considering POD:  the better the quality or durability of a printed book, the more expensive it will be to print and sell. If there are edits or changes to a book, POD allows the simplicity of loading a new e-file to the server to make easy alterations to the book. Now books that have errors or additions can be altered immediately with almost no repercussions.

Authors must know that cover choice is important as well. Output of book covers and how the book will be perceived by the purchaser depends on the kind of paper stock chosen.  Smooth finish may look like quality but may not be durable. Glossy finish may not look like quality but has durability.  (as noted in an article here: http://netminds.com/blog/lessons-learned-about-print-on-demand-publishing )

I guess the question remains… do you prefer e-book or printed style reading?

Kristine Sheehan – TheMerryBird.com Designs

Lead Generation Tools: Truth or Dare

Anna Campbell, mother, author and business guru gives her take on lead generation. After reading her article let me know how you feel about purchasing leads for business. Does it work for you? Are you playing truth or dare with lead generation tools?



Remember playing truth or dare as a kid at a friend’s house? I personally hate this game because I am a control freak and I don’t like to share too much personal information about myself or be forced into doing something that I normally wouldn’t want to.

So, how do lead generation tools work and are they playing truth or dare with you, your time, and your money.

While in the real estate world, I unloaded a great deal of money to wipe away years of time my fellow Realtors had already put into their businesses. As a newbie, I needed to play catch up and there were two very large lead generation companies that provided statistics, answers and huge potential dollar signs. I learned very quickly and painfully how to understand which companies were telling the truth and which were asking me to dare.

When a company forces you into a 3 month, 6 month or annual contract; they are daring you to invest your money into their product or service with very little truth. Zillow and Trulia both force you into a potentially expensive and long-term contract with very little return. In fact, their goal is to have you upgrade, upgrade, and upgrade even more, so that you are so heavily invested in their service/product you feel that you can’t afford to go anywhere else, because your cash is tied up into their dare.

These two companies promise you quality business leads. What they forget to mention is that 50% or more of real estate buyers and 75% or more of real estate sellers are only going to use someone they know or someone they are personally referred to. You can’t buy quality leads, because they aren’t for sale. Quality leads are breathing human beings with needs and fears. You must earn the opportunity to serve quality buyers and sellers.

Another choice many business owners need to make is about a website. This will be one of your biggest online lead generation tools available to you, when you know how to use it properly. The way to tell if a website designer is telling you the truth or asking you to dare, is when they present you with a cookie cutter template price, with a cookie cutter style and service. When a website designer is not able to answer your questions, doesn’t have time to help you understand how to use your website, or what it takes to get your website ranking (without you paying them to list it), then you are talking with someone that isn’t able or isn’t interested in providing you with a business service that will actually help your business long-term.
Business websites are your virtual face, business sign, and basic first impression. How your website looks is very important, attracting people to your website is just as important. How will people find you? Why will people want to visit your website? How often will they come back? Is there any reason why someone would want to share your page with others? These are all questions your website designer should be able to help you understand. Once you understand them, then you will know what type of website is best for your business, and what you will need to do to build traffic to it.

The key to truth and dare is information and working with people who are not afraid of sharing information with you without a contract. We earn our clients, and our clients should earn us as well. Take your time, build a relationship, learn about the person you are working with because it is a lot less stressful and a lot less expensive to take your time and work with one honest person than to hurriedly blow through thousands of dollars on all the wrong people.

In truth, patience is very hard. However, you and your business are worth the time.

Now it is your turn, what have you found to be truth or dare while running your business?

Written by Anna Campbell with My Monthly Business Journal. Anna uses many ways to share the tools her clients need to grow their business. She has a published business journal workbook, notes and feedback on her facebook page, articles and information on her website, small group time at her monthly Coffee Breaks, and very in-depth break through sessions with clients on a one-on-one basis as needed.
http://www.MyMonthlyBusinessJournal.com

Get ready, set, publish your ebook!

The self-publishing world is ever expanding. The once coveted novelist that was chosen exclusively by the likes of Simon and Schuster is able to throw caution to the wind and self-publish her own works. It's as easy as diving in, writing and publish. TA DA!

Yes, it is a faster way to get your book out there but alot of work goes into the sef-publishing angle. Authors must not only write the book, they must take the time to edit, format, create, and choose the way a book will be acknowledged out in cyberworld. After a book is written it must be formatted in one of the following file extensions, .epub, .mobi , .azw and most recent epub3.  These file formats allow a book to be published on Nook, Kindle, Ibooks, or any other book readers available:


.Epub, or electronic publication is a popular, standard format for ebooks. With the exception of Amazon/Kindle (unless it has been changed recently), it is the format utilized by major retailers.

Mobipocket or .Mobi is an ebook format that makes room for blank pages at any point in the text for images, notes etc.

Kindle or .azw is the format chosen by Amazon with digital rights management protections.

And finally, ePub3. This format allows video, audio snippets, interactivity, global language support, multi-column layout, Embedded Fonts (a big high five for graphic designers!) improved accessibility and more.

Once your book file has either been converted to a file format listed above (contact BookBaby for conversion help) the task continues. Choose the self publisher you want to work with, Lightning Source is a great place to go! I've heard good and bad things about AuthorHouse but it depends on your $pocketbook.

Cover art can be worked up by an in-house self-publishing artist or you can have more control and have an independent designer (like TheMerryBird.com Designs) do it for you to create what YOU need and want on the cover of your book.

Final tweeks by an editor and you are ready to publish, price and follow sales. This takes time and work so don't think your job is done! You've just begun to manage your promotions, marketing and distribution of your ebook!

Now, get, ready, set, GO publish your ebook!


Fly in for Book Cover Design:  http://www.TheMerryBird.com Designs






.

Today's Meet The Author: Diane Tegarden

Diane and I have been networking for many years online. She is extremely energetic, thoughtful and creative!
I am happy to have interviewed Diane, here is what she has to say about herself, writing and publishing today.

Thank you for taking time to answer my questions Diane - I'm looking forward to working with you again in the future!

Tell us about all about you…as the non- author first then about you as author.

My name is Diane Tegarden, a freelance writer living in Pasadena, with my husband and furkids.  My hobbies include: planting flowers, trees, vegetables and herbs (whatever I fancy for the season). I love to write letters and compose cards to friends and family, and do crossword puzzles to relax. My husband and I watch lots of movies; we have a large collection and are constantly adding to it.

I've been a print journalist since 1992, writing on a wide range of subjects including; renewable energy, environmental concerns, holistic health, women’s issues, and Native Spirituality. My work has been found in: The Pasadena Star News, Security Sales Magazine, The Pasadena Weekly, The Solar Flare, The Feral Forest, Earth Luvyrs Calendar, The Daily Sundial, the West Coast Well Being, Yahoo Content and Health Breakthroughs.

My publishing company, FireWalker Publications, was formed in 2004 to promote my passionate, original written works, ideas and creations. Since 2005, I’ve written for two online content producers, Yahoo Content and The Examiner.com. 

In April 2004, I published my first book, “How to Escape a Bad Marriage– A Self Help Divorce Book For Women,” which provides step by step instructions on how to achieve financial and emotional independence in preparation for a divorce. 

I released my first poetry e-book, "Light Through Shuttered Window" in December 2007; it’s a compendium of my poetry about life, love and the creative process.

In February 2008 I completed my third book, “Anti-Vigilante and The Rips in Time”, a science fiction novel set in the distant future, involving Senselles,

MagicoMathematicians and the MOB. One of the scientific highlights features OTEC, a renewable energy that dynamically changes the face of the planet.

My second self help book “Budgeting on a Dime: 10 Steps to Financial Independence” was completed in October 2012, and is available both in paperback and ebooks formats.

How long have you been writing? 

I’ve been writing creatively all my life, and remember creating verses to cards for my family’s birthdays and holidays.

Professionally, I’ve been writing since 1992, writing for various newspapers and magazines.

What inspires you to write in the style that you do? (what genre do you write in? does it vary?)

I write in several genres, from newspapers and magazines, to blogs and online social media. I’ve also written, produced, published and promote four full length books; 2 self help books, a poetry collection and a full length science-fiction novel.

How many words per day do you like to write? Is that a daily goal or weekly goal?

When I’m writing a book, I write every day, but don’t set a word or page goal.

What is the name of your first book? How long ago was it printed? Where did you market it and did you have a good sale number?

My first book was titled “Getting Out of Limbo- A Self Help Divorce Book for Women”, which was released in 2004 and is now in its second printing with a new title “How to Escape a Bad Marriage: A Self Help Divorce Book for Women”. It’s for sale at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, CreateSpace, available in libraries and is listed on the Ingram Book List so that brick and mortar bookstores can stock it.  Thus far it’s my best selling book.

How do you feel about online book reading? Do you have a book that you’ve written for a digital shelf like ibooks or kindle?

All my books are available as ebooks, because I want to give my readers as many options as possible to access my books.

Do you think it’s worth it to ask buyers to purchase a digital novel for the same amount of $ as a print novel?  

No, digital readers expect to pay less for their books, and as the cost of producing ebooks is less than print. I agree with that thinking.

How do you think the change in the publishing industry affects authors today?

Authors must now be more than just writers, they must be savvy about the marketing and distribution of their books and have a hand in the decision making process for their business as well as the creative process.

If you could give a budding author advice what would it be? Be prepared to be involved in the marketing of your book, and educate yourself on the process of producing your own books.

Can you recommend our readers a publisher that you like to work with? 

I publish my own books, so I’m not knowledgeable about using the big publishing houses.

If you could be a famous author, who would it be and why?

I want to BE the famous author in question! I dream about having one of my books on the New York Times Best Seller list!!

Tell us where we can find your book(s) and provide a link!

My new book “Budgeting on a Dime- 10 Steps to Financial Independence”, which was published October 2012 and is available on Amazon.com at:

http://www.amazon.com/Budgeting-Dime-Steps-Financial-Independence/dp/0974536970/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354724445&sr=1-4&keywords=Budgeting+on+a+Dime

or Barnes and Noble.com at:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/budgeting-on-a-dime-diane-em-tegarden/1113581209?ean=9780974536972

Thank you for including me in your article Kristine!

A LESSON IN BOOK COVER DESIGN

Writing a novel takes a lot of discipline, research, passion and TIME! The same goes for the cover art that don’s the store shelf or kindle view. I’d like to offer some advice on how to create a book cover yourself but then offer even more important advice, HAVE A PROFESSIONAL create one for you.

To start, you (the author) should have a “blurb” from your novel that epitomizes what your novel is about. The “blurb” you choose should be descriptive of characters or places. It should capture the essence of the story without giving away the ending! It should make your reader want to know more. You can find these blurbs usually on the back cover of a book. It is what makes the reader interested in reading more. The cover design is based on this blurb and is used to bring the eyes of potential readers to read that “blurb” and see what they’ve just read on the cover.

For example, I will use The Dark Ship by L.M. Sherwin and create a new cover to show a new perspective of a paranormal feeling. I utilized the “blurb” on the back cover.

“Lyra has always felt too plain and uninteresting to be a part of her parents’ social sphere, the upper class of Juneau One. Now, they expect her to act like a proper lady at one of the moon’s most prestigious girls’ schools: St. Xavier’s. On the voyage to the dreaded school, Lyra discovers an enchanted mirror in the lower decks of the ship. Whenever she looks at it, her reflection appears beautiful, mysterious, and otherworldly. Something about the glass draws her in; time, thought, and emotion fly past when she gazes into its depths. Could there be something dangerous about this simple golden mirror? Does some sinister force lurk within, drawing her into its clutches? Find out in this thrilling novella by L.M. Sherwin!”

Say you’d like to use a photo (a hand drawn illustration will be another article!). Begin your cover by finding an appropriate image or images. Try Big Stock Photo or upscale Getty Photography Archive.  Let’s open up Photoshop! (Do you have Photoshop? Most professional designers do!) Take the image you would like to work with: you have choices to make. To simplify ask yourself if you want to use the image as is or do you want to alter it? Photoshop is a powerful tool that can change image, color, shape or even take pieces of an image to create a new image altogether.  Be sure you understand the printing process too all these settings are important for a perfection in actual printing.

                       

Ok – I found an image, I altered it to give an eerie feeling. The same feeling I get from The Dark Ships author “blurb”.

After I find, alter and take the image to the point of desire, I move the image into Adobe Indesign. (do you have Adobe Indesign? Most professional designers do!) Know your spine width, font(s), and don’t forget your barcode if you self publish! Do you own your barcode? You will need to purchase one if not.

The title of the book should also be shown on the spine of the book. And don’t forget the publisher icon. It is placed on the spine and back cover.  It’s all in the details for printed covers! Kindle cover layouts differ in that the front cover image is all you will need. For Kindle cover art, specifications are necessary to be followed. Again, research what you need – it’s all the details that make it happen! Or call a professional graphic designer – they know the ropes!

Taking on cover design may seem easy at first, but your imagery is just as important as your “blurb”. So sit back and let a professional design your cover. It is the only way to ensure you have proper settings, imagery and finished product to impress your potential audience. It will make or break your book sales!

Today's Meet The Author: Nina Lewis

Nina and I met on Facebook. I learned that Nina's book The Englishman is presently being published and will make it's debut on May 7, 2013. Read on to learn about an official new romance novelist on the market!

Glad to speak with you today Nina Lewis!

How long have you been writing romance novels?

I have been writing stories, on and off, since I was nine or ten. Mostly in imitation of the stories I was reading, so I started with versions of The Famous Five and Malory Towers, imagining myself and my school friends in exciting adventures. Then I started reading my Mum’s romance novels (secretly, obv.), and my own writing became a little more, um, adult.

What inspires you to write romance novels? Is that the only genre you write?

Romance (writing it and reading it) is like a holiday from reality, and I find I need a lot of holidays! We are taught to feel guilty for not functioning efficiently 24/7, in our families, in our jobs; but that is actually unnatural, and also unhealthy. People need down-time, and people need to tell stories about their lives that allow them to go back and face reality again.

Although The Englishman is contemporary fiction, I feel most at home in historical fiction and historical romance, and that is what I will be writing in future.

How many words per day do you like to write? Is that a daily goal or weekly goal?

I am extremely undisciplined, so I have no daily or weekly stints. But I am fairly obsessive, so when I am in a ‘flow’, I write a great deal in a short time. Other times, I merely polish or edit; and that can be both rewarding and frustrating.

What is the name of your first book? How long ago was it printed? Where did you market it and did you have a good sale number?

I have published non-fiction, but The Englishman is my first published fictional text. It will be published by Omnific Publishing in May 2013 as an ebook and a paperback – and here’s to hoping it will sell well!

I understand you have a book series. How many books are in the series (or will be in the series when completed)? How did you come to write a series?

I do not plan to write a series, although I’ve lately thought that I may want to. But because I am interested in a number of different historical periods, the novels that I hope to write next will variously be set in the French Revolution, late fourteenth-century Oxford, and twelfth-century France and England.

How do you feel about online book reading? Do you have a book that you’ve written for a digital shelf like ibooks or kindle?

I do not own a Kindle yet, and I am reluctant to get one, because I stare so much at a screen anyway. But I expect I will get one within the next twelve months, or so. It’s the future.

Do you think it’s worth to ask buyers to purchase a digital novel for the same amount of $ as a print novel?

Authors and readers are likely to have differing opinions on this. You’d think that an ebook costs less to produce, so it should be cheaper. But authors must live, too, and what price would you put on creativity? In the end, supply and demand regulate the market.

How do you think the change in the publishing industry affects authors today?

Self-publishing  and indie publishing put established publishers under pressure, and that is a good thing. At the same time, there is a glut of ebooks, and while some are outstandingly good, there is a lot of stuff that’s not so great. Dividing the wheat from the chaff can be time-consuming and frustrating. I dip into so many novels to decide which one I want to buy, that at the end of a couple of hours’ surfing and reading, I am frustrated and bored and end up buying nothing.

It obviously makes a huge difference that you can pick up a paperback and browse through it, while you can typically read the only first few pages of an ebook. The shape of stories changes if you know you must hit the readers between the eyes on page two, or they won’t buy it. 

If you could give a budding author advice what would it be?

Keep at it. Learn to stand back and look at your writing as if you were an editor.

Can you recommend our readers a publisher that you like to work with?

I have worked only with Omnific, and I have found them helpful and professional.

If you could be a famous author, who would it be and why?

The ideal situation, I think, would be one in which I could be proud of my novels because I feel that each of them is the best I was able to write at that time, and at the same time one in which I am able to make enough money to live by writing. I envy all writers for whom this is the case! If you want names – in the romance genre, I admire Georgette Heyer, because she is a restrained writer, both in language and in emotion. And she writes brilliantly witty dialogues.

Tell us where we can find your book(s) and provide a link!

The Englishman will be published by Omnific Publishing on May 7, 2013. The cover, blurb and an extract were revealed on subclubbooks.

Please find me on facebook!

Thank you!

Happy to speak with you Nina - Thank you for sharing your journey as an author, as well as  The Englishman, your first novel! 

Today's Meet The Author - Debra Jayne

Glad to speak with you today Debra Jayne!

Hello and I appreciate you asking me.

Please tell us about all about you…as the non- author first then about you as author.

Well, I am retired professionally from social work since 2004. I still volunteer three or four times a month though, and I enjoy working especially with people with disabilities.

As an author, I just got published a year and a half ago and it's a great learning process. I never knew at this age, that I could enjoy web design, graphics and making book trailers. You are never too old to pursue what you love!

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since I was seven years old. I wrote a story called Ghost and Sabre and sold it for fifteen cents. I was hooked.

What inspires you to write Romance novels? Is that the only genre you write? 

One of my inspirations for my book came to me after a long depression from the break up of my marriage. I found a crooked heart-shaped stone in the grass one day. It reminded me that even though hearts get broken and scarred from loss, that you are still capable of love. Finding the stone renewed my will to go on, and I realized it had a message for anyone recovering from heartbreak.

 I also write science fiction and enjoy that, as well as my favorite, paranormal romance.

How many words per day do you like to write? Is that a daily goal or weekly goal?

I have writing “spurts” which are moments of inspiration where I write for hours or whole days then it slacks off and I do research. I never set word count goals.

What is the name of your first book? How long ago was

It printed?

My first book is called Radiance: Love after Death and it was published a year and a half ago.

Where did you market it and did you have a good sale number? 

My publishing company, XoXo marketed it on their own site, on Amazon, Book Strand, and All Romance E-books. I promote it online in every social venue I can find, like blogs, Facebook,Twitter etc. My book is in e-book form as of now , so it takes a lot of time with a strong online presence. My sales are decent and I think my next releases will do even better, since I know so much more about promotion.

I understand you have a book series. How many books are in the series (or will be in the series when completed)? How did you come to write a series?

There are three books in my series. The second follow up to Radiance: Love after Death is: A Kiss from the Past and will be this year and the third will follow shortly after. Readers hate to loose characters they come to know and enjoy. Also, authors who do series have greater book sales over all.

How do you feel about online book reading? Do you have a book that you’ve written for a digital shelf like i-books or kindle?

Online book reading is great! Yes, I have a kindle book and I think it's wonderful. How awesome to pick out a book and read it instantly. It saves time and money. I love that! Reading became so much easier to do because of electronic reading devices.

Do you think it’s fair to ask buyers to purchase a digital novel for the same amount of $ as a print novel?

I think digital copies should be just as competitive as print copies, because even though you don't have a copy in hand, it was still the same amount of work for the author to produce it.

How do you think the change in the publishing industry affects authors today?

The trends of switching to publishing electronic books has been amazing. There are pro's and con's. Due to the large amount of self publishing markets there are floods of e-books, so the markets are very diverse and more competitive. On the other hand, e-books are better environmentally, since there are no trees cut down to produce paper.

If you could give a budding author advice what would it be?

Be friendly to other authors and publishers. Some of the best promotion I have learned has been from friends I have made online.

Can you recommend our readers a publisher that you would like to work with?

I would love to work with Little and Brown who published Stephanie Meyers Twilight series.

If you could be a famous author, who would it be and why? 

Shakespeare. His work will live on through the ages. The beauty of his work in Romeo and Juliette is haunting and unforgettable. That, now, is a legacy!

Tell us where we can find your book(s) and provide a link!

Thank you! My links and social media are below:

XOXO:  http://t.co/skrRzpQD

Amazon: http://amzn.to/YD6G74

http://www.bookstrand.com/radiance-love-after-death  

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-radianceloveafterdeath-751110-140.html

Social Media:

http://facebook.com/debrajayne.east

http://twitter.com/juliet2cool4u

http://yearoftheangel.blogspot.com/

http://youtu.be/2s_bdXQHdhg