Archive for the ‘Writing, publishing, promoting books’ Category

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What Will Help You Become a Successful Author?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

I have lots of ideas about articles, teleseminars, courses etc. to help you become a successful author … too many, in fact!

So I’m asking you to help me help you, by filling out a simple survey of what kinds of things you want most from me.

Please answer a few short survey questions now and I’m much obliged! I’ll get working on the most-requested items right away.

Also, if you will, please do add your email address. That way, if there is a product that you want and I already have it or know of someone else who does a good job meeting your need, I can let you know.

Thanks a bunch!

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Birthing a Book

Monday, March 8th, 2010

I just gave birth.

Not to a baby (I’m done with that, boo hoo), but a book.

Though I didn’t write it, I had a heavy hand in editing it, and also shepherded it through the publishing process at Intermedia.

What a process!

Anyone who says it’s easy to write and publish a book probably (more…)

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What Media People DON’T Want

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Media will help you get known and sell books–we all know that.

There are some great resources out there you can sign up for (free), that will tell you what media people are looking for. I suggest you sign up for both HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and Steve Harrison’s Reporter Connection.

I thought it was interesting what Bonnie D. Graham of Blog Talk Radio says she’s NOT interested in: ” Please do NOT respond if the following describes your topic: (more…)

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My Favorite Productivity (& Sanity)Tools

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Let’s face it: Nobody has time to write a book.

I know very few people who have a lot of time on their hands these days. (We’re all too busy trying to keep up with the latest technology. Some of us out of necessity–such as what I’m dealing with concerning computer issues that have dogged me for months. Some because they like it.)

As tax time rolls around and I do the natural evaluating of my business, I’ve been  thinking about how to squeeze more productive results out of every day.

So this week I thought I’d share a few of the tools–most of them free or rather inexpensive–that have made a HUGE difference in my life and business. I don’t know what I’d do without them!

MUST-HAVE FREEBIE

First on my list is a tool called Evernote.  I don’t know what I”d do without this amazing and FREE piece of software. Basically, you can store ANYTHING in one file that you can search. You can even (more…)

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Who Mentors Your Book Publishing Coach on Marketing?

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

There are a lot of voices out there in the Internet marketing world.

You know that. No doubt your email inbox, like mine, is stuff with emails from them.

You suspect that most of them are making claims that make them money, but that don’t actually add to YOUR bottom line. They’re making money off of selling you hope that you’ll make money. You’re probably right.

I’ve been studying this for 6 years now. I’ve watched a lot of people come and go. I”ve seen how they market.

In some cases, because of my contacts, I know the Real Story behind who’s who and what’s what.

I’ll tell you, there are only a handful of people I trust and follow now. Only a very few truly know what they are talking about, truly have a system that works for the average person, truly offer good value for your investment.

At the top of the list is (more…)

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How To Be a HAPPY Author …

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

I just posted a new Publishing Coach Weekly article on how to be a happy author.

I assume, if you’re reading this, that you already have written a book, or you want to, or you’re in the process of writing a book.

You have a dream in the back of your mind about what being an author will mean to you.

There is a simple secret to going from dream to reality, and I reveal it in my  article. And if you haven’t listened to the related teleseminar on “3 Essentials for Becoming a Successful (and Happy) Author,”  you can also access both the teleseminar and the article here.

Here’s to your happiness as an author!

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“Which Publisher Will Get Me into the Bookstores?”

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Someone listened to the interview I did with Terry Whalin about publishing and Intermedia, and asked me if Intermedia is on a par with traditional publishers in terms of its relationship with brick and mortar stores.

As far as I can tell, yes, they are.  (Which is more than most if not all other “publishing services” companies can say.)

However, you must understand that huge changes are happening in the retail sales world. (more…)

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Book Covers: Make Sure Yours Gets the Right Attention

Monday, February 1st, 2010
Abundant Gifts1

My favorite cover for Abundant Gifts

Trying to design your own book covers is one of the biggest mistakes I see new authors making, especially if they self publish.

One of the advantages of self-publishing is that you are in control of the whole process. When you work with a company like Intermedia, for instance, you own the rights, and you get to pick the cover, the interior design, everything.

However, there’s a downside to this. Just because you have the final say, that should not mean that you are the best one to judge the cover design, or even the title, for that matter. Having the final say should not mean having the only say–especially when it comes to areas you’re not trained in, such as the interior and exterior design.

Unless you’re an experienced designer yourself, (more…)

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Special Sale to Help Children in Haiti

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Saint Hilaire GermimaFor all my working life, starting when I graduated college, I’ve sponsored a child in Haiti with Compassion. In January 1990, I even had the privilege of visiting my child (a different one than I currently sponsor), along with author Janette Oke, Compassion President Wes Stafford, and others. It was an unforgettable trip.  (For more about that, see my Abundant Gifts blog post on this subject.)

As you can imagine, I have been very concerned about the child I sponsor, Saint Hilaire Germema, who turned 12 on December 5. I received a letter recently from Compassion, but nothing specific about the welfare of my child. I fear the worst, am praying for the best. I fear the worst, am praying for the best.

Please join me in praying for Saint Hilaire Germima, her family, Compassion International, ministries in Haiti, the relief efforts, and of course, the people of Haiti.

It’s often difficult to know how to help or to whom to give. I am giving to Compassion International because they have proven their integrity.

If you would like to help Compassion, go to www.compassion.com/haitiearthquake, or call 800-336-7676.

If you are an author or aspiring author, I am having a special Help Haiti sale on some of my products, and will be donating 75% of the proceeds to Compassion. (It would be 100%, but I have to take out taxes and administrative fees.) You can find out about those products at www.wordstoprofit.com/helphaiti.html.

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“New Publishing Model”–Does It Help or Hurt Authors?

Monday, January 25th, 2010

An article at bookbusinessmag.com asks, “Is ‘Self-publish’ No Longer a Dirty Word?” There’s an interview with Author Solutions, Inc. CEO Kevin Weiss about this new “partnership model” that many publishers are embracing, such as Thomas Nelson and Harlequin.

Basically, what is happening is “publishers” (really they are publishing services companies) such as Author Solutions are offering traditional publishers a way to profit from the authors they don’t deem worthy of taking a risk on and publishing in the traditional way. Author Solutions is the parent company of self-publishing imprints AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford Publishing and Xlibris. All of these are listed in the “Publishers to Avoid” chapter of Mark Levine’s excellent book, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: The Contracts & Services of 45 Self-Publishing Companies–Analyzed, Ranked and Exposed.

I’m not necessarily against this new “partnership publishing” model. It’s probably inevitable, because (more…)

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