Why I made the switch from self-publishing to traditional

By Jenni DeWitt

Jenni DeWitt

I started writing when my 2-year-old son, Cooper, was diagnosed with cancer. Every evening, I sat on the stiff, vinyl couch in his hospital room and typed out a story for our family and friends. Then I posted it on his online health journal, CaringBridge.

I wrote about the hilarious and heartbreaking moments of our day. Then I asked for their prayers. I poured myself into that health journal each night, convinced that if they kept coming back to read they’d keep remembering to pray, and we desperately needed prayers.

The more I wrote, the more I remembered how much I loved to write. So, as my son started to feel better and treatment slowed, I kept writing.

God was teaching me so much about my anxiety and about faith and suffering. I wanted to share it all, but Cooper’s health journal didn’t feel like the right place to do it. So I started a blog called Genuflected.com.

A year later I wrote my first book, Why Won’t God Talk to Me? Surprising Ways He Already Is. It helps readers learn to hear God’s voice by opening their ears to ways God might already be trying to talk to them.

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My next book was Forty Days: A Memoir of Our Time in the Desert of Childhood Cancer . It’s a book about the spiritual bootcamp God allowed me to go through during the first 40 days after Cooper was diagnosed with cancer.

Both books are self-published. I hired a graphic designer from Fiverr to do the cover design, and I recruited friends like Alison Kern to be my editors. I figured everything out as I went and muddled through formatting the books so they would look good both in print and ebook.

Finally, I had two beautiful finished products… and absolutely no idea what to do with them. I’m a persuasive person by nature, but I found the hardest thing to market was myself. 

It didn’t help that I was still so raw and fresh in the writing world. I didn’t know if I had any talent as a writer. How could I tell people to buy my books when I was scared my writing wasn’t good enough?

Of course I tried a few things - some campaigns and giveaways. I even sold a few copies. But it

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became clear to me that no one would read my books if they didn’t know they existed. I needed to figure out marketing. 

So, for the next two years, I poured myself into learning how to market. I read everything I could and watched every free webinar known to man. I even found a part-time job in the marketing department of a local business.

And I kept writing. Eventually, I landed a few paying freelance jobs. Then I won a writing contest. The prize was a chance to meet an acquisitions editor - a person who works for a traditional publisher acquiring manuscripts.

I’d been kicking around the idea of switching to fiction. I’d fallen into blogging and writing non-fiction books as a result of Cooper’s cancer journey. But, in my heart, I’d always dreamed of being a fiction writer.

Maybe it was time to make the change and give it a try with traditional publishing? I poured myself into more research and learned all I could about traditional publishing. I wanted to be prepared for my meeting. After all, this could be my big break.

Cooper and Mama

As it turned out, it wasn’t. But I did learn a lot.

In our brief meeting, that acquisitions editor helped me understand how important it is to think of the reader when you’re writing. She opened my eyes to asking the question, who will read this?

While creativity is key, it’s important to give the reader what they expect in some regard. For example, each genre and age level have a typical word count associated with them. And there’s a certain cadence and tone associated with each as well.

In talking with the acquisitions editor, I finally started to understand what I’d been missing all along… marketing is about focusing on your audience more than you focus on yourself.

It seemed so obvious the way she explained it - so clear. And, for the first time, I realized how much I craved a mentor. How badly I longed to find a guide to help me through the tangled web of book publishing. 

It’s been two years since that meeting with the acquisitions editor. Since then, I’ve completed my first fiction manuscript, a YA Christian fiction book full of intrigue, thrill and mystery. It’s based on the real-life prophecy of three days of darkness that’s been foretold for hundreds of years. Click here and I’ll tell you more.

Now I have my very own literary agent and guide, Jennifer Haskins, and I’m in the process of signing a three-book contract with Christian publisher, Little Lamb Books.

Traditional publishing is just as much work as self publishing. However, so far, I like it much better than being out there on my own in the great, big publishing world. I don’t feel so alone, constantly floundering around wondering what to do next. I’m grateful to be part of a team.

How about you? Do you prefer self publishing? Traditional publishing? Both? I’d love to hear what led you to your choice if you’d like to leave a comment! Today we are giving away a copy of Why Won't God Talk to Me?

Jenni DeWitt is a loud-laughing introvert who's learning to love like a Christian in this crazy, mixed up world. She enjoys playing fetch with her cat and writing YA Christian fiction novels filled with angels, demons, and a little human romance to keep things interesting. Online Jenni can be found at jennidewitt.com, but in the real world, she's probably reading a book on the dock of some obscure Nebraska lake. Jenni is the author of two self-published books - Forty Days and Why Won’t God Talk to Me? Surprising Ways He Already Is, but she got lonely out there in the world. Now she's happy to be part of a team as an author working with Metamorphosis Literary Agency and Little Lamb Books.

Self-Editing Tips for the Indie Author: When do you say ‘Done?’

with guest Helen Gray.

There are standard editing steps that most authors follow—but for indie publishing, there are generally a few more. 

WHY?

Because the buck stops here. We’re on our own. Every writer needs to be a sharp-eyed self-editor, but for indie writers, that’s even more important than ever. We’re the only one responsible for our published output. We have to be more attentive to detail, go a few extra rounds.

While writing a book, I do some editing on chapter one as soon as it’s finished, to be sure I’ve covered necessary elements—GMC, setting, basic story setup—but after that, I don’t edit. I don’t mean I don’t pause to correct typos or simple details, but while I’m working on the first draft, I keep moving forward. I do, however, keep a list of things, as they occur to me, to check when I get done.

Once the manuscript is complete, I make myself shelve it for at least two days, longer if I can keep my antsy little hands off of it. I do something else that’s totally non-writing, like house cleaning, so my brain can take a rest. Then I return to paper-grading mode—pretend I’m back in the classroom, analyzing student reports and business correspondence.

ROUND ONE – The normal stuff most authors do.

I know there are those who insist that all editing be done on-screen, but  like a hard copy to edit. A major reason is that I can flip through the pages easily when I run across what I think are repetitions or inconsistencies that I want to compare in another location. Another reason is that I can read for long periods without glare from the computer screen.

Read it aloud. This exercise can be helpful in identifying awkward sentences, missing and repetitive words, and misspellings.

A. Story Edit

Read through the entire manuscript for structure and content, looking for new ideas and anything that doesn’t fit—plot holes, word usage, redundancies, inconsistent details, and ways to strengthen the story, sentences, and paragraphs. Here’s a checklist:

1. Look up any facts about which you’re unsure.

2. Check formatting.

3. End of scene and chapter hooks.

4. Does each scene move the story forward?

5. Is there plenty of white space?

6. Cut backstory dumps. Weave it in gradually.

7. Have you shown rather than told?

B. Copy Edit

Read for punctuation, spelling, and technical formatting glitches. During this round, check for the following:

1. Run Spell and Grammar Checks.

2. Search out the weasel words—the “pet” ones we say from habit.

3. Check sentence starts. 

4. Trim sentences—probably about ten percent of your words. Write tight. Less is more, and usually better. Watch for repetitions, wishy-washy phrases (in my opinion, it is my belief, etc.), flowery descriptions, too long sentences, and unnecessary adjectives.

5. Check comma usage.

6. Avoid overuse of punctuation (like exclamation marks).

7. Check for proper use of verb conjugation.

8. Check for unnecessary dialogue tags. Almost always use ‘said’ as a tag. Flowery verbs are distracting. Stick with said and asked, with an occasional replied or answered.

9. Check for passive construction. Use active verbs and nouns.

10. Check tenses. It’s easy to lapse into past tense when writing present, or vice versa.

11. Check for alien movement of body parts (her eyes flew to… His head followed …).

12. Be sure you’ve been consistent with the number of spaces before and after chapter headings and scene breaks. 

ROUND TWO – The indie/hybrid round.

Now that I’ve been through those checklists, more than once, it’s time for a few more steps. Here’s my process.

1. I send the manuscript to an editor. 
2. When the manuscript is returned to me, I go back through it again, adding any more edits of my own to what my editor friend has noted. 
3. Then I send it back to my editor, who proofreads it.
4. When she returns it, I insert her changes.
5. Then I proofread the whole thing again. Mistakes happen even in editing. 
6. I may review and polish again. And again. Then I turn it loose and publish it.
7. Now I have one more opportunity to proofread—when the print proof copy comes. 



Then I HAVE to stop. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect. It simply means my brain is getting fuzzy and I will probably do more harm than good if I continue. It’s time to QUIT. It’s DONE.

Are there any steps you do that I’ve missed  Any tricks you want to share? When do you know it's time to stop? Share in the comments!

As a giveaway, I’m making book one of my new Lake Ozark Ladies series, Paige’s Proposal, free today. Help yourself. If you enjoy it, a review is always appreciated.

Paige's Proposal

Proposing to a stranger is strange. Right?

Paige Kimball is manipulated into the ridiculous stunt of proposing to the next man who enters the hotel lobby. Shock follows when the Lake Ozark businessman accepts, gives her a ring, and walks away. 

More shock follows when Paige learns that Holt Taylor is the father of the twin girls who are disrupting her band class with their rowdy behavior. When Holt asks her to befriend his motherless daughters and spend time with them outside of school, she can’t refuse the request. But can Paige maintain this kind of close contact and resist falling for a handsome man who doesn't share her faith—or risk repeating the kind of mistake her mother made? 

Can Holt overcome the betrayals he's suffered and learn to trust God and chance love again?

Enjoy these other books in the Lake Ozark's Ladies Series!
Brooke's Bargain, Haley's Hero and Kelsey's Keeper!

Helen Gray grew up in a small Missouri town and married her pastor. While working alongside her husband in his ministry, she had three children, taught school, directed/accompanied church music programs, and became an amateur ventriloquist. Now retired, with the children gone from the nest, she and her supportive husband still live in their native Missouri Ozarks where he roams the woods, hunts, and fishes, and she weaves stories meant to honor God and depict Christian lives and problems as she knows and observes them. Helen thanks God for the time and opportunity to write and considers it an added blessing if her stories touch others in even a small way.

http://www.helenbrowngray.com

Using Free as a Marketing Tool

Back in March 2013, Amazon Affiliates changed its policy regarding commissions earned on purchases made by someone after they clicked through for a "free" purchase.  Before March, if I clicked an affiliate link for a free book, and on Amazon I decided to buy anything else, then that affiliate received a commission on that sale.  In March, that went away and affiliates could even be penalized for the free link.  What happened was a momentary stop in free book advertising while affiliates figured out what would work best for them.

Authors with free books or on the KDP select program everywhere started moaning doom and gloom about the effectiveness of a free book as a marketing tool.  After all, if you couldn't advertise the free book everywhere, then how would you find readers with your free book?

Even today, if you look up marketing strategies for independent published authors, one of the first things you will hear is that "free doesn't work anymore."

I'm here to tell you that the people who say that are wrong.

If you write a good book that is edited well and have a good cover, having a book permanently free at every possible market you can place it is absolutely the best marketing tool an independent writer can use.  Yes, even after March of 2013. Let me show you something (all of the numbers I'm going to show you are Amazon only, simply because that is my largest venue.  DeeperShopping, B&N and Apple are about 10% each of Amazon, overall, so if you want info on those, just go with about 10%):

In March 2012, I published my first book: Sapphire Ice, Book 1 of the Jewel Trilogy.  In April, I published Book 2, Emerald Fire. In May, I published the third and (at the time) final book in the series, Topaz Heat.  I got reviews - professional reviews.  I had a social media storm.  I advertised everywhere I could advertise. I put books on sale for 99 cents.  And, I sold, on my best month, 179 books.  On my worst month, after all 3 were released, I sold 19.



Then, I wrote Greater Than Rubies, book 1.5 of the same series.  It comes in between Sapphire Ice and Emerald Fire, and is the story of the wedding of the first couple.  I intended it to be a quick, silly novella about a wedding of her dreams.  But the Holy Spirit kind of got a hold of the story and it became a 50,000 word book that contains a very prominent salvation message right in the middle of it.  The Holy Spirit also had my character, Robin, battle some pretty intense inner demons before her wedding night, and it's become something of a devotional tool for women who have found they have similar experiences. God has worked amazing things through this book that I never intended to write in the first place.

So, my Jewel Trilogy became the Jewel Series, and Greater Than Rubies was released on December 30, 2012.



It takes a bit of work to get a book permanently free on Amazon. It has to be free other places, then you have to notify Amazon of the free book, over and over again.  Eventually, it will be come free there.  And mine did, on February 9, 2013.

On Amazon alone, I gave away 35,588 copies of Greater Than Rubies to Amazon readers in the month of February with more than 3,000 downloads on the first day.  Great, you say.  You gave for free something that someone might have bought.  What good does that do?

Well, I also sold 1,521 copies of my other books.  My entire writing career of almost an entire year, I'd only sold 768 books, there.  That's about double in a single month.  And, in March, I gave away 13,354 copies of Greater Than Rubies, and sold 1,600 copies of my other books.  In September, I sold almost 10,000 books. Overall, in fact my sales and ranking have not significantly declined since.



My ranking at Amazon reflects the difference a free book makes as well:



My author ranking on Amazon before the Greater Than Rubies release was never higher than #1913 - and that was a massive incline from an average ranking of about 10,000.  Since the release of Greater Than Rubies, I've made it up to the top tens on several occasions, and am consistently in the top 300 for my genre.

My books, which at times have been ranked lower than 300,000th place on all of Amazon, have made it into the top 100 on ALL of Amazon's site, and consistently stay in the top 30 in their categories with a few becoming number 1 best sellers.

So, if you're wondering whether a permanently free book still "works" after the Amazon Affiliate changes, you can see that it definitely did for me.  It worked for me.  It might work for you or it might not.  I must point out that I was led to do it after a time spent in prayer and fasting over where God wanted to take my writing career.

So, my advice is don't listen to the critics and the nay-Sayers.  Pray about it.  See where the Holy Spirit wants to lead you.

What have you discovered to be your best marketing strategy? Do you have a book for free anywhere? Have you seen a sales increase due to the free book?

I will be giving away autographed copies of A Melody for James and An Aria for Nick, books 1 and 2 in my Song of Suspense Series to one commenter.  AND -- BONUS! One commenter will receive a paid registration and 2-nights hotel stay for the Arizona Dreamin' Romance Reader Event in Chandler, Arizona,  May 30-June 1, 2014, at The Windmill Inn & Suites! 

PLEASE TELL US YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS REGISTRATION GIVEAWAY IN THE COMMENTS!!

Here is more information about my latest release, An Aria for Nick:

 

The Only Man Who Can Save Her Life Has Been Dead for a Decade.

Raised in a loving home, Aria Suarez dreamed of becoming a professional pianist happily married to her high school crush. After the only boy who ever caught her eye dies a hero’s death and her wrist is shattered along with her future plans, she turns her brilliant musical mind to nuclear engineering and solving mysteries of science.

Abandoned to an abusive father at five, Nick Williams grew up dreaming of escape; of enlisting in the Army and leaving his wretched life behind; of proving himself worthy of the girl he loves. But the crucible of combat offers only the escape of death.

A decade later, Aria uncovers a nuclear plot that threatens the heart of our very nation. Sinister forces surround and threaten her when, out of nowhere, the man who reportedly died so many years before returns as if from the grave — intent on protecting her.

Has God finally joined them together?

Or is Aria doomed to mourn Nick twice?

To learn more about Hallee, visit her website at http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee/

ON THE VERGE with Leslie Ann Sartor

ON THE VERGE

It seems like I've always been "on the verge" in my writing career.

On the verge of signing with an agent.

On the verge of signing a contract.

On the verge of having a script sold and produced.

On the verge of … almost anything that has to do with writing.

And frankly, I was sick to death of being on the verge and never being past / over / beyond "it."

One day, my husband brought into my office a Wall Street Journal article about Indie authors, and I realized that Indie Publishing was becoming more legitimate, in fact for some, even a preferred way of publishing one's book. The WSJ was printing articles weekly about Indie authors and the dollars / prestige they were earning.

Ah, ha! I was on the verge of creating my career as an author with a new route.

And I can tell you it's been a fun, yet somewhat stressful route, as it is me doing all that is necessary to create and promote my books.

Granted, I have an amazing editor, and I'd never publish a book without her. I have a great cover artist and dear friends who inspire me, baby me, scold me into being better and share this voyage with me.

But it's all me on the page, the story ideas, the characters, the plot. Choosing which editing points I'll keep, and which book cover I think tells the story best.

So, I've published the first one, then a second and soon a third.

Was I finally beyond "it?"

No. I realized a few months go I was still on the verge…of a breakout novel, a new story, higher sales, more reviews and who knows what next. And I wasn't all that happy. I still felt way too anxious.

Then I saw a quote from Walt Disney, a hero of mine. A dreamer who went bankrupt twice, and who was at those low points, teetering on the verge of genius.

So now, instead of thinking I'm on the verge, I Keep Moving Forward, and I feel much better, much happier, less anxious. Maybe it's semantics, but it works for me.

I have many more stories to write, including a new cozy mystery series I'm working on, because I'm curious to open that door and finding the path on which these new projects will lead me.

So my fellow writers, and all of you who dream of doing something new, different, scary, Keep Moving Forward, opening new doors and being curious, then following the new path before you.

* * *

For the Adventurer and the Romantic in all of us. Travel to the Yucatan and be a part of the adventure Tori and Reid are about to undertake. I hope you enjoy it.

Blurb:

STONE OF HEAVEN Book One of the Carswell Adventure Series


The Recluse … Tori Carswell treasures her solitude and simple life. Her identical twin, Abby
Carswell, is the polar opposite, seeking increasingly risky adventures. Now Abby has put herself in mortal danger, captive of an ancient Mayan cult. Her only hope? Woefully under-prepared Tori.


And the Treasure Hunter … Reid Hunter, good-natured and currently broke, aims to beat his ex-partner Abby to the fabled blue jade known as the Stone of Heaven. But when reclusive, aero-phobic Tori overcomes her fear of flying and tracks her sister to a well guarded tomb deep in the Yucatan rainforest, he realizes Abby is in serious trouble.

Can Opposites Accomplish the Impossible? Abby no longer trusts Reid. Can Tori risk doing so now, and join forces with him to save her sister? Or will Reid put riches before life and love?

Bio:

Leslie Ann Sartor (aka L.A. Sartor) began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie’s insistence, wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them. As an adult Leslie writes suspense and action adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she's had a contracted adaptation! She lives in Colorado with her attorney husband, loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey. 

She has a blog: My Story, My Way ~ an Indie Adventure.
She is also one of the Five Scribes.
Check out her website, http://www.lesliesartor.com
Facebook http://on.fb.me/MUU9HK
Twitter https://twitter.com/LesannSartor

Titles published: Dare to Believe (2012) Stone of Heaven (May 2013) Be Mine This Christmas Night (Holiday 2013)

Audra here! Leslie has generously donated an e-copy of her latest book, Stone of Heaven. Leave a comment to be in the drawing. There will also be a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card. Winners will be announced in the Weekend Edition!

What Everyone Needs to Know About Self-Publishing

Sandra here with a good friend, Ann Lee Miller from my local chapter of ACFW.  Our group is CWOW Christian Writers of the West and you may recognize us because we sponsor the Phoenix Rattler Contest.  

Ann Lee  became our president and innovated some great projects and formats for our meetings.  CWOW grew under her leadership and she has been a wonderful inspiration for all of us.

Ann Lee is joining us today in Seekerville and will be talking about her experience in self-publishing her four novels.  She is also offering a free e-book copy of her first novel Kicking Eternity to all of you who request a copy.  A generous offer Ann Lee.   We hope you enjoy your day with us. 

[Note: Anyone who who would like to receive a free e-copy of Kicking Eternity, you may request your book at AnnLeeMiller.com and click on Contact button.]

Grab a cup of coffee and some pastries we have laid out on the sideboard and let me introduce you to Ann Lee Miller.

Three months ago I would have been the last writer on the planet to self-publish e-books. Now, after hearing the voice of God and choking down a hairball of pride, I’m a lot like Paul who persecuted Christians, then became one.

I was the 2011 president of the Phoenix chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. My BA in creative writing swung discretely from my belt beside the inscription of my highly respected literary agent. I’d notched a long list of writers’ conferences into the leather. My backpack was stuffed with worn out copies of Donald Maass’ books, Jack M. Bickham’s Scene and Structure, and Renni Browne and Dave King’s Self-editing for Fiction Writers. Indie publishing was fine for people who were impatient or not quite ready for “real” publishing. If anyone could land a traditional publisher, I could.

The ten year anniversary of when God called me to write loomed in January. The popularity of e-books and e-readers had started the book industry down the same road the music world had plummeted when people started downloading songs from the internet. E-books sold cheaper. They could be published by authors without the aid of a publishing house.

Publishers’ revenues shrunk. They laid off workers, published fewer books, stuck with well-established authors, and took risks on fewer new novelists. Even literary agents struggled to stay in the business. My agent of two and a half years let go all her unpublished clients, including me, to pursue more lucrative business ventures.           

On February 17, at the lowest point of my despair, my son, who followed the decline of the music industry, suggested I indie e-publish my four completed novels. At that moment, God infused me with hope and directed me to do something I never would have considered without His prompting. Since then, I feel like He is jostling me forward, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Seekerville’s Sandra Leesmith asked me to lay out my indie publishing journey for those of you who are considering taking this road.

Prayer

1. I pray for God’s enabling each day before I begin my day. Then, I pray through each obstacle I encounter as I write.
2. Robin Lee Hatcher inspired me to recruit friends who might be willing to pray for my writing and publishing long before I published.
3. I update my prayer team with specific requests and keep them in the loop of my progress.

Cover

The cover is the single most important advertising element you have. Hiring a graphic artist to do your cover can cost $50-$1,000. Ask your friends for recommendations. I would be less concerned about whether they have done book covers in the past and more concerned about whether I liked their portfolio.

I used Robin Roberts at RedRedDesign.com and was very happy with the result. I sent Robin a synopsis, head shot of my heroine I had clipped from a magazine, photographs of the town where the book is set, detailed descriptions of each character, and a file of book covers I liked.

He did three rough sketches for me to choose from, or he was willing to start over if nothing caught me. Next came a detailed pencil sketch. I made suggestions. He painted an oil painting (which I get to keep!), and e-mailed me a photo of the cover with text. I told him I wanted more girly looking text. He wasn’t satisfied with the color of the ocean and fiddled with the painting. The next day he sent me a new shot of the cover. I approved the new cover and noted that the ocean really did look better. He had to let the oils dry for several days before the painting could be scanned and a final cover jpg e-mailed to me.

Manuscript Prep

1. Edit: I felt like one of the most important things I could do to insure the success of my book was to hire a freelance editor. Editing prices range from $800 to $3,000. Every manuscript can benefit from line editing (grammar, punctuation, wording), and most need substantive (plotting, characterization, big picture issues) editing to some degree. Editors I have used are C.S. Lakin (LiveWriteThrive.com) and Christina Berry Tarabochia (ChristinaBerry.com). There are many other excellent freelance editors who can be found through AmericanChristianFictionWriters.com or by asking your writer friends for recommendations.
2. Fix: I tend to make every change my critique partners and editors suggest, so I tried to weigh each comment carefully to determine whether it would improve the quality of my story.
3. Proofread: After implementing the changes, I had my manuscript proofread. I didn’t want to risk typos in the final copy. Proofreading starts at $400.
4. Add Additional Content:

• Endorsements—I asked a couple of writer friends if they would endorse my book because I wanted to make my book as much like a traditionally published book as possible.
• Statement that this is a work of fiction. (The events and characters described herin are imaginary, etc.)
• Copyright—copyright is established by inserting “Copyright © 2012 Author’s Name”
• Copyright statement—“This book remains the copyrighted property of the owner and may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.”
• Note from the Author, if you have one. Example from Kicking Eternity: “For you turtle enthusiasts—I am aware that fires are outlawed on the beach during turtle nesting season. I hope you will cut me some slack for burning imaginary fires in the middle of nesting season. I assure you, no turtles were harmed in the course of writing this book.”
• Author info—To learn more about [Author’s Name]’s books and what is coming next from this talented author, visit [Author’s website], Twitter [name], or Facebook Author Page at [Author’s page address].
• Dedication Page.
• Title Page.
• Acknowledgements—Not all authors write acknowledgements, but I read other authors’ acknowledgements with rapt attention, so I was thrilled to write my own. I placed them at the end of the book out of personal preference, but they often appear at the beginning.
• The following are usually placed at the end of the book. Author photo, brief bio, and other titles from this author. Because my books will be coming out within the next year, I added the release dates and short description of each book.

5. Format: Smashwords.com gives detailed instructions on how to format a manuscript for e-publishing. It took me (actually, it was my fantastic husband) approximately four hours of work. For $100-$200, an expert can be hired to do the job.
6. Upload: My husband uploaded my book to Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. Each site walked him through the process. There are many more sites where you may upload your book for sale.

Business

1. I formed an LLC. Each state has its own application process. In Arizona, the form is about a page long and LLC status is granted three months after applying. This protects me from being sued and enables me to keep my business and personal finances formally separated.
2. Since I went the LLC route, I needed to apply for an EIN number from http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html. This was a very simple task.
3. When attempting to open a business bank account, I discovered my bank requires waiting until the LLC status has been granted. Also, my bank requires a $1,500 minimum balance for business accounts. Failure to maintain this balance will result in my being charged $7 per month.
4. I am considering opening a business Pay Pal account, but I will only need this if I sell books directly from my Website.
5. Since I have earned $2.10 so far, I have not yet opened personal and business freshbooks accounts for free at https://ardg.freshbooks.com/refer/www. I will need to affix my business e-mail to the business account and my personal e-mail to the personal account. I will be able to send my business invoices for personal expenses to reimburse myself, versus paying myself for expenses out of profits (this avoids double taxation).
6. I also will need to open an Expensify account to keep track of my expenses. This will keep things clean and put the most money in my pocket. I will then need to link that to my personal Freshbooks account in order to invoice my business for my expenses.

Marketing

1. Blog Tour: I contacted as many bloggers as I could who might be interested in promoting Christian contemporary romances and offered to do an interview or guest post (like this one) and giveaway. I scheduled a different blog stop each day for the month of June. Most bloggers ask for a head shot, jpg of the cover, bio, and book blurb. I recommend creating a spreadsheet to keep all the details in order.
2. Facebook: I wrote to friends and asked if they would like to help me by reading my book, posting reviews and passing my book on to their friends.
3. Twitter: Tweet as often as you can with the goal of building relationships and occasionally advertising your book. I highly recommend Joel Comm’s Twitter Power.
4. Speaking: I arranged speaking engagements in the two colleges I attended, the town where the books are set, and my hometown.
5. News Releases: I am sending news releases about my book to the above locations.
6. Kindle Select: Amazon’s three month long marketing program I plan to participate in.

This is more of a beginner’s testimonial than the last word on indie publishing. My favorite book on the topic is Jeff Bennington’s Indie Author’s Guide to the Universe.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on e-publishing. 

If you’ve read this far you deserve a free book! Contact me through AnnLeeMiller.com, and I’ll send you a free e-copy of Kicking Eternity.  (click contact button)

Bio:

Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives. Ann’s Kicking Eternity launches June 1; The Art of My Life, September 1; Avra’s God, December 1; Tattered Innocence March 1, 2013.

Short Blurb on Kicking Eternity:

Fresh from college, Raine scores a teaching job at New Smyrna Beach Surf and Sailing Camp. A crush on the camp rebel/art teacher threatens to derail her plans to teach orphans in Africa. The broody recreation director spots her brothers meth addiction and Raine's enabling. Raine believes she is helping her brother--until lives are threatened. 

Back cover copy, Kickin Eternity:

Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her.

The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would caterwaul him into his parents’ live. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full.

Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex.

Raine’s brother tweaks. Her dream of Africa dies small deaths. Will she figure out what to fight for and what to free before it’s too late?

Thanks Ann Lee.  What a great outline of the self-publishing world.  If you have any question, Ann Lee will be here today to respond.  Enjoy you day with us Ann Lee.  

My Self-Publishing Experience

Camy here! I just recently self-published the fourth novel in my Sushi Series, Weddings and Wasabi, and it came out a few weeks ago in both print book and ebook formats:

After finally graduating with a culinary degree, Jennifer Lim is pressured by her family to work at her control-freak aunty’s restaurant. But after a family dispute, Jenn is determined to no longer be a doormat and instead starts her own catering company. Her search for a wine merchant brings John into her life—a tall, dark, handsome biker in form-fitting black leather, who’s Hispanic to boot. It would be wonderfully wild to snag a man like that!

Shy engineer Edward tentatively tries out his birthday present from his winery-owner uncle—a Harley-Davidson complete with the trimmings. Jennifer seems attracted to the rough, aggressive image, but it isn’t his real self. Is she latching onto him just to spite her horrified family? And if this spark between them is real, will showing her the true guy underneath put it out?

And what’s with the goat in the backyard?

PRINT BOOK: Order from:
BarnesandNoble.com
Amazon
Winepress

E-BOOK: Order from:
BarnesandNoble.com
Amazon
Winepress

The book is only a novella, about 30,000 words, but because it’s Print on Demand, the price of the print book is a bit steep. So I made the ebook cheaper, only $2.99.

The self-publishing process was very eye-opening for me. I definitely made me appreciate my publishers even more because I didn’t realize how many things I had to do that my publisher did for me.

I had very specific motivations for self-publishing. I wanted to have the fourth Sushi book available to people because my publisher only contracted three books, but there were four cousins (five if you count Mimi). However, I knew that the number of people who would want the fourth book would probably be small--a niche market. I also didn’t have time to write a full length (90,000 word) novel.

So I decided to self-publish for purely marketing purposes. I am not expecting to make tons of money off of these books, but I did want to have it available to people to buy, or as giveaway items for when I launch my next two books (Protection for Hire in November and Stalker in the Shadows in January).

To begin with, I chose how I wanted to self-publish. I was willing to pay to have a company do everything for me, so I went with Winepress, which is a bit more expensive than some other avenues, but for me, time was more valuable to me than money.

Next, I hired a freelance editor to do a substantive (macro) edit on my book before I submitted it to Winepress. This is the job of my main editors at Zondervan, Love Inspired, or Guideposts. I know that no matter how spectacular a writer you are, every writer needs editing. So I paid a trusted freelance editor, Meredith Efken at the Fiction Fix It Shop, to do this for me.

I also asked my Street Team members if any of them would be willing to proofread my manuscript. At my publishing houses, there are at least a dozen people who look through the manuscript before it goes to print, so I wanted to approximate the same number of people. I ended up having about 15 people look through my manuscript, which included three English teachers and a freelance copy editor, since they were on my Street Team.

Each self-publishing house has their own “packages” and submission formats, so here’s what I had to do with Winepress. I bought a “package” that included a graphic designer to do the cover and exterior layout. However, I wanted to hire my own graphic designer to do the cover since she knows and understands my books. The graphic designer at Winepress only has a limited number of hours of work on my cover, plus he/she also hasn’t read all three of the previous Sushi books and doesn’t know what the character Jenn is like. So I hired Dineen Miller to do my cover, but it ended up being a bit complicated because of some miscommunication with the Winepress art department. Eventually it got sorted out, but it took a bit of time.

I submitted the manuscript to Winepress and it went through several phases. They require all manuscripts to go through their own editor, who can then recommend you hire a developmental editor at Winepress if the book needs it. For some reason the Winepress editor suggested I hire a developmental editor to further go through my book, for about $600. I said no because Meredith had already done that, and from the Winepress editor’s notes about what needed work, I didn’t think that the book needed more editing.

Then the book went through typesetting and a proofreader. I was very unhappy with the Winepress proofreader (it became an issue that I had to resolve), but their typesetting editor was fantastic, and most of the people I dealt with at Winepress were very nice to work with, plus they have excellent communication to keep me up to date with every step of the process.

The print book and ebooks are available at all major booksellers, which is very nice. Overall, from the time I turned in the manuscript to the time it got on the websites for sale, was about 5 months, although I had contacted them 4 months earlier to schedule my book, and I also opted for a slightly accelerated process to make sure the book was out before my November release and all the promotion I will have to do a month or two before that.

What Winepress also did was give me a coupon code to enable me to give the ebook away to my Street Team members. I will do that with my newsletter subscribers in October sometime as promo for my November release, Protection for Hire. I haven’t worked with Smashwords or any other ebook self-publisher, so I’m not sure if they can do that for you. I didn’t want the book to be free for everyone, just certain people, as a promotional tool.

All in all, it was extremely expensive, a little over $4000. However, when you take into account my advances, I think it was money well-spent to promote not just my Sushi books but also my upcoming releases.

So there’s my self-publishing saga. Have any of you self-published or will you self-publish? I’ve heard of several authors who have self-published their backlist and it has turned out great for them.

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is the fourth book in her Sushi series, Weddings and Wasabi. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

Click here to find out how you can join my Street Team—it’s free and there’s lots of chances to win prizes!