Competition in the publishing industry is more fierce now than ever. New books are being released at record rates, thanks to authors being able to publish their books in seconds to the Kindle, Nook and other ebook readers. So what does that mean for you? Three words: Step It Up.
You have to be top notch in order to succeed in the publishing game. So how do you step it up? How do you get people to notice you and your book(s)?
Do more than write books! You can't just write books. You have to do other things to get your name, and your brand out in front of your potential readers. For some authors, this will mean hosting events such as workshops and seminars, and book parties. For others, it can mean doing speaking engagements. Find a creative outlet and use it to promote yourself and your book(s).
So many authors live with the misconception that all that need to do is write and people will buy their books. Why would you think that? Your goal is to set yourself apart from the rest.
Top notch authors are authors who understand that it takes more than writing to get ahead of the game. A prime example of an author that exudes top notchness is Miasha. She is not only an author, but a brand.
It's time to look at yourself. What kind author are you? Are you the author that sits back, doing nothing, expecting book sales to just ooze in with no effort being made on your part? Or, are you an author that makes big waves, makes major power moves and gets noticed?
That's for you to decide.
Until next time,
~Sandra~
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Is the Book Market Getting too Crowded?
There are millions of books being published on a monthly if not weekly basis. The advent of ebook publishing has only allowed for this number to increase dramatically. So what does this say about the book publishing industry?
I myself am a self published author. I did it because I had tried to traditional route and because at the time I didn't understand how to query properly, I was rejected. This was a process I began when I was eighteen years old. After some research, I learned that you could publish a book on your own and if you marketed it right, it could help land you a traditional book publishing deal. I wanted to be a writer. It was in my blood.
Fast forward some fifteen years later. I still am a writer. I love it. But now, I find myself not feeling as special about having this gift as I did back then. Why? Because now, many people are not writing and publishing books out of a love and a passion for the gift that is writing, instead, they are doing it all for the money.
I felt really sad the other day when I read the first few pages of a book written by a young man I had come into contact with. It was a prime example of someone who said "everybody is doing it, I will too."
What people fail to realize is that writing books is much like putting together a music cd. If you don't make good music, you will easily become a one hit wonder. Same with a book. If you only write one book, hoping to hit the big leagues, you may be in for a rude awakening.
Even if you do strike it big and score a traditional publishing deal after you self publish, the publisher will expect you to be able to write atleast two books for them, known as a two book deal. Some companies want you to write more. And you have to produce.
So, this blog post is going to ask a question: are you writing a book out of love, or are you doing it just because?
Until next time,
~Sandra~
I myself am a self published author. I did it because I had tried to traditional route and because at the time I didn't understand how to query properly, I was rejected. This was a process I began when I was eighteen years old. After some research, I learned that you could publish a book on your own and if you marketed it right, it could help land you a traditional book publishing deal. I wanted to be a writer. It was in my blood.
Fast forward some fifteen years later. I still am a writer. I love it. But now, I find myself not feeling as special about having this gift as I did back then. Why? Because now, many people are not writing and publishing books out of a love and a passion for the gift that is writing, instead, they are doing it all for the money.
I felt really sad the other day when I read the first few pages of a book written by a young man I had come into contact with. It was a prime example of someone who said "everybody is doing it, I will too."
What people fail to realize is that writing books is much like putting together a music cd. If you don't make good music, you will easily become a one hit wonder. Same with a book. If you only write one book, hoping to hit the big leagues, you may be in for a rude awakening.
Even if you do strike it big and score a traditional publishing deal after you self publish, the publisher will expect you to be able to write atleast two books for them, known as a two book deal. Some companies want you to write more. And you have to produce.
So, this blog post is going to ask a question: are you writing a book out of love, or are you doing it just because?
Until next time,
~Sandra~
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tamika Newhouse: A Self-Publishing Success Story
**Editors Note: It was hoped that I could feature all of the authors on the page 'Success Stories', however, due to a technicality, those authors will be featured as a post on the blog. The 'Success Stories' Page will simply tell how to be featured. Thank you, ~Sandra~
Tamika encompasses the fact that you can live your dreams and be successful at self-publishing.
About Tamika: Tamika Newhouse is a self-published bestselling author. Founder of Delphine Publications, at the age of 21, Tamika appeared on various bestseller lists and won Self Published Author of the Year at the 2009 African American Literary Awards. Along with Delphine Publications, Tamika is the founder and
President of African Americans on the Move Book Club (AAMBC) - an online book club and radio show catering to avid readers across the nation. With future projects in the works from short films, stage plays and much more, Tamika is a young woman on a mission. Tamika presently tours the country speaking about
overcoming her teen pregnancy to fulfill her dream, as well as teaching aspiring writers the publishing ropes. She has hosted her own internet radio show (AAMBC) for over three years and continues to expand her brand. She is currently living in San Antonio with her husband son, and daughter. She is currently working on her fourth novel Cookie: A Fort Worth Story.
Synopsis:
Born Latoya James, when starting high school, Cookie believes this is her time to stand out from underneath her sister’s shadow. Always declared the odd one, she makes it her mission to be noticed by anyone who will pay attention. Reality starts to settle in when she realizes life isn’t always peaches and cream. After witnessing the rape of her best friend, and then the death of one of her classmates, she starts to believe life isn’t what she thought it would be.
Sex, drugs, catering to her new demons, and hanging out with the older crowd become her escape and not even her high school sweetheart can steer her straight. It isn’t until she realizes everyone around her is not who they seem to be when she decides to change her life. But when she experiences an unwanted pregnancy and the death of her mother, Cookie is left to wonder if this is the way her life will always be.
Based on a true story, Cookie is a gripping tale of a teen girl who had to grow up sooner than later. Taking place in one of the fastest-growing suburbs of Fort Worth, witness the life of Cookie and her quest to be loved, appreciated, and wanted. You will soon discover life is never what it seems.
Excerpt:
Let me first introduce myself. My name is Latoya James but everyone calls me Cookie. This story I want to tell you is a personal journey of mines. Not everyone goes to High School becomes Valedictorian and goes off to a University out of state and lives happily ever after. This isn’t that type of story. I know at some point in your life when you were young and dumb you did some things you can’t believe you did. Well I can relate. I can remember as far back as seven years old when I struggled with being happy. I can remember my love for writing and my love for being alone and off to myself. That was me then. Now I am grown and living life on my own and can no one take credit for the wrong I do or the good I do in life.
Wonder why people called me cookie. I can’t remember but as far as back I can remember that was my identity. As I tell you my story I will reminisce and wish I could take it back and re do it. I wish I could take away the tears I cried or the moments I was weak and did something I would regret. I would think that after my mother taught me the word of the bible and sent me to church five days a week that I would know what not to do. But I was a kid; we do trial and error our whole child hood. It doesn’t matter what you were taught or what was told you will still make the final decision whether it’s good or bad. Did I make the right decisions in life? Could I talk to mama now and she say, Girl now you know better. It doesn’t matter who agrees with me or not as I tell this story because the fact is this is how I felt. This is what happened in my eyes. Believe it or not but I wasn’t always happy. But now I can say look at me now. Look at who I am today. But my journey here was not an easy one.
Purchase at www.delphinepublications.com
Visit author at www.tamikanewhouse.comFollow on twitter at www.twitter.com/tamikanewhouse
--
~a woman with a vision
www.tamikanewhouse.com
www.twitter.com/tamikanewhouse
Tamika Newhouse, June's Self-Publishing Success Story.
Tamika encompasses the fact that you can live your dreams and be successful at self-publishing.
About Tamika: Tamika Newhouse is a self-published bestselling author. Founder of Delphine Publications, at the age of 21, Tamika appeared on various bestseller lists and won Self Published Author of the Year at the 2009 African American Literary Awards. Along with Delphine Publications, Tamika is the founder and
President of African Americans on the Move Book Club (AAMBC) - an online book club and radio show catering to avid readers across the nation. With future projects in the works from short films, stage plays and much more, Tamika is a young woman on a mission. Tamika presently tours the country speaking about
overcoming her teen pregnancy to fulfill her dream, as well as teaching aspiring writers the publishing ropes. She has hosted her own internet radio show (AAMBC) for over three years and continues to expand her brand. She is currently living in San Antonio with her husband son, and daughter. She is currently working on her fourth novel Cookie: A Fort Worth Story.
Synopsis:
Born Latoya James, when starting high school, Cookie believes this is her time to stand out from underneath her sister’s shadow. Always declared the odd one, she makes it her mission to be noticed by anyone who will pay attention. Reality starts to settle in when she realizes life isn’t always peaches and cream. After witnessing the rape of her best friend, and then the death of one of her classmates, she starts to believe life isn’t what she thought it would be.
Sex, drugs, catering to her new demons, and hanging out with the older crowd become her escape and not even her high school sweetheart can steer her straight. It isn’t until she realizes everyone around her is not who they seem to be when she decides to change her life. But when she experiences an unwanted pregnancy and the death of her mother, Cookie is left to wonder if this is the way her life will always be.
Based on a true story, Cookie is a gripping tale of a teen girl who had to grow up sooner than later. Taking place in one of the fastest-growing suburbs of Fort Worth, witness the life of Cookie and her quest to be loved, appreciated, and wanted. You will soon discover life is never what it seems.
Excerpt:
Prologue
Let me first introduce myself. My name is Latoya James but everyone calls me Cookie. This story I want to tell you is a personal journey of mines. Not everyone goes to High School becomes Valedictorian and goes off to a University out of state and lives happily ever after. This isn’t that type of story. I know at some point in your life when you were young and dumb you did some things you can’t believe you did. Well I can relate. I can remember as far back as seven years old when I struggled with being happy. I can remember my love for writing and my love for being alone and off to myself. That was me then. Now I am grown and living life on my own and can no one take credit for the wrong I do or the good I do in life.
Wonder why people called me cookie. I can’t remember but as far as back I can remember that was my identity. As I tell you my story I will reminisce and wish I could take it back and re do it. I wish I could take away the tears I cried or the moments I was weak and did something I would regret. I would think that after my mother taught me the word of the bible and sent me to church five days a week that I would know what not to do. But I was a kid; we do trial and error our whole child hood. It doesn’t matter what you were taught or what was told you will still make the final decision whether it’s good or bad. Did I make the right decisions in life? Could I talk to mama now and she say, Girl now you know better. It doesn’t matter who agrees with me or not as I tell this story because the fact is this is how I felt. This is what happened in my eyes. Believe it or not but I wasn’t always happy. But now I can say look at me now. Look at who I am today. But my journey here was not an easy one.
Purchase at www.delphinepublications.com
Visit author at www.tamikanewhouse.comFollow on twitter at www.twitter.com/tamikanewhouse
--
~a woman with a vision
www.tamikanewhouse.com
www.twitter.com/tamikanewhouse
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