Thursday 27 July 2017

Book Baby newsletters


Here are the latest Book Baby newsletters with details of Independent Authors conference, the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and more:



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The Weekend Edition
 
Founding father Ben Franklin put it best: “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” So this morning I’m urging you to make a small investment—of time, not money. In return you’ll learn some of the most important information available about self-publishing.

We already know self-publishing has been the answer for millions of writers-turned-authors. Thanks to the advent of eBooks and digital services like Print on Demand, aspiring writers can transform themselves into published authors with just the click of a button. Complete creative control, speed to market, and enhanced royalty percentages also make self-publishing an enticing option for authors.

Yet getting published is only half the battle. Promotion and marketing is the self-published author’s next mountain to climb—and it’s largely uncharted territory. What are self-published authors doing to market their books? What works? What isn’t working? And at the end of the day, are self-published authors selling books?

I’m happy to report that all these questions—and much more—have now been answered. The BookBaby 2017 Self-Publishing Survey results are in! You can download them for free here.

This study was the largest self-publishing survey ever conducted, with information shared by nearly 8,000 aspiring and published authors collected and analyzed in this white paper. Focusing mainly on book marketing and promotion, the survey revealed fascinating data on self-published authors’ tactics to attract readers in the crowded marketplace. We even drilled down to compare best-selling authors’ strategies vs. less successful authors to provide insights about how best to spend promotional time and money.

So clear off a little time this weekend to have a look at this surprising survey. It’s our hope that our findings will educate the self-published author community about the state of indie book marketing, and help them make more informed decisions regarding their own promotion strategies.


All the best,
Steven Spatz
Steven Spatz
President, BookBaby
 

 

 

 

 
 
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7905 N. Crescent Blvd., Pennsauken, NJ 08110
     


 



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What’s the Best Time to Publish Your Book?
 

 

Here’s a little-known fact for aspiring self-published authors: The holiday season is not the best time to publish for new, self-published authors. Here’s when you should really publish your book. Read more.

From Dream to Reality: Charmisse M. Owens, Self-Published Author
 

 

Charmisse M. Owens is a first-generation college graduate and the self-published author of Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Started College. Listen to her story in our exclusive video. Read more.

Everything You Need to Know About eBook Formatting
 

 

Want to know how to format your Word document before converting it into an eBook? Here’s how to prepare your manuscript for eBook formatting. Read more.

 


 



 
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The Weekend Edition
 
 
Last weekend I shared posts on some writing basics to help you start your next book. Today let’s talk about the other end of the process—after you’ve finished and published your book.

That’s where BookBaby author Cynthia Gallaher was last July. She had just published her book, Frugal Poets’ Guide To Life. Gallaher describes her book as “part personal journey, part life-coaching for poets (or those who’d like to live like one), part creativity guide, and part reference.” Her book is available on her own BookShop page. Take a look.

As all self-published authors know, promoting books can be a daunting task. Gallaher saw a BookBaby blog post on entering book contests and decided to enter a few contests, including the prestigious National Indie Excellence Awards. Read it here.

“When you self-publish, it makes it that much harder to get attention,” said Gallaher. “As I come from an advertising/marketing background, I understand the need to get the word out there to as many potential readers as possible, but the word often needs to be backed with some clout, i.e. a blurb from a well-known author, an excellent review, a high number of Amazon reader reviews, and having your book be an award winner”

I’m pleased to report her book was one of the 60 top books of 2016 produced by small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors.

“Because my book is independent/self-published, I felt that the National Indie Excellence Awards was a good fit,” said Gallaher. “The entry fee wasn’t too expensive–remember, I’m a frugal poet! I entered this contest basically to see what others thought. As a result, I was fortunate that National Indie Excellence Awards chose my book as one of its winners. Now I wish I would have entered more contests, but it’s a little late for my 2016 book!”

It’s not too late for self-published authors to enter this year’s contest. Submissions for the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards will open on August 1st, 2017. Here’s the entry form.
 
 
All the best,
 
Steven Spatz
 
Steven Spatz
President, BookBaby
 

 
 

 
 


 
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Put the pro in book promotion! Get your book discovered and grow your audience with help from a professional marketing consultant
 
 
Getting the word out about your book is never an easy task. You have to consistently message readers on Facebook, reach out to bookstores, and simultaneously manage a number of other tasks.

That’s why BookBaby has partnered with Smith Publicity—the public relations agency dedicated to authors—to provide a personalized book marketing service designed to help authors of all experience levels achieve their book marketing goals.

Choose from two categories:

Book Marketing Consultation: Learn the basics to gaining traction with your website, on Amazon, and in local bookstores.

Social Media Consultation: Learn how to effectively optimize your book marketing on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Start growing your reader base with help from a professional book marketing consultant today.
 
Don’t miss Smith Publicity at #IndieAuthorCon! See what Smith Publicity can bring to your book by attending Sandra Poirier Smith’s session—Essential Author Led Book Marketing and Publicity Tactics.
 


 
 
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Making The Most Of Writers’ Conferences
 

 

 
Writers’ conferences are valuable because they immerse you into your art. They can make you aware of how much you don’t know, how much you need to know, and expose you to things you need to succeed. Read more.
 

 

Rags-to-Riches, Riches-to-Rags, and Roundtrips
 

 

 
Two of the classic story shapes are “the fall” or “the rise.” In these story arcs, the main character climbs to a peak of happiness, falls from one, or does a round-trip for maximum emotional impact. Read more.
 

 

BookBaby’s 2017 Independent Authors Conference
 

 

 
BookBaby’s first-ever Independent Authors Conference is coming to historic Philadelphia November 3-5 at the elegant Sonesta Hotel in downtown Rittenhouse Square. Read more.
 

 

 


 

 
 
 
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7905 N. Crescent Blvd., Pennsauken, NJ 08110
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“I am a writer”: Empower Yourself on the Page and Beyond by Believing in Yourself
With Grant Faulkner, Executive Director, NaNoWriMo
With the Independent Authors Conference happening in early November, we couldn’t think of anyone more perfect to kick off the event than NaNoWriMo’s very own Grant Faulkner.

Grant will be delivering a keynote address that will inspire as much as it informs, focusing on vitalizing the self-confidence you need to publish and market your work.

Grab your ticket and join Grant Faulkner in an exploration of our writerly inhibitions, complete with interactive exercises designed to embolden your creativity.

What else can you expect?
  • Over 20 workshops and panels focused on publishing and marketing your book
  • Opportunities to connect with fellow writers and expand your writing network
  • Discussions with real publishing experts ready to answer your questions
  • Personal interaction with knowledgeable industry professionals
What else is happening at The BookBaby Independent Authors Conference? Take a look at what’s to come!

 
 
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twitter
 
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Pinterest
 
Youtube
 
Google Plus
 
Blog
 
© BookBaby
7905 N. Crescent Blvd., Pennsauken, NJ 08110
info@bookbaby.com   |   Become an affiliate
     

 
 
 
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Unity Is the Starting Point and End Goal in Writing
 

 

 
In an important sense, unity in writing is an author’s core design principle. This is the starting point and end goal in writing. Read more.
 

 

Use Pacing to Improve Your Storytelling
 

 

 
When you are able to control the pace of your story, you’ve mastered one of the more important skills in writing. Use pacing to set up key moments, ratchet up the intensity, and improve your storytelling. Read more.
 

 

Improve Your Writing: Become a Demanding Self-Editor
 

 

 
Being a demanding self-editor is a must if you want to be the best writer you can be. What’s the point of pouring weeks, months, or years into a manuscript, then settling for something other than your very best work? Read more.
 

 

 

 


 



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The Weekend Edition
 
This morning I’m going to share with you the absolute best part about working for BookBaby. I’d like for you to meet Andrea Bull and her younger brother, Robert, who was diagnosed with autism at age 4. The duo teamed up to create a very special project.

“Autism is something that I’m very passionate about,” said Andrea. “I was always looking for creative ways to help him overcome some of the challenges that he faced growing up and continue to work on developing ways to help him reach his true potential.”

Andrea noticed how Robert expressed himself through art. She saw an opportunity to share Robert’s talents and so the duo created a very special book entitled Animal Appetites: A book of unusual ABCs. The siblings collaborated to make this book project a reality. “I wrote each letter of the alphabet and Robert independently illustrated each scenario according to his own interpretation and imagination,” said Andrea. “We had an incredible designer (Elisa Gutiérrez) design the layout of the book and used BookBaby’s printing and binding options to really bring it to life.”

Andrea wants the book to help promote autism awareness and to showcase the vibrant talent and potential of autistic individuals. “I wanted to highlight that autistic individuals are more than just their autism,” said Andrea. “They can be illustrators, artists, anything—they are unique, talented, and creative people with great potential. We wanted this book to act as an example of what can be achieved with the right support systems, regardless of the challenges someone may face.”

The Bulls helped produce a video that describes her self-publishing process. Watch it here.

I welcome you to enjoy the video. I implore you to support Andrea and Robert’s cause by purchasing their book. Find it here.

A personal note: This project tugged at my heartstrings as my own younger brother was diagnosed with autism during his too-short life. Andrea and Robert’s book reminds me that of all wonderful things about self-publishing I espouse every weekend, this is the very best:

Anyone with inspiration and motivation can share their stories with the world and make a difference.

I’m thrilled that BookBaby can help folks like Andrea and Robert make their dreams come true.


All the best,
Steven Spatz
Steven Spatz
President, BookBaby
 

 

 


 
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SEO Workshop with Miral Sattar, Bibliocrunch CEO & Founder. Saturday, November 4th | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Only 12 spots remain!
 
Are you looking to gain more visibility for your author website?

Bibliocrunch’s very own Miral Sattar will show you how to optimize your website and teach you best practices to rank higher as an author in Google.

Topics covered:
  1. What is SEO and why is it important?
  2. Blogging, guest blogging, press releases, and using relevant keywords in copy
  3. Sitemaps and site structure
  4. Linking and share links
  5. Metadata, tags, and keywords
  6. Mobile optimization
  7. Amazon optimization
Make it easier for readers to find your book online and join this two-hour workshop. But don’t wait—this intimate learning session is very limited. Only 12 spots remain!
 
 
What else is happening at The BookBaby Independent Authors Conference? Take a look at what’s to come!
 


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Narrative Structure, Part One: What it is and how to use it
 

 

Discussions about structure tend to offer formulas, which can lead to formulaic stories. But an understanding of narrative structure is important: you have to know the rules before you break them. Read more.

Sensory Language IS The Detail In Your Writing
 

 

When you add detail to your writing, you are painting with words, and you can use all the colors! Sensory language is the key. Read more.

What is an eBook?
 

 

eBook stands for “electronic book,” which consists of text and images and can be read on most mobile devices, including smart phones, tablets, and eReaders. It’s like taking a library with you on the go. Read more.

 


 


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