It’s okay to be proud of something, especially if you know you’ve foot the bill, you’ve spent the time, you’ve made the calls to get your baby out there to the world. I may not be a best-seller, but I DO SELL BOOKS!
I don’t see anything wrong with self-publishing through lulu, through Create Space, or any other POD (print on demand) service. That’s where I started. I bought my own copies and went out selling. As long as you continue to hold the rights to your work, truck it where you please, and get it out there. Sometimes big publishers take notice of you doing well and want to pick it up. But if that’s the case, are you better off without a big publisher?
There are good things to having a nice, traditional publisher. I switched my first novel from lulu to Agile Writer Press in order to get them into bookstores. Thus far, it’s working locally. But this is a test for both of us. We’re both knew to the real world of publishing. Everything we do from here on out is trial and error. So I suppose I’m the guinea pig, but this guinea pig’s trying.
I once sat with an author during a book signing. She had wanted me there because I did her cover art. Would have made some awesome connections if the woman had actually participated herself. Instead, she sat there like a bump on a log and said nothing. Guess who had to do all the work?
Look, if I don’t know you or your book, I’m NOT going to be the best publicist!
So now I know not to just sit quietly at a table. But I tend to do better if other people are around that I know. That might help others as well. Maybe my being with that other author helped her. Maybe…
Last night I attended the James River Writers group and learned a little about what booksellers expect from both publishers and authors when it comes to setting up book tours and getting them in the stores. Some want the publisher to contact them. Some want to speak direclty to the author. It’s was really interesting, and I enjoyed seeing good friends that I hadn’t seen in a while.
On an active note, I also stopped by my high school and spoke with the chair person for the English department. I offered a copy of my novel and art book, and hopefully we’ll see if teachers will be interested in having me speak in their class. That’s always a treat!
And let’s not forget the “GREAT NEWS” of the month! On Saturday, March 16, 2013 I’ll be doing a book signing at the Barnes & Noble bookseller on Midlothian Turnpike. The bookstore is at the Chesterfield Town Center Mall from 2-4pm. I would love for everyone to come out, even if you’re not buying a book, and let’s get that bookstore rocking! Check out my Facebook page if you’re planning to attend!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Friday Teaser
This is a snippet from my latest chapter, taken from book three “Healer”
*****
Upon entry, he found Ashpin leaning against the window overlooking the front yard. A few voices floated in from below, those of merchants and items being loaded onto carts.
“You all right?” Wisdom asked. “You were quiet on the ride back yesterday.”
Ashpin shrugged. “Just… thinking.”
Wisdom left the door open as he strolled closer to the window. A series of squeaking carts from below confirmed the merchants leaving for town. “About what Lord Gracie said?”
The boy continued to watch the merchants as he spoke. “Sometimes I have to wonder about all the things my mother talked about while she was sick. I learned to believe the ones when I knew she was aware, and just listen to the ones when I knew it was just…” He finally looked over to the prince. “You know.”
Wisdom remained quiet, and only gave a slight nod in understanding. He recalled when his own mother had taken ill. Never once had he doubted her words to discover what he was or where he came from. Then again, she had been well enough to tell him before the illness completely claimed her, while Ashpin’s mother had lingered in uneasy cycles between truth and fiction.
“Did she ever mention if anything happened to your father?” he asked.
“No.” Back to the window again.
An awkward silence lingered while the prince thought of a way to liven the mood. News of the boy’s father darkened the room; its presence was a testimony to Osha’s warning. There were no more carts outside. The last of the merchants had disappeared under the draping trees a few minutes back heading into town. It was there the prince needed to be, and with that thought an idea emerged.
*****
Upon entry, he found Ashpin leaning against the window overlooking the front yard. A few voices floated in from below, those of merchants and items being loaded onto carts.
“You all right?” Wisdom asked. “You were quiet on the ride back yesterday.”
Ashpin shrugged. “Just… thinking.”
Wisdom left the door open as he strolled closer to the window. A series of squeaking carts from below confirmed the merchants leaving for town. “About what Lord Gracie said?”
The boy continued to watch the merchants as he spoke. “Sometimes I have to wonder about all the things my mother talked about while she was sick. I learned to believe the ones when I knew she was aware, and just listen to the ones when I knew it was just…” He finally looked over to the prince. “You know.”
Wisdom remained quiet, and only gave a slight nod in understanding. He recalled when his own mother had taken ill. Never once had he doubted her words to discover what he was or where he came from. Then again, she had been well enough to tell him before the illness completely claimed her, while Ashpin’s mother had lingered in uneasy cycles between truth and fiction.
“Did she ever mention if anything happened to your father?” he asked.
“No.” Back to the window again.
An awkward silence lingered while the prince thought of a way to liven the mood. News of the boy’s father darkened the room; its presence was a testimony to Osha’s warning. There were no more carts outside. The last of the merchants had disappeared under the draping trees a few minutes back heading into town. It was there the prince needed to be, and with that thought an idea emerged.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Album on Amazon.com
NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON. COM AS MP3 DOWNLOADS!!!!
Artist: Supabon
Type: Classical
Tracks (12 minutes)
1) "So We Fall" piano w/ strings, Fall theme music
2) "Transcendence" Trance/remix
3) "No'va" Theme music for novel
4) "First Snow" winter theme music
Sunday, January 13, 2013
SCBWI
This is why I love being a member of SCBWI (society of children's books, writers & illustrators) because I get cool stuff in the mail!
So this morning I was browsing through their quarterly magazine when I came across a site known as issuu.com. So I checked it out. The article written on it suggested that it helped offer free sample chapters for potential readers who might want to try your published works in the future. It's a simple program, it's free, and all you do is click on the link and your book opens up. Simple as that.
Now, I uploaded a PDF version of my novel so that it looks like how it's laid out in the actual book. So that's cool. I don't have to worry about clicking on extra links like you had to do in another version I had uploaded to my site earlier.
This is way better. Way. Better. And fast.
So this morning I was browsing through their quarterly magazine when I came across a site known as issuu.com. So I checked it out. The article written on it suggested that it helped offer free sample chapters for potential readers who might want to try your published works in the future. It's a simple program, it's free, and all you do is click on the link and your book opens up. Simple as that.
Now, I uploaded a PDF version of my novel so that it looks like how it's laid out in the actual book. So that's cool. I don't have to worry about clicking on extra links like you had to do in another version I had uploaded to my site earlier.
This is way better. Way. Better. And fast.
Free Sample Chapter
Discovered this cool little site to upload chapters so people can browse through for free. So here's a little sample for my first novel "Wisdom" using www.issuu.com platform. It's pretty neat!
http://issuu.com/bonbon32
http://issuu.com/bonbon32
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