Need Help!!!!!!!!!!! - Authors.com2024-03-29T12:59:54Zhttp://www.authors.com/forum/topics/need-help?commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A76767&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThank you for answering my pr…tag:www.authors.com,2011-08-09:3798404:Comment:767672011-08-09T20:25:12.260ZDrue "Dee" Millerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/DrueDeeMiller
<p><br></br>Thank you for answering my problem. I just got out of the hospital ... that is why I have not been on the computer for a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Who do any of you suggest to do my books through ebooks? I have never done this before and PA wants me to pay an arm-and-a-leg to do it. I need some answers on this. I also need to know a website company that I can use who will do a website for me so I can sell my books on line myself. I can sell my books anyway that I want. I have…</p>
<p><br/>Thank you for answering my problem. I just got out of the hospital ... that is why I have not been on the computer for a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Who do any of you suggest to do my books through ebooks? I have never done this before and PA wants me to pay an arm-and-a-leg to do it. I need some answers on this. I also need to know a website company that I can use who will do a website for me so I can sell my books on line myself. I can sell my books anyway that I want. I have already checked with PA and have been told that I can do it. So, I need some help if any of you know where I can go. I've never done anything like this before and my daughter Theophenie and I are going into this together. I'm "computer dumb" so I rely on her to do stuff like this for me.</p>
<p>I have been approached by a man named Phil Farmer who is with marketecuture.com. Has anyone heard of them? He can do a website for me but wants $500.00 down and $19.95 a month. Anyone got any ideas about these people? I need to know where to go. The easiest thing that I have done is write the books!!!!!! Getting them sold ... out there for people to buy them ... is the hardest thing that I have done!!!! </p>
<p>I just can't seem to be able to make the right decesions about them. Everyone who has ever read them say that they are really good. I only hope these people aren't lying to me to make me feel good. I don't know these people so I must be doing something right?!?!?!</p>
<p>So, this is the quandry that I am in. I need help and all of you are so good at giving me the right help.</p>
<p>I didn't mean to write a book here. I just need some help.</p>
<p>By the way, the email address I am writing you from (<a href="mailto:jenibreedman@aol.com">jenibreedman@aol.com</a>) is the email address that I have set up so that my readers (anyone out there???????) can contact me to ask me questions ... or get "in contact" with the characters in my books. (Jeni Breedman is the heroine in the "Dream Series" that I write. The gothic/romance/horror that I write the sequels from.) So, if anyone wants to email me, please do it to this email address from now on.</p>
<p>Thanks "guys".</p>
<p>Dee Miller </p>
<p><a href="mailto:jenibreedman@aol.com">jenibreedman@aol.com</a></p>
<p><br/><cite>Rege Schilken said:</cite></p>
<blockquote><div><p>Beware of Publish America. Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>rege schilken<br/><br/><cite>Drue "Dee" Miller said:</cite></p>
<blockquote><div>Ashlee: I have self-published w/PublishAmerica. Big mistake. They have done nothing but cost me money. I have decided to sell my books on a website w/my daughter. (Her cover art as my "photo" on this website is from my 2nd novel. I just don't know what to charge for the soft cover books. Size:240 pg. gothis romance ... it's sequel ...479 pgs.. 202 mystery/suspense. Got any ideas? I have a 4th ready to be published Help with prices would be helpful. You have joined the best author/reader forum I have ever seen.</div>
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Good evening, Cynthia:
I…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-24:3798404:Comment:536572011-06-24T00:09:30.270ZTheophenie Millerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/TheophenieMiller
<p> </p>
<p>Good evening, Cynthia:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have to run to the grocery real quick, but I have your email open, and I will be sending you an email very shortly:) And will answer your message alot more in detail along with it:)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you so much for your interest!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good evening, Cynthia:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have to run to the grocery real quick, but I have your email open, and I will be sending you an email very shortly:) And will answer your message alot more in detail along with it:)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you so much for your interest!</p> Sorry, I had a distraction. …tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-24:3798404:Comment:534612011-06-24T00:01:52.177ZCynthia Townleyhttp://www.authors.com/profile/MysteryWriter
Sorry, I had a distraction. If you have your own website you can certainly sell your book there (again, unless something in your contractual agreement with this PA would stop you.) Just create a PayPal account, if you don't already have one, and make your books available on your website.
Sorry, I had a distraction. If you have your own website you can certainly sell your book there (again, unless something in your contractual agreement with this PA would stop you.) Just create a PayPal account, if you don't already have one, and make your books available on your website. Hi Dee,
I am not at all famil…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-23:3798404:Comment:537422011-06-23T23:49:22.383ZCynthia Townleyhttp://www.authors.com/profile/MysteryWriter
<p>Hi Dee,</p>
<p>I am not at all familiar with PA, or their contractual requirements. Perhaps Garry can help with questions concerning them. You may want to find out (if you don't pay the $99 to get your book released), is there anything in your contract that states you cannot sell your books yourself?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The answer to your other question about getting your books on the SHELVES, I am of the opinion that you would need to go through the traditional channels - through…</p>
<p>Hi Dee,</p>
<p>I am not at all familiar with PA, or their contractual requirements. Perhaps Garry can help with questions concerning them. You may want to find out (if you don't pay the $99 to get your book released), is there anything in your contract that states you cannot sell your books yourself?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The answer to your other question about getting your books on the SHELVES, I am of the opinion that you would need to go through the traditional channels - through an agent/editor/publishing house. My area of concentration is self-published ebooks. I can tell you that of the self-publishing companies I interviewed for my research on my "How To" book, all the print options were for "Print On Demand", so I am not aware of any self-publishing companies that would create "stock" for your books and then ship them to retail stores. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Please understand I am not against traditional book publishing methods - accept to say they move too slow, in my opinion, and I am not trying to discourage your from going that route, but the largest book seller in the world is Amazon.com - an "online" retailer. There is no shelf life for your book at online retailers. Once you have an ebook online, it is out there forever and available for sale around the world...and not just a few stores. Amazon's ebooks out-sell their print books, as more people are buying the electronic versions. You could have your 4th book online and for sale within 2-3 days, and your other books as well, as long as there is no contractual requirements with PA that would prevent you from doing this. Stay with me here. By converting your manuscript and book cover into formats acceptable for uploading, which you can do this yourself for free, or hire someone to do it for you for you for a small fee, you could have your ebooks available at the major online retailers, such as Amazon, B&N, Borders, etc. and your book is downloadable to just about every electronic ereading device known to man...including a computer. Having said that, I don't know that Books-A-Million has the ability to self-upload ebooks. I am not familiar with that store. My thought is your books could be earning you money while you persue the agent/editor/publisher route. Do you already have a literary agent? I'm sorry for rambling, just trying to offer a solution. </p> I want to thank you Garry a n…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-23:3798404:Comment:535622011-06-23T20:57:55.884ZDrue "Dee" Millerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/DrueDeeMiller
<p>I want to thank you Garry a nd Cynthia for your replies to my "Help" problem. You two have been extremely helpful and, I know, that this is the way that I am going to go to get out from under PA's contract, etc. </p>
<p>The other question that I need answered, if you don't mind, how do I get my books on the SHELVES of the top selling bookstores (B&N, Books a Million? etc. Do I have to go through a publisher or can I do this on my own as well? I finished my 4th book but do not know…</p>
<p>I want to thank you Garry a nd Cynthia for your replies to my "Help" problem. You two have been extremely helpful and, I know, that this is the way that I am going to go to get out from under PA's contract, etc. </p>
<p>The other question that I need answered, if you don't mind, how do I get my books on the SHELVES of the top selling bookstores (B&N, Books a Million? etc. Do I have to go through a publisher or can I do this on my own as well? I finished my 4th book but do not know what to do with it. Am I being too pushy by asking you what I need to do with it? I would really like your help on this.</p>
<p>Theophenie does beautiful covers. She has done all of my except for the first one (Nightmares Come From Dreams). PA did that one and they, actually, change the title of the book. The orginial book was named "Dreams Are Made of Nightmares". I did not asked them to do this ... they just did it on their own and would not let me do anything about it.</p>
<p>Can I sell my books on a website of my own or do I have to stay with PA on these? Theophenie and I are talking about doing a website of our own to sell my books on line. Is this possible?</p>
<p>Thank you again for your prompt reply.</p>
<p>Dee Miler</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> Cynthia Townley said:
Garry,…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-23:3798404:Comment:534602011-06-23T20:47:26.637ZDrue "Dee" Millerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/DrueDeeMiller
<br></br><br></br><cite>Cynthia Townley said:</cite>
<blockquote><div><p>Garry, I have a question for you regarding CreateSpace. When you say "no cost involved except for when you review proof of your book" are you referring to a print book that has already been created/published elsewhere? The reason I ask is because when I spoke to CreateSpace to have my ebook, Trained To Kill, created into a print book, and as research for my new "How To" book, I was directed to review their online package prices,…</p>
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<br/><br/><cite>Cynthia Townley said:</cite>
<blockquote><div><p>Garry, I have a question for you regarding CreateSpace. When you say "no cost involved except for when you review proof of your book" are you referring to a print book that has already been created/published elsewhere? The reason I ask is because when I spoke to CreateSpace to have my ebook, Trained To Kill, created into a print book, and as research for my new "How To" book, I was directed to review their online package prices, which I did while on the phone with a CreateSpace representative. It was explained to me, on top of the package price to create a print version of my ebook, they split my royalties 50/50 when a book is sold online. That's after Amazon takes their cut. In addition, I found this to be the norm (50/50, 60/40 split royalties) at most self-publishing print companies. Outskirts Press was the only self-publishing company I spoke to who allows the author to keep 100% of their royalties. Based on this information, I chose not to have a print version of my book, even though some people still prefer to hold a book in their hands when reading. Then yesterday, I received the KDP June 2011 Newsletter in my email Inbox and the big story: Kindle outsells print books. </p>
<p><br/><cite>Garry Edward Lewis said:</cite></p>
<blockquote><div>Dear Dee First and formost you can have your book rights reverted back to you. Simply go To PA's sight type in search, revert rights back. A page will then come up where you pay $99.00 per title but this will revert your book rights back to you, then you can go to Createspace upload your books with them, no cost involved except for when you review proof of your book, they basically ask you buy one copy at authors discount. They in turn send you a copy of your book for you to look over, if you like it and don't need to change anything. Simply go into your createspace account and click on publish. Createspace will have your book on Amazon.com within a week. Then you can go to Amazon.com upload your books on Kindle for free, they'll be on Amazon within days. They will also place your kindle books over seas on Amazon UK, and Amazon Germany as well at no cost to you. You recieve 70% royalties on your Kindle books from Amazon. Createspace I ask $8.99 for my paperbacks I make over two dollars royalties per book sold.<br/>Which isn't bad. Hope this helps, I reverted three books back to me from PA so I know you can get it done, as I did!</div>
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</blockquote> Cynthia Townley said:
Hi Theo…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-23:3798404:Comment:533102011-06-23T20:42:51.864ZDrue "Dee" Millerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/DrueDeeMiller
<br></br><br></br><cite>Cynthia Townley said:</cite>
<blockquote><div><p>Hi Theophenie Miller, I would be interested in chatting with you regarding your book covers. My email address is <a href="mailto:Cindy9658@att.net" rel="nofollow">Cindy9658@att.net</a>. If you would send me an email and attach book covers you have done for Mom, or a portfolio if you have one, I would appreciate it. Right now I have a graphic artist who creates my book covers, but he is getting very, very popular (since I have…</p>
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<br/><br/><cite>Cynthia Townley said:</cite>
<blockquote><div><p>Hi Theophenie Miller, I would be interested in chatting with you regarding your book covers. My email address is <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:Cindy9658@att.net">Cindy9658@att.net</a>. If you would send me an email and attach book covers you have done for Mom, or a portfolio if you have one, I would appreciate it. Right now I have a graphic artist who creates my book covers, but he is getting very, very popular (since I have recommended him to over 35 authors) that his home-based business is booming. Even though he is still very accommodating to me, I believe there will come a time soon when I need to have an alternative approach, and he starts turning clients away simply because he is too busy. I will be happy to provide you with his pricing structure so that you have an idea of what authors will pay, and won't pay, and you can determine for yourself what you would charge, if you are interested in building a clientele. To see the book cover he designed for my ebook "Trained To Kill", just go to my authors.com page. That book cover has produced over 35 self-published authors asking "Who designed it?" on my Facebook page. With his permission of course, I recommended him to all the authors. I was his first "book cover" client. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It took me 2 months to write Trained To Kill, and six months of research to determine how to publish it. LOL! Then I realized I can self-publish (all by myself) an ebook in just minutes and have it available at every major online retailer within 24-48 hours, and downloadable to every electronic device known to man. The only challenged I faced was not having an appropriate book cover. Since you already create your Mom's book covers, when she is ready to have her books available as an ebook, if she does not already have ebooks available to the public, I will be happy to share how I did it. I have just written, and I am putting the finishing touches on my new "How To Publish A Book In 5 Days" step-by-step instruction manual/guide, which will be for sale at every major online retailer for $.99 by the end of next week. Within the 5 day timeframe, includes the design and creation of the book cover, so if the author already has a suitable book cover, and their Word manuscript, they can produce an ebook in minutes, or at the most 1-2 days - if they are not computer savvy, (which I am not) and have it available for sale. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I look forward to hearing from you. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><cite>Theophenie Miller said:</cite></p>
<blockquote><div><p>Ashlee: Hi, I am the afore-mentioned daughter:) I have actually been thinking about getting her into ebooking (with iPads and Nooks and all being out there, that is an awesome field to get into), the only thing I am worried about is any flack from PA re: her contract, if we get her currents into ebook format (with the Dreams series, she would definitely need to have the 2 current books in e-format, as well as the upcoming sequels, in order to make it flow right for the readers).</p>
<p>Yes, I would love to do more covers, I use Photoshop CS5 at present, planning on upgrading sometime in the future when funds are easier... but it's working pretty well right now. Pricing I haven't thought about, right now the covers I do for Momma (Ms. Miller) are done at family price (free..hee). I read all her books prior, and then do the imagery that she and I feel is right for the covers. I am definitely willing to negotiate on pricing.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
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</div>
</blockquote> Hi Theophenie Miller, I would…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-23:3798404:Comment:536532011-06-23T17:57:46.139ZCynthia Townleyhttp://www.authors.com/profile/MysteryWriter
<p>Hi Theophenie Miller, I would be interested in chatting with you regarding your book covers. My email address is <a href="mailto:Cindy9658@att.net">Cindy9658@att.net</a>. If you would send me an email and attach book covers you have done for Mom, or a portfolio if you have one, I would appreciate it. Right now I have a graphic artist who creates my book covers, but he is getting very, very popular (since I have recommended him to over 35 authors) that his home-based business is booming. …</p>
<p>Hi Theophenie Miller, I would be interested in chatting with you regarding your book covers. My email address is <a href="mailto:Cindy9658@att.net">Cindy9658@att.net</a>. If you would send me an email and attach book covers you have done for Mom, or a portfolio if you have one, I would appreciate it. Right now I have a graphic artist who creates my book covers, but he is getting very, very popular (since I have recommended him to over 35 authors) that his home-based business is booming. Even though he is still very accommodating to me, I believe there will come a time soon when I need to have an alternative approach, and he starts turning clients away simply because he is too busy. I will be happy to provide you with his pricing structure so that you have an idea of what authors will pay, and won't pay, and you can determine for yourself what you would charge, if you are interested in building a clientele. To see the book cover he designed for my ebook "Trained To Kill", just go to my authors.com page. That book cover has produced over 35 self-published authors asking "Who designed it?" on my Facebook page. With his permission of course, I recommended him to all the authors. I was his first "book cover" client. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It took me 2 months to write Trained To Kill, and six months of research to determine how to publish it. LOL! Then I realized I can self-publish (all by myself) an ebook in just minutes and have it available at every major online retailer within 24-48 hours, and downloadable to every electronic device known to man. The only challenged I faced was not having an appropriate book cover. Since you already create your Mom's book covers, when she is ready to have her books available as an ebook, if she does not already have ebooks available to the public, I will be happy to share how I did it. I have just written, and I am putting the finishing touches on my new "How To Publish A Book In 5 Days" step-by-step instruction manual/guide, which will be for sale at every major online retailer for $.99 by the end of next week. Within the 5 day timeframe, includes the design and creation of the book cover, so if the author already has a suitable book cover, and their Word manuscript, they can produce an ebook in minutes, or at the most 1-2 days - if they are not computer savvy, (which I am not) and have it available for sale. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I look forward to hearing from you. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><cite>Theophenie Miller said:</cite></p>
<blockquote><div><p>Ashlee: Hi, I am the afore-mentioned daughter:) I have actually been thinking about getting her into ebooking (with iPads and Nooks and all being out there, that is an awesome field to get into), the only thing I am worried about is any flack from PA re: her contract, if we get her currents into ebook format (with the Dreams series, she would definitely need to have the 2 current books in e-format, as well as the upcoming sequels, in order to make it flow right for the readers).</p>
<p>Yes, I would love to do more covers, I use Photoshop CS5 at present, planning on upgrading sometime in the future when funds are easier... but it's working pretty well right now. Pricing I haven't thought about, right now the covers I do for Momma (Ms. Miller) are done at family price (free..hee). I read all her books prior, and then do the imagery that she and I feel is right for the covers. I am definitely willing to negotiate on pricing.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</blockquote> Hi Kay Elizabeth, Do you kno…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-23:3798404:Comment:535522011-06-23T17:08:15.671ZCynthia Townleyhttp://www.authors.com/profile/MysteryWriter
Hi Kay Elizabeth, Do you know if there is a specific "page" at Authors.com reserved just for "author beware" comments? I know there are websites online where authors can comment on their bad agent/publisher experiences to share with...the world. <br></br><br></br><cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite>
<blockquote><div><p>Dee, other members here have went elsewhere after being with them. Hang in there and I'm sure one of them will answer when they see this. I know it's been talked about before but I…</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
Hi Kay Elizabeth, Do you know if there is a specific "page" at Authors.com reserved just for "author beware" comments? I know there are websites online where authors can comment on their bad agent/publisher experiences to share with...the world. <br/><br/><cite>Kay Elizabeth said:</cite>
<blockquote><div><p>Dee, other members here have went elsewhere after being with them. Hang in there and I'm sure one of them will answer when they see this. I know it's been talked about before but I couldn't find the thread it's in I was thinking of.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the meantime, you could check out the links in this blog post's comments. I know there's another one somewhere around here. </p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.authors.com/profiles/blogs/i-want-to-scream">http://www.authors.com/profiles/blogs/i-want-to-scream</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote> Garry, I have a question for…tag:www.authors.com,2011-06-23:3798404:Comment:533012011-06-23T16:55:43.423ZCynthia Townleyhttp://www.authors.com/profile/MysteryWriter
<p>Garry, I have a question for you regarding CreateSpace. When you say "no cost involved except for when you review proof of your book" are you referring to a print book that has already been created/published elsewhere? The reason I ask is because when I spoke to CreateSpace to have my ebook, Trained To Kill, created into a print book, and as research for my new "How To" book, I was directed to review their online package prices, which I did while on the phone with a CreateSpace…</p>
<p>Garry, I have a question for you regarding CreateSpace. When you say "no cost involved except for when you review proof of your book" are you referring to a print book that has already been created/published elsewhere? The reason I ask is because when I spoke to CreateSpace to have my ebook, Trained To Kill, created into a print book, and as research for my new "How To" book, I was directed to review their online package prices, which I did while on the phone with a CreateSpace representative. It was explained to me, on top of the package price to create a print version of my ebook, they split my royalties 50/50 when a book is sold online. That's after Amazon takes their cut. In addition, I found this to be the norm (50/50, 60/40 split royalties) at most self-publishing print companies. Outskirts Press was the only self-publishing company I spoke to who allows the author to keep 100% of their royalties. Based on this information, I chose not to have a print version of my book, even though some people still prefer to hold a book in their hands when reading. Then yesterday, I received the KDP June 2011 Newsletter in my email Inbox and the big story: Kindle outsells print books. </p>
<p><br/><cite>Garry Edward Lewis said:</cite></p>
<blockquote><div>Dear Dee First and formost you can have your book rights reverted back to you. Simply go To PA's sight type in search, revert rights back. A page will then come up where you pay $99.00 per title but this will revert your book rights back to you, then you can go to Createspace upload your books with them, no cost involved except for when you review proof of your book, they basically ask you buy one copy at authors discount. They in turn send you a copy of your book for you to look over, if you like it and don't need to change anything. Simply go into your createspace account and click on publish. Createspace will have your book on Amazon.com within a week. Then you can go to Amazon.com upload your books on Kindle for free, they'll be on Amazon within days. They will also place your kindle books over seas on Amazon UK, and Amazon Germany as well at no cost to you. You recieve 70% royalties on your Kindle books from Amazon. Createspace I ask $8.99 for my paperbacks I make over two dollars royalties per book sold.<br/>Which isn't bad. Hope this helps, I reverted three books back to me from PA so I know you can get it done, as I did!</div>
</blockquote>