All Blog Posts (2,602)

As an author and self-publisher it is absolutely essential that you have a presence on Amazon. And luckily for us, Amazon provides many powerful ways to connect with potential readers and buyers. Even if you use a regular book-publishing company to publish your book, you will still need to have a presence on Amazon. Especially if you expect to sell any books. Amazon is the largest book retailer in the world. Amazon has more market presence, and more marketing…

If you have any hope of having your book achieve financial and critical success, you must understand how your readers (your customers), view your book (your product) when they first see it (online or on a shelf). Once you fully understand how your readers will perceive your book when they first see it, you can adjust your book accordingly.

In order to accomplish this, you must separate yourself from your personal feelings about your book, and think like the objective buyer…

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Hello all,

Excuse my cluelessness but I'm self publishing my book in August through Blurb first and then going from there, but my formatter/editor and general handler of things I don't understand was talking to me about ISBN numbers... Now I understand that I need to pay around £126 for one!? I'm a student and recently lost my job and haven't found another one, so I can't exactly afford it right now. We have a plan but can somebody out there please explain the ISBN thing to me because…

Until I stumbled unto this community, I intermittently wondered if indeed this writing business is not just an unending pointless Odyssey. Discovering a community like this assures me not only that there are so many others out there able and willing to sustain the arduous, shifting and often thankless business of writing but also that there may be something, afterall, no matter how indefinable or elusive, that compels and drives dreamers like me to stubbornly get on with it.

If you…

In my almost forty-seven years I've matured in the ways of language. Somewhat. To hear me speak, maybe your thoughts would differ. Let's agree I've tried to think about language and the words, or rather, their correct usage, before I speak. Do I still say 'gonna' and 'sorta'? Sure, and I also tend to speak faster than some people, namely my students, can comprehend. But I'm working on it and I think…

Stephanie Lynne Thorburn's blog.  16th May 2013.

'Rok Stars, Snooker Legends &…

Websites are now as important for establishing identity as a birth certificate or a driver's license. Yet, I've noticed that once an author puts one up, the site is often forgotten and neglected.

I research authors when they send me query letters in my capacity as acquisitions editor for Oak Tree Press. I like to know who I'm dealing with and, short of doing a background check, websites are all I have to give me an inkling of their accomplishments up to this stage in their…

This is the first in a series of life skill blogs. These will tie in the aspects I teach in my taekwondo classes. Sometimes there will be a connection to writing, sometimes not. I think it will be up to the individual to relate these to his/her  specific situation, whether writing or other activity. I hope you will enjoy these and, as always, I invite comments.

What can be said about…

Constantly linking to your own work or copy/pasting it here is irritating. To those who do: you're not making yourself look good in the eyes of the community, do you realize that? No one likes a taker who doesn't give back to Authors.com and only makes self-serving posts. And it REALLY hurts us on Google when it's duplicate content. Read this link please to understand the consequences of posting such things for both the site and yourselves. …

We are told we are "special" and they do not understand why our books are not on the best sellers list and they want to do everything possible to get your book on the best sellers list and to brand your name. You think, "Finally someone has noticed me or finally it is my turn". Wrong - usually. Now that doesn't mean that the slim chance doesn't fall at your door step.  There are always those few.

For a "small" fee they will agree to conduct interviews. Now, I have to tell you…

   Around the campfire burning low, yet still gives off a warming       glow

 Down on the ever warming ground, the weary men sat all around             

 They passed some time at idle play, that holds the loneliness at bay          

 And they tell tales of days gone by, while stars looked on in blackened sky

 As Bushmen dream in swags remote, the dingoes howl their eerie note

 And God alone stands watch at night, beside that camp fire burning…

Hello from Bill Kingsley. Although originally from NJ, I have lived in many locales. "You Call This Living?" is a nonfiction book about the human condition and promoting it is a tough road as many imagine.

Characters are dominating your thoughts, your fingers are itching to type and the beginning of a great story fills your computer screen.  Then...silence. You reach that point in your story where your characters take a coffee break and you are left with writer's block.

This has happened to me more times than I wish to admit. The story my thoughts have been obsessed with are eventually filed away and forgotten. It is so frustrating.

New characters are once again running amuck in…

Promise of Tomorrow Volume 2: Discovery reveals some secrets here: http://empyricaltales.blogspot.com/2013/05/something-to-discover.html

I walked into the Barnes & Nobles book store in the “The Shoppes at Webb Gin” shopping mall in Snellville, Georgia on Saturday and saw customer Nyadi Abasto checking out my two novels A Brownstone in Brooklyn and the National Award winning Ghost of Atlanta.

I’ve been waiting fifteen…

The Skin I'm In - An Intimate Journey With God

5 out of 5 stars (blessed!) from every comment!

I have received some wonderful reviews on my newly released book.  I just wanted to share!

Ms. W:  This is an amazing read! I came across the book on my Kindle app in the UK and I have…

Hello Everyone,

I'm Jewel Tyler, author of, The Skin I'm In - An Intimate Journey With God - first book in a two part series.

The story is not based on…

ONE

‘My story is not the best and I even don’t know if I should say it out’

I told my friends but they wouldn’t listen. They say that to be friends that really make sense, we need to know each other very well and that our jobs also depend on it.

‘Okay, I will say it but don’t say I haven’t warned you’

My name is Christian Kale. I have other names but I don’t use them, my sister who is bigger than me says that they are not cool. She is in F2 and I am in…

This is my very first free book promotion and therefore have only made it for one day (TODAY). I am not sure what to expect becasue have seen so many varied opinions, comments and experiences discussed. Do these promotions really make a difference? Do they result in reviews of nothing else? Do they impact upon sales or simply reduce them as people have become used to freebies and will wait for such an event. I would be interested to hear other Authors.com members experiences and advice.  I…