Features | Self-Publishing Review

Writing Characters: How To Use a “Hinterland” To Develop Backstory (With Free Resources)

You may have heard of the word “hinterland” to suggest something mysterious or hidden. In German, it literally means “land behind.” However, many writing schools teach potential novelists to use a “hinterland” to develop characters off the page before writing the words that will end up in your book.

Using a hinterland will give readers the sense they have just stepped into your novel at a point in time before the events unfold. It enriches your characters in terms of speech, foibles, and reactions because you the writer are in possession of these facts.

However, not everything you write down […]

Cate Baum2018-05-31T12:30:44+02:00April 29th, 2016|Categories: Features, Resources|

Amazon KDP Pre-Orders – Worth It Or Not?

Often authors ask, “Is it worth it for me to stick my book on pre-order?” Here’s why it’s worth it, and not worth it, depending on where you are with your book, your series, and your goals for ranking and sales on Launch Day.

What’s KDP Pre-Order?

Amazon gives authors the opportunity to put their book on pre-order when they upload their title details. “You can make your new books available for pre-order in Kindle Stores worldwide. Setting a pre-order allows customers to order your book as early as 90 days before your book’s release date.* When you make your […]

Cate Baum2020-02-21T04:32:45+02:00April 24th, 2016|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips, Book Promotion Articles|

Six Ways You Are Ruining Your Book Marketing Campaign

There’s a great deal of information out there to be sifted through to market your book well – but there’s also a lot you could be taking on board that could do your book more damage than good. Cate Baum busts some of the myths of indie book marketing and what you should do instead.

1. You are joining author groups to share your book, hoping for sales

If you join an author group on Facebook or Linkedin expecting to gain sales by posting your book release news, you’re looking in the wrong place. You will see these groups are […]

Cate Baum2019-02-03T09:01:12+02:00March 21st, 2016|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips, Book Promotion Articles|

There’s No Such Thing as Vanity Publishing

SPR founder Henry Baum on reclaiming the dirty words “vanity publishing” as an indie author in the post-selfie-stick generation.

In my interview on Jane Friedman’s site, Chris Jane asks about SPR’s publishing imprint, Kwill Books:

Are authors likely to recoup the cost of the contract… or is earning money secondary to simply getting attention? Really what I’m asking is, if not money, do they get attention even possibly from agents that could lead to a contract and eventual income? Or is it, in the end, ultimately vanity?

Here’s my answer, in part:

For some reason, this is

[…]

Henry Baum2019-02-28T09:44:39+02:00March 9th, 2016|Categories: Features|

How To Fix Your Ingram Spark PDF – With Free PDF Fix Download

For many reasons, some authors decide to forgo the most popular path of publishing with Amazon’s Createspace and use the popular service at Ingram Spark/Lightning Source. However, guidelines given do not fully prepare an author for troubleshooting, and state that each time an author has to re-upload the file because it’s not correct, they will be charged $25. So it’s really important to get this right first time.

Update 2020 – LS/IS provide a full guide to preparing your PDF here.

There is in fact nothing wrong with the way that Ingram Spark needs you to present your file. The […]

Cate Baum2020-10-19T03:10:24+02:00March 3rd, 2016|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Book Formatting Tips|

IndieReader and SPR Partner For Combo Deal For Authors

Self-Publishing Review and IndieReader team up to give indie authors 10% discount on editorial book reviews

Get a Combo Deal Indiereader and SPR Review and save 10%

Top indie book review sites IndieReader and Self-Publishing Review have partnered up to provide a combo deal for independent authors everywhere.

This deal saves almost $20 off the normal price for a standard IndieReader book review and an SPR Classic Book Review, and means the author makes one combined purchase instead of having to go to both sites to make the order.

Cate Baum, COO of SPR today said, “We’re pleased to announce this combo deal with IndieReader. It makes a lot of […]

Cate Baum2016-03-06T15:08:53+02:00February 23rd, 2016|Categories: Features, News|Tags: Book Reviews|

Paid Reviews – What Everyone Keeps Getting Wrong (Still)

Why does everyone misunderstand a paid review? Let’s get into the myths. Also, scroll down for real time proof that paid reviews do in fact sell books.

MYTH A paid review is any review you paid for

TRUTH There are three types of paid review. Here, I list 1 and 2 (good methods) and 3 (stay away).

Professional editorial review service (Kirkus, SPR, BlueInk, Foreword, Indiereader, Reader’s Favorite) The reviews you buy direct from a professional review service should only be posted in your Editorial Reviews section as provided by Amazon for this purpose. They are considered a boost to

[…]

Cate Baum2019-02-03T09:31:50+02:00February 11th, 2016|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Promotion Articles, Book Reviews|

Ten Ways To Take A Negative Book Review On The Nose

A mixed or negative review can be instrumental in development of an author’s career for many reasons, and even if published on Amazon it should not be regarded as a personal affront or an attack. Cate Baum outlines the main reasons your review could be surprisingly negative, and how can you deal with this?

This morning, two authors I worked with completely melted down at their (not at all badly rated) 3-star and 4-star review respectively. Full-on tantrums. Quite incredible. I understand they paid for their review, but this doesn’t mean they are entitled to a positive review, only an […]

Cate Baum2019-02-03T09:32:07+02:00February 4th, 2016|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Promotion Articles, Book Reviews|