Features | Self-Publishing Review

Because You’re Not Worth It (Or, Why Friends Don’t Ask Friends To Work For Free)

I used to find this quote inspirational, but now it just seems puzzling…

“One man writes a novel. One man writes a symphony. It is essential that one man make a film.”

– Stanley Kubrick

Not to pick an undebatable point with one of the greatest creative minds in recent history, but having produced a novel (yes, produced – more on that later) it’s fairly clear that all the author traditionally does is put the words together pretty. Write the manuscript. What usually follows in the process is turning it over to proofers and editors, lawyers who vet the prose […]

Kian Kaul2020-02-21T07:18:07+02:00October 19th, 2011|Categories: Features, Member Blog|

First Ever USB Multimedia Book: comrade calculator Quits Smoking

Part of self-publishing a book is learning, first hand, the trials and tribulations of self promotion. It is a fine line between working hard to make your dream come true, and being the guy at the party who wont stop trying to sell his product.

That being said I would like to promote what I am doing. Not necessarily to sell my book, though clearly that is my end goal, but instead to spread the word to fellow authors that there is another new and interesting way to self-publish YOUR book.

I’m releasing the first edition of my novel on […]

Mark Kowgier2020-02-21T07:53:35+02:00October 10th, 2011|Categories: Features, Lead Story|Tags: Social Media|

eBook Authors: Is the Kindle Library Lending Program a New Opportunity for Self-Publishers?

As new ebook authors and self-publishers continue to try to get exposure in the digital world, several new events could present an expanded opportunity to reach the ebook reader.

1. Amazon’s new generation of Kindles plus the IPad rival ‘Kindle Fire’ will definitely expand the reading audience.
2. Amazon allowing Kindle ebooks to be included in the public library lending process will also expand the audience.

The problem is the same old players and the same old obstacles seem to be in the way.

Process Controlled by the Usual Suspects +

With the first review, it appears that the library […]

James Moushon2019-02-18T12:18:35+02:00October 10th, 2011|Categories: Features, Lead Story|Tags: Amanda Hocking, Amazon News and Tips|

Book Trailers Don’t Have To Raise Your Cholesterol

“It’s too long”, the message began. “There’s too many words.”

“I love the parts where people are talking to each other,” another explained. “The other description stuff not as much.”

“Book trailers shouldn’t be like movie trailers,” one friend offered. “It should have actors reading the parts out.” (Don’t read that again, it’ll make even less sense the second, third and just don’t think about it.)

And this is where all your problems start…

Authors and marketing firms have been producing book trailers for the last few years, without the benefit of any consensus of what a “book trailer” is […]

Kian Kaul2020-02-21T03:57:14+02:00October 9th, 2011|Categories: Features|

Enterprise Authors: Rethinking the E-Book Revolution

There is something happening in the publishing industry right now. Something seismic. Regular men and women – children even! – are beginning to self-publish. The internet has given them the keys to a once gated empire – and the gatekeepers are not happy. There is a system in place for writers, a proven process that filters “the talentless hacks” from the Stephen Kings, JK Rowlings, and Stephanie Meyers of the world. And by sidestepping it, so-called ‘vanity’ authors are essentially flooding the market with a deluge of sub par fiction and nonfiction alike. This attitude has created an enormous tide […]

Mark2020-02-21T03:57:25+02:00October 9th, 2011|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips|

Facebook is Doing Away with Gatekeepers

I suppose on the surface, it seems OK – Facebook is creating an environment where you get a real sense of the web. With the new Facebook changes, it is now becoming required to add apps to your timeline before you can access certain content. So when a friend links to a New York Time article, don’t be surprised when it doesn’t take you off-site and instead asks you to install the New York Times app. What this means is that not only will you be broadcasting on your wall that you read that article – but EVERthing you […]

Henry Baum2011-10-07T20:14:54+02:00October 6th, 2011|Categories: Features|

Why I Nuked My Writing Career Before it Even Started

On Friday, September 9th I uploaded my eBook to Amazon.com, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble for $2.99

A week later, I uploaded it to The Pirate Bay for free.

I know what you’re probably thinking. “Well, that was stupid.” That’s exactly what my girlfriend, a few of my friends, and the voice in my head all said.

It took me two stiff drinks to work up the courage to prep the file. I wrote up a half page letter to the reader. This has been uploaded by the author. It took ten years and countless hours to create this […]

Andrew Van Wey2020-02-21T06:44:57+02:00September 21st, 2011|Categories: Features|Tags: Copyright for Authors|

Ebook Cover Design: Context Creates Possibilities

This post is a part of Ebook specific cover design series.

There are three approaches to covers:
– ebook cover is a copy of a print edition,
– one cover is designed for both print and digital edition,
– a cover is designed for ebook only.

I’d like to focus on the last one as it creates much more possibilities than you would originally think of. And all this can happen if you just switch the perspective.

A different approach, free from constrains typical for print production – and taking into consideration circumstances typical for digital environment – can bring […]

Piotr Kowalczyk2020-02-21T03:41:32+02:00September 13th, 2011|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Cover Design Tips|