Hiya, so, it’s the weekend and I didn’t post yesterday. Doesn’t mean I was idle though. I have submitted my manuscript for pre order on Smashwords. For those of you who have no idea what I am referring to, here goes.
There are many platforms that you can publish your book on, Amazon is not the only platform. Although it’s hugely popular. If you have any type of smart phone you can get the kindle app and there is always a kindle. No getting away from having a kindle account. BUT, there are those who prefer reading on an iPad, like me for instance and my best friend. There are those who prefer nook and the list can go on.
If you just want to go with Amazon, then there is only one place to upload your manuscript. However, if you want to be available everywhere, then you can go to the individual places, set up an account and upload to their platforms, I’m talking GooglePlay, Barnes and Noble and Kobo. There are others too.
If you are not based in the states then filling in all the tax forms can be a pain in the arse. So, uploading to one site who then does the rest for you makes sense. Well it does to me, who is based in the UK. As far as I know there are three main places you can do this, Draft2Digital, Lulu and Smashwords. I’ve used Smashwords for three years and have had no issues so haven’t ventured to Draft2Digital but I did try Lulu because I tried their paperback distribution options.
I’m not going to say what is good and bad about each place because it’s all about the personal relationship with that outlet. I am going to use Smashwords and Amazon. I’m also not going to talk about KDP select either. Each to their own, I have both and am happy.
Back to Smashwords, I have uploaded the cover and selected the release date (3rd Feb). Chosen the tags and selected the genre. That’s all I have to do for now, synopsis too has been added. So long as I upload my manuscript 10 days before publish date all is well. If I don’t then Smashwords bumps the release date along. Whereas if you are late with Amazon, they let you publish that book but then ban you for 12 months for any more uploads. (unhappy).
This means, when they authorise my book I can let people know its available for pre order on Kobo, B&N and iBooks. Hurrah! I chose to have my ISBN through Smashwords rather than buy them myself. Having Smashwords as my publisher is not the end of the world at this stage. If in the future it does then I will cross that bridge, all rights are mine so I’m happy.
GooglePlay is one that I have tried and walked away from. Sounds ominous? Well as I said earlier, each person has their own relationship with platforms and I am not happy to use GooglePlay at the moment.
What else have I done? I’ve contacted a whole load of American, Canadian and Australian blogs, fingers crossed for them. Read through the first half of the manuscript again. Have designed the picture to go on my Facebook advert.
I have a glass of wine in my hand and am off to read, currently I am enjoying The Martian by Andy Weir.
To do list
By the 20th Jan – Final edits completed apart from enhancements. On 22nd Jan – Format the book for eBook and Paperback. On 23rd Jan – Let cover artist (JC Clarke) know the paperback word count so the wrap around can be completed. 24th Jan – Upload the files to Smashwords (to comply with pre order) & update website. On 25th Jan – Update all the other eBook end pages with the new title. On 26th Jan – Do a final read through, then send ARCs, reduce the price of book 1 and let people know. On 27th Jan – email all those who have said they’d help the promo pack. 28th Jan – Upload proofs to Createspace for the paperback. On 29th Jan – Write the Newsletter Release & Blog Release ready for publishing. 2nd Feb – Upload the files to Amazon, add ISBNs to Goodreads. On 3rd Feb – Attach book on Author Central (Amazon), Newsletter Release, Blog Release. Goodreads event should be live, put Facebook Advert Live. 4th to 9th Feb – Post excerpts and teasers, tell everyone about the paperback giveaway (international).
As I think of the other things to do I will set a date for them, I don’t overload each day with too much because I’m quite likely to say sod it and turn to Sky movies and watch a film and end up doing nothing.
Here’s what I have left to do (in no particular order):
Contact 1000 789 blogs and get help. 42%yes rate, 54% no reply rate. Finish writing excerpts; Set up a Goodreads event; Organise a paperback giveaway conditions; Finish designing teasers; Set up a Facebook advert;
What I’m not going to do this time around:
Thunderclap, author take over, author event, blog tour, set up a Goodreads advert.
Will you help by commenting below some advice? and sign up to help launch the book? Here’s the form: http://goo.gl/forms/V1nUOByWE9
#SupportAnIndieAuthor
I’m going to blog each day about my journey in releasing my next book. I have two aims:
- A vain effort to help others, I hope my experience will help a budding or even an experienced author.
- Get the conversation going, I don’t pretend to have all the answers, not even half of them. If I did, I’d be #1 in my genre. I want people in the author world to help me and each other. Share my blog, comment with helpful tips, not just for me but for everyone else that is going to read them.
PLEASE
Social Media links – Go on, give me a whirl, you may like it.
TWITTER | AMAZON | TSU | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK GROUP | EMAIL | INSTAGRAM | GOOGLE+ | WEBSITE | NEWSLETTER | ELLO |
The Recovery of Catherine Brodie – Book Two of the Catherine Brodie Chronicles
Synopsis:
“…’Do you love me yet?’ Alex said, hoping the answer was yes…”
The Recovery of Catherine Brodie starts four years after Erin’s confrontation in the cellar of Green’s. Alexander Devlin wants his band to perform at Green’s and writes a begging email. Erin relents and says yes, even though it goes against all her rules.
Erin continues to put her past behind her, but like every bad penny, they always turn up.
Erin Brodie has made a success of her music venue and it’s the most sought after place in the country for non-signed artists to perform. Alexander Devlin is the guitarist from the rock band Fragile, they are at the top of their game and are just about to release their final album.
Erin drops her guard and so her courtship with Alex begins, but it comes at a price. Erin has enemies and, this time, they have upped their game. This time, her life is in jeopardy and it takes all of her friends to race to find her.
This time, they might just be too late…
Grace Harper Books 