12.29.2012

Twas the Nights of the New Year and the Great Holiday Indie Author Meet and Greet Post!

Robert Stanek: Hi, readers and authors. Welcome to ‘Twas the Nights of the New Year’ and the Great Holiday Indie Author Meet and Greet Post!

The holidays are a wonderful time of year. A time to reconnect with family and friends. A time to rekindle hope and love. A time to cherish what matters most. But the holidays also can be a busy time. A time when it’s hard to slow down and catch a breath.

This holiday, I decided to do something different. To breathe. To catch a breath. On Facebook, I invited authors to introduce themselves and/or share by posting about their works as part of a holiday get-together. The result follows. Read on to learn about many authors and many books, from new voices awaiting discovery to the well-established, all giving a holiday shout out as part of the meet and greet.
 
 

Robert Stanek: I’ll get things going by introducing myself. I'm Robert Stanek. I founded Go Indie (http://goindie.reagentpress.com/) in 2007 and that effort grew into the Go Indie and Free Today groups on Facebook as well as the Read Indies blog (http://readindies.blogspot.com/). When I began writing stories in the 4th grade, I had no idea that 35 years later I'd be celebrating the upcoming publication of my 150th book or that millions would have read those books.

My official #150 is the upcoming book from Microsoft Press that I just finished. That little book, weighing in at 1580 pages and 654,000 words, is called Windows Server 2012 Inside Out.

It's been an interesting, if not always fun, ride through these last many years, and you can read my thoughts on writing @ http://www.imaginedlands.com/writing.htm. Thank you for your contributions and participation in Go Indie (http://www.facebook.com/groups/goindie/).
 
Warren Martin: Hello Everyone, I’m a little older buy new to the writing scene. I had served 21 years in the Army and then ten plus in business and business ownership. I jokingly tell people I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up since it always seems like I’m doing something. A few years ago I started writing, learning as I go while at the same time working on school going after a PhD – so staying busy.

I self-published my first book earlier this year, “Forgotten Soldiers” and yesterday was surprised with a package notifying me that my book was a finalist for Historical Fiction in the Star And Flags Book awards, so an early Christmas present. I plan to keep writing as a hobby I love to do and also transition into teaching – unless of course Hollywood calls, but even if that happened, I’d probably still want to write and teach.

My Blog and Websites:
http://warrenmartinbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.warrenmartinbooks.com/

Kim Mutch Emerson: Kim Mutch Emerson of www.MasterKoda.com and www.MasterkodaSelectPublishing.com Love to assist others in creating success. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday. My book Digitus 233 just released and I'm overwhelmed right now. LOL

Wendy Jones: I'm Wendy Jones and I come from an academic background so have published in academic textbooks and journals. I have just finished my first novel and I am currently editing it. It is a murder mystery set in Dundee, Scotland where I live. It will be the first in a series about the CID in Dundee headed up by DI Shona McLeod so the series will be called The DI Shona McLeod Mysteries.

Marilyn Holdsworth: I'm an author of two books. My third, Making Wishes will be published in January. Womens literature.

Debbie Brown: Debbie Brown! I run the English Historical Fiction Authors (multiauthor's blog) and the FB group by the same name. I write sweet Victorian suspense/romance books, one of which is published and free today on Kindle and Audible.

Marquita Herald: Marquita (Marty) Herald - I'm an award winning blogger, and I have published 4 books on the art of living life by design. I live in Maui, Hawaii. I jumped from a successful career in sales and marketing into coaching new entrepeneurs, and eventually realized I could help many more people through my blog and my books. Nice to meet you all!

Scott Nicholson: Scott, organic gardener and libertarian taoist. ;-)

M.j. Kane: Hi! I'm M.J., stay-at-home-mom turned Amazon Bestseller of Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, and Interracial Romance. My debut novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken, Book one of The Butterfly Memoirs was published in September 2012. Book two, Jaded, will be published March 2013. See what happens when your home all day with an over-active imagination! You find a way to make it work! Happy Holidays!!

Alan Tucker: Greetings and Happy Holidays! I began publishing YA Fantasy/Adventure books in 2010 and just released my fourth book in November, a new SciFi/Adventure, called Knot in Time. My writing and marketing skills are still very much a work in progress and I hope to meet many more wonderful Indies here! http://www.facebook.com/TuckerAuthor

Kelly Preston: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone. I am Kelly Preston, co-author of Real Dogs Don't Whisper (www.realdogsdontwhisper.com); my partner in crime is Mr MaGoo. He would stop to introduce himself, I took away his iPaw as he has been "naughty" LOL Our book is about giving those with special needs, a chance, a second chance.
About miracles that occur when your heart opens up and allows these angels from God to enter into your life. This book has been based on my life, the life lessons I have discovered along the way with four special need dogs and my late brother with Downs Syndrome.

S.w. Frank: Greetings, i am the author of the multicultural romance, drama series Alfonzo. An infusion of urban literature is often found in my stories to give spice and earthiness to the read. http://1swfrank.wix.com/authorswfrank

Jill James: Hello, I've been indie for just over a year. I have 3 novellas, bundled, and made them trade paper too. I have 1 full-length novel, paranormal romantic suspense, in eBook and print. Happy Holidays everyone!!

Lisa Bilbrey: Hello, I'm Lisa, an author, editor, Public relations manager, and co-owner of a small publishing house with big dreams! I have 5 books out so far.

Author Qwantu Amaru: I'm Author Qwantu Amaru, author of One Blood, a bestselling award-winning novel about a supernatural curse tormenting a group of people unaware of their hidden connections.

Brian Bigelow: Hello, I'm Brian Bigelow. An author living in Colorado and I presently write horror. I hope everyone has a great holiday, warm wishes to you all.

Zoe Brooks: Hello, I'm Zoe Brooks. I've been an indie author since March last year. I've got three novels out on amazon - Girl in the Glass, Love of Shadows and Mother of Wolves. I have a blogsite about magic realism (http://magic-realism-books.blogspot.com) and produce an online newspaper featuring the best on the web (http://www.womens-fiction.net)

Andrew McAllister: I am the Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. I'm a father of three, and I write both fiction and non-fiction. My current project is a non-fiction title - relationship self-help, based partly on my relationship advice blog To Love, Honor, and Dismay.

Karen Docter: I've been in the writing biz for over twenty years, mostly aiming my sights on traditional publishing. A series of health issues sidelined me for several years but when I came out the other side, I found a whole new world of Indie publishing and the surety that life was too short to keep beating my head against a wall. I went Indie with my first romantic comedy in February of this year, followed by a novella. In addition to writing romantic comedy, I'm launching a romantic suspense series beginning next year. blog 5 days a week, three of those days highlighting other authors' books. To find out more about me, www.karendocter.com.

Diana J Febry: Hi, I'm a very new writer. My first two novels were published in 2012 and third is due to be published in January. All with Wingsepress. I'm learning as I go along. The first novel was a detective crime, the second - I honestly haven't a clue (one neighbour tries to blackmail another and it goes very wrong) and the third is probably women's lit. Looking forward to making new friends here.

Adrienne Thompson: I am a divorced mother of three, grandmother of one, former RN, current full-time writer. In the last 2 years I've self-published 5 books, all of which have appeared on Amazon best-sellers lists. I love music and pop culture and Marilyn Monroe http://adriennethompsonwrites.webs.com

Janice Horton: I'm an indie being interviewed on Dizzy C's Book Blog Festive Fun Feature. Take a look. All Shares and Tweets appreciated! xx http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/festive-fun-day-21-janice-horton.html

M.j. Kane: A HEART NOT EASILY BROKEN, BOOK ONE of the BUTTERFLY MEMOIRS and AMAZON BESTSELLER!!! Read the BOOK REVIEWS, check out the FREE SAMPLE CHAPTERS, then BUY it for KINDLE, NOOK, iBOOK, or SMASHWORDS for $3.99, or find it in PAPERBACK….all from just ONE CLICK!!!


A Heart Not Easily Broken (The Butterfly Memoirs) by M. J. Kane

www.kindleboards.com

Zoe Brooks: Set in an unspecified time and land this Cinderella story for adults there is no fairy godmother and no handsome prince, just a girl of spirit and her strange companion. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007IROBEE

Girl in the Glass (The Healer's Shadow)
www.amazon.com

Deborah Hutto Bateman: Self-Publishing Simplified: How to Publish a Book on Kindle
By: Deborah H. Bateman

Go to: http://tinyurl.com/9plzayh

If you don't have a Kindle you can download Kindle for PC free on Amazon then read your Kindle ebooks right on your computer. Go to: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311

Merry Christmas to you and yours,

Deborah

Kelly Preston: "Anyone who has ever loved a pet will want to read this one, but more than that it's a story that reminds us of second chances and unconditional love. On a scale of one to five this book deserves at least a ten because it's just that good! I would love to read more from this author! Highly recommended." 50% off with promo code: JW67FYL5 http://goo.gl/xuW8H

Real Dogs Don't Whisper: Life lessons from a larger than life dog - and his owner!
www.amazon.com

Joseph Rinaldo: Did Mormons, directed by Brigham Young, slaughter 150 Arkansans in Utah Territory in 1857? Arkansans who were doing nothing more than trying to reach California to start a new life. A slaughter of men, women, and children, the theft of all their wagons, clothing, gold, supplies, animals - a slaughter that made Brigham Young even richer? Or was it really Paiute Indians, as the Mormons claimed, even though historians have declared that Paiutes were a peaceful people AND they owned no guns - all the dead were murdered by gunshots! Read A MORMON MASSACRE and decide for yourself who is covering up one of the worst mass murders in American history! A MORMON MASSACRE on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/A-MORMON-MASSACRE-ebook/dp/B008R26S18.

A MORMON MASSACRE
www.amazon.com

Author Missy Lyons: 365 Days of America (Annotated) (365 Days of Happiness)


365 Days of Romance: Inspirational Quotes for Every Day of the Year (Annotated)


Jill James: He is Mr. By-The-Book. She has an attitude problem. Together, they just might catch a killer virus before it becomes an Extinction Level Event. Dangerous Shift http://tinyurl.com/dangerousshift-amz in eBook and print.

Dangerous Shift
www.amazon.com


Tammie Clarke Gibbs: His Uncle was an eccentric.

And determined to prove she existed.
He was determined to prove to the world that his family wasn’t crazy…
That HE wasn’t crazy.
It was working…
Until he made one mistake…
That would change his life forever…
And force him to question his own sanity.
Something was missing from her life…
Doing a friend a favor…
And pretending to be someone else for a day seemed like a good idea at the time.
Then she finds a warning note…
From hundreds of years BEFORE she was born.
And then if that wasn’t bad enough…

She met HIM…
TWICE!

For centuries a force has kept them apart…
But, will Love be enough to finally keep them together…
Or will history repeat?


Island of Secrets: A Time Travel, Gothic Romance
www.amazon.com

Patrice Fitzgerald: Merry Holidays! RUNNING is free Christmas Eve and Christmas Day... you can grab it via Amazon Kindle in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan... have I forgotten anywhere? Oh, and India! An election season full of suspense, action, romance, laughs, and a little sex. Two women running for President of the United States. Enjoy, and pass it on! http://amzn.to/RUNNINGnovel

RUNNING
www.amazon.com

 
Karl Jones: This is possibly going to be my last major promotion effort for the year so here it is.
Give the gift that keeps on giving this Christmas, literature.

Buying a copy of Shattered will not only entertain your friends and family, it will give me a merry Christmas, so please, be kind and give everyone a wonderful present.

Murdered teens, incompetent police, vigilante parents. Stuck in the middle is Donna Harp, the young constable determined to bring an end to the murders tearing her village apart, even if it costs her her job.

Amazon US - http://ow.ly/g4mP7
Amazon UK - http://ow.ly/g4mSO
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/116947

Shattered (Donna Harp Series)
www.amazon.com

 
K.t. Dixon: Load up that Kindle you bought for a friend or loved one with the best deal on Amazon. Today all of my Kindle books are on sale for just 99 cents. http://www.amazon.com/K.T.-Dixon/e/B00818GN9K/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1356355423&sr=1-2-ent

Amazon.com: K.T. Dixon: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
www.amazon.com

Susette Williams: #BestSeller MAID FOR MURDER: Deadly Business
Genre: humorous inspirational mystery


Bailey inherits her grandfather’s business, Maid For You, but cleaning up dead body parts wasn’t part of the job description. Bailey hopes to wipe out crime with the help of Nate, her computer hacker assistant, despite protests of their involvement in the case from Detective Max Wellington.
 When Bailey catches the culprits arranging to dispose of another body, she's out to help the two of them dig their own grave and if she’s lucky, Detective Max Wellington will keep them from arranging her funeral.
 Maid for Murder is a trilogy that begins with Deadly Business. The story continues throughout the trilogy as Bailey uncovers deception, corruption and a few secrets that may forever change her life. As the threads of deceit unravel, the murders begin to break out like a case of Bubonic Plague.
 Bailey is a Christian, struggling to keep on the path she knows is right, fighting the temptation of the hunky Detective Max Wellington who would like nothing more than to take her into protective custody, for more than just interfering in police business.

Amazon.com: B00A1U6WI8
www.amazon.com

 
Staci Stallings: Best Selling Christian Romance.... COWBOY "Stallings has a way of making you fall in love with the characters." http://ow.ly/gnKT1 Get your copy! Tell a friend!

Cowboy (The Harmony Series)
www.amazon.com

 
Lee Mellott: Double Chin - How To Get Rid Of A Double Chin
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TBK9Y0/

 
Lisa Bilbrey: Did you get at the new Kindle Fire for Christmas? Maybe a new Nook or iPad? Even a Kobo e-reader? Looking for some great reads to add on to them? Well, look no further! Renaissance Romance Publishing is having an after Christmas Sale on all of our books on Smashwords. Use the coupon code listed on our blog that goes with each book and enjoy! http://renaissanceromancepublishing.blogspot.com/2012/12/after-christmas-sale.html

Morgann Roddy: I don't do well at my own promotion, so I teamed up with twenty-some odd other authors, instead. Help me get the word out about ALL of these wonderful stories, priced (some starting today) at only $0.99! You see, I helped to run a Forty Books For A Buck Each promotion about a week ago, and it was wildly successful. There are new authors on the list this time, along with previous participants, and EVERY BOOK will be (or already is, in the case of mine and a few others') priced at only $0.99. http://mo8832.wix.com/undiscloseddesires#!home/mainPage PLEASE check it out and spread the word for me, as you know I will do the same for you. THANK YOU, and I hope your holiday is warm, bright, and full of love.

Undisclosed Desire - A Novel Website by M. Peters | Wix.com
mo8832.wix.com

The home of my first novel and of exciting news, excerpts and other tidbits about my next writing adventures!

James C. Wallace II: Check out Magician of Oz (which was reviewed by The Baum Bugle and declared to be "in the true Baum tradition"), Shadow Demon of Oz, Family of Oz and The Ozian Adventure of Pickleless & Blu; each only $0.99 each! http://www.amazon.com/James-C.-Wallace-II/e/B009ONML4M/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1#/ref=la_B009ONML4M_rf_p_n_feature_browse-b_1?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB009ONML4M%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A618073011&bbn=283155&ie=UTF8&qid=1356390960&rnid=618072011

Amazon.com: James C. Wallace II: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
www.amazon.com

 
Birgit Kluger: “Black Sacrament” first part of the fantasy Serial “Creatures of Fire”: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008QKTX4A

Black Sacrament (Part 1, Creatures of Fire Serial)
www.amazon.com

Shelley Hitz: My book is "Healing for the Broken Hearted" http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ANSSW6S

Thanks for your support! I really appreciate it! ~Shelley~

Healing For The Broken Hearted: Discover Lasting Freedom in Christ
www.amazon.com

K.t. Dixon: I want to wish a Merry Christmas to all of my friends out there in the FB world. If you have a Kindle or a Kindle app on your phone, you can go to my Author's page on Amazon and download any of my books today (12-25) free of charge. http://www.amazon.com/K.T.-Dixon/e/B00818GN9K/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1356437427&sr=1-2-ent

Andrew McAllister: In honor of the season, I'd like to give away a free e-book copy of Unauthorized Access. Here's the deal - If you have an e-reader or tablet (maybe even a new one you received for Christmas - yay!), leave a comment saying what kind of device you have. Tomorrow I'll put all the respondent's names into a hat, pick one out, and send off the appropriate file format to the winner. Happy Boxing Day everyone!

Margarita Felices: GOT ONE OF THESE STORIES ON YOUR KINDLE? EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT AND SURE TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED.

JUDGEMENT OF SOULS 3: Kiss at Dawn.
Judgement of Souls
www.amazon.com

JUDGEMENT OF SOULS is a Gothic horror novel.

DeEtte Beckstead Anderton: No more rights, no traditions, new rules. Will the Overseer win the showdown on the mountain? Find out in Victory. Now just 99 cents through Dec. 28th. http://tinyurl.com/c3tel2c

Victory
www.amazon.com

Victory, a town where the people love their country and their neighbors, but what comes may change everything.

Janelle Taylor: My book is NECESSARY EVIL. Very interested in hearing what especially horror/thriller/mystery authors think about it. http://amzn.com/B009MQP6UM

NECESSARY EVIL
www.amazon.com

‎1990 - Atlanta, Georgia Is there a serial killer on the prowl?

Janelle Taylor Author: Thanks, Robert, for your help to Indie authors.

Robert Stanek: Thank you, Janelle.  Glad you went indie! And thank you everyone for your participation. Happy Holidays!

11.04.2012

Taking Your Work From Print to Film: Going to Hollywood Baby… You Coming With?

Hollywood is catnip for writers. As a writer who’s been doing the job for a few decades, I’ve had more than a few Hollywood encounters myself. I’ve negotiated screenplay options. Talked backend and points with production companies. Got the limo rides. Been on movie sets. Walked the walk. My current screenplay might even get signed this time, then again it might not—it’s Hollywood baby and anything can happen.




Way back in 2002, the first two times Hollywood came knocking, I was too awestruck to enjoy the moment. All I could think was DreamWorks is considering my books for the movies--and then before that could sink in Fox was there considering my books too. I was dancing on top of the world, especially with the same books doing so well on Amazon's bestseller lists.

Dancing on clouds was fun but it wasn't until Hollywood came knocking a third time that I knew I'd really done something right. That third time, it was VMP who came knocking. As they're the producers of Armageddon, Virus, Clockstoppers, Adventure Inc., The Coven, The Punisher, Æon Flux, Room Service, Welcome to the Jungle, The Incredible Hulk, Punisher: War Zone, I thought for certain this was the right fit. The right production company for Ruin Mist.

But it wasn't to be.... A lot of years passed and thoughts of breaking into Hollywood faded away. In 2008, I finished Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ruin Mist and Keeper Martin's Guide to the Fantastical Beasts and Fairie Creatures of Ruin Mist. Both books were BIG hits with fans and as it turns out with MGM, who came knocking, as did Artciculus Entertainment.

MGM was the one I'd've liked to see make the movies. They could have done it right and ensured a 4-movie run, which was what I was hoping for. It's the complete story that I want to tell in film and it's only through the course of all four books that the story behind the story is fully told. That being the story of the tragic romance of Ansh Brodst, a man at arms, and Delinna Alder, a princess of the realms.

In 2010, I finished the Ruin Mist comics and a prequel, Dawn of the Ages. The Ruin Mist graphic novel was published in late 2011. And it's these stories that bring a new movie production company to my door.




If you’re a writer, you might think there’s no more perfect place than Hollywood to live out your starry-eyed dreams and no bigger canvas for those very same dreams to play out. But what have you done lately to make those starry-eyed dreams a reality? Anything? Something? Nothing?

Most likely the answer is nothing, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you have a single, finished, polished work that comes alive on the page or a hundred, you can start doing things right now to help make your Hollywood dreams a reality.

In Hollywood, it’s ideas that matter. Hollywood’s all about big ideas and big deals. If the concept is the right one, Hollywood could care less whether your book has sold five copies or five million copies. Sure, it’s easier for Hollywood to tie into and market a film based on a bestseller but Hollywood makes movies out of also-ran books every, single day because somewhere, the right someone loved the concepts the books explored.

Whether you think I’m smoking something funny and want a toke of that great stuff or not, queue up some of your favorite movies, go through the begin and end credits and see how many say “Based on the novel (or short story) … by …” Odds are you’ll see more than a few of those “based on” credits (and many from authors and books you’ve never heard of).

The number of “based on” credits you see is a reflection of just how important written works are to Hollywood. However, that “based on” credit isn’t representative of every book, novella or short story adapted for film. It’s a privilege, a right that not every author gets. Only authors savvy enough to negotiate the “based on” right get credit, and they have to negotiate the right into the screenplay option agreement in the first place (and then ensure that the right isn’t written out in addendums and such later). What then is the true number of theatrical works based on books? Does anyone really know?

Doubtful. What I do know though is that Hollywood is always looking for fresh, source materials and books give Hollywood plenty to work with. The source books needn’t be from bestsellers or industry luminaries. For that matter, the source books needn’t be books or anything book-like either. Hollywood options plenty of short-form works for adaptation as movies. In some ways, short-form works are easier for Hollywood to work with as they present the characters, the central story, the plot more succinctly than books. Hollywood options plenty of works that were never books too—they’re called screenplays and screenplays are the currency of Hollywood.

As a writer, before you count yourself out of the game, deal yourself in by learning the basics of the screenplay trade. Familiarize yourself with how screenplays are written and how screenplays are pitched to the studios. An understanding of screenplay structure will help you position yourself. An understanding of the pitch will help you sell your work to Hollywood.



As for me, I don't know if the 6th time is the lucky charm for Ruin Mist. It might be, then again it might not be. It's Hollywood baby, and anything’s possible.

Thanks for reading! Hope you'll follow the blog if you aren't already and stay tuned for more in the days and weeks ahead. I'll get into the specifics in these posts as I'm able.

Robert Stanek

10.10.2012

Have you ever considered selling your rights?

Frankfurt Book Fair 2012 begins Oct 10, and continues until Oct 14. If you’re a writer, whether self-published, professionally published or somewhere in between that should have you thinking about selling your rights. Why? Frankfurt Book Fair is Mardi Gras for Books and one of the best places to sell the rights to your work. Want to know what selling your rights means and why it matters? Read on.

Frankfurt Book Fair is a 5-day annual event that takes place in October each year. Not only is it one of the largest book-related events of the year, it is also one of the best for selling rights and licensing. Thousands of industry experts attend Frankfurt Book Fair, including authors, publishers, agents, film producers, and more—and they’re all there to network, to sell or to buy. Mostly, what they're buying and selling are publishing rights, media rights, and product licensing.

If you can attend the event in person, you can go directly to the Literary Agents & Scouts Centre to talk business with people there to buy print-related rights. Or you can go over to the StoryDrive Business Centre where the focus is film and media rights. Each year there are about 500 agents on hand, representing some 300 agencies. Want to talk about and learn about the digital book business? There’s a place for that too. Or you can simply wander through the thousands of book exhibits, featuring publishers, books, and authors from all over the world.

If you can’t attend personally, there are ways to be represented as well. One way is to have another exhibitor display and respresent your books or works at the fair. My books were represented for many years at the fair and it helped me sell foreign edition and translation rights all over the world.
 

For independent and small press authors, foreign edition and translation rights for print or ebook are the rights you're most likely to sell. You also might sell the rights to audio, large print editions, Braille, English-language editions outside the United States & Canada, and more. Media rights relate to film, stage, and television, but sometimes radio too. Licensing rights relate to products that are based on or related to your works.

Going out there and selling your rights so that your work can be available in foreign and translated editions isn't easy though. It requires time, effort, and capital--and this commitment is one of the reasons I'm telling you about the Frankfurt Bookfair. Because, if you're not attending this year's fair, you may want to start planning for next year's fair right now.
 
Start now because there's a lot of work to do beforehand and not preparing well in advance is like throwing money out the window. To get ready for the fair, you need to:
 
  • Decide on a budget and marketing plan. As you will have to pay for each book or work you exhibit, you want to be sure you exhibit your very best work. For example, if you've been wanting to get professional covers and additional editing or proofreading, the time to do it is now before you pay to exhibit your work. In other words, start getting your ducks in a row so you can put your best foot forward.
 
  • Select the books or works that you want to exhibit, with your budget and your marketing goals in mind. Then tailor your marketing for these books or works. Some vendors will include your books or works in their exhibit catalogue, along with related marketing materials. You want to do your research and get the right information in the catalogue, as it's something visitors to the show may keep and bring home with them for review.
 
  • Select a vendor / exhibitor partner, and that means vetting the available vendors to see which one is the best fit for your needs, your budget and your marketing goals. There are many vendors / exhibitor partners. Some of these have resellers who will resell you (at a markup) to the same vendors / exhibitor partners you could reach on your own directly (and cheaper).
 
You'll want to finalize your materials and get everything lined up months in advance. One of the reasons for this is that it can take weeks to ship boxes of books to the vendor / exhibitor partner you've chosen and they in turn may need to receive your books weeks in advance so that they can ship the books to the fair. To reduce overhead, vendors often ship by freight/book rate, which can be very slow. So if the vendor needs to ship boxes 8 weeks before the fair to ensure everything gets to the fair on time, you may need to get your box of books to the vendor a few weeks before this.
 
Got the time and believe in yourself? Then give book fairs a try and when you eventually land a rights or licensing contract, I hope you'll give me a shout out.
 
More tips and advice on book fairs in future posts. Got questions? Ask.
 

9.27.2012

Summer of Indie, Last Call with Robert Stanek


Summer of Indie is coming to a close. It’s been a long run… and a lot of hours to put together, keep running, and spread the word to help make it a success.

For authors who are featured, I hope the event helped introduce your work to new readers and your fellow authors as well. Awareness of an author and his or her books is important and it can help your long-term sales and success. Getting to know fellow indie authors is just as important. It’s a big world out there. There are many authors who may have similar interests to your own and it’s good to get to know them, even if only through their work and these pages.

For readers who have visited (and will visit) these pages, I thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed the features presented throughout Summer of Indie and I know you’ve checked out some of the many books presented because I’ve seen the results. On average about 175 people tuned in each day and overall the event has brought in about 16,000 page views so far. That kind of success makes all the hard work worth it.

For me Summer of Indie was a dream—a dream I brought to life as another way to help other authors and introduce readers to new authors, new books, and new ideas. I think the time spent was well worth it. Best of all, these pages and features will remain available and they can help introduce readers to the authors and books featured here for a long time to come.

Reading this, you may wonder what’s ahead. To that, I say stay tuned. There's much ahead including some Best Of Summer of Indie Picks, Guest Posts and I hope eventually, posts from my next book on writing: Enduring Writing (tentative title). Think of it as a follow up to my book Effective Writing, the little book read by more readers than I ever imagined possible since it was first released in audio so many years ago. It's not Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, but like that other diminutive book it has legs. I hope Enduring Writing will have legs too.


In the mean time, continue to dream and while you're dreaming dream BIG. I know I am, and I know Buster is too because so many readers have read or listened to his adventures. Who knew stories about a little bug and his friends would garner so much interest and start to become so beloved. Just goes to show you that anything's possible when you dream BIG.

Finally, whether this is your first visit to Go Indie - Read Indies or you've been following Summer of Indie from the beginning, I hope you'll pick up some of the books by the many authors featured here. Who knows, maybe you'll also pick up a few books by that Robert Stanek guy too. 

Buster sure hope's so, and he's off exploring the Solar System just in case...



Thank you for reading! Please bookmark Go Indie - Read Indies and check back in the days, weeks, and months ahead.


-- Robert Stanek

9.22.2012

A Summer of Indie Curtain Call!

I’m Robert Stanek and I’m your host here at Go Indie - Read Indies. You know you're in the right place in life when you wake up every day with a smile on your face. You know you're in the right place as a writer when that smile is because you're eager to get to the keyboard, eager to get the thoughts racing through your mind down on paper.

That eagerness to capture thoughts on paper has carried me through many days, many years, and many books. As a writer, that eagerness has made the blank page a friend rather than a foe. That blank page can be your friend too--if you let it. And if you let it, you can fill it with everything that's inside you, everything that you can wonder about, everything that you can dream about, and everything that you can imagine.

Over these past many weeks, I've featured the books of many authors who weren't afraid of that blank page either--or maybe they were but they figured out how to turn that fear into something magical, if only for a time. That magical thing being a filled page, a page of letters and words. Words that dance and sing. Words that make your heart swoon or soar. Words that make your thoughts chase the heavens or scatter to the winds. Words that make your very breath catch, slow or race.

As Summer of Indie nears the end, I want to thank those who have supported the event faithfully, for it was their support that inspired me this summer, and their strength, as much as anything else, that made Summer of Indie possible.
 
Summer of Indie was a journey as much as anything else. A chance to learn about new authors and new books, and perhaps discover new favorites. Whether this is your first or hundredth visit to the Read Indies blog, I hope you'll now take a moment to read through posts you may have missed, bookmark your favorites so you can find them again, and make a few reading lists.

I hope your list will include some of my books as well, and I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to my works.

My day job is as a tech writer, a job I've been doing full-time since 1996. You can learn more about my William Stanek books at http://www.williamstanek.com/. Windows 8 Pocket Consultant is one of my latest tech books.
 
 
Before I wrote tech books, I was in the military and I wrote a true account of my war-time service in a book called Stormjammers: The Extraordinary Story of Electronic Warfare in the Gulf War. The book isn't as popular as No Easy Day, but I'd like to think it just as vividly depicts the sacrifices of the men and women I served with in the Gulf War. Learn more about this book at http://stanek.reagentpress.com/.











I started my writing journey in 1986 when I penned Keeper Martin's Tale, the first Ruin Mist book and my first full-length novel. As an instant, indie bestseller, Keeper Martin's Tale shook trees and rattled cages when it debuted in print in 2002--and it's still shaking trees and rattling cages today. Journey to Ruin Mist by visiting http://www.ruinmistmovie.com/.












Another project I worked on for many years before publication is the tale of a big, little place called Bugville. Originally, I wrote the Bugville stories for my children who delighted in them so much they urged me to publish them for other children to enjoy. Buster's story begins with Visit Dad & Mom At Work, but I think it's more appropriate to share with you one of the the more recent stories. It's called Have a Spooktacular Halloween and it features Buster's friend Lass.

Journey to Bugville by visiting http://www.bugvillecritters.com/








If you decide to read my books, and I hope you do, one thing I hope you take with you afterward is the sense that anything's possible. You can dream. You can achieve dreams. All those years ago when I began writing, I had no idea where my dream would take me and yet I dared to dream because I believed the impossible was entirely possible. And, it is.


-- Robert Stanek

9.20.2012

Summer of Indie with Robert Stanek

I’m Robert Stanek and I’m your host here at Go Indie - Read Indies. I’ve been writing professionally for many years and will celebrate the publication of my 150th book next year. That’s a lot of books, a lot of years, and a lot of readers.

Summer of Indie kicked off in grand style with a party on April 28. More than 35 indie authors turned out for the event.

Beginning in June and continuing throughout the summer, Summer of Indie featured indie authors and their books. Nearly 100 indie authors were featured in all, along with their many, many books. In fact, as many featured authors had written several books, hundreds of books were introduced and talked about.
How far indies have come in so few years. How many naysayers are eating eggs. Back in 2001 when my first indie book was released as an ebook serial there were very few indie books and even fewer indie success stories. I'd like to think I helped change that when my Ruin Mist books quickly became top sellers on Amazon. Like the little engine that could, the Ruin Mist books are the little books that could.
Year after year the books have had steadily increasing readership. Interest from movie production companies has come and gone. New editions and new books have been introduced. A graphic novel and comics are out. I work now on a script that may some day be the first Ruin Mist movie (or it may not). Who knows for sure what the future may bring...
I thought 2002 was a banner year when print sales soared beyond my wildest expectations and I was living with a smile on my face. I thought that year would never be topped, never be achieved again. Until I brought Ruin Mist to audio in 2005 and the books catapulted to #1 on Audible for FOURTEEN consecutive weeks and then stayed on the Kids & YA Top 10 for the next THREE YEARS.
 
When that massive run ended, I thought, "Oh man, this is the end of the ride, but what a ride it's been." Then sales rocketed again and I had my best few years ever as a writer. That was nirvana. That was magical.
By 2011 I thought for sure the ride was over. That this was it for Ruin Mist, but it wasn't so. The 12 months from Oct 11 to Sep 12 has brought more new readers to the world of Ruin Mist than any other 12-month period. Ever... Who knew books published so many years ago could still have best years ahead of them.

My point being, you never know. That first or next book you write may be the one. Then again it might not, but you never know until you put yourself out there.
I had no idea nearly a million people would read the Ruin Mist books over the past 11 years. But they have...
I don't know if a million more will read the books in the next 11 years. But they may...
And if this inspires you... Hit a few out of the park for me and tell the world Robert Stanek sent you.
Thanks for reading!
 
Got an indie success story to share, send it in and I'll share it right here at Go Indie - Read Indies.
-- Robert Stanek
 

9.19.2012

Summer of Indie Talks With Donna Burgess


Readers who enjoy post-apocalyptical or zombie-survival stories will want to check out Solstice, by Donna Burgess. Solstice is a tale of hope, terror, survival, and finding love at the end of a world plunged into darkness.

 
 
 
 
Solstice:
 

THE END IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

On the eve of winter Solstice, a massive flash envelopes the Earth and then there is nothing. The sun no longer shines and civilization is plunged into unending darkness. Those exposed to the mysterious flash have changed—they have become bloodthirsty, cunning, and determined to devour anyone who is not infected.

They are Ragers.

In Sweden, uneasy travelers Tomas an architect, his young son, Christopher, and university student Melanie, hear a broken broadcast. There is hope. Something called Sanctuary waits, but it is thousands of miles away, somewhere on the shores of the British Isles.

Meanwhile, in a London supermarket, Stu, a high school English teacher from the States finds himself stranded along with a handful of students on a senior trip. Outside, hoards of hungry Ragers await, ready to tear them limb from limb. Their only hope is to find Sanctuary.

Solstice is a tale of hope, terror, survival, and finding love at the end of the World.


 
Image of Donna BurgessDonna Burgess lives with her husband, daughter, son, many cats and one goofy Golden Retriever in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. When she is not writing, she can be found on herlongboard, behind a good book. She is the president of E-Volve Books. In addition to her writing work, she also runs No Trees Harmed, a website devoted to the promotion of digitally-published independent authors.

You can find Donna Burgess online at:



and on Twitter @horrorgirldonna

9.18.2012

Summer of Indie Hangs With C.J. Urban


If you're looking for a mystery or thriller with a romantic twist, be sure to check out Diary of a Dead Girl, by author C.J. Urban. The first book in the Julie Townsend Series, Diary of a Dead Girl, follows the suspenseful sequence of events that occur when the heroine, Julie, seeks a change of pace in a new town after her parents' death.

 
 
Diary of a Dead Girl

Diary of a Dead GirlJulie Townsend’s world is turned upside down after her parents’ tragic death. Now sole guardian of her younger brother at only twenty-three, and desperate for a change, she takes an offer too good to refuse—a house to live in for free in a small town.

Things take a dangerous turn when she discovers a diary full of secrets concerning her cousin’s murder. When Julie begins to investigate, she realizes she’s in too deep—and may soon be the next victim.




 
Summer of Indie asked author C.J. Urban to tell us more about herself so that readers could get to know her better. We asked her about her personal life, as well what inspired her to become an author:

Image of C.J. Urban"I've lived in Orange County my whole life, and I love it. Knowing both the beach and Big Bear are a hop, skip, and a jump away is pretty amazing. I've always loved writing, and I plan to continue until I can no longer type. I have an adorable miniature Pomeranian named Mocha. She keeps me company on those nights (or early mornings) that I'm up typing away trying not to lose sudden bursts of inspiration. I'm also a huge coffee-lover and find it's one of the best ways to bring people together. I graduated with a bachelor of arts in psychology from Cal State Fullerton and loved earning the degree. My goal is to be a full-time writer, and I'm working my hardest to make that dream a reality."

 
 
You can find author C.J. Urban online at:



Website (Author Blog is also hosted here): www.cjurban.com