tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.comments2011-09-30T21:37:11.593-04:00Writing Kind at Gallant PressPeter Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-5605895096400610202011-08-21T23:14:09.111-04:002011-08-21T23:14:09.111-04:00Your point here is so true. Thanks for the edit on...Your point here is so true. Thanks for the edit on Hawke & Johnson, C.N.M. You have saved future readers from that particular jolt. :)Sue Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-64219542076627290142011-08-11T10:19:23.431-04:002011-08-11T10:19:23.431-04:00Terrific cover for your book, Peter. Memograms is ...Terrific cover for your book, Peter. Memograms is a book to savor--that means I'm reading it rather slowly. But now I have the flu (because of being stuck on that Delta flight, I'm sure). It's great to play with it when you can't work.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12306491903311869968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-7953028928356052532011-08-02T13:11:19.658-04:002011-08-02T13:11:19.658-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Peter Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-61591615437866136352011-08-02T02:05:33.418-04:002011-08-02T02:05:33.418-04:00It's hard to get all those typos and brain-far...It's hard to get all those typos and brain-fart sentences when you're an indie (I always have some that slip through, even though I've hired an editor and had betas read it beforehand), but it's definitely worth it to try your best! :) <br /><br />How is your daughter's story doing? It looks fun!Lindsay B.http://www.lindsayburoker.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-80656447585190545742011-07-20T00:55:49.805-04:002011-07-20T00:55:49.805-04:00Good luck with the sales!
I'm having another...Good luck with the sales! <br /><br />I'm having another one of my covers redone now too. At least as indies, we can keep tinkering until we get something that we like (and readers like too!). :)Lindsay Burokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955277387824031696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-44394177066965166672011-07-12T13:49:12.298-04:002011-07-12T13:49:12.298-04:00I'm guessing you want honest opinions since yo...I'm guessing you want honest opinions since you asked the question. :)<br /><br />Mark Coker has a guide for formatting eBooks which I find easy to use. So far, I haven't had any problems with my books following the guide from start to finish. Once formatted, I use the same file (with a bit of wordage change) to upload to Smashwords, Amazon, and B&N.<br /><br />What I would LIKE to see, is a formatting guide for print. I consider myself pretty savvy with MS Word. However, I still had to research a few items before I could get everything in the proper place. I'm still convinced I took the long way about some things.<br /><br />I mention a simple print guide, because Mark Coker's eBook one is so easy to follow. I don't know if there's one out there for print, but I'd love to see it.Reena Jacobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16860984511692822921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-21132815220995486362011-07-12T13:38:25.739-04:002011-07-12T13:38:25.739-04:00So far, I've just paid someone to do it or use...So far, I've just paid someone to do it or used Smashwords for the shorter stuff, but I'd probably want a short version that could me through the process as quickly as possible. Then maybe a troubleshooting section that addressed pitfalls. <br /><br />Also, I'll say the reason I didn't buy a formatting book from an author I knew is because it only taught one how to do Kindle files. Since I have to make epub files, too, I'd need to know that and would prefer the information all came in the same source.Lindsay Burokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955277387824031696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-42602784270447877702011-07-11T14:24:09.000-04:002011-07-11T14:24:09.000-04:00Thanks, Peter. One of the problems with an all-fic...Thanks, Peter. One of the problems with an all-fiction blog is that there's no room to thank people or say what you like; what you're reading, etc. Facebook and Goodreads are easier for me than Twitter, but I don't contribute as much on either as I'd like. Everything's a trade-off, though. Last night we saw a free outdoor production of Shakespeare's Henry V that involved taking a ferry to NYC's Governor's Island, ie., France.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12306491903311869968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-34339488991682885352011-07-11T14:12:52.994-04:002011-07-11T14:12:52.994-04:00Congratulations on Memograms, which I'm eager ...Congratulations on Memograms, which I'm eager to read and your new book just might inspire me to jump into e-publishing, which seriously intimadates me: I've been putting fiction on my blog for four years and it still intimadates me--so many mistakes every time!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12306491903311869968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-16620742728899906362011-07-06T20:22:52.145-04:002011-07-06T20:22:52.145-04:00We have a winner! More to come.We have a winner! More to come.Peter Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-69990313845047415442011-07-04T23:18:17.399-04:002011-07-04T23:18:17.399-04:00I'm popping by to say I looked up the quote: i...I'm popping by to say I looked up the quote: it's from a 1950 movie, "Harvey," with Jimmy Stewart, according to several Google sources. My mother used to love putting together "treasure hunts" for us kids: it sounds like something she might have said when we were begging clues.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12306491903311869968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-66766405601415587372011-07-04T22:39:01.957-04:002011-07-04T22:39:01.957-04:00Thank you, Lindsay, but… your profile picture… the...Thank you, Lindsay, but… your profile picture… the white hair and green skin… I just don’t know if there could be anything between us!Peter Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-51579974309125761032011-06-27T00:22:11.561-04:002011-06-27T00:22:11.561-04:00Welcome to Twitter! :)Welcome to Twitter! :)Lindsay Burokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955277387824031696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-63587655026767235862011-06-23T09:42:22.420-04:002011-06-23T09:42:22.420-04:00Congratulations on your book, Peter!Congratulations on your book, Peter!Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-56303532378434717242011-06-18T21:47:58.001-04:002011-06-18T21:47:58.001-04:00Thank you, Lindsay. I just checked (it’s now Satur...Thank you, Lindsay. I just checked (it’s now Saturday) and my book has already started selling on Amazon and at Apple’s iBookstore. I just yesterday signed the contract to get it on Kobo, also, which should happen soon.Peter Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-16773512356171424382011-06-14T20:46:13.898-04:002011-06-14T20:46:13.898-04:00Looks like a fun (useful) idea for a book! I'l...Looks like a fun (useful) idea for a book! I'll give ya a tweet. :)Lindsay Burokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955277387824031696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-69805752895536599812011-05-02T22:19:53.269-04:002011-05-02T22:19:53.269-04:00No, Liz, it’s not a consequence of your age (I don...No, Liz, it’s not a consequence of your age (I don’t believe that you’re old enough to have many “consequences” yet). Too many people in the communications fields nowadays—publishing, customer service, radio- and television news readers and reporters—really ARE young and stupid!Peter Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-12604292519192794022011-05-02T20:33:04.231-04:002011-05-02T20:33:04.231-04:00I'm interested in what Nicola means by "a...I'm interested in what Nicola means by "acclaim and belief by others is surely important." Surely we write for our readers? Their acclaim and belief, which for me comes from their spending money on my books, is more valuable than any seal of approval that appears to come from the mainstream publishing industry. <br /><br />I've been around authors long enough (and had enough experiences of my own) to know that literary agents -- the gatekeepers for all the big commercial houses -- don't have any special gifts when it comes to recognizing talent and/or public appeal. Nor do a lot of publishing employees who (and this may be a consequence of my age) seem to be getting younger and lack any breadth of experience. We've presumably all read enough stories of best-selling authors who were rejected countless times, only to be signed up after they had proven their books sales-worthy under their own steam? <br /><br />There is no one "correct" route to any of this. Some of us have already experienced the mainstream route (nine of my books have been published by major houses including Random House and HarperCollins) and said, To heck with earning a pittance from our efforts. Others feel a sense of achievement from having jumped through the hoops set by publishers who, when all is said and done, are at least prepared to soak up the costs of printing and distribution. Both are valid choices.<br /><br />I'd just offer a variation on Peter's final comment. For me, it's not that a story (and I include nonfiction within that broad category) never published is a story never written. It's that a story never purchased (as in a book that has attracted no sales) may as well be a story never written. And since to all intents and purposes all authors are stuck with having to be their own marketers/promoters, regardless of whether they are traditionally published or go the Indie author route, I'm viewing all of this from an economic perspective. I'll take the 70-100% I get from self-publishing these days as opposed to the 5-15% I accrue from my older books. <br /><br />If there's one myth I'd like to shatter, it's that being published by a traditional house makes an iota of difference to your chances of selling books.Liz Alexanderhttp://www.bookdoula.biznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-73221214142240908742011-04-24T16:11:27.307-04:002011-04-24T16:11:27.307-04:00Hello Peter
I don't think the "legitimiza...Hello Peter<br />I don't think the "legitimization" is in the obviously necessary proofreading, but in the very compelling idea that someone else believes in the work enough to invest money and time in it. I think your daughter is very astute, actually!<br /><br />I am not against self-publishing at all - in fact, my first book was self-published - but acclaim and belief by others is surely important. If you've brought your daughter up to love quality books, you've done a great job but you have *not* created a monster! Self-publishing is great but your duaghter is right to want her book to be right for publication first. Congratulations!Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-89271722205629861312011-04-21T20:18:21.717-04:002011-04-21T20:18:21.717-04:00I've used those exact same words myself -- an ...I've used those exact same words myself -- an *actual* book -- but I probably meant something a bit different.<br /><br />I used to draw a distinction between "real" and simply self-published authors, but not anymore. Not after the way the landscape has changed over the last 3 years, and not after nearly 3 years of reading Zoe Winters' blog. :)<br /><br />It's my ambition to be a published fiction writer, and if the indie route or e-only was where I ended up, I'd be ecstatic -- like you said, it's ultimately about having an audience for your stories.<br /><br />Still, to me, an *actual* book is printed on paper. Not that it's any more legitimate as a published story, but it's both a story and a physical artifact: tangible and actual in a way an electronic anything can never be. There's just something about an actual bound paper book.Inghttp://www.dallenrose.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-46314045178643453372011-04-18T17:15:49.701-04:002011-04-18T17:15:49.701-04:00Hi Peter,
Thanks for the link. I can see myself l...Hi Peter,<br /><br />Thanks for the link. I can see myself lifting the line "a story never published is, in effect, a story never written" in my next presentation!Steven Lewishttp://www.kindlewriters.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-21226914007513518242011-04-15T07:23:15.516-04:002011-04-15T07:23:15.516-04:00Thank you for taking the time to post such a long ...Thank you for taking the time to post such a long answer. I know that your “money aspect” comment was a little bit of humor (and I took it that way), however:<br /><br />There was a television commercial on a few months ago, in which a teenaged girl comes running into the room where her parents are and says, excitedly, “I’ve been accepted at one of the best schools in the country!” Her father hears: “I’ve been accepted at one of the most expensive schools in the country!”<br /><br />That was my seventeen-year-old daughter and I a few weeks ago. The commercial was funny; the reality is a little more sobering.<br /><br />So, yes, I will be self-publishing as soon as each book is ready (I have several in the pipeline), and I will shamelessly flog each and every one—to you, Lindsay, and to anyone else who has a platform with which to reach readers—and am perfectly willing to let each rise or fall on its own merits, because I will be formatting them myself and will work to make each the absolute best that I can make it.<br /><br />I—and you and Amanda and Zoë and Joe—all of us are fortunate to be living in a time when new technology allows us to do this, or (to be more accurate) to at least attempt this. Not all of us will succeed, but at least we don’t have to wait anymore for anyone’s permission!Peter Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-22163833315690764172011-04-15T00:07:22.704-04:002011-04-15T00:07:22.704-04:00I used to be a snob (heck, still am to some extent...I used to be a snob (heck, still am to some extent) and look down my nose at anything self-published (ebook, paperback, or not). I fully intended to go the traditional route and do all the tedious agent-querying stuff. <br /><br />Then I got a kindle and found out how good the earnings were for indie ebook authors. 70%? Authors who work through a publishing house don't get anything close, and so few publishers do anything (insofar as marketing goes) for any but their A-list authors these days. <br /><br />One of my writing buddies got an agent early last summer, and her book hasn't found a home yet. In the meantime, I've e-pubbed my first two novels and have made back all the initial expenses (cover art, editing, formatting), so everything from here on out is profit. <br /><br />It doesn't mean I'll never look for a print deal, but it's making more and more sense to start with ebooks, establish yourself, prove you can sell, and then (if you still want it) seek an agent and a publishing deal. You have a lot more negotiating power at that point too! ;)<br /><br />But, hey, you're probably not worried about the money aspect. *g*Lindsay Burokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955277387824031696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-26063432949127847132011-04-05T14:06:54.702-04:002011-04-05T14:06:54.702-04:00Good for Joe K. and nice of you to blog about it.Good for Joe K. and nice of you to blog about it.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16353373844105134032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1281652289073701299.post-28051778485279625512011-03-31T20:09:46.551-04:002011-03-31T20:09:46.551-04:00Thank you so much for your kind reply, and for you...Thank you so much for your kind reply, and for your thoughts on pricing. It is not an easy subject, as shown by the fact that even big corporations (of all kinds, not just publishing) don’t always get it right.<br /><br />I will be having more to say about writing in general (and my writing odyssey in particular) as the days go along. Right now, all four of my children are in this weekend’s school play so it is a little hectic here. However, it really was my birthday and I really had wanted to get started for months and finally I just had to say, “Do it!” and… well… do it.<br /><br />As for a book being “so cheap it doesn’t matter if it’s a loser,” I direct you (if you haven’t already heard) to BigAl’s blog (and the 309 comments that he received!) about a book that people wouldn’t have at any price.<br /><br />http://booksandpals.blogspot.com/2011/03/greek-seaman-jacqueline-howett.html<br /><br />Thank you again for dropping by, I will be keeping tabs on your “endeavors,” and I wish you much continued success. (And I hope that you won’t mind if I ask you a question or two as things come up during my efforts. You always give out great advice.)Peter Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18317246557600202574noreply@blogger.com