Ask ALLi May – Your Self-Publishing Questions answered by Joanna Penn and Orna Ross
Each month Joanna and Orna answer Member’s self-publishing questions, and today's discussion was a lively affair packed with invaluable insights, endless recommendations and feisty opinions.
Joanna and Orna kicked off the session reviewing their own projects. (A reminder that they practice what they preach and have their finger firmly on the self-publishing pulse.)
Orna has been thoroughly entrenched in the world of Yeats, preparing her “Secret Rose” manuscript for the printers, and her Secret Rose Crowd Fund event that runs though to the end of May, and is only a short-step from being fully funded.
Joanna on the other hand has been multi-tasking, and we got a sneak peek (albeit a flash as she waved them at the camera) of her next two publications – one fiction and one one-fiction. She promised more news about her non-fiction project at next month's Ask ALLi.
Joanna praised the virtues of the James Patterson Teaches Writing Masterclass she attended, and it inspired plans for collaboration and co-writing activities.
“Indie Authors are stronger together.”
In this month's roundup, I've included links to the resources and websites mentioned by Orna and Joanna during the Q&A.
May Ask ALLi Q&A via YouTube
May Ask ALLi Q&A via SoundCloud
Ask ALLi Q&A
Here's the questions fired at Orna and Joanna this month .. and they left no stone unturned in their responses:
Q: I'm confused about Bowker's ISBN that offer a barcode for an additional fee. What's taking place?
Q: A book rep I met here in Ireland repped my book to Easons and said they are interested in possibly 50 copies. I have filled out their form and have transferred my book from Createspace to Ingrams. Is there anything I should be aware of or be prepared for to make this work?
Q: Can you recommend specific companies for specific kinds of publishing? Most of the publishers have comprehensive packages that I do not feel I need. I'm looking at a small company called “Diggy-Pod”. Do you have an opinion on this one for what I want to do? I do want my book to be available on Amazon, however.
Resource mentioned in the discussion: Choosing a Self-Publishing Service
Q: I am an abuse survivor and in the final stages of self-publishing my life story. My manuscript is over 1,000 pages or 350,000 words, what is the best approach for releasing a manuscript this size across ebook, paperback and hardback.
Resources mentioned in the discussion: Joanna's podcast with Memoir Editor Marion Roach Smith where they talk about structuring, themes and steps required to successfully edit a Memoir.
Q: Do you think indie authors will be able to bounce back from the blow Kindle Unlimited has caused to sales and royalties, and if so, what can we do to counteract the negative effects?
Q: I would like my recently published book to be featured on you Weekly Members Showcase, but I can't find instructions on how to do that. Can you please advise me.
Q: I just put my first book up for pre-order. It launches June 10th. What do I do for promotions through Alli?
Resources mentioned in the discussion:
- Where to find information about how ALLi members can submit a book to the Weekly Members Showcase
- Complete listing of Discounts and Deals available to ALLi Members
- Monthly eBook Cover Design Awards hosted by Joel Friedlander
“Make the Most of your membership and see what's available on the ALLi website.”
Q: Is there a list of awards that accept submission from self-published authors (fiction). Possibly with no entry fee, or a low one. Do you suggest participating?
Q: Is there a professional-industry standard-way to send review copies to magazines (I'm thinking women magazines not literary ones). Is there a chance they would review the book?
“People don’t want to review books. They want a story.”
Q: What three books, or articles, or web sites would you recommend to help a first-time author launch a self-published book?
Resources mentioned in the discussion:
- It goes without saying, but we're saying it anyway: This Blog!
- How to Market a Book by Joanna Penn
- All of the books that are available as part of ALLi Membership
- Visit our ALLi Advisors page and see what resources they offer
Lot's of thought-provoking questions in Ask ALLi today, and a great opportunity to shine the light on the wealth of information and resources available to indie authors.
Worth Remembering
“Everyone self-publishes in a different way, and so you have to find the path that works for you.”
The best way to find your author path is to pose your questions to the authors who have already trodden it.
It's a fabulous opportunity to learn from their lessons (as well as their mistakes!) After all, Self-Publishing is a journey
Being an Indie Author is about connection and collaboration. It's about sharing advice and education so that we all have the tools available to secure our own success.
If you are an ALLi member, click here to submit your questions for next month's Q&A
Where can I watch or listen to more Ask ALLi?
- You can catch up on all of our videos on ALLi’s YouTube Channel
- You can listen to all of our podcast recordings at ALLi’s SoundCloud Channel
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So happy that I discovered your website! I’m a new author, I just released my first novel called “Confidence: The Diary of an Invisible Girl” this week. I’ve been hoping to find some awesome communities and websites to check out, and “Self Publishing Advice” looks like just that! Also, I’m loving listening to the Q&A while I catch up on some work around the house. Looking forward to diving into move of the content around here ^.^