New e-Book Information

New and interesting information coming my way in regard to e-book publishing. In a review done by her local newspaper, writer Terri Main discusses her upcoming book, “Dark Side of the Moon”, which has been accepted for publication by Canadian e-book publisher MuseItUp Publishing. She also has two short stories that are due to be published by MuseItUp Publishing next summer.

What really grabbed me about the interview was the mention of the e-venues that her book will be available in, including e-readers Kindle and Nook, various smartphone applications and websites http://smashwords.com , http://fictionwise.com , and http://ereader.com .

I checked out MuseItUp Publishing, and they publish in multiple genres (including cozy mystery – the genre that I would love to break into!). They give precise information about submitting your work, including dates and formatting. I may do NaNoWriMo (hope I got that right!) this year – using that opportunity to move into the first draft of my first cozy.

I still have to go into my Kindle account and edit my book – it did not upload well format wise. In fact, it is so bad that I might delete it (if I can), and start the process over again. I can edit html, but that is one heck of a lot of pages of editing!

This week I start on my second Tarot book. I have the outline done, and I think there are places that I can go with it that don’t include the trash! ;-)

© August 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

The Sky Is Falling!

Incredible learning curve on book publishing! Sent my manuscript in, thought all was well with the Western world. Wrong! Oh, the manuscript is okay – waiting to be looked at after the spring books are put in place. This was to be expected. What was not expected was the little e-mail telling me that I was expected to have the graphic images handed in with my work, as I was primary on the contract.

This is a book (mine) and deck (someone else’s) venture. I am happy to be associated with this deck – the author/illustrator is a lovely lady, and the deck is phenomenal. I made the ultimate faux pas in assuming that we would hand things in separately. That “assume” word came back to bite me. It appears that all is (or soon will be) well. Our editor will send a template to the artist, she will get the deck scans in order, send them to me, and I will send them to our editor. Hopefully all of this works out. I am aging rapidly here!

I do have the outline for my next book done, so I will begin work on that book within the next week or so – if only to take my mind off the first book!

I had an interesting post in my e-mail this am, from author Joanna Penn (http://TheCreativePenn.com). It seems that Seth Grodin, best selling author of business oriented books, has made the decision to move away from print publishing to go directly to his reader public via his blog, videos, e-books and other digital media. This is a thought that I have been contemplating for a while now (as I am sure have many authors).

Joanna has a great video up explaining her thoughts on Grodin’s action. It can be seen here: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2010/08/24/seth-godin-gives-up-on-traditional-publishing/.

Lots to think about here! Wishing you all a great writing week!

Blogging As A Promotional Tool

I have been blogging (here, on Word Press and on Live Journal - each blog with a different, specific purpose)for some time now. As I define new directions in both my private and professional lives, the effort behind my blogging will be ramped up. Therein lies the problem. I have been spending a lot of time researching what constitutes a good blog, how to attract traffic, how and when to guest blog, and blog rankings, amongst other things. My head is spinning!

I do not want to be a professional blogger! I want to continue to enjoy writing my blogs, providing content, personal opinion (I do have a few of those!)and access to the availability of purchasing my books. (I promise to be very gentle with your checkbook/credit card!)

What I am trying very hard not to do is to get lost in the process - to take my attention away from my professional work and make the blog itself too high a priority. Quite frankly, right now I am standing here, hands on hips, fuming about how to bring traffic to my blogs without making the blog itself my priority. Hello blogs - you are a promotional tool, not the be all, end all of my promotions! Can we reach a truce here?

As in all things, my Cappie personality rushes to the fore. Like Mr. Sinatra, I will do things my way! ;-)

(c) August 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

End Notes

I finished proofreading my WIP Thursday, and coded it yesterday (Friday). For the most part I am happy with it - I think it says what I want it to say. Now I have to take today to write up the promo material, and next week I will get it sent off to my editor.

One thing that I am very happy about - the reference books that I needed to keep available have now been replaced in their proper locations. That certainly frees up some energy! I love my books, but they were taking up space!

Where do I go from here? Several directions - at the same time! ;-) I will be focusing on how to promote this project (my book, an artist friend's deck), and a promotion schedule. I know that the mss will be coming back from my editor with "suggestions" that will need to be acted on. I am thinking about the topic for my next Tarot book, about e-books on personal empowerment, about where to place my flash fiction, and firming up thoughts on a cozy mystery series.

I am coming to a better understanding of how artists and authors can be so into a specific porject, but when that project is done, one moves on to the next. We promote the first project, we don't forget it, but we move on to new thngs. It is not good to become all too attached to what we are doing/have done/will be doing.

Life is for the living - and we need to dream, and live, to our fullest potential.

(c) August 2010 Bonnie Cehovet

Proofreadng, Submitting, Promoting

In a very good place with my current project – it is written, put together in order (don’t ask!), and ready for proofreading. Then I have to code it and get it out to my editor. I am really, really pleased with the way that this is turning out. Everything is coming together, there are no loose threads, and I think it will stand on its own. Whew!

Now my partner and I (I wrote the book, she is both artist and author for the Tarot deck that accompanies it) are looking at promotional venues. I am looking at blogging, and getting a professional Face Book page up, as the book/deck set will not be available until fall 2011. I think I may also get some articles out there on the subject, linking back to my blog and my site, as well as my Face Book page.

I want to have my author Twitter site feed into my author Face Book page, and possibly my author site. (Coding and I do not tend to get along too well!)

A great source of information for both getting your work up, and promoting it, is Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s site - http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/. Carolyn offers both books and services related to writing and promoting books. She helped me get my last Tarot book up on http://Amazon.com, for which I will forever be grateful! She can be found on Face book, and on Twitter (@frugalbookpromo.

Off to plan out the rest of my Sunday!