Nanowrimo Goal Achieved? What did you get out of this year's NANO?

First year I have entered this adventure. It has been terrific to have the motivation and support to get a novel written within a specific time.
Now I have a story ready to flesh out and edit.
Wonderful to have shared with other authors and have the Muse awake and active.
Special thanks go to Wendy Laharnar for her prompting... a few swift kicks when things were going slow, helped immensely.
Also to Robyn Veugen for arranging several Write In's where words were written and support shared. A great motivational tool.
And to Leonie Henschke and Robyn Veugen for making the week long writers' retreat in Noosa a brilliant success and enjoyable time away.
Now, to work on the manuscript and think about what to write next.

Congratulations to all who have participated in NANO this year. Even if you didn't get the whole 50k words down, I know those who have worked on their writing will have found the experience worthwhile. Well done.

I think for some there are a few hours left. It's Australia and there are only a few hours left before December rolls in.

If you have dropped in, please feel free to talk about your NANO achievements in the comments. And again...Congratulations... well done. Any word written towards NANO is a bonus.

Dare to visit GODLAND?

The opening lines of your book give us an idea of the tension and dare I say ‘horror’ to follow. I thought for a while I was reading a paranormal story. The truth was even more disturbing.

“A blast sheared open the night sky. An ear-piercing shriek followed. Bats and birds fled trees, draping a transient veil across the face of the moon. A moan gained in intensity—not quite human, not quite animal—and rumbled across the cornfields like a runaway train.

For those gathered at the small Kansas farm, the long night of survival had begun.”

So Stuart, what inspired you to write Godland?

Stuart: Actually, Rosalie, it started with the characters. I had an idea of four very different characters: a bitter farmer, a troubled teen girl, a ruthless corporate marauder, and a failed, gay entrepreneur. I thought it might be fun to see how they might be connected. The interwoven, puzzle plot followed. Now, of course, when I say “fun,” I probably have a different concept of “fun” than most people.

Do you wake at night, reliving scenes? Tormented by the lives you create for your characters?

Stuart: Honestly, as I wrote this book, it put me in a very dark place at times. Usually I like to insert humor into my novels. Not so much this one.

In Godland the idea of escape and survival are important. Each of the characters have their own ways of coping with the trauma of their previous lives. You capture their resourcefulness and coping mechanisms well. Some more successful than others. Have you studied psychology? How do you get into your character’s heads so well? You make them seem very real.

Stuart: Great question, Rosalie! Yes, escape and survival is an important theme of the book. Especially the parallels of physical and psychological escape. Something every character in the book strives for. The past forms the future. For everyone. And, yeah, psychology was my under-study in college. Can’t say I drew too much on that though. Most of the book’s just my putting myself into the characters’ mind-set, then letting it rip. As I said, “fun!”

Family and family ties play a huge part in GODLAND. Some of the ties are not what most family values promote. GODLAND isn’t based on any real or living situations is it? You had me wondering if there are places where the type of people in GODLAND might really exist.

Stuart: Well, my burden is Kansas. I live in this Godforsaken state. I’m embarrassed at some of the primitive beliefs and practices that go on here. For cryin’ out loud, we still have an active Ku Klux Klan chapter, lots of dark secrets and horrific situations going on in the farmlands, a violent mob presence in Kansas City, black magic worshippers, antiquated political beliefs and laws. Recently, a law was passed allowing restaurant owners to refuse service to people who they believe may be gay. You believe that? In my books, I’m trying to expose the hidden, awful underbelly of the Midwest, even though the loudest proponents of Kansas’s Norman Rockwellian surface—wholesome family values--are the biggest hypocrites. Don’t visit Kansas!

The names of each character in the family are straight from the Bible. Are you a religious person? Or do you see religion as being an obsession like it is for Edwin. Obviously naming his children after characters from the good book, didn’t help him raise them well, or them to be righteous. Although, in their darkest hours, some of the players in the drama find a germ of compassion.

Stuart: LOL. I think compassion’s key, Rosalie. If characters don’t have it, or find it eventually, then I find books like that generally hard to get behind. True horror comes from humanity’s foibles, something awful, inescapable. Yet humanity also shines sometimes when hidden reservoirs of compassion surface. Am I religious? Not particularly. Mostly because I had it beaten into me (not literally) as a kid. A rebel, I suppose. But if I’m writing tales set in creepy Kansas, I can’t escape religious themes. Part of the general make-up. Funny thing about the names, Rosalie. At first I had three integral characters named Peter, Paul and Mary. My wife caught it, said, “uh, no.” Took me a minute before I realized what she was on about.

I came away from reading GODLAND wondering how an author can write such dark and traumatic stories. I don’t usually watch horror movies… I really don’t understand when there is no logical reason for violence, or supernatural haunting/violence. GODLAND transcends that nonsensical horror by bringing its characters to life with deep motivation and logical reasoning for each and every action. Makes it all much scarier. My hat goes off to you for creating a dark landscape with a story that pulls the reader into every scene and has them on the edge of their seats, ready to run, as they turn each page.

That’s not a question…

Stuart: I hear ya’, Rosalie. I agree logic is important. As for how I write such dark and traumatic tales? Well, actually, it’s probably the darkest of my books. As I said before, I do like humor believe it or not. This book is exorcising demons, I suppose. Kinda’ like most of my books. (My YA series deals with my awful high school years of bullying and senseless violence). And Edwin’s loosely (VERY loosely) based on my grandfather. Didn’t know him very well, he died early. But my dad told me lots of awful tales about him. Of course he wasn’t as bad or evil as Edwin. But he had his moments of mental and physical abuse.

Final question is how does an author capable of writing GODLAND, turn back to writing for young adults?

Stuart: Not sure I’m turning back to writing YA books. Godland was actually the second book I wrote. But I had to let it gestate for a while. And I have about four more adult suspense thrillers on dock. Then again, I have an idea for a couple of YA books. Another Tex, the Witch Boy tale set in college. And a story about Satan’s son being banished to a Midwest high school for being too lenient on the damned souls in hell. Many laughs (I hope) will ensue.

I am reading ‘Elspeth the Living Dead Girl’ at present and find you have captured the voice of a teenage girl. The change of voice shows the level of expertise you have mastered in your writing. Congratulations.

Stuart: Well, thanks, Rosalie. It helps having one of those curious, completely alien creatures–one you have to constantly walk on eggshells around--known as a teenage girl under your roof. I listened to her, her friends. Talked to them. Um, shamelessly eavesdropping. Probably my biggest challenge, that book. Writing POV from two very different teen girls’ perspectives. Very fun, too. Unleashing my inner teen girl!

Where can we find you, and your books online.

Stuart: Let’s make it easy. All my books can be found here: Stuart's Amazon page

And here’s my blog. Generally I don’t chat too much about writing, find it kinda’ pompous. But If you’d like a laugh, wanna’ read my gripe of the week, have at it: Twisted Tales From Tornado Alley

Thank you for being a guest on my blog.

Stuart: Hey, thank you! Now go get back to writing about Caleath. And everyone check out Rosalie’s beautifully written sci-fi/fantasy epic.

Today I am a guest... at Stuart West's blog.

Thanks to Stuart I am answering some in depth questions about my writing and the Chronicles of Caleath.
Please feel free to drop in and leave a comment.
:)
Stuart will be a guest here on 23rd Nov. So come on back to see what he has to say about writing GODLAND

Here is the link to Stuart's blog and my interview.

http://stuartrwest.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/hangin-with-interstellar-travel-agent.htmlHanging with Interstellar Traveller... Rosalie Skinner.

November Writers Retreat and NANO...

This year I am working on a new novel, still not sure of the title, but half way through November and I have 30k plus words and the plot is flowing. Characters are behaving and with luck, I will 'win' Nano.
As an incentive to write I am on a writers' retreat with two other authors who are also busily penning their novels.
There is still time to enjoy the proximity to Noosa's national parks and beaches.
Swimming, having coffee on Hastings street and strolling home before beginning a days writing seems to help fire up the muse.
It is great to find the words returning and ideas bubbling. Conflicts, dialogue, romance, danger, and of course dragons. What would a fantasy be without them.
I hope your November is going well.
It is good to be a year on, last November was a sad time. Losing a brother and also a dear little dog.
On Saturday a new puppy is joining our family. :)
So, it's a good month. Productive and with positive prospects.
Write on...

Breaking news for sci fi readers...

THE PRODIGIES OF SCI-FI

Four authors, 

four novels 

to keep you reading. 

And the best news...

all these terrific stories

for only

99c

The Darwin Awards...as applied to mice.

Charles Darwin

Have you heard about the Darwin Awards?

Books and websites dedicated to

People, who, 

By their own stupidity remove themselves from the human gene pool.

Their exploits make entertaining reading,

And personally I’m glad they are no longer breeding.

This isn’t about the human species.

It’s Darwin’s theory applied to mice.

And no this story isn’t nice,

nor does it have a happy ending.

But every word is true and though the reason is perplexing,

It does  explain why

we should take care how empty containers lie.

This story’s about a lesson learned the hard way

For three young mice who dared to play

 ‘Follow the leader’ on a vase’s rim.

Their mistake was lethal;

’cause they fell in.

It wasn't until they began to smell

I found them in their private hell

Huddled bodies in the base of a vase,

Tall prison of glass.

Together they shared their miserable fate, their dismal death,

Watching each other take their last breath.

I hate to think how they spent their last day

Desperate, dying, freedom visible, but a world away.

I grieve for them, in their dismal plight

And vow to try to make things right,

(Save for the bright, smart surviving vermin

-by Darwin’s reasoning- who refused to join them,)

I think of those silly mice who live life impulsively,

and threaten their species' survival with impunity. 

I vow that I, at least, 

will always strive

To store tall vases

on their side.

Rosalie Skinner   

Review of ADRIFT: In Search of Memory

Reviewed by Wendy Laharnar. Award winning author of The Unhewn Stone.

5.0 out of 5 stars sorcerers, dragons and memory 

Can you imagine losing your memory? What about losing your memory when you are linked to sorcerers and dragons but you have no idea how, why, where or when? And, everyone knows all about you but are loathe to tell you because that knowledge could destroy you?

What if you discover you are known and feared as the Deathbringer?
This is where Caleath, the alien from Ramport 6 finds himself? Compassionate Caleath, aware of an evil lurking within, but has no idea what it can do or how to control it. As Tag Seawell, he has reinvented himself. He is a seaman, in love with the lovely goatherd Naomi who is expecting his child. However, the unborn child is in danger from creatures from Tag Seawell’s past who are determined that Death will take it.

This is an emotional, action packed novel. We are drawn into Tag’s world and suffer with him through the many battles and encounters he faces. At the same time, we enjoy his relationships with characters from his past that are keen to help him regain his memory for their sake as well as his; all the while knowing the revelations must come slowly, without their interference.
Rosalie Skinner’s wonderful dragons, and dread lords alive and dead, and the magical characters of witches, sorcerers and apprentices , lords, princes and princess, whales, dolphins and pirates, fill her fascinating fantasy world as we sail from port to port In Search of Memory.

To me, Rosalie Skinner is the master world builder, second to none, and the work is beautifully written. You will relish your escape into this fantasy world and fall in love with Caleath, Naomi, Melody, Nazarre and even the dread lord Tallowbrand. Once you enter the Chronicles of Caleath, you will want to stay there with these beloved friends. Fortunately there is one more book to come in this series and six that await your pleasure, if you haven’t already found them. 

AMAZON link to ADRIFT: In Search of Memory

A sea faring yarn... complete with pirates, shipwrecks, dragons and epic fantasy adventure.

Dorrigo Grass Roots Gathering...A Moment of Serenity

From Ridgetop Hideaway's Photo Gallery

After attending the inaugural Grass Roots Writers' Gathering I was inspired to write this short poem. The weekend was terrific. Spending time with other writers, sharing their ideas, enthusiasm and support proved a resounding success.
Coffs Harbour Writers Group is going to carry the baton and try to emulate Dorrigo Writers' Group's wonderful weekend next year.

It was wonderful to spend time with Wendy Laharnar, who I have been friends with for so many years 'online'. She travelled vast distances to be there and give of her time, experience and knowledge. Her first face to face workshop proved hugely successful and popular.

Overall... the weekend was inspiring.

A morning’s moment of serenity

Sitting in the centre of a cloud.

Rain falling

Slowly, softly, serenely soaking the scene

Greens fade to grey.

Visibility closes in.

A fox stops. Looks toward the sound of my intrusion.

I am in his domain.

He pauses, ears pricked, tail still. 

Sniffs, meanders across the rain soaked paddock

Sedate steps.

Scents rise from my coffee and toast overpowering the subtle offerings of sodden foliage.

Wind whispers a chorus behind the lilting lines of Phill’s laconic lyrics.

Languid smoke lingering from last night’s fire merges with cloud. 

A brief snatch of scent curls through the air.

Coffee cools. Time passes.

Packed ready to leave these few minutes allow a moment to reflect the whirlwind weekend.

Experiences etched into memory.

Words written, absorbed, shared and kept secret.

Relationships created, nurtured, renewed.

Knowledge imparted, gained, diffused.

Generous spirits. Like minded, passionate, positive, purposeful.

Support offered, received. 

Acceptance.

The rain sets in, insistent.

It is time to return to life, normalcy.

Home beckons. 

Empty pages wait.

Dorrigo Grass Roots Gathering Workshop link...Character and Motivation

Motivation and Characterisation FANTASY FACTION article

Further to the notes from the workshop given at the Grass Roots Writers' Gathering, on Writing Fantasy and World building, this is the article and links referred to during the session.
It has been published on the Fantasy Faction website. A great resource for anyone interested in Fantasy, writing, Fantasy books and authors.
Anyhow... for those who may be interested in further researching how to create believable personality traits and characters, here is the article.

Welcome to 2012. During the holiday season I have been looking over my own manuscripts and delving into the motivation driving my characters.

I believe as fantasy authors, we need realistic motivation to bring our characters to life. Of course, this meant looking further than my own understanding. I have discovered that psychologists believe an early incident in life imprints on a character and can cause reaction and behavioral nuances much later in life. There are articles that describe how the timing of the incident can affect later motivation. The link is below. Following the ‘hierarchy of needs’ from Abraham Maslow, we find there are five classes of motivation. In very simplified terms, we as fantasy authors should find them useful. This translates to meaning…

Wants and desires can influence behavior. Only unsatisfied needs are associated with motivating the character. Satisfaction doesn’t.

Needs can be ordered in rank of importance from basic to complex. For example the need for food, shelter, security, love, to the need for acceptance, understanding and self esteem, achievement and finally self actualization.

Advancing to the next level will not occur until the character’s more basic needs have been satisfied.

Individuality As the character meets the needs at the basic level, moves up toward more complex needs and meets them, he will show more psychological health, humanness and individuality.

So where do our hero/villains/characters find their motivations? What has caused them to become determined and motivated; to partake in their quests? Are they behaving consistently, relative to their background?

Apparently there is a list of 16 needs, or basic desires that guide most human behavior, as listed by Professor Steven Reiss. Click here to see the whole list online. 

Acceptance, the need for approval

Curiosity, the need to learn

Eating, the need for food

Family, the need to raise children

Honor, the need to be loyal to the traditional values of one’s clan/ethnic group

Idealism, the need for social justice

Independence, the need for individuality

Order, the need for organized, stable, predictable environments

Physical activity, the need for exercise

Power, the need for influence of will

Romance, the need for sex

Saving, the need to collect

Social contact, the need for friends (peer relationships)

Social status, the need for social standing/importance

Tranquility, the need to be safe

Vengeance, the need to strike back/to win

The article there is an interesting read. Hmm… Can’t say I am entirely comfortable with the information but then, I write fantasy, I don’t actually study human psychology. I think I feel more confident now though, that my characters are behaving within believable parameters.

Discussing this topic with a psychologist, I was urged to mention that motivation will come from the imprint that occurred earlier in life. Hence I am adding Ericson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development. This table is well worth a look.

For a better look at a full version of the table online – click here.

Age	Virtues	Psycho Social Crisis	Significant Relationship	Existential Question
infant -18 months	Hopes	Trust vs. Mistrust	Mother	Can I Trust The World?
18 month-3 years	Will	Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt	Parents	Is It Ok To Be Me?
3-6 years	Purpose	Initiative vs. Guilt	Family	Is It Ok For Me To Do, Move and Act?
6-12 years	Competence	Industry vs. Inferiority	Neighbors, School	Can I Make It In The World Of People And Things?
12-19 years	Fidelity	Identity vs. Role Confusion	Peers, Role Model	Who Am I? What Can I Be?
19-40 years	Love	Intimacy vs. Isolation	Friends, Partners	Can I Love?
40-65 years	Care	Generativity vs. Stagnation	Household, Workmates	Can I Make My Life Count?
65-and on	Wisdom	Ego Integrity vs. Despair	Mankind, My Kind	Is It Ok To Have Been Me?

So, I guess without some incident to leave a mark on our character, the resulting reaction and motivation isn’t going to feel right. It all comes down to the basic rule, we as authors already know…and should adhere to. We need to know each of our characters’ backgrounds, so we can refer, if only in passing, to what happened to them and when it happened, to cause their behavior now.

At least that’s how I see it. What do you think?

EBOOK Publishing in the 21st Century.

The thing about e-book publishing in today’s digital age is how incredibly easy it is to realise the dream of becoming a published e-book author.

With today’s technology ebooks are becoming more popular and much easier to produce. The cost can be minimal, if not free. But it takes a little research to find the right publisher for your book.

RESEARCH 

Everyone needs to do their research, to find the right home for their work. Today we will go through a few of the topics we need to consider.

Publishing with an ebook publisher v self publishing.

There are several reasons for either option. Control, cost, percentage of royalties etc weigh in favour of self publishing.

Marketing, exposure, creating various formats and distribution are easier through a publishing house. 

Whichever way you decide to go, always check out your choice with sites like Writers Beware. These sites will list any scam or unethical publishers.

Things to consider… not in order, but each need thought.

Copyright.  You will need to have a covering statement at the start of your book, protecting you from people copying your work.

Also, beware of using trademarks and names of actual people, quotes, song lyrics and references from text without permission. Unless the quote is in the public domain, it is wise to get permission or create your own version. The large companies will sue. As an editor for a small ebook publisher who doesn't have vast resources, it is one of the house rules, to avoid any threat of copyright infringement. It doesn't matter how small the distribution, if it is out there, with your name attached, take care not to step on any sensitive toes. It can cost.

Images, photos for cover, or as part of the manuscript must have permission for use. It is important to check they are suitable formats for e-publication. Jpeg, grayscale, resolution etc all become important terms.

Introducing your E-Book Acknowledgements, dedication, tag line, blurb and author bios are needed as part of your e-book and sales page. 
A tag line is a twenty word hook to grab a reader's attention.
The blurb is a longer hook. This is where the reader is given a taste of your writing and ability to create interest and share some components of the manuscript.

ISBN.   Most ebook publishers will provide an ISBN  if you want one. If you are just publishing for yourself and are not planning to market or distribute your work, you may not need an ISBN.

If however you plan to sell, distribute and market your e-book, an ISBN is necessary. You can purchase one yourself. They are available and cheaper in lots of ten or so. Again, research will give you the best prices, cost and most ebook publishers will provide one in their publishing package.

Books in print (even self published) with an ISBN also need to have one copy sent off to the National and State Library as ‘Legal Deposits’. It could be worth checking the rules concerning e-books.

Cover.  If you have your own photos, design skills, and ideas, this need not be a challenge. Make sure you have permission to use the images though. Also, ensure you use the highest resolution possible to create your cover. Examples of great ebook covers (Pinterest board) at The Book Designer 

There are places where you can purchase ready made covers. For a price. Some ebook publishers will offer a range of covers. Example of a graphic designer who does ebook covers – includes pricing for covers, book trailers etc 
INDIE Bookcovers

Images are available for purchase from places like Fotolia, Dreamstime, Getty. There are free images available. I was lucky enough to have Rachel Lewis Photography Coffs Harbour  provide the cover images for my books. The cover model was a local Medieval re-enactment enthusiast from Lismore. My CA (cover artist) did the design work.

Remember the cover needs to be impressive even as a thumbnail image. Since that is how it will look on many of the marketing pages. A quick and useful blog post on good ebook cover design is Killer Ebook Covers

Editing.  Finding a crit group, words to avoid, general polishing. Before you decide to show your work to the world, and hope they will purchase it, take the time to make it the best you possibly can.

Find and join a critique group in your genre. It might take a while to find one you can work with. Giving and getting critique that suits your style of writing, your level of commitment and need, may take a few trial and errors working with groups, but it is time well spent when you find a niche.

I joined Writing.com, found a Fantasy and science fiction group who gave critiques, worked with them through each novel, chapter by chapter. Giving feedback is as important as getting it. You can learn from others’ mistakes. A good critique group should offer advice and support, without being derogatory or inflammatory. Levels of critique need to fit your needs. Participating means you need to reciprocate. Be prepared to go the distance.

Get feedback from beta readers who know your genre or who have the qualifications to check your work.

Find an editor to double check your grammar, spelling and continuity.

Try for the strongest writing you can deliver. Avoid passive voice, POV changes within scenes, weak verbs/adverbs, telling not showing. Get yourself a list of words to avoid and learn how to reword sentences to give the reader a richer, more rewarding experience as they follow your story.

Remember to hook your reader in every chapter, page, paragraph. Make your opening as strong as possible. Remember with ebooks potential readers can often ‘look inside’. Make sure you have a perfect example for them to browse. Weak writing in the opening scene will have a reader closing your book.

Formatting. Then there are the formats. This link will explain nine of the common formats. 
You need a different format for different e-readers. Kindle, Nook, epub, html, pdfs etc. Formatting for each requires different set ups. MS WORD for example has hidden icons that will spoil transition to many of the ebook formats. Word files need to be changed before publication. Most ebook publishers offer conversion programs to ensure your ebook looks professional.

Remember to look at your work in terms of white space... does your writing look appealing, fit easily on the page, invite the reader to cruise through a read. A balance of spacing, indents, easily read fonts and aesthetic appeal is important to grabbing a reader's interest. It isn't only a great story and good grammar.

MS WORD will allow you to save your manuscript in PDF format. This enables you to check for spacing, and formatting problems. FIX them before you publish. (I recently was asked to read an ebook that had occasional words underlined throughout the text. It made the story unreadable. The words weren't hypertext, nor was the underlining relevant. It just led to head-shaking confusion.)

Distribution. The main reason for choosing to publish with even a small ebook publisher, is to ensure your story is available from the largest number of outlets, and readily available for all types or ereaders. There are far too many sites to name, but getting your book onto the most popular sites should be included in any publishing package. Amazon, of course is a favourite, Barnes and Noble, Omnilit, Smashwords… the list is endless.

Individual sites may have hoops to jump through before accepting your ebook. Check before you publish, if the publisher distributes to your favourite marketing pages, or if you are able to upload y our books yourself.  This is where the different formats become important. Amazon accept Kindle ready formats but you are able to create other formats for other sites. Amazon offers many outlets for your ebook with their affiliated sites. Smashwords takes all types and distributes them on multiple sites. Check where your ebook will be displayed and available for sale, before you sign up for any package.

Also, there are literally thousands of sites who will take your ebook to distribute. If you have the time and patience to approach them. Check out their requirements. Some will only take books they publish, others are more flexible. Be aware they may take a percentage of cost, to host your books.

Marketing. Website, blog, twitter, Pinterest, book trailers, Facebook.  Once you have sorted distribution… the marketing is up to you. A minimum for marketing is running a website. Amazon will offer an author’s page. This is a useful tool that incorporates blog updates. As an author you are able to update it yourself. Even if you are with a publisher marketing will be your responsibility.  There are a few basic tools you need to become familiar with.

Website…where people can find you, your books and links to your sales pages. Linking to your Facebook page or blog can help create interest in you as an author and your books. There are free sites, that are user friendly. Or you can pay for a more professional site, without advertising. Depending on your need.

Rosalie Skinner

A blog… a great way to spread the word about your book/s and your interests, a place to show off your work, talk about inspiration, share other authors’ books, find readers, and let them know about releases and interesting events. Blogger and Wordpress are both popular.

Ramblings from Lady Rosalie (you are here now)

Twitter… ditto above… in very small doses.

Dragonmuse

Facebook… marketing through Facebook via groups, pages, sharing posts… time consuming, but it is one way of getting your name and books known to many. It is also a way to keep people informed about launches, releases and awards etc.

The Chronicles of Caleath

And joining groups related to your genre/topic can help reach readers.

A Gathering of Fantasy Readers and Writers

Signing… book launch coupons, pricing. If you choose to self publish your ebook you can still do book launches and signings. There are several ‘ebook’ signing programs now. Also, at an ebook launch you can hand out postcards of the cover, brochures, and even coupons that enable the reader to download the ebook. If you are with a publisher these coupons should still be available on request.

Autography is one online site offering e-book signings.

Sales, royalties, paypal, credit card management. If you choose to publish your ebook and distribution and sales are NOT included in the package, you can still handle the sales yourself. You will need to implement a secure payment page on your website. There are different programs available. If you are not computer literate, get help!
If you feel confident to create your own online shopping page, this is one example of DIY Sales software I have seen used...E-JUNKIE

With an ebook publisher this side of things is taken care of. This is where you need to do your research. Talk to other authors who are with the publisher. There are so many dodgy publishers out there. Their sites look great but when it comes to payment of royalties, setting prices, specials and tracking sales etc and paying on time and remaining honest, their records are less than impressive.

Doing your own publishing, through a site like Amazon or Smashwords, you can set your own prices. You have control of costs and the large sites will have tracking records for you to follow. The smaller sites need to be assessed individually. It is the ability to set your own prices, claim the higher royalties and monitor sales that makes self publishing more attractive. It is imperative you do your research before signing on. What are you able to do, and costs are involved? 

Even FREE ebook publishing means the publisher will take their cut of sales.

An interesting example of hidden costs. An ebook sold through Amazon to a reader in the northern hemisphere will give a higher return to the author than one sold to Australia. Same digital download. Not sure how they figure that one out. How could it cost more to send digitally to Oz? 

Returns, complaints, reviews. Amazon has a two week return policy. If a reader doesn’t like their ebook they can return it. Then it becomes the author’s problem repaying costs. Most ebook publishers will cover their author’s returns. When self publishing… check the publisher’s return policy.

Complaints downloading the various files and formats is common. If you are working through your own website, this will be your problem. If you are with a larger ebook publisher, they will have policies in place. Check them before signing on.

Reviews. These help with marketing, promotion and sales. Blog tours, sharing galleys before release, beta readers are all great places to get a few reviews for your book. Once you have a few, they make good blog posts, Facebook posts etc. There are forums and online sites that offer reviews for different genres. Beware of sites that want payment for reviews.

Right, that’s enough to think about. Let’s explore the world of Ebook publishing…

Smashwords; Createspace; Lulu… Three popular sites. We now know what we are looking for… let’s see how these three sites stack up. What do they offer? How easy are they to navigate? Would they suit our needs?

 AMAZON    
User name: Coffs Writing Workshop

SMASHWORDS  
User Name: Writing Workshop

LULU
Account name: Coffs Writing Workshop

There is a PDF document you can down load which is a guide to LULU E-book PUBLISHING . Once you have logged in it should be available to download to an email address.


COVERS at AMAZON

 Overview… a blog worth reading. "How To Self Publish an Ebook." 



REMEMBER
If in doubt "Phone a Friend". Google has most of the answers. 

You are invited to join the inaugural 

DORRIGO GRASS ROOTS WRITERS' GATHERING 

Anzac weekend. Dorrigo High School $25 registration fee. Three days of workshops and mingling with other writers.

Click link for program details and registration form.

See  you there!!

Thank you for attending this workshop. I hope it has been of some help.

All images on this blog are used with permission of the author's featured, are images I have taken myself, or are from a photo shoot with Rachel Lewis Photography, or from Fotolia. Fotolia.com have provided many useful images for promotion and marketing.