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Wednesday, 6 July 2011
"A Paranormal Menagerie" is in Paperback!
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Jumped In!
Topic: Self-Publish

So I went ahead and did the CreateSpace thing with my ebook "A Paranormal Menagerie". It is now published and should be on the Amazon website in a a week or two. For some reason, this makes me very excited.  Maybe because I actually have a physical copy of the book. Yeah!  But it is kinda cool to have actual proof I am published.  So, beside my "Which Way to the Manor?" book, I also have a collection of short stories in paperback.  

I hope I sell a few!

I told my sister about the price of the book and she said that she had seen paperbacks at the airport for $10.75 - $11.00, so apparently, that price is in the ballpark.  I guess I'm basing my paperback book price on some very old books.


Posted by heymolo at 10:42 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 6 July 2011 10:59 PM EDT
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Jumped In
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Publishing my ebook to Hard copy
Topic: Self-Publish

So after much contemplation, I've decided to do a paperback of my ebook.  It's not that I have anything against ebooks - they are cool! It's just that I don't know many people who have them, and I think it would be good to have a paperback version of my book for proof that I am published somewhere, somehow....

Now, if I were Pearl Forrester, I would probably get on all sorts of talk shows to talk about my book;however, I am no where near that extroverted.  I'm not even sure what I would say. "Please, buy my book."?

But anyway, I just feel more official with a paperbook (hard evidence) and I hope it looks good. I expect the proof tomorrow or the next day.

It didn't really take too long to put it together. I used CreateSpace to publish it, since I did my ebook orginally to Amazon Kindle, I thought I would use Amazon again.

It's nice with the template, I can compare the size to already published books laying around the house. I just happened to find a "Goosebumps" book and used those dimensions.  So you just put your document into the Word format tweak it, then export/import to PDF.

The cost for the proof was about $5 plus shipping and handling.  What I didn't expect was how pricey I was going to have to make the book cost just to see some royalties.  Even with the $39 pro plan, I will only see a 7-cent royalty when it is sold to "expanded distribution channels" with a $10.75 price tag. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that, but I figure I can afford $40 and it's only $5 for each additional year.  Also, it will get my book placed in more places.  But $10.75 for a paperback, geez, you'd think it was gold-plated!

It was a 282 page paperback, so maybe that does have some considerable heft to the size, but I was trying to price it at $9.99.  I thought that was pricey enough, just under $10. However, if I did that, I wouldn't make any royalty on the thing, and I think I would owe money on it! (If it goes negative on the royalty calculator, that's what I'm assuming.)

So anyway, yes, I went ahead and jumped in and went the paper route with my book. 


Posted by heymolo at 10:09 PM EDT
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Marketing More
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Starting discussions this time
Topic: Self-Publish

Well, I'm trying to be a bit more bold about my pushing my ebooks.  I've posted on a few Facebook pages (that aren't mine). And started a discussion on Amazon and Barnes and Noble promoting my work and allowing others to promote there's as well.  I am trying to get my name out there more, by responding to blogs and messages I'm interested in.  My sales numbers have been in the single digits, I hope to change that but it may take some time.  I am trying.

My sister has an ebay account where she is trying to sell used baby clothes, and she is not getting any takers.  So I think it may have to do with the economy as well as not being known as an established author.


Posted by heymolo at 3:19 PM EDT
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Down and Out
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Facebook or not to Facebook
Topic: Self-Publish

Only gave a way one ebook this week - I don't seem to be having too much success with this.  I'm not sure how else to market it.  I've added it to another site on Facebook, but I don't particularly like Facebook.  Maybe I'm just old, but I'm not big on socializing via the computer.

My nephew was watching South Park the other night and the episode was called "you have 0 friends".  I related quite a bit to the character that didn't want a Facebook account. I really didn't want one either, but it was mentioned on an ebook marketing blog that it is good to have it.  So I started one, but I mostly get advertisements from music and tv shows I said that I liked.  I would like to advertise my ebook on Facebook, but that costs money, so that's not likely to happen.

 Maybe I just don't know how to use Facebook that well. Oh, well, I guess I should try to do some more marketing on my ebook.


Posted by heymolo at 8:45 PM EDT
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Ebook Giveaway
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: Not sure....
Topic: Self-Publish

So I am offering my ebook for free for the the first twenty-five people who ask. I only got six takers so far.  I still have nineteen to go - I even have it offered on "Musings of the Mistress of the Dark Path" site and I still dont' have any takers.  I literally cannot give the book away!  Not a good sign. But I have to keep telling myself that I am new at this publicity thing and it may just take people time to look up my stuff.

 My other book "Which Way to the Manor?" only had the three book giveaway (because I'm charging 2.99 for that one, and it went right away. I guess I just need to get my name out there more.

 I am considering putting my ebook into print format, but I'm not sure if it would help get it out there more or if I would just be wasting my time. I'm leaning towards doing it, since many of the reviewers I find have no interest in reviewing works in electronic form.  I just don't want to spend a lot of money doing it.


Posted by heymolo at 1:51 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 12 June 2011 2:11 PM EDT
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Who's story is it anyway, part 2
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: Mad Scientist mode?
Topic: contemplative

So, the only response I got from any of those essay web sites is that one of them wants me to purchase an essay from them.  There was not response to my emails, and I fear they probably just ignored me, or worse, probably stealing more of my short stories for their essay web sites.

So I'm thinking about something I have wanted to do for a long time and become a mad scientist and do crazy stuff to these people - no not really, but I'm thinking, in this case "What would Pearl Forester do?" You know, the female mad scientist on MST3K. Boy, had I been a few years younger watching MST3K, I can't help thinking what an influence she would've been on me.

My whole outlook on life as well as what career path I took, could've been influenced by her. I would've paid more attention in my science classes and came away with a B.S. degree from college (instead of a B.A.). I might be working for NASA (I worked for a contractor for them briefly). I might of ... well, maybe my life wouldn't have changed all that much. MAYBE... I'm more like Pearl Forester than I want to admit! Maybe, deep down inside, I AM a mad scientist, and just don't realize it. Weird....

So, I'm not sure what to do with the essay web sites - perhaps, most of them have been abandoned and just haven't been taken down. I suppose mentioning them is a bad idea since they will just get more promotion. I just think that if you are taking other people's work and putting your name on it, there is a special place at the DMV for you. (After all, it is the gateway to hell, isn't it?)

Damn you, Joseph Levins!!!! (as I shake my clenched fist)

From now on, my motto will be "WWPFD?"


Posted by heymolo at 3:47 PM EDT
Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Mood:  happy
Now Playing: sold my first ebooks!!!!
Topic: Self-Publish

Looked at my sales profile last night and found out I sold two of my ebooks - which is kinda weird since I'm giving away 25 for free.  However, I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm very happy! Woo-hoo - my first  70 cents!


Posted by heymolo at 7:26 PM EDT
Monday, 30 May 2011
Whose Is it anyway?
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: Charlie's Problem
Topic: Self-Publish

One of the problems I am finding with the posting my stories to the internet is that certain individuals seem to think they can get away with posting them as their own creation.

 Charlie's Problem, my first venture into posting one of my short stories on the internet is a good example.

 It was originally published on "Jeanne Hedge's Short Story Page" which is now just called "Short Story Page." I asked her to post it on her page since I couldn't get it published the traditional route and though I got no money for it, it was awesome to see something I had written published.

However, I found out a few years later that my story appeared elsewhere. Particularly on free essay cites.  Not only was this published without my permission but it was under the name of Joseph Levins.

When I first found out about this, I went to the websites and asked them to either remove the story, or put my name on it. I got an email apologizing but then nothing happened. 

 I just recently did another search again and found the name still on that story on those webpages.

So I emailed all of them to see if they would remove the short story from their web pages. I will post what I find out in a few weeks. Needless to say, I'm not happy that this person did this, and that he is plastering my short story all over this essay websites.


Posted by heymolo at 10:45 PM EDT
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Doing an ebook Giveaway
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: A Paranormal Menagerie
Topic: Self-Publish

I'm giving away 25 ebooks just to get someone to look at my book. Seems this marketing thing is a lot harder than one thinks.

Trying to get people to even look at my ebook (especially since I'm not known) is the trick.

 I guess I should take a course in marketing.


Posted by heymolo at 1:54 PM EDT
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Just starting with ebooks
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Self-Publish
I just posted  book of my short stories on Kindle and Nook - I've had trouble going the traditional publishing route with my books and stories. In most cases, I was a sucker for publishing houses that wanted me to pay for publishing costs. Even some literary agents tried to charge an upfront fee.  I finally got a hold of a good website "Predators and Editors" that display the more questionable publishing practices of some publishing houses and literary agencies.

Posted by heymolo at 2:34 PM EDT

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