Getting Back in the Swing of Things

 I think, no...I know I have been having too many irons in the fire. I have done many things that have not panned out. I am hoping that this year, I can start posting successful case studies. This blog will be used for marketing purposes and any newly published books, and services for authors.

As many of you know, Indie publishing is hard. It has taken me quite a while to realize that fiction books sell more than nonfiction books. What do you want to do when you come home after a long day at work? Would you rather read a self-help book, or a Regency romance, or an epic fantasy? Fun, relaxation something that can sweep you away to another world, so that is what my new books will be like.

Then the hardest part will happen...the marketing and I hope the sources that I have found to implement it will finally work. Well, next week! Take care and have a Happy Labor Day!

News and Things

Sorry I have not written in a very long time. Selling ebooks is not as easy as a lot of people write about. I sell a few books and ebooks here and there, but nothing life chaniging YET. I am still working on it, and when I have succeeded will definitely write case studies here. So check in at least once a month, and I PROMISE I will post updates to what I am doing.

News: Okay, I Am Finally Moving Forward

I am done trying to figure out how to be successful at marketing. I have found a great author's group that will help you learn everything from formatting your ebook, creating great covers to getting reviews. It's a great community. There is training,  Question and answer sessions. I really believe that there is no stone un turned when it comes to this website. Right now there is a trial membership that you really should take advantage of. I am, because I need, and want to desperately work from home.

Apex Authors

Last year was a mixture of good and bad. I was physically unable to do any work for  several weeks. Of the dozen or more books I have in Kindle, I should have been making at least four figures a month, but I didn't. I couldn't work, and with my job- you don't work, you don't get paid!  Well, Fast forward to 2016. I am feeling better, and am determined to make more from my writing. This group is the answer. Sign up today, and take a trial membership. Find out if it can (and it will) help you succeed in selling your books.

Apex Authors

 So, after I digest some of this information, I am going to re-do all of my Kindle books, and expand my horizons. Do you have your books on multiple websites? If not, you should. I will be posting in three months(I hope less than that) the best websites to upload your books to get multiple sales, and I am going back to my book reviews and post a link from every book that I have read, so expect more of that in 2016!  I don't know how long this trial is going to last, so make sure that you sign up today and get more from your writing!

Apex Authors

Books, Books, Books

I am writing, writing and writing. I am  also still reading. My goal of 500 books for this year has not changed. I will still put up the case studies after my next books are published. I currently have 13 books published at Amazon. Each of them are selling, but not as well as I want them to.  So I am going to publish more books and by July 2015, if all goes well, I can finally post the case studies.
Well, I must get back to work. I will try to post once a month, but I am juggling so many things, it's very hard right now. So look for books, books and case studies in a couple of months.

News

There will be news this month on my writing, and as I do so, I will be posting case studies on my success rate with all that I've ever learned after all this time, LoL. Plus I've made a goal to read 500 books. (yes, that is correct) this year, so to save time, I'll be posting on Goodreads, Amazon, Shelfari so I'll let you know when another one is done here.
I didn't make any New Years Resolutions, but I know what I want for this year, and that is to be more organized and really, really do better on handling time management. Okay! Gotta go and get back to work.

How Can You Get Amazon To Sell For You?

There are some people who do no Kindle marketing at all. Zero, nada, zip. How do they do it, is it real? Yes, if you understand how to set everything up, it does work. Still, you have to know what is selling. It is not that easy. If you're just making drip drop sales, or a few a day, then you really need to bring up your game with this course.

 

Kindle Samurai

Writing Like A Maniac

Hello everyone! I am sorry I can not keep up with this blog as I would like. Again, I will attempt to post once a week, or once a month at least. My nonfiction titles are not selling like I need them to, so I am working on my fiction books. I changed the header, hope you like it! I will still do book reviews, I have probably two or three hundred books collecting dust, I haven't gotten to yet and even more ebooks on my Kindle for PC so, there will always be reviews. As for book marketing articles, training, there will probably not be any more now as I'm focusing on my own work.
When I have all the answers as to the best marketing tactics for Kindle, and other sites like Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, etc. Then and only then will I post about it. Right now, I am in the testing phase of things. I tested some strategies on my nonfiction books that did not work(when the author 'promised' it would) So, if I do any marketing articles, expect it in the fall of 2014 or spring 2015. Well, that's it for now!

What I Learned About Kindle Series

I have learned so much about Kindle, I think it's time to share somethings before 2013 ends. This will be in the first of a series of articles about self-publishing for kindle. Today I will discuss what to do, and what not to do.

Don't Do This....
1. Don't use other peoples books to sell on Kindle. I know, all of you write your own books, but if you know someone doing this, encourage them to stop. When I say other peoples books, I mean:
PLR- Private label rights books, you know those reports 'everybody' has the right to sell? Amazon will shut down your account in a New York minute if you upload those kinds of books. Don't even rewrite them.
Outsourced Books-I've read a couple of nightmare stories in the Kindle community about using someone elses book as your own. It can cause trouble for you, especially the money it will cost you. If you write it yourself the only cost you will spend is time.
KDP Free Days I know an author who started out doing those free days for her books, and didn't make much money. When she stopped and used another way to promote her books, her sales soared. Hey, if it works for you, go ahead, but for those who get no profit from it, don't do it. I have tried it, a few times and although I got some  free downloads, I got zilch on sales, which brings me to this last don't on my list.
Nonfiction Anybody who tells you nonfiction is a big seller on Kindle isn't telling the truth. I went to check out something a person on a webinar told me was a good niche. The golden book did not have a good ranking. A good ranking is anything below fifty thousand. Maybe it did once upon a time, but it didn't when he was telling all his listeners to go write books like that. Fiction is what sells more on Amazon and probably other similar websites. Here is some proof-don't just take my word for it. Click on the three graphs. 1000+ Sales A Month Club  Well, that's it for now. I'll continue the next part of the series next week. Happy Holidays!

Disturbing News......

Well, I don't really think what I will not reveal( as of yet) is disturbing news, but it is very disappointing. Still, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and this fall I will reveal all to you about what happened to me. I do have reviews, for you. This will be a short post, just an update, to why I have been gone(but you're used to it, LOL) so long. I will list one hundred book reviews before I begin to write the articles on book marketing. That is a promise, because I have hundreds of Kindle books yet to read(and still adding) as well as(most likely) one hundred print books. Each year I donate some for a book sale, so I have to get through most of these before the summer comes. So, enjoy all the book reviews. You'll have general romance, Christian romance, Young adult, children's, suspense, fantasy and science fiction book reviews from all over the web.

FREE Books On Kindle Today!

Here is a list of all my free books on Kindle Today. Please spread the word and share. I'll have more free books next weekend, but I cannot guarantee all of these books will be free next time.
If you like my books, please give a review. I prefer constructive criticism, over bad reviews. If you really don't like them please don't review.

Make Money Online Free
Make Money Online Free

The Complete Money Book 

Finding A Job Fast When You're Unemployed

Rapid Publishing Series
 Fabulous Websites For Writers

The Best Way To Sell Your Books  

Weight Loss

7 Herbal Weight Loss Teas

Fifty Weight Loss Foods 

Next Week: Loads of book reviews, and more free Kindle Books this time Fiction, Children's, YA and cookbooks!

Kindle, Reviews And More

Well, my 'promotion' did not go well as I thought it would. Am I giving up? Hardly, but I'm going to do it differently this time. I've read, as well as have attended many webinars about how to sell books on Kindle, and I am starting to test out some of these strategies now. One important thing to note is that many of the books/courses I've read about selling on Kindle were, to put it nicely, bogus material.
It seems whenever a new way of making money online is discovered by people in the Internet Marketing community, they tend to want to crack a code of some sort to make more money with it, and then sell that course to you.
Well, a lot of things they told you were wrong. So I will be doing a series of Kindle articles, then I will start posting my tests and reveal the results. There is no magic in getting lots of Kindle sales, but as I said, that will all be revealed from today to the end of September 2012.
I have been winning books on Freado, and getting free books from publishers on NetGalley, so I probably have around fifty books to read and review. You should be getting at least a couple of book reviews each week from now on.
Apart from Kindle, I always look for other ways to sell books online, and I recently found a different way to sell books, so after I post my Kindle test results, I'll be posting that too. It's a way to sell that I don't think many writers think about. So be looking out for my next post soon. A book review, and the first Kindle article. I will not be writing about how to upload books to Kindle, it will strictly cover these subjects:

• What You shouldn't sell on KDP
• Formatting
• Creating A Table of Contents
• What Sells on Kindle
• Analyzing the Best Selling Books On Kindle
• Creating Book Covers
• Best Free Ways To Promote Your Kindle Books

If I can think of anything else, I'll be sharing it with you. That's all for now.

•  

Rapid Publishing

O.K. the promotion of my ebook series did not go as planned :( so I am trying again in September. I have a revised version of Rapid Publishing that will be on Kindle as well. Having said that, books 1-4 will go on this month, and the last three will be in September. Instead of buy one get two free, it is going to be buy one get one free from now on with any book of the series. The free book will always be a pdf, not a kindle or Smashwords book.

After this, I will no longer be doing nonfiction books for writers. I'm working a lot now on my fiction books, three which have be contracted, yes I'm going to be published! More on that as the details are finalized.

Rapid Publishing Is Now On Kindle

I really must apologize. Rapid Publishing has been on Kindle since the last week
of June. I am just now getting together a marketing campaign. This is the first of a series of e-books for writers.
What is it About?
Rapid Publishing is all about getting your book, well, done quickly. Too many writers spend a long time writing their books. You can get your book completed in as little as a week, or a month with careful calculated planning. The first in this series will tell you how to read fast, write fast and get published fast and tools to use. 
Who Is It For? 
Originally I had intended this for people who want to self-publish, or for those who want to begin writing for profit. There are many priceless resources I have found just by being on certain mailing lists, or surfing online that will benefit published writers as well.
Where You Can Buy It
It is $2.99 on Kindle or you can buy it through Paypal and get the PDF for $2.99. Total Pages: 16
Keep reading to find out how you can get more books in the series for free.
The Rest Of The Series
In order, here is the rest of the Rapid Publishing Series.
Rapid Publishing: The Best Way To Sell Your Books
Rapid Publishing: Rich Author Vs. Poor Author
Rapid Publishing: The Secret To Getting Anything You Want
Rapid Publishing: Fabulous Websites For Authors
Rapid Publishing: Free Software For Writers
Rapid Publishing: E-Publishers Directory
The Best Way to Sell Your Books And Rich Author Vs. Poor Author will be on Kindle next week and if you want a PDF, you can buy it through Paypal. So, Here's the deal...
Buy Rapid Publishing and get other ebooks in the series *Free*!

If you buy Rapid Publishing on Kindle or Paypal on the following days: July 24-July 31st, you will get three bonus books:(PDF only)

#1.Rapid Publishing: Fabulous Websites For Authors(Value: $2.99) Free
This is a list of my secret  stash of websites that can help authors sell and promote their books. Many of these I found just by surfing the Internet. Writers Courses, social networks, free publicity(I'm talking television),  web tools, Royalty free and public domain images for your books,  or if you prefer ready made covers, Royalty free music, and free royalty free music for your book trailers and much more!
Total Pages: 12
#2.Rapid Publishing: Free Software For Writers(Value: $2.99) Free
Various kinds of software available online for free to write your books more easily. One software lets you   create novels, comic books, games, music videos, podcasts and more!
Total Pages: 5
#3. Sit Down And Write That...BestSelling Novel(PDF) Free
From Bookproposalwriting.com. This is a great book for beginning writers. Learn how to do research, the basics of writing, writing fantasy, childrens' books, fiction and nonfiction, Copyright, query letters, how to find a good agent, titling you books and more.
Total Pages: 71
Just buy from either link below, send me a copy by email of your amazon/Paypal receipt, and I will send you the links for the three bonus PDF ebooks.

Rapid Publishing + Bonus Material

I must have a copy of your receipt before I send you the links for the free ebooks, and you must buy on the dates specified, because these bonuses will not remain free.  This will most likely be the only nonfiction series for writers I will ever do. If I learn anymore tips, I'll  only be sharing it in a private group.  So, if you are a writer or you want to be a writer, request to be my friend on  Facebook. Since I don't know you, send me a message along with the request, in one or two sentences what you like about Rapid Publishing.

E-Book Profits-Why A Sample Chapter Can Send Your Profits Soaring!(Part Two)

 And I continue with the ideas.....

*  You could give the sample chapter with the full version of the product which is password protected.  Readers who enjoy the test version and decide to go full length simply give credit card details through such as ClickBank and move to a ‘Thank You page’ which provides the password for the full book already in their possession.  (Knowing the full length book is sitting there, tying up space on their desktop, just screaming out to be opened and read, is all the incentive most people need to get that password fast!)

*  You could write an article based on your full length info product, but leave the reader dangling somewhere between casting the article to one side and buying your book.

Ways to do this:

-  Leave questions in your article which are answered in the full length title.  Make readers curious, give cryptic clues, leave the most vital information for Part Two – the paid-for product!

-  Offer articles to editors and publishers of print and online publications and end with questions that are answered at your web site where readers can buy books related to the subject of the article.

-  Get readers to subscribe to your eZine where you’ll answer those niggling

questions and in autoresponder follow ups you’ll promote your main book to the very limit of temptation!

*  The free sample gives credibility in you and your writing ability.  People know the book has  -  probably  -  already been written, and is of similar quality to what they’ve already sampled.  If they have money and they like your work, they’ll buy.  Probably!

*  The sample chapter can include a contents listing for the full length version, where readers can check length (yes some people still believe quantity outshines quality) and you can induce sales with tempting chapter titles and snippets.  It’s a good idea to give the page numbers on which certain highlighted features occur, especially where pages run into triple figures (again, never mind the quality, feel the width), and chapter headings are themselves deliciously vague.  Like this:

“Here’s a sneak preview of ‘1001 Easy Ways to Get Rich Overnight!’

-  How to live in a luxury home without having a mortgage and never having to pay a penny rent (Chapter Twenty Four, Page 201)

-  The four letter word that gets you everything you want out of life, and more!  (Chapter Twenty Five, Page 273)

-  How to get a brand new car and drive it away without having to pay!  (Chapter Twenty Six, Page 307)

-  Four words that guarantee you free travel for the rest of your life!  (Chapter Twenty Nine, Page 406)”

*  People will retain your sample chapter far longer than they will normally keep a sales letter, especially of the printed variety or on a web site with a domain name they’ll soon forget.  So although the majority of people will buy the full length product quite soon after receiving the freebie, you might still get a steady trickle of sales later when busy people find time to read your sample chapter.

Never forget the most common reason of all is to tempt readers of the free infoproduct to click on the link on the very last page where they find your order form and BUY YOUR BOOK!

Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing for Authors, Book Publicity through Social Networking

The Rapid Publishing Series

The Rapid Publishing Series is just a bit behind schedule as soon as it is live on Kindle, I will be posting it here on the blog. You will be able to choose more than one format, and have the option to get a PDF version. This coming week(finally) Three of seven ebooks of the series will be released and the rest will be released each week and will be announced when available for sale.

eBook Profits - Why a Free Sample Chapter Can Send Your Profits Soaring! (Part One)

Why should anyone give a sample chapter or mini-version of their book for free?  The main reason  -  usually to sell or make money  -  isn’t always accomplished at the front end of the marketing process, it often comes later, and brings profits way beyond your best expectations.

Here’s how and why to use the sample chapter technique to generate leads for your info product.

*  To test your idea for a new information product before spending days, weeks, months creating something nobody wants to buy.  If few people request the freebie, your product is almost certainly a no-goer, similarly if the freebie is popular but results in few or no paid-for orders.

*  The sample chapter can be a selling tool not only for its own full length paid-for version, but for other products too, where for example a list or catalogue of additional products is included with the giveaway item.  For instance, the first chapter of ‘The Way to a Man’s Heart: Cooking with Known Aphrodisiacs’ might generate interest in the paid-for version of the book and might additionally direct readers to web sites offering related info products, such as ‘1001 Ways to Be Romantic’, ‘How to Find the Man of Your Dreams’, and so on.  It pays to be careful, however, when including links for other people’s products, and ensure they do not detract from the real reason the sample chapter was given, namely to sell that cookery book.  As for all things in mail order, direct mail, online marketing, you must test response to all your promotions.

*  The first chapter can represent a ‘suck it and see’ guarantee to a product delivered in installments, such as correspondence courses, resell rights packages, and so on.  If Chapter One or Module One isn’t as expected, readers can cancel their post-dated standing order or request a refund of money already paid.

*  Sample chapters can be articles you’ve written for payment elsewhere, where copyright is yours, and the article or series of articles is expanded to book or course format.  A popular article is its own proof of a likely best selling book and you’ve probably completed most of the research already, and been paid for it.


Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing for Authors, Book Publicity through Social Networking

Video Book Marketing-Some Of The Most Important Things You Should Learn About It

Are you an author who have books ready for marketing? Have you ever considered marketing them via video book marketing? If you don't know what it is, if this is the first time you have heard about it, then this is your chance to discover its many benefits. Go ahead and read this article for a brief introduction on the overall experience.
This type of book marketing strategy is more focused on allowing you to reach your target market online in a more convenient way. What exactly is it about? How does it work? These questions may have already popped into your mind.
This type of book marketing strategy involves author interviews on video. There are two ways you can do it. One way is to get someone to take a video of you being interviewed by another experienced book author. Another way is to set up a webcam and have yourself interviewed online. That is how easy it is. With the help of the Internet and a few other online resources, you can be the star of the show and at the same time have the chance to tell people about your book and what it is about.
Benefits of Video Book Marketing

1. If you choose to take advantage of this type of book marketing strategy, your book will get more exposure and will reach a lot more people than the traditional type of book marketing because videos are easy to create and distribute.
2. You can upload your video on video sites for people to view.
3. You can upload the video on Facebook, Myspace and a few other social media sites and get an even bigger coverage.
4. The video you uploaded online if properly indexed and cached by search engines can easily be searched by anyone with Internet access.
5. You can upload the video on your own blog or your own website and your site will get more traffic that way.

Video book promotion is truly one helpful tool that you can count on when it comes to promoting yourself as an author and your books online. If you want to cater to a larger market and let the world know that a talented writer like you exist, this is one excellent service that you should take advantage of.

There are so many ways to market your book but doing the marketing all on your own can be quite tricky. Visit Talkingbookstv and find out how they can help you in getting your book out for the people to enjoy. They can help you in finding the best book marketing strategy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trish_Collins

New Book Reviews And More

I have new book reviews on Shelfari. Just click
on my shelf and find out what's new. Right now
I am working on launching a fan page on Facebook,
so be sure to stay tuned for that!

I am going to start improving my blog, too. More valuable content
will be posted each month. I am really pressed
for time now, working on various projects, so
I have to clear the cobwebs and give you
what I've promised.

Until next time.....

News

More book reviews next week, and I'm going to be promoting
my first course for writers, so if you know anyone who wants to
know how to write a book, send them here.

I have to rework my case study, but when it's done, I promise
to list it right here. Until next time....

What I'm Reading...

I am currently finishing The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
I have finished Heart And Soul by Jillian Hart, and I will be
finishing This Child of Mine By Lois Richer today.

*Projects
Self-publishing an ebook report and post the results here.