A few days ago my web site was mentioned in the Amazon Author Central newsletter as an example of Amazon’s new Kindle for the Web feature in action. Here’s what it looks like on my web site (or you can just click the “Chapter One” link above): By pasting a text string supplied by Amazon, … Read more
To be an indie author is to be (at varying times) an editor, a designer, a production manager, and a publicist. It’s not easy being an expert at so many things. So I devote a fair amount of my time learning from the experts. Fortunately, many of them publish blogs. And by experts I’m not … Read more
Lately I’ve received a number of questions from fellow writers about the self-publishing process. While I don’t consider myself an expert, I’m happy to share the ups and downs of my journey. Just keep in mind that the list below is already a few steps too long given recent changes in the industry. Here is … Read more
So I read via Foner Books that Publisher’s Weekly wants to charge $149 for us self-published writers to get a read. Not a review, mind you, just a read. If we’re lucky we’ll get a review. I’ve already ranted about how PW just doesn’t “get” us self-publishers. But now, sadly, PW wants to make a … Read more
Yesterday, The Tourist Trail was featured on Kindle Nation. Kindle Nation is a newsletter/web site published by Steve Windwalker, who is an expert on the Kindle ecosystem — from self-publishing to pricing to sales numbers. If you’re an author or reader, his newsletters are a must read. Anyway, I woke up this morning and my … Read more
The Tourist Trail is available on the Kindle, on the iPad, and, at last, in paperback (from Amazon and from me). Now the hard work begins. I don’t mean to trivialize the writing of this book. Four years went into it and countless drafts. But for the self-published, self-promotion is a steep uphill climb. It’s … Read more
The Tourist Trail isn’t even in print (yet) and already it has received six very nice reviews. I feel so fortunate for the Kindle — and, more important, the Kindle community. These folks are passionate readers — not to mention fast readers. And let me state right off that none of these reviews were coerced … Read more
As Kindle author, I love to read about fellow Kindle authors. Fortunately, author David Wisehart has created a web site dedicated to Kindle authors. He recently asked me a few questions about my book, what inspired it, and how I’m going about promoting it. Here’s the interview.
The Tourist Trail is available on the Kindle (and iPad) for $2.99. Clearly, I’m not giving up the day job anytime soon. Of course, if (when) I sell a million copies, even $2.99 isn’t such a bad price. But I’m not quite there yet. So why did I settle on this price? I landed on … Read more
Amazon has gone from offering authors and publishers 35% royalties to 70% royalties. Why the sudden act of generosity you ask? Perhaps it has something to do with the competition. Apple’s iPad offers a 70% royalty rate by default. And Google’s upcoming Editons Program is said to offer a 63% royalty (I’m not sure how they … Read more