Want To Take Part In Author Book Fairs? Here’s How.

Are you a writer who has published at least one book and are looking to get some exposure to potential readers and make some sales? Then taking part in a local book fair is something you’ll want to look into! I love interacting with other readers and writers, so I jump at every chance I get to take part in author book fair events as one of the authors. Last year I took part in four book fair events, including events that were part of the county fair, the state fair, a holiday market, and a book festival. I expect to do more than that this year.

WHAT IS AN AUTHOR BOOK FAIR?

Author book fairs are events where published authors set up tables to display and sell their books and to interact with potential readers. Count me in!

Typically the venue will have a large room or event hall where tables are set up and each author will get a table (sometimes, two authors per table), at convention centers, community centers, senior centers, or libraries. Sometimes the event is shared with artists. Sometimes the author portion is part of a larger event, such as a fair or holiday festival. I’ve seen these events as small as a couple of authors or as large as fifty.

The events are most often sponsored by local libraries (or library leagues), writer organizations or coalitions, or simply very organized individual authors who have done this a lot. Once in a while they are put on by local businesses that cater to readers, such as bookstores, coffee shops, or wineries. Sometimes they are part of a fundraiser (such as for the local library).

Usually there is a small fee to take part in the event, and sometimes I have to drive a fair way to get to them, but it’s worth it. I make more from book fair events each year than I do from Amazon book sales.

BE PREPARED TO TALK TO PEOPLE

It goes without saying that if you’re engaging the public and trying to sell your books as a writer, you’re going to have to talk to potential readers. They are customers, so you need to be a salesperson. Be your own advocate. And sometimes you’ll meet people who have long wanted to write and publish their own books and want to ask you about the process and how you got to the point you’re at.

If you’re really shy or have anxiety about meeting people, maybe a table event isn’t for you. I’m a bit odd in that I love public speaking. Over the years I’ve become a bit of an extravert, so it delights me when people walk up to my table and ask me about my books. Public speaking is the number one phobia (glossophobia) behind the fear of death, so if you have such a fear, you’re in good company. Somewhere around 75% of the population shares your fear. Sitting at a table isn’t exactly “public speaking” in that you’re not standing on a stage or giving a presentation, but you do need to advocate for yourself and entertain a little bit, too (such as by relating a scene from your book or talking about the process).

And, remember, you’re competing for their attention against a room full of other authors. You want to draw customers in by smiling at them and engaging with them as they step by. Often I’ll meet their eyes and say, “Hi! What do you like to read?” If they like the sort of thing I’ve published, I’ll say, “Oh, then maybe you’d like this book….”

HAVE A QUICK BLURB OF YOUR BOOK(S)

“What’s your book about?” is the most common question you’ll get. It’s also a question that many authors dread. How do you sum up a 100,000 word novel (or longer!) into a blurb that’s only a few sentences long? After all, you’ve got a masterpiece with complex characters and multiple subplots. I’ll admit, it ain’t easy. But you have to conquer that challenge anyhow in order to write a query letter to an agent or publisher, put text on the back of your book cover, or describe the book on the Amazon book page, so you might as well make it happen. This isn’t a synopsis (which describes the entire book and is a spoiler). No, this is a fast ad for your work.

Here's an example I tell people when they ask me about my fantasy novel, Dragon of the Federation:

Have you ever read a fantasy book told from the point of view of the dragon? A young female mage travels to see an ancient gold dragon who rules over a land of humans. She wants to warn him that the gods are angry and seeks to find out why. While she’s at the dragon’s palace, a visiting elvish prince is assassinated by one of the prince’s own guards. Meanwhile, a war is brewing with a neighboring civilization, threatening the security of the land. Sensing a link between these things, the dragon and the mage team up to investigate, uncovering a conspiracy to unleash arcane gods upon the land. If they fail to stop the scheme, control of the world’s magic could be lost forever.

There are lots of online pages and videos that will help you write (or say) a great book blurb, but your overall goal is to impel the reader to pick up your book to read more and hopefully purchase it from you.

They’ll have other questions, too. “Where do you get your ideas?” a customer might ask. Or “How long have you been writing?” Are you ready to answer those?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING WITH YOU?

What do you need to bring with you for your event? Here is a list of what I bring:

• Books. Obviously you need copies of your books to sell. But how many? Have enough to sell at least a couple copies of each book per hour. Bring more than you think you may need. I keep a box of extra copies in my car, even, in case I sell out. Plan ahead of time how you’ll set up your books. You want them to be neatly organized, and you may not get a lot of room on your table (or even your HALF of the table sometimes).
• Tablecloth. Some events will provide a tablecloth for you. Others won’t. It’s a good idea to bring your own, just in case. Mine is purple, which is eye-catching.
• Folding table. Most events will provide a table for you. Some will make you pay for a table. A few will make you bring your own. Check beforehand with the organizer!
• Money for making change. Not everyone carries coins or dollar bills, or enough of them anyway. I price all my books in increments of $5 so I don’t have to carry around dollar bills or loose change. In any case, be prepared in case someone hands you a large bill to pay for that book of yours.
• Credit card reader. I’ve found that over half of the people I sell to want to pay by credit card. So you’ll want to download a commerce app on your phone and have a card reader that goes with it. I use Square, which has an easy app and will give you a card slider that plugs into your phone for free. You can also use the “tap” function on many phones and readers. I’m always surprised by writers who aren’t prepared to take credit cards. They miss out on sales because of it!
• Cell phone. If you have a card reader, you’ll need an app to go with it. Some customers also might want to pay with Venmo or PayPal, too, so be prepared. There are a surprising number of authors who don’t use cell phone money apps (I’m sorry to stereotype, but it’s usually the elderly authors who have the hardest time understanding how to use those). It’s a good idea to bring a charging cable and plug, or an external battery pack, so your phone doesn’t run out of juice during the event. Also, don’t be tempted to play on your phone during the event or constantly check it for messages. People will just walk by if they think you’re occupied or distracted.
• Promotional signage. You’re marketing your books, and signage is important for that! I have a table banner with my logo and striking pictures of my books that hangs on the table. I also have a couple of signs in holders on the table (one advertising my website, and another announcing my coming books), as well as copies of a special flyer to advertise my “quick read” stories sold on Amazon. There are websites that specialize in making such signage, such as Vistaprint, or office supply stores and sites.
• Price list. Make sure to show how much your books cost. Maybe you could even advertise a deal? For instance, if you have more than one title for sale, maybe you’ll offer them $5 off if they purchase one of each?
• Pens. People love it when authors sign their books! So bring a couple pens so you can do that. And be sure to ask “Would you like me to sign that for you?” when they make a purchase, and ask if they want it made out to them or to someone special. Make sure the pens are working beforehand and have nice, thick lines. Some people sign with fine-tipped Sharpie markers. I use new gel pens.
• Business cards. Be professional and have some business cards in a special holder. Many readers won’t want to buy your book right away. Or maybe they want your website. Or perhaps they don’t want the print version but prefer the Kindle ebook version and need a link. So have a good business card they can take with them that has all of that information. I even stick a business card into every copy of my books that I sell.
• Swag. Have something to give away to people who come by your table. Maybe a dish of free hard candies or chocolates. How about a specially-printed bookmark that has information about your books and webpage? Maybe some pens to hand out (with your logo and website printed on them, perhaps)?
• Bags. Have bags ready to hand to people. Most authors don’t do this, but I’ve found that customers love having a bag to carry your book and the other books they bought. I have bags that have my logo and website printed on them! They aren’t that expensive when you buy them in bulk. (HERE is the one I buy from Amazon). A few events will provide a bag to customers.
• Food and drink. These events often last all day, and you want to minimize how much you leave your table. Some events have food venders, but I bring with me something to drink (a couple sodas or water bottles) and food (usually a sandwich and a couple snacks). Don’t bring anything messy, though. Don’t want to get stains on your books!
• Hand cart. All that stuff, above, fits in about three boxes. That’s a lot to carry! And maybe you can’t park right at the door of the venue. So I bring a folding, wheeled hand cart to carry it all.

HOW DO YOU SIGN UP FOR A TABLE?

Don’t know how to get a table at an author book fair? Here are some suggestions:

• Go to an event. I mean, you’re interested in going anyway, right? Because books! When you go there, ask to talk to the organizer. It might be too late to get a table this year, but how about for next year? Or maybe they run several events a year.
• Inquire at a venue. Contact the event center and ask if they have an author event and, if so, if they can put you in touch with the organizer.
• Ask your local writer’s organization. Chances are the writer’s organization in your area sponsors events or has lists of events, with contact information for the organizers.
• Contact your library or bookstores. Libraries and bookstores are in touch with the local book scene. They advertise events. They might even sponsor one themselves. They can put you in touch with the organizer.
• Ask more experienced authors. Chances are the more experienced authors in your area have taken part in these events. They can tell you who to contact.
• Plan your own. Obviously this is a more daunting option, since organizing events is a skill set that many people don’t have. But it is do-able. And if you partner with a local writer’s organization, venue, and/or sponsors, you might just find others who have more experience and can help you.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Regardless of the size of the event or the venue, I think you’ll find it very rewarding to have a table at an author book fair. Not just because of the revenue you can generate by selling your books, or even the chance to find more readers, but because you get to meet new readers, network with other writers, and get experience in the “writer scene” to build your writing career (or hobby, however you see it). Writing isn’t just about putting words on paper, after all. There’s a LOT more to it when you get to the point of publishing. Enjoy the experience!

Cheers and happy reading!

I Want To Write Full Time

I have a day job, but like so many other writers, I dream of one day writing full time and making enough to make a living at it.

It’s a dream shared by so many other creative people out there: artists, musicians, dancers, poets. Our creativity is part of our core being. As we go about our daily drudgery, our minds often go to our work in progress (WIP) or our next big idea.

Don’t get me wrong. I actually enjoy my day job and the people I work with. I earned two higher degrees for it. And after that, I’ve worked hard at my career as a scientist for almost three decades since then, through hard times and good times. I now make enough to live reasonably well. I’m not hurting.

And yet, writing is in my blood. Every still moment, my mind goes back to my books. Coming up with the next plot point while waiting in the doctor’s office. Visualizing the action during a break at work. Hearing the dialogue as I make some tea. Thinking up ideas while in the shower. All day long, I feel an irresistible urge to be back at my writing desk to bring it all to life on the page.

But I have to bring in the money. I can’t make enough of a living on my writing yet to even live modestly. Not yet. I still have a family to pay for. Too many bills to pay.

After self-publishing four books on Amazon, I’ve recently signed with a small press, GladEye Press. They will cover the editing costs, cover image art, and maybe a bit of marketing, so that I can focus on the writing part and not have to shell out money ahead of time. They will also help get my print books distributed to brick and mortar bookstores. They take a massive chunk of my royalties for these services, but if distribution is significantly higher than what I was currently selling, it’ll pay for itself and more, and we both profit. They are in the process of republishing each of my books with their brand, and this spring will publish my fifth book, Footman of the Ether (a sequel to my fantasy novel, Dragon of the Federation).

Related blog post: Before signing with GladEye, here’s why I self-published.

There was a time, up to a couple generations ago, when it was expected that an author would only publish one book a year, and it was enough to make a living on. Publishers would actually limit authors to only one book a year (this is why Stephen King took the pen name of Richard Bachman, in fact, so that he could publish more often). Now, the expectation is at least three a year, and the author has to do much of the publicity themselves (unless you are big name, of course). If you don’t already have a huge following on all the social media channels to do that, agents and publishers won’t give you the time of day, much less actually pay attention to your query letters or read your submitted work. Trust me. I spent more than a decade playing that game before I self-published. I feel lucky to get accepted by GladEye Press, frankly. If you still want to self-publish, you’re going to have to publish a dozen books, do everything yourself (or pay for others to do them for you), and have side gigs (such as editing or tutoring) before you can maybe earn enough.

I don’t say this to dissuade anyone from hoping for one day being a full time writer, even if self-published. There are lots of writers who have make it. I’m just being realistic. Like entering any other career, you always start at the bottom and have to overcome obstacles, train hard, and work even harder. Just don’t expect to live like a (Stephen) king!

As for me, I have a plan. It may be too ambitious, I admit. But in three years, my financial responsibilities will lighten. Then, if all goes well, I’ll quit my day job, sell my house and most of my belongings, and move to a cheaper area to live in. I’ll live a more modest lifestyle, too. By then I should have at least 3-5 more books published, bringing in royalties. Maybe … just maybe … I’ll be able to make enough to live a modest lifestyle with a roof over my head and enough food on the table.

Is it a pipe dream? We’ll see. But I’m clinging to it with one hand and a pen with the other.

Is it your dream too? Let’s help each other make it happen.

Cheers and happy reading.

I've Signed With A Publisher!

I'm happy to report that I recently signed with a publisher!

GladEye Press is a small press publisher based in the Great Northwest. Very local, in fact, since they are in Springfield, just down the road from me in Eugene. 

Starting with my fantasy novel, Dragon of the Federation, they will be republishing each of my four books (plus The First Nova I See Tonight, Around the Corner from Sanity, and Guide Me, O River) under their copywrite in the coming months (which had all been self-published up until now). They will also be first to release the fantasy sequel, Footman of the Ether, in spring 2024.

GladEye Press publishes a range of fiction and non-fiction genres. Everything from cozy mysteries to sexy thrillers to autobiographies. I urge you to visit their website to learn more.

Cheers and happy reading!

My review of Molting of A Queen by Peter J. Foote

 

Molting of a Queen: A sci-fi novella by Peter J. Foote
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nina, along with her boss and a helicopter pilot, flies through a portal during a oceanic storm and winds up crash-landed on an alternate world. They have to navigate an alien landscape to find a way back to Earth. Nina also navigates her own internal "landscape" and angst over her dead twin, as well as come to grips with her boss, a man who is standoffish and difficult to interact with. And then they meet the natives....

This was a quick and enjoyable read. A definite "alternate worlds" feel without the usual scifi tropes. Don't expect spaceships, militant violence, or damsels in distress. Foote tells the story while maintaining a strong female protagonist and a satisfying conclusion that, without giving too much away, doesn't resort to violent conquest.

View all my reviews

Cheers and happy reading!

My review of The Ship in the Hill by William L. Sullivan

 

The Ship in the Hill by William L. Sullivan


I was familiar with Bill Sullivan's hiking Oregon books, so it was a surprise to me that he writes historical fiction. I bought the book from him at one of his table events. I don't normally read historical fiction, so it took me a while to get round to it. Once I finally cracked it open, though, I was immediately hooked. His writing style is excellent, and well-edited.

The story bounces between ancient Viking era and early 1900s, weaving together the two stories in a very intriguing way with mysteries along the way that keep you turning pages. It is told from the standpoint of three different, strong female point of view characters. Really engaging. Highly recommended. I've already purchased the second book and will be reading it soon.

View all my reviews

Cheers and happy reading!

Why I Choose To Self Publish

(Yeah, this post is long, but it's worth it, I promise.)

Before I tell you why I choose to self-publish my books, let me first give some back story....

I've been writing since the late 1990s. Back in those primitive times, when the internet was new, publishing wasn't what it is now. Back then, if you wanted to get a book published, you had to buy a massive print book called Writer's Market. This annual tome is still published every year (for about $21, and the Kindle version is only a couple dollars cheaper), and last November had its 100th edition printed. It advertises on Amazon with the following quote:

Want to get published and paid for your writing? Let Writer's Market, 100th edition guide you through the process. It's the ultimate reference with thousands of publishing opportunities for writers, listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents—as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections, along with contact and submission information.

Did you catch that first sentence? Read it again. They literally still say that you can't get published or paid for your writing unless you buy that "bible" of writing and go through the "process" of getting published. (never mind that almost anything in that book is also free online these days, but I digress).

What is that arcane process, you ask? Well, their process is the same as it was in the 90s... First, you buy that book. Then you pore over it, cross-referencing all the publishers and agents with your book's genre. And if your book crosses genres or is some sort of niche topic, too bad, there's no room for you. They aren't going to take the chance at marketing it, particularly if you are a first-time author, which is another chance they aren't likely to accept.

But since all the big publishing houses won't accept unsolicited manuscripts, you have to first get an agent. So you send out query letters (back then, it was by snail mail) with whatever it is they want from you, such as a one-page synopsis and the first 10 pages of your manuscript. Or maybe the first chapter. Or maybe the first three chapters. And then you wait... and you wait... and you wait... And if they don't blow you off entirely, you might hear from them in, say, three months. (I've waited for as long as 10 months) until they reply to you. Usually it's a form letter. If you're lucky, it might add a sentence about why they rejected it. In any case, the language is usually something along the lines of "I'm sorry, but this isn't right for us right now. Thank you for submitting and good luck." 

In my day job I work directly with a wide variety of professionals, sometimes including large data files to examine. If I waited months to get back to them, I'd lose my job. But somehow in the literary agent world this is normal practice.

If, by some miracle, the agent actually requests a full manuscript, you feel overjoyed. After all, by this point you've submitted and been rejected at least many dozens of times. So you submit it to them (again, back in those days, it was by snail mail, and expensive to mail). And then you wait... and wait... and wait... and after many months they will most likely reject you with a similar form letter, and, perhaps, the courtesy of maybe a couple sentences as to why they rejected it. 

Oh the number of times I've seen writers on Twitter expressing how happy they are with their rejections because the agent or editor actually deigned to leave a few words beyond the form letter, as if it were an achievement to get it. Such wisdom! Such luck! Nevermind that it's yet another rejection to add to an overflowing pile of them. Oh well, that's just part of the process, right?

HERE is one of an endless number of author Twitter threads expressing angst about this process.

Some editors and agents request that you don't submit to others while they are considering your query letter or manuscript... because they are just that special, apparently.

Can you see how you can waste YEARS getting to this next step?

Oh, and these days an agent likely won't give you the time of day unless you already have a large "platform" (= an online presence that includes all the social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with thousands of followers, a blog, and a professional website and newsletter). They want to make sure YOU can do marketing of a potential book, you see. Don't have all that? Oh well. Rejected.

If, by yet another miracle, the agent likes what you've sent them and you have a great platform, and she decides to accept it (congratulations!), then begins the next step where the agent markets your book to publishing houses. And you wait... and wait... and wait. 

And if by (you guessed it) yet another miracle a publisher accepts it, then begins the year or two process of moving it through various editors in the publishing house, and where THEY decide what cover it has, and ask for you to re-edit the book to fit their needs or topics, and you have to do it on their timeline (I've even heard horror stories where the publishing house decided at this point to just drop the book entirely and never let it go further, despite how you clawed your way to that point, and the book is stuck in publishing limbo, perhaps forever. But again, I digress.).

At last, your book is released and you get paid a nice tidy advance of maybe $2000 or $3000, before taxes. Congratulations!! Mazel tov! You are in the less than 1% of writers who actually get published by the "traditional" route. Pop the champagne! Now you can bask in the glow of validation and your book will go to all those hungry readers. 

But the publishing game doesn't end there, does it? The great thing about traditional publishers is that they are IN with distributors, and your book will be sent out to lots and lots of book stores and outlets. But they will only do so much of the publicity. YOU still have to do a lot of it. And you aren't going to see a dime of royalties until your book profits by at least the advance that they paid you, if ever. And IF it turns a profit, you will only see perhaps 10% in royalties. Your agent will also take a 15-20% cut of that (and of your advance, too). And ALL of the decisions about things like the cover, the distribution, the sale price, and how it is marketed, is THEIR choice, not yours. They have creative control, and they own the rights to your book, not you. And if your book isn't profitable, they will drop you like a stone. After all, they are a corporation and need to make profit. Your creativity is not important. They still own the rights, which means that your book isn't going to sell anywhere at all unless they decide to print more of it - which they aren't going to do unless you or your agent convinces them that it will be profitable again. If your book is profitable, then you still have to wait months for the check to be sent to you.

I should apologize if I sound jaded. But I spent the better part of two decades playing, and failing, the traditional publishing game. 

Enough of the backstory. Now getting to my point...

Things have changed in the last decade. What's changed is that self-publishing has become SOOOOO much easier, thanks in largest part to Amazon. 

Back in the 90s and before, there was this concept that self-published books were dreck. The reputation was that they were published by the author themselves at some small press, at a loss, for the sake of their own vanity. It was looked down upon. It was said that such books were low-quality, badly edited, and likely was some rich or egotistical person wanting to claim the title of "author" so they could boast to friends. At least, that was what you were told as a young author just starting in the field. To be respected, you had to follow the traditional publishing route that I described above.

There's still this attitude out there. People still look down on self-published writers, believing their books are full of typos, poor writing, and awful plots, without even trying to read them for themselves. In fact, it's still so prevalent even among writers that the Writer's Market is still high in the Amazon ratings and agents are overwhelmed with hundreds of query letters. Pitch events on Twitter are swamped with entries. Agents and publishers have no shortage of writers to pick from. HERE is a good example of a writer who totally looks down on self-published authors, going so far as to say they "act like fools", look like "amateurs", do it for their "ego", and could never make a living at it (even though he admits "traditional publishing means living in poverty", lol).

In fact, I have writer friends who have had completed manuscripts sitting in a drawer for as much a two decades because they couldn't get it accepted for traditional publication anywhere and just gave up. I've read some of them. They're genius manuscripts. When I pointed out that they could just self-publish it and could have been making money on it all this time, they poo-poo'ed the idea. It just wouldn't be a valid choice, right?

To be fair, I have read a couple self-published books that were badly edited or had plot holes, etc. The traditional publishing houses require a manuscript to go through several editors before it is published, and those editors will most likely catch the typos, weak verbs, or plot issues. But anyone who has read lots of traditionally published fiction books can still tell you about the books that were awful anyhow. And let's face it, having a few typos or cliches in them doesn't mean the book isn't entertaining. I've also read amazing self-published books that had no editing problems or typos and were amazing and entertaining reads. In fact, NEARLY ALL of the self-published books I've read were just as entertaining as traditionally published books I've read.

Amazon's KDP site (which stands for Kindle Direct Publishing, but is no longer just Kindle because they merged with CreateSpace, the leading print self-publishing site) has made the process of getting self-published so much easier. It is now the leading way that books get published. 

Back in 2014, the "big 5 publishing houses" owned around 45% of the publishing market. By 2016, that number had fallen to only about 20%, while self-published books had grown to nearly 50%! In other words, their percentages had flipped. In 2018 alone, more than 1.67 million books were self-published. I don't know the numbers for 2022, but I am certain that the percentage of traditionally published books are far lower now than they were back then.

All of this has traditional publishers running scared.

I've now self-published four books in the past three years, with more coming along. I don't even bother with agents, submissions, or the rest of the traditional route anymore. 

Why? Let me count the ways...

• I have complete creative control with no "gatekeepers"
• I work on my own timeline
• If I need to change the book and release a new version, I can do it immediately
• I control all rights to the book
• I control how it is marketed
• The book is available to readers at any time, and forever, unless I should make the decision to unpublish it
• I get around 70% royalties with ebooks and about 60% for print books

You'll notice the word "I" used in there a lot. It is about keeping my freedom, control, and profits to myself.

But it's not all icing, you know. Here are some major drawbacks to self-publishing:

• You have to fight the stereotype that you are not a "real" author
• Traditional publishers still own the major print book distribution networks... for now
• You have to be your own publishing business

Don't underestimate that last point. There's a LOT wrapped up in that single sentence. As a self-published author, YOU have to do all the work. I'm not just talking about the writing. It doesn't end when you write "The End" on the last page. There's still the editing. The formatting. The cover image. Advertising. Marketing. Promoting. You can try to do all these things yourself, or you can pay knowledgeable freelance people to do these things for you. Regardless, it's a long road with a steep learning process.

For me, it's a mix. I've been in the writing biz for quite a long time. I have a great editor who doesn't cost a lot, as well as a writer's group (HERE is my editing process). Out of my four books, I've made my own cover image for one book using a photographers image that I purchased, used an Amazon tool to make another for free, and purchased two pre-made cover images from freelance artists. I did the book formatting myself, which is made very easy using tutorials on the Amazon KDP pages, for both print and Kindle versions. Advertising, marketing, and promoting are mostly self-taught and made by me, though I have utilized some services. Most notably I use Amazon ads reasonably successfully, and I have become very savvy (in my humble opinion) with promoting my book with a mix of social media postings, some inexpensive services, and plugs by various websites, blogs, and podcasts. But regardless of how much you do yourself, you will not make a profit at first. Like most any other form of self-employment, you have to spend money to make money, and it may take a long while before you start to make a profit. If you are serious about self-publishing, you have to play the long game. In fact, three of my books haven't quite turned a profit yet. But they soon will, and over the rest of my lifetime will make me far more in royalties than the tiny fraction I would likely get if I managed to publish them with traditional publishing, even including the advance I could have gotten.

Will I ever be able to quit my day job and write full time? It's the dream of every serious author, isn't it?

There are more and more authors out there who make a living at self-publishing, and do so full-time. From what I can tell, it takes something like 10 books published before you can make it full time. And most of those authors have income streams from their writing outside of just their royalties, just like most any other self-employed person out there. In addition to royalties, we can also offer editing services, review services, merchandise for our fans, Ko-Fi or Patreon page income, and teaching courses on how to do all those things I mentioned above to other authors.

The bottom line: Self-publishing is a valid form of publishing, a potentially profitable way to make money in the long run, and an increasingly common and easy way to get your book out there while retaining all the rights and creativity. But to do it right, it requires a LOT of work, a daunting amount of up-front spending, and a lot of learning about marketing and promoting yourself.

Cheers and happy reading (and self-publishing)!

Further resources and advice:

• Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing [which is better?] 
• How To Get A Book Published And Choosing The Right Publishing Option
• Self-Published Authors Are Quietly Taking Over The Book Market
• Ten Things Nobody Tells You About The Publishing Industry
• Facts And Figures About Self-Publishing: The Impact And Influence Of Indie Authors
• How one author broke up with traditional publishing

My review of The Gordon Place by Isaac Thorne

 

The Gordon Place by Isaac Thorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very original horror!

Two news reporters come to a small town to make a puff piece about spooky tales. Little do they realize that they will witness, and become part of, a supernatural horror involving possession and a spirit dog. One of those reporters grew up there and must face her fears about her murdered parents. Meanwhile, the town constable returns to his childhood home, remembering his abusive father and his mother who disappeared, only to be possessed by his father's spirit.

The Gordon Place is unique in a number of ways: you get the perspective of what it's like to be possessed and seeing through the possessive spirits eyes and you experience a one-of-a-kind supernatural spirit beast. This story doesn't shy away from themes of bigotry, racism, and murder, so be prepared.

And stay out of the cellar!

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Cheers and happy reading!