Here’s the blurb and a link to Camosun – Publish Your Own E-book to register.

Thinking about publishing your writing but struck out with traditional publishers? Don’t fancy the headache of self-publishing in print? Then it’s time to join the latest publishing sensation.

You can publish your magnum opus (or cookbook, or romance, or…) in an electronic book format, sell it through major online booksellers and receive above average royalties as easy as a,b,c…well, almost.

This course will introduce you to all things e-book including set-up and formatting, online bookselling sites, e-reader choices, cover image basics and marketing possibilities.

And it’s only $49.00 (plus the dreaded HST). We had a full house last time so register early. Love to see you there!

The Novel Experience Podcast

If you’re interested in words, writers and storytelling or if you’re a writer seeking sound advice from published authors to help you get published, please give it a spin at PodcastPickle.com. My latest guest is the Saskatchewan crime writer, Anthony Bidulka.

Click here for more info or if you want to listen via this blog or other podcasting services, such as iTunes and Podcast Alley.

Love to know what you think. Email me @ epubbing (at) shaw (dot) ca. Cheers!

The information is gleaned from my little non-fiction e-book primer called Youdunit Whodunit! How to Write Mysteries. .

Don’t forget to slip in the Sly Bits:

• As mentioned earlier, a good mystery must follow the Rule of Fair Play. This means the audience should receive the same information as the Protagonist, thus giving the reader a chance to solve the crime by the end of the story
• Your job also involves developing these all-important sly bits — clues to the solution and red herrings to cause reader confusion — and then scattering them throughout the story
• Clues and red herring may be tangible (like a bloody glove) or intangible (like a character’s behaviour).
• Intensify suspense with a chase or a villain who escapes until the last possible moment or page
• Place the Protag or someone close to him or her at risk.

If you found this of interest, you may wish to see the previous posts.

…MORE how-to write a mystery tips and techniques continued in the next Friday post!

Find out more information or how to purchase this e-book, jam-packed with ways to immediately improve your writing, click Youdunit Whodunit (only $2.99US!).

Geordie enjoying blossoms

He’s got an unusually fun posting regime where he asks Canadian mystery writers to answer 10 silly questions.

I did and he very cleverly put it all together using pics from my cottage garden. The results are delightful!

Check it out today at Anthony Bidulka.

Thanks, Anthony.

UnnaturalStates

It’s from Groovy Writer who’s posting on a mobileread forum.

Wow, impressive. Great job, Nicola. Interesting premise, too. You put a lot of work into the multimedia site. Bet it kept you busy through the long BC winter!

Thanks, Groovy Writer!

Old-fashioned Mic (Photo CM Seter)

So, hang in there while I edit and put it all together. Hope to go live in a coupla weeks!

An engaging crowd of over thirty writers and editors attended. My focus was on electronic publishing and blogging and how I have used ebooks to give a couple of my novels a second life. My efforts appeared to go over well as there were numerous questions and much discussion after.

One of the best things occurred about a week later when the president, Debra Henry, kindly emailed me a sweet thank you note for “an information-packed evening that was both engaging and inspirational”.

She added the following:

A poet in the audience that night spoke to me a few days later and said she’d never considered the web when submitting poems for publication. After your talk she went home and sent poems to a dozen online venues for her work. She was up until the wee hours of the morning, well past her bedtime, and blamed it on you. Ha!

Now, that’s what I call inspirational!

My thanks to the Victoria Writers’ Society. Anyone interested in joining an obviously thriving wordsmithing community should check them out; they’ve got all sorts of stuff happening, including a monthly meeting, critique groups, writing contests and a summer e-camp.

• Clue 1: Competition’s Fierce; You’ve got to have F.L.A.R.E.
• Clue 2: Swallow Your Shyness and Be Bold
• Clue 3: Get Your Lions in Order
• Clue 4: Get the Word & Book Out There
• Clue 5: Wow the Web
• Clue 6: Get Off Your Freakin’ Duff

… and last but not least, my seventh and final clue:

My niece, Anica, proud torchbearer, 2010 Olympics

CLUE 7:

Be Noticed!

• Wear bright colours so you’ll stand out in a crowd
• Sport funky shoes: a great icebreaker at events, immediately offering something fun to chat about.

So, that’s it, or at least what I’ve learned and used so far. I hope some or all of my seven clues to successful author self-promotion will help your promotional efforts.

Have I missed anything? Please let me know.

Marketing is an ongoing learning job and experience; I’m always keen to find new, effective and if possible enjoyable ways to promote my work.

Get Off Your Duff! Credit: E. Polinsky

Put on a pair of sunglasses if you have to but get out there and shine.





CLUE 6



Get off Your Freakin’ Duff!

• Scout out personal appearance opportunities, like book readings & book clubs

• Attend relevant tradeshows, arty shows & sell your books

• Visit bookstores, offer to sign stock or do a book signing

• Join groups (local, professional, online) for information and promotional opportunities

• Attend writing conferences & conventions; volunteer on the organising committee and/or ask to be a panellist

• Teach a continuing education course or two at your local college.

Well, only one secret clue left…just in time for celebrating the last days of 2009.

Happy holidays to all.

A good time of year to take stock of what you’ve learned, accomplished, avoided and forgotten!

That’s the reality, if you want folks to know about you and your book.

No More Lounging Around; Get Marketing!

So…it’s time to put some major effort into your virtual presence; fortunately, it’s pretty easy but takes time.









CLUE 5:

Wow the Web:

• Add a signature line to your emails, which includes your book title & links to booksellers


• Create an entertaining & informative web site, using your book’s cover, blurb, a book excerpt, your biography, book reviews, links to booksellers, etc.,


• Blog your head off (You can do this yourself for free using blogging software like WordPress or Blogger. Amazingly, it’s not that hard nor that technical.)

• Build your blog content for a few months (posting at least twice a week) and then list your blog with directories, like Technorati, Blogarama and dmoz

• Attend online chat rooms and social networking sites, like Facebook, Myspace and GoodReads, as well as other sites that are related to your book; for example, mystery authors frequent Crimespace

• Join specialty list serve groups; again, mystery authors love DorothyL

• Share links with other web sites.

If all this is a bit beyond you, don’t fret. At the very least, set up a blog.

It’s simple, it’s free and it can act as your website, your sounding board and your networking hub.

The simplicity, power and capabilities of blogging software have been a revelation for me so I urge you to get posting.

Only a couple of clues left…