Writing and Publishing News

This morning I was finally able to remove a splinter or maybe it was a thorn that had embedded itself into one of my fingers. I’ve been aware of this foreign object in my body for a couple of weeks. The spot would swell, turn red, fester a bit and boy was it tender. But the thorn wouldn’t come close enough to the surface that I could remove it, until this morning.

Today, I noticed that the tenderness level was high and there was that tell-tale sign that whatever it was had finally come to the surface. Armed with alcohol, a needle, and a pair of tweezers, I went to work poking and squeezing until finally a teeny tiny, almost microscopic foreign object appeared. My operation was successful and immediately, the annoying pain subsided.

When it was over, I couldn’t even see whatever it was that caused all of the discomfort. All I know is that it was there and it needed to be dealt with.

This reminded me of ideas and plots. As a writer, do you ever feel a story festering inside you, nagging to be brought to the surface? Sometimes the idea will nudge you for weeks, months, or even years before you ever allow it to see the light of day. And once it’s out and you can see it in word form dancing across your computer screen, you feel a sense of relief from deep inside and, perhaps, accomplishment.

Let me tell you, success won’t come without some discomfort. For a writer, this may be in the form of uncertainty and even rejection. I suggest, however, that if you stick with your project, use the right tools, approach it with knowledge, you are bound to experience the level of success you desire.

I write books that are designed to be tools for hopeful, struggling, and otherwise serious authors. Check them out here: http://www.matilijapress.com. If you’re not sure which one is right for you at this time, contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com

There are many ways to conduct research—lots of avenues to the material and information you desire or require for your writing projects. One is to ask an expert. I’m often inundated with questions from clients and I don’t mind responding, if I can. However, many of the inquiries are better satisfied through the author’s own research efforts.

I typically suggest that authors check with other authors of similar books to find out what’s working for them. This is a good way to choose an appropriate title for your book, website name, distribution method, promotional activities, book cover and so forth.

Study books within your book’s topic or genre. Visit author websites and do a thorough search. In order to discover how the author is marketing his or her book, for example, study their media page. Initiate dialog with other authors. Look at their Amazon pages. Google them to find out more about the author and the book.

I’m not suggesting that you copy anyone. Rather, you should study what works for others and use the premise for your similar book. For example, if successful authors of fiction are selling thousands of Kindle copies, put your book in the Kindle program. If most books in your book’s category use dramatic cover styles, consider following suit.

Who better to guide your success than others who are experiencing success with similar books?

If you are new to publishing, be sure to check out my book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It’s available in print, audio, and digital at Amazon.com and elsewhere. Or order it here: http://www.matilijapress.com/PublishYourBook.html

I hope you noticed I’ve been away for a while. It’s always nice to be missed. No, I haven’t been lounging on some exotic island watching gentle waves leave foam bubbles on a white sand beach. I’ve been helping a fellow author to achieve his publishing dreams. Yup, I spent the week editing a 100,000-word manuscript.

Now I’m gearing up for another book tour featuring my latest Klepto Cat Mystery, The Colony Cat  Caper. I’ll post the schedule as soon as I have it etched in stone. But I can tell you that we’re going to have some fun. Dolly, a kitten fairly new to the series, is going to share some of her thoughts and experiences. (The cats in my stories don’t typically talk, but they do occasionally participate in blogs.)

I’ll be sharing a recipe—now that’s a first. And, of course, the blog hosts will post their reviews of The Colony Cat Caper and some of the other books in the Klepto Cat Mystery series.

In the meantime, I have to tell you the mysteries continue to sell like I never expected. I am having such a good time and I hope my readers are, too. The first in the series, Catnapped, has collected 71 reviews, many of those I generated through my own promotional efforts. But the majority of them, I believe, are due to the great job Amazon does in promoting books for their Kindle Direct Publishing authors.

If you have a novel, consider bringing it out through the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) program at Amazon and see if it will become as successful as my little cozy mysteries have been. How successful? I’m consistently selling between 50 and 130 per day!

Yeah, you can go to your page at KDP and check the ordering activity daily. And if you decide you want to produce the book in print, as well, consider going with CreateSpace. They’re easy to work with, do a good job, are prompt, AND you don’t have to ship books ordered through Amazon. CreateSpace fills your Amazon orders for print copies on demand.

http://KDP.amazon.com

http://createspace.com

No, this post isn’t about authors who engage in…ahem…extracurricular activities. Today, I want to talk about authors who write across the genres.

Most serious authors seem to write either fiction or nonfiction. They strive to perfect their writing in one category before ever tipping their toe in another. Some never do cross over from nonfiction to fiction or vice versa. Yet, I’m noticing that more of us are. And in my circle or acquaintances and colleagues, it’s from nonfiction to fiction.

Those of you who follow my blog know that I have been writing nonfiction (how-to, informational) books and articles for a very long time. Now I’m writing fiction as well. I know several others who have followed a similar path. And it seems as though these are the authors who are experiencing the greatest success.

My success with the Klepto Cat Mystery series is beyond my wildest expectations. These cozies are selling like crazy. From what I observe about my colleagues who have shifted from long-term nonfiction-writing to fiction, they are also doing exceedingly well.

Why? Perhaps it’s because we’ve put in the time. We’ve honed our writing skills; we’ve established a style. We understand more about the publishing field than the newbie author. We know how to navigate the industry. We know the value of and the psychology of marketing. We understand the importance of exposure. Since we are already embedded in a writing-related career, we know how to manage our time, how much time and energy it takes to promote a new product, and we’re wired to do what it takes.

I’d like to shine a light on a few authors I know who are parlaying their writing/management talents and skills into other areas and experiencing success.

Susan C. Daffron just came out with her second novel. She’s engaged in a blog tour as we speak. Be sure to stop over and learn more about her new venture. http://www.susandaffron.com/blog-tour-chez-stinky-june-9-july-7 Susan is the author of two romantic comedies—Chez Stinky and Fuzzy Logic. I’ve read the first—just downloaded the second to my Kindle. Can’t wait!

C. Hope Clark is now also writing fiction. The third in her Carolina Slade Mystery, Palmetto Poison was released this year. Also check out Low Country Bribe and Tidewater Murder. I’ve read the first two and really enjoyed them. And it’s not just me, look at her collection of reviews. Impressive! Hope announced in her newsletter this month that her stories are being looked at by someone in the film industry. You go, Hope!!!

I’d love to hear from other nonfiction authors who are doing well in the world of fiction.

I finished a book I was working on for a publisher this week. It took me a little over two months to write a 17-chapter, 200 manuscript-page book on how to write a book proposal. I’ll reveal more about it once the book is published, but it is a bit of a different twist on a common topic and includes guidelines for writing proposals for fiction and children’s books, as well as memoirs, inspirational books and more. I’ve also included sample book proposals that sold, which always pleases authors who are struggling with the concept of writing one.

Now I’m writing an article for Cat Fancy Magazine on godparents for cats. Interesting concept when you consider that over 500,000 pets are taken to shelters or worse once their caretaker can no longer care for them because of (the caretakers) illness or death. More and more cat owners are arranging for their cats’ care in advance of something happening to them.

I also have an editing job on my desk. Looks like it will be an interesting project. Most of those I accept are.

I’ve been racking up quite a few reviews for the Klepto Cat Mystery series. Just this morning I noticed three new ones—two were 5-star reviews and one reader slapped a puny 1-star ranking on a book in the series. Readers sure come in all sizes, shapes, and attitudes.

I’m itching to get back to writing fiction. I’m halfway through writing the 6^th in the series, but I’ve been sidelined with other projects for a few months.

But first, I plan to do some website revamping. It seems as though my websites are a little out of touch with what I’m currently doing—the direction my work is taking me. Another reminder that nothing stays the same—life is change.