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2011-04-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

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It includes breaking news, tips and tricks for the streetwise self-publisher, and success stories of interest to anyone who self-publishes a book.

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The Savvy Self-Publisher, July-August 2010

2010-07-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day! Ben Franklin and Thomas Paine were independent publishers just like us. Join us in sharing the pride we feel from sustaining this characteristically American tradition!

===> Tip of the Month: <===

Martin Shepard of Permanent Press writes:

"There is a time and place for everything, and it's high time to turn the spotlight on book reviewers in this age of shrinking review space. Instead of alerting readers to significant ideas in new works of fiction and non-fiction, reviews are increasingly about popular culture and celebrity authors. It's time that critics face criticism themselves.

"To this end we've created The Donkey Award (Equus Asinus). An engraved plaque will be awarded for the Best Abuse Of Space For The Least Deserving Book; in short for the most asinine review of the year.

"The award ceremony will feature various asinine reviews, which will be distributed to the press to illustrate our point, along with statements from the judges, most of whom will be in attendance. A donkey will also be present, if he is not too embarrassed to attend." More:

http://www.thecockeyedpessimist.com

===> Quickie <===

We want to coin a new term: DIYP. Not just "self-publishing"but "Do-it-yourSELF-Publishing." It is intended to describe the process of those who use services like Blurb, CafePress, CreateSpace, Lulu, Wordclay, etc. where authors prepare books for publication themselves, rather than paying substantial fees to vanity presses.

DIYP does not replace the term "self-publishing" but adds a distinction between a) conventional self-publishing, where the author works with an editor, book designer, printer, etc.; versus b) DIYP; versus c) vanity or subsidy publishing.

===> Lead Story: e-Book Boom Continues <===

If you missed BEA and IBPA's Publishing University in June, shame on you. But you can watch a lively broadcast of experts discussing e-Books:

http://beyondthebookcast.com/live-webcast/

The trendy new iPad has now sold more than 3 million units. The Kindle has more than 5 million users. Barnes and Noble and Borders have both launched their own devices for e-reading...

But don't overlook smartphones. The iPhone and iPod alone boast more than 50 million users already, and could reach 100 million in 2011. The Google Droid, Palm Pre, Sprint Evo and others will add millions more.

Reading on handheld devices is growing rapidly. Estimates vary, but some observers believe that book related apps are the #2 leader at Apple's wildly popular App Store.

Stay tuned to this newsletter for updates!

===> Help Spread the Word? <===

Please feel free to forward copies of this newsletter to your fellow authors and publishers. This is a fre* resource that is available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't accept paid advertising, endorse or guarantee products or services, nor accept fees for mentioning them without full disclosure. To subscribe:

http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm

===> Donate Books for Children <===

The Madera County Child Abuse Prevention Council (MCCAPC) in California wants donated books for children. MCCAPC is a non-profit agency (ID # 82-0576184).

For the 14th year, MCCAPC will be hosting an annual community event. A popular activity is 'Story Time' where volunteers read stories to the children. This year they want to offer a free book to each child who participates in Story Time. Hopefully, receiving a book to take home will encourage the joys of reading. If you have spare books for children, please consider donating them.

-Barbara Bailey, Event Chair: barbarab@inreach.com

===> Quotation of the Month for Self-Publishers <===

"Without promotion, something terrible happens ... NOTHING!"

-P.T. Barnum

===> The Write Stuff <===

The word "misled" is sometimes mis-pronounced "myzelled" rather than "miss-led" but the latter is correct.

This is a regular feature of this newsletter, intended to help subscribers polish their writing. Got a pet peeve? Share it by e-mailing newsdesk@u-publish.com with suggestions.

===> News You Can Use <===

Concise and easy to use, "The Best Little Grammar Book Ever!" has the answers to the most common problems and grammar issues that stump and confuse us -- about 125 pages. For more information:

http://www.bigwords101.com

===> Reminder: Another Dog Rescue <===

Each month we post a dog adoption item from fellow self-publisher Jen Pavlovic, author of "8 State Hurricane Kate" and a brand new book titled "Not Without My Dog." Below is a new one:

Australian Cattle Dog Rescue of Illinois has some really NEAT dogs available for adoption! Some have herding ability, some play ball, and/or Frisbee (disc). Some have the drive needed for agility, rally, search and rescue, and more.

Come take a look! You'll surely take one home! http://www.australiancattledogrescue.net

Please consider forwarding this to fellow animal lovers. We're hoping that the self-publishing community will pitch in to help Jenny continue her efforts to find homes for our four-legged friends, month after month.

===> Reminder: Self-Published Book Expo <===

Danny O. Snow will join a panel of 'visionary' publishers at the 2010 Self Published Book Expo, October 2 in NYC:

http://www.selfpubbookexpo.com

Snow's appearance will be in conjunction with the launch of a new program for self-publishing e-Books for the iPhone and iPad... a great way to reach an audience of 50 million worldwide, with no financial investment by the writer:

http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/spbe

The Savvy Self-Publisher, May-June 2010

2010-05-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

===> Tip of the Month: Function Trumps Form <===

This e-mail bulletin uses the simplest possible formatting. Why? Because it is read by authors and publishers worldwide, who use a staggering variety of different computer hardware, operating systems, e-mail software, etc. And many of our subscribers regularly forward tidbits to their colleagues, who may in turn use completely different systems. We want them all to read this newsletter with ease.

Heavily-formatted e-mail (such as messages generated by AOL, some Web-based mail services, Microsoft Outlook, etc.) often introduces Web-like formatting that might look fancy to the original sender... but all too frequently appears choppy when read on other hardware or software platforms.

Our solution is to strip away the bells and whistles as much as possible, using plain text that's legible on nearly any computer. The emphasis is on CONTENT rather than APPEARANCE. For those who prefer a more polished presentation, we also re-post excerpts at http://u-publish.blogspot.com (where subscribers can also post comments) periodically. But this e-mail bulletin itself, by design, is sent with accessibility and simplicity in mind foremost.

If you are promoting a book online, keep this strategy in mind... is it more important for your communications to prospective readers to look fancy -- or to actually get READ? The answer is simple; the choice is yours...

===> Quickie <===

Dan Poynter, Danny O. Snow and Steve Carlson of Upper Access Books will hold a panel titled "What Kind of Publisher Do You Want to Be?" at IBPA's 'Publishing University' in NYC, May 24.

The panel will compare trade publishing, self-publishing and POD publishing as different options for today's small press or micro publisher.

Pub-U is THE place for newcomers to the book world to get a crash course in publishing from some of the world's most authoritative sources. In just two days, you can learn how to publish a better books, avoid costly mistakes that often haunt the neophyte, and how to sell more books in today's ever-changing landscape:

http://thepublishinguniversity.com

===> Lead Story: Poynter Blasts Advance Review Requirements <===

From a recent post by Dan Poynter:

"Prepublication reviews are history because bookstore selling-seasons are history.

"Independent bookstores follow three selling-seasons per year: four months each.

"The purpose of pre-pub reviews [was] to alert the independent stores while the publishers' sales reps were out visiting them. Store owners could read the reviews, listen to the reps and make buying decisions.

"But independent book stores have been going out of business at the rate of two per week in the UK and three per week in United States. They can't compete with the online stores because their location, location, location is downtown where the rents are high. Goodbye Indies; the handwriting is on the wall.

"Without independent stores, there is no need for selling seasons. Without selling seasons, there is no need for pre-pub reviews."

The 'Other' Dan (Snow) adds: "Book reviews are still valuable to the reading public -- but wouldn't it be better if books were selected for review on the basis of merit, topic, or buzz... rather than mere newness? Let's hope that leading book review publications will soon drop requirements that force authors and publishers to submit copies months before public release."

===> News You Can Use <===

For his eighth book, "Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet," Shel Horowitz and his co-author, Jay Levinson, donated a small portion of the first month's sales to a relevant charity, Green America, and linked to the organization from the book's website. In return, the group featured the book in a newsletter sent to its 94,000 members. Visit Shel at http://www.guerrillamarketinggoesgreen.com for details.

Dan Snow adds: nearly ANY book holds some kind of connection to a worthy cause. Identify a good match between your book and a nonprofit, then offer to earmark a share of proceeds from orders placed by its members. If you use POD, you probably even create a customized special edition for this purpose. For the nonprofit, it's an easy, no-cost way to generate much-needed funds; for the author-publisher, it attracts potential readers with a direct interest in the subject; for the members, it's a good read about a topic they enjoy. Everyone wins.

===> Self-Published Book Expo <===

Danny O. Snow will join a panel of 'visionary' publishers at the 2010 Self Published Book Expo, October 2 in NYC:

http://www.selfpubbookexpo.com

Snow's appearance will be in conjunction with the launch of a new program for self-publishing e-Books for the iPhone and iPad... a great way to reach an audience of 50 million worldwide, with no financial investment by the writer:

http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/spbe

===> The Write Stuff <===

The meaning of "nauseous" is CAUSING nausea, not experiencing it. The word "nauseated" means experiencing nausea. People who feel sick sometimes say "I'm nauseous," when they mean to say "I'm nauseated."

This is a regular feature of this newsletter, intended to help subscribers polish their writing. Got a pet peeve? Share it by e-mailing newsdesk@u-publish.com with suggestions.

THE SAVVY SELF-PUBLISHER: March-April 2010

2010-03-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

===> Tip of the Month <===

The back cover of your book is best used to show prospective readers how
they will benefit from buying. The author's photo and bio can go INSIDE,
reserving the valuable "real estate" on the back cover for attracting buyers.

===> Quickie <===

March 7-13 is "Read an eBook Week." Visit http://www.ebookweek.com for
freebies, product reviews, more.

===> News You Can Use: Book Signings <===

See http://bobspear.wordpress.com for a concise discussion of book signings
from a veteran book industry observer and participant, Bob Spear.

===> Lead Story: e-Book Breakthrough? <===

AppsPublisher.com is offering authors and publishers a fast and easy new
way to publish e-books for users of the iPhone, Blackberry, Droid and other
smartphones... more than 50 MILLION worldwide and growing rapidly. There
are NO up-front fees; they handle the technical hassles, and get the
finished e-Book set up at the Apple Apps Store and other outlets. You set
the price, and may change it at any time. For a special affiliate code
that gets you an extra 5% payout, see:

http://www.u-publish.com/smart

===> The Write Stuff: <===

Did you know that there are only three words in the English language that
begin with "dw?" Dwarf and dwell are two of them. Can you name the third?
(Answer in next issue.)

A "quote" is a cost estimate; a "quotation" is an excerpt from a piece of
writing.

===> Love Your Library <===

Literacy Link - Leamos is a volunteer tutoring program operating in a
small, rural community in Southwest New Mexico. They tutor adults and
children, read to children in classrooms, distribute information on the
importance of reading and provide resources to those who cannot afford to
buy books and supplies for themselves. E-mail
Linda@Silvercity-realestate.com (or call 505-538-2931) if you have books to
donate. FMI:

www.gilarangers.com/leamos.htm

===> The e-Book Bandwagon: Fact and Fiction <===

Danny O. Snow will present a report on e-Book trends to the Bay Area
Independent Publishers Association on March 13. Preview:

http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/baipa

===> Shameless Sales Pitch <===

The 2010 edition of U-Publish.com is out. Sure, you've read an earlier
edition or two, but the publishing world is changing almost daily in
2010... don't you deserve the latest information? A single new tip could
save you MANY TIMES the cost of obtaining it. Please visit
http://www.u-publish.com/order.htm to preview.

The Savvy Self-Publisher, Oct-Nov 2009

2009-11-27T23:59:00.000-08:00

Tip of the Month: holiday scam warning!

During early December, be selective about deciding who receives free review copies of your book, because there may be self-proclaimed "book reviewers" who are actually just trolling for free holiday gifts. It might be an urban legend, but one story says that a publisher received a request for "review" copies of several titles... concluding "And could you gift-wrap them please?"

Quickie: Tweeting for Fun and Profit?

Writers who use Twitter.com to promote their books saw it coming: yep, a company called "Ad.ly" is now paying twitterers (twits?) with big followings to post ads in their tweets. Meanwhile, anecdotal reports suggest a huge attrition rate among Twitter users, prompting us to ask "Are Twitters Quitters?" -- or is this trend just another symptom of today's ADD epidemic?

Lead Story: e-Books going wild?

Recent developments in e-publishing suggest that the growth of e-Books seen in 2008 - 2009 continues to gain momentum. Consider these reports:

Amazon has started selling the Kindle in Europe. There are reportedly now more than 3 million Kindles in use, and growing.

The iPhone and iPod Touch jointly boast more than 50 MILLION users. In October 2009, the Apple "Apps Store" reported more downloads of book-related items than game-related items for the first time. Rival smartphones like the G3-Android and the Palm Pre will add millions more users, hungry for content to download, in 2010.

Smashwords.com has announced new deals that will let its users sell their books at Fictionwise.com (a Barnes & Noble property) and Amazon, although they lack copy protection as of today.

Lulu.com now allows users to upload EPUB files (as well as Word files, PDF files and other formats) then sell COPY-PROTECTED e-Books in Adobe Digital Editions format from their site. For now, Adobe Digital Editions with copy protection won’t run on the iPhone, but…

A senior executive at Adobe reports that copy-protected Adobe Digital Editions may soon run on the iPhone: "We have a number of partners who are looking to simply port… to the iPhone:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/readermobile

…Since we don't control development schedules of our … licensees, I don't have any exact dates for you. But, I expect that in 2010 there will be many iPhone apps which support PDF, EPUB and Adobe DRM."

Scrollmotion announced that it has partnered with Aptara Corporation to provide "one-stop shopping" for publishers who want to sell copy-protected e-Books for the iPhone. Stay tuned for updates as to whether this new service is suitable for authors as well as publishers.

U-Publish.com co-author Danny O. Snow has published two FREE e-Booklets (about 2000 words each) about current trends in e-publishing for the Society for New Communications Research in recent months:

Publishing at a Tipping Point

and

Mythconceptions: A Reality Check on e-Books from the Publisher's POV

If you are planning to enter the escalating e-Book market, these brief reports can help you navigate the complicated technical and business landscape of e-publishing as it stands in 2009, and where to focus your time and resources for 2010 and beyond.

POD for Dummies finally published

The long-awaited Dummies book about on-demand printing from BISG.org and Wiley & Sons is finally out:

http://www.bisg.org/publications/product.php?p=20&c=437

It's geared more for publishers than writers, but includes a treasure trove of info that savvy writers should know about how the "Big Boys" use POD to slash costs and boost revenues.

U-Publish.com co-author Danny O. Snow (a contributor to several sections of the new Dummies book) is offering free copies to the first three of this newsletter's subscribers who post meaningful commentary here by December 31.

Please help spread the word!

Please recommend this newsletter to your fellow authors and publishers. This is a free resource that is available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't accept paid advertising, endorse or guarantee products or services, nor accept fees for mentioning them without full disclosure. See http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm to subscribe.

Reminder: call for entries, 2010 Eric Hoffer Award:

$1500 grand prize, $45 entry fee. "Each year, independent publishers release extraordinary books to little or no recognition. The Eric Hoffer Book Award recognizes excellence in publishing." Categories: Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Children, Young Adult, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Self-Help/Spiritual, Legacy (fiction or nonfiction).

Entry deadline January 21st, 2010. Details:

http://www.hofferaward.com

The Write Stuff:

"They're" is strictly a contraction of "they are." The word "their" connotes plural ownership, as in "Poynter and Snow will soon update their book." But "there" indicates location, such as "put the book there." All three words sound alike, but are spelled differently, and mean different things. Check your manuscript carefully for usage of all three words before putting it in print!

By popular demand, this newsletter features a basic tip like this on word usage in each issue. Please don't be offended if they seem elementary to you; we have seen far too many books in print (some of them otherwise promising) with glaring errors in spelling or grammar.

Writers -- even professional ones -- are often so close to their own work that they overlook problems that might seem obvious to an outsider. It's always a good idea to get a qualified proofreader or editor to review any manuscript before it's published!

The Savvy Self-Publisher, July-August 2009

2009-07-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day - the right to publish our own books
is among the greatest freedoms we enjoy. Benjamin Franklin was
a self-publisher; so was Thomas Paine... why not you?

Tip of the Month:
Ever wonder why many books have TWO title pages?

It's a tradition retained from the days when books were reserved
for the wealthy (the poor couldn't read anyway) who had private
libraries. Books were custom-bound for each owner's library,
usually in leather, with a family crest.

The first title page, called the 'half-title' (or 'bastard
title') page, was to protect the rest of the pages for the book
binder. It was removed when the binding was completed. The
second title page, or 'full-title' page, remained bound inside
the finished book.

Today, the half-title page isn't really needed, but is often
retained... an interesting artifact of days gone by.

Lead Story:
New iPhone and Competitors Gain Momentum... BUT...

The new iPhone 3GS was released in June with a TON of buzz.
Competing smartphones like the Palm Pre and the Google Android
are also growing rapidly in popularity.

Smartphones are VERY important to authors and publishers, since
they may very well become the primary way that readers read books
in the not-too-distant future.

A few years ago, they could be overlooked, simply because relatively
few Americans used handheld devices for reading. But there were 17
million iPhones in use before the release of the 3GS... projections
for 2010 range as high as 35 million.

In Japan, where smartphones are nearly universal, five of the
top ten bestsellers of 2007 were cell phone novels:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/world/asia/20japan.html

This is good news for foresighted authors and publishers in the
US, most of whom are already moving rapidly to add electronic
versions of their books.

But the news isn't all good. AT&T still has a stranglehold on
the iPhone; Sprint has the Pre... this means that users are not
just buying a phone, but an ongoing service on which the phone's
functions depend. This is bad news for consumers, and those who
want to reach them:

http://www.freepress.net/FreeMyPhone

In conclusion, if you write or publish books, NOW is the time
to get moving toward electronic distribution. Smartphones will
almost certainly be a big part of the future market for books.
Don't get left behind by offering your book only in printed
form.

There are still many questions about which devices for reading
e-Books will ultimate prevail in the marketplace, the file
formats they use, who will sell them to the public, and more.
Please stay tuned to this newsletter for updates!

U-Publish.com Freebie:
Smashwords Re-Releases Snow's e-Book

Smashwords has re-released Danny O. Snow's 2002 collection of
articles on electronic publishing, titled 'Steal this e-Book!"

It is available as a FR@E download, in a wide variety of formats
for the Kindle, iPhone, Sony e-Reader and others:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2313

For those unfamiliar with Smashwords, it is a new e-publishing
and bookselling site that provides fre@ online file conversion
from Word or RTF to every major e-Book format. It also provides
e-commerce, and online community networking services... also
at no charge to the author. Royalties are a whopping 85% of
net profits.

It does NOT however provide DRM (to deter piracy) of any kind.
Nor is it suitable for books with complicated layouts, complex
graphs, charts, etc.

But if you have written a book that is primarily simple text,
and want a way to make it widely available as a DRM-fr*e e-Book
without spending a dime, Smashwords is definitely worth a try.

The Write Stuff:

A "quote" is an cost estimate from a vendor or service provider.

A "quotation" is a reproduction of a person's statement.

The phrase "Here is a quote from Shakespeare..." is incorrect.
It should read "Here is a quotation..." instead.

By popular demand, this newsletter will feature a similar tip
in each issue henceforth.

DOJ Opens Formal Investigation of Google Settlement

You've heard the rumors before, but now it's official. The
U.S. Department of Justice has launched an anti-trust inquiry
of the much-publicized settlement in October 2008 that would
allow the release of MILLIONS of books online by Google:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10278473-93.html

Danny O. Snow's personal POV: Of course, no one wants a monopoly
in the book world, online or offline. Whether Amazon and the
Kindle (or Sony and the e-Reader) can effectively compete is
hard to predict. At the same time, I see no company but Google
with both the resources and willingness to take this historic
step forward in the history of the written word. The current
squabbling makes me imagine that a cure for cancer has finally
been found... but is delayed while pharmaceutical companies
and the FDA jockey for position. I'm sure that some parties
have valid reasons to question the settlement -- and they
deserve answers. But how long do we stall the dawn of a new
age for books? If not Google, who? If not now, when?

The Savvy Self-Publisher, June-July 2009

2009-06-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Tip of the Month:

The title of your book (or at least the subtitle) must include
key phrases used by readers when they use search engines to find
books. For example: "Writing Nonfiction" by Dan Poynter gets
top rankings from all major search engines. The "shelving code"
(such as "Language Arts and Disciplines / Authorship") should
also be part of the title or subtitle if possible:

http://www.bisg.org/standards/bisac_subject/major_subjects.html

Book publicity in the 21st century is increasingly driven by
Web exposure. These tips will help your book get more attention
from search engines. Read our guide for more good ideas about
online marketing.

Lead Story: BEA Bombshell: Google to Challenge Amazon:

[June 1 -- New York] At BookExpo America in New York over the
weekend, Google announced a program that would allow publishers
to sell digital versions of their books directly to consumers.
According to the NY Times, "The move would pit Google against
Amazon.com, which is seeking to control the e-book market with
the versions it sells for its Kindle reading device." FMI:

http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/21477

As brick-and-mortar bookstores struggle, Poynter and Snow pre-
dict that Amazon and Google will capture more and more of the
$25 billion annual market for books. Meanwhile, e-Books will
represent a growing share of the total.

Two trends are intersecting: online bookselling is overtaking
brick-and-mortar bookstores, while e-Books (though still in
their infancy) are gaining ground on tree-Books.

A titanic battle is shaping up between Amazon -- which uses
proprietary hardware and software -- versus Google, which
favors "open platform" reading devices and file formats.

Whatever the outcome, we remind authors and publishers that
2009 and 2010 will be watershed years, as the book industry
follows music (and newspapers) into the digital world of the
21st century. Now is the time to anticipate dramatic changes,
and position yourself to sell books online, whether in print,
digital formats, or both!

275,232 Books Published in 2008:

A staggering 275k new books were published last year, down 3.2%
from 2007, according to a report this week from R.R. Bowker,
publisher of Books in Print. However, the number of POD books
grew 132% in 2008, further accelerating the boom that began in
2006:

http://www.bookbusinessmag.com/enews/mobile.html

U-Publish.com is a POD book, and it shows others how to use POD
to slash the cost of self-publishing. POD is increasingly used
by mainstream publishers too. POD makes book publishing more
efficient, greener, more democratic and more equitable to both
readers and writers.

Poynter and Snow predicted the POD boom as early as 1999. Now
it is rapidly becoming the dominant technology of the book world.
More changes are on the horizon; please read our books and reports
to keep ahead of the times!

Snow Joins IBPA Board:

Danny O. Snow has been elected to the board of directors of the
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA-online.org), the
largest association of independent publishers in North America.
IBPA represents more than 3,500 publishing firms coast to coast:

http://www.newcommreview.com/?p=1425

Snow adds: "Your suggestions for priorities will be welcome.
Please e-mail co-publisher@u-publish.com with ideas, and kindly
include a daytime phone number for follow-up questions."

The Write Stuff:

The word "media" is plural, though frequently mis-used in the
singular form -- even by members of the media! When a reporter
says "The media covers breaking news..." s/he should be scolded;
the correct usage is "The media COVER breaking news..."

By popular demand, this newsletter will feature a similar tip
in each issue henceforth.

Help from Bestselling Author:

Afraid that reading is dead? That printed newspapers and
books are doomed?

Dave Eggers, bestselling author of "A Heartbreaking Work of
Staggering Genius," will personally give you encouragement:

http://mobile.booktrade.info/index.php/news/21551

The Savvy Self-Publisher, May-June 2009

2009-05-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

Tip of the Month:

If your book has been indexed by Google Book Search, you can
add a free "Look Inside" preview on your own Web site or
'Blog by adding just a few lines of code. Here is an example:

http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/power

Detailed instructions will appear on our Blog soon, or see:

http://books.google.com/intl/en/googlebooks/publishers.html

Lead Story: ATM for Books?

More than 80,000 different books will soon become available for
in-store printing while you wait, as part of a new pilot program
from POD giant LightningSource and On Demand Books:

https://www.lightningsource.com/NewsItem.aspx?id=CST118

Bookstores are dying in 2009 as online booksellers grow, as
reported in earlier issues of this newsletter. But is there
an alternative? Imagine that cool little bookstore 'round the
corner offering your choice from tens of thousands of selections
in the time it takes for you to enjoy a cappucino and browse
the shelves...

It could become a reality soon. More importantly, this concept
could expand to MILLIONS of books available for in-store printing
in the years ahead (read: Google Book Search) and yes, YOUR book
could be one of them!

Please stay tuned to U-Publish.com for future updates. Perhaps
reports about the demise of brick-and-mortar bookstores (to
paraphrase Mark Twain) are premature?

The $359 Doorstop:

If your Amazon account is closed for any reason, your Kindle
stops working:

http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/20723

First Self-Publishing Book Expo Planned:

November 7 in NYC:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6651681.html

Please feel free to forward copies of this newsletter to your
fellow authors and publishers. This is a fre@ resource that is
available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't
accept paid advertising, endorse or guarantee products or
services, nor accept fees for mentioning them without full
disclosure. See http://www.u-publish.com/monthly.htm to join.

Great 'Blog about the Future of e-Books:

"If you wonder why bookstores keep going out of business and why
publishers are losing money, here is a clue..." Worth a look:

http://ebooksabout.blogspot.com

Snow to Speak in NYC in May -- Twice

Danny O. Snow will join the 'faculty' IBPA's 25th annual
"Publishing University," May 28 at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC:

http://www.thepublishinguniversity.com

The sponsor, the Independent Book Publishers Association
(formerly PMA) is an invaluable resource for anyone getting
started in publishing:

http://www.ibpa-online.com

Snow will also join a panel on trends in POD book publishing
on May 29 at Book Expo America, sponsored by CreateSpace.com.

Publishing U and BEA are landmark events, of interest to all
authors and publishers. More details will appear in the June
issue of this bulletin.

Update on Google / Book Rights Registry:

The New York Law School is launching a Web site dedicated to the
Google Book Search settlement that will include discussion
forums, a comprehensive archive of settlement documents and
related commentary:

http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/21123

The Savvy Self-Publisher, March-April 2009

2009-03-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

Tip of the Month:
Twitter in Plain English

Just when you thought that your MySpace or Facebook page might prove useful as a tool to promote your book(s), another flavor of the month has become the rage in social media: welcome to the world of Twitter.

"What are you doing right now?" might sound like a mantra for
those with too much free time on their hands, short attention
spans and little desire for privacy... but Twitter can help
writers cultivate a following from a grassroots audience by
sending "tweets" (limited to 140 characters each) about their
lives that could catch the attention of potential readers.

Or you can create a free Twitter page from the POV of the
protagonist of your story, and let her/him keep readers updated.

If you're a writer who is committed to riding the ever-changing
wave of new media to publicize your work, you need to explore
Twitter.

For a brief overview about Twitter in plain English, watch this
short video from Lee Lefever:

http://www.commoncraft.com/Twitter

Lead Story:
Talking Kindle Fuels Debate

Amazon's new Kindle2 'read-to-me' feature turns text to voice.
It is under review by The Author's Guild due to potential
copyright issues.

Publishers typically negotiate separate rights for audio books
with authors, and pay them accordingly. "These are not audio
books," said Amazon spokesperson Andrew Herdener.

The Authors Guild also questioned whether the technology could
constitute creation of a new literature format that fell
under copyright rules now protecting e-book and audio books.

As a result, Amazon has pledged to modify the Kindle 2 so that
authors, publishers or any holders to a book's rights can
choose whether to turn on the feature, which takes written
text and converts it to human speech.

JT Duxbury, author of "Earth's Knell," licensed rights to
convert the 2004 edition of "U-Publish.com" from text to
speech with permission from the publisher. We found it a
nice option for readers with impaired vision, and readers
on the go who may not have time to "read" a paperback:

http://stores.lulu.com/cdbooks

Remember this tip from Poynter & Snow: WRITING the book
is the hard part; once written, it makes sense to deliver
your work to the public in as many formats as possible.
With today's technology, it's fast and economical to
turn a paperback into a hardback, large print edition,
e-Book or talking book. Why not attract readers with
special needs?

Last Call: Snow to Speak in NYC

"Print Publishing in 2009's Digital Landscape" is the topic of
an upcoming panel by Danny O. Snow at the 2009 Publishing
Business Conference, March 23-25 at the New York Marriott in
Times Square.

Adam Davidson and Alex Blumberg of NPR, plus a host of book
industry leaders will deliver a diversity of workshops and
panels on the hottest trends in today's fast-changing
publishing world.

Subscribers to this newsletter can get a free pass to Snow's
panel. Visit http://www.PublishingBusiness.com then select
"Expo Pass Plus 1 Session – $195." Use the discount code
Snow09 to get a freebie courtesy of U-Publish.com.

It's "Read an e-Book Week," March 8-14:

http://www.ebookweek.com

In previous years, Poynter and Snow's books have been featured
by this foresighted outfit. Check out their site for the latest
news about the role of e-Books in the future of the written word.

There was a 119.9% increase in December 2008 e-book sales over
the same period one year ago:

http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/19856

New Site for Writers to Share Ideas:

Speak Without Interruption was created as a place where writers
can initiate and complete ideas. It has grown to include both
published and unpublished authors as contributors in a wide
variety of topics. Any writer may participate:

http://www.SpeakWithoutInterruption.com

News to Use:

F R @ E book download available for authors titled "The Career
Novelist, by notable literary agent Donald Maass:

http://www.maassagency.com/books.html

Tip courtesy of Jim Duxbury

Quotation of the Month:

"Beautiful credit! The foundation of modern society... [From]
the mouth of a distinguished speculator in lands and mines this
remark: 'I wasn't worth a cent two years ago, and now I owe two
millions of dollars.'"

-- Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910), and
Charles Dudley Warner (1829-1900) in "The Gilded Age."

This 'Blog presents only EXCERPTS from our newsletter.
Click the link below to get the FULL edition by e-mail:

http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm

The Savvy Self-Publisher, February-March 2009

2009-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

Tip of the Month:

Have you published a new edition of your book, or written a
completely new book?

Go to Worldcat and look up libraries that hold
the first one in their collections. Then notify the collection
manager (or acquisitions librarian) of each library that the
new one is now available.

Contact each librarian individually by name. (Do not spam
librarians!) Be sure to mention that the library already has
one of your books, and where they can order the new one.

Lead Story: Books are NOT Dead, but...

Educators and politicians often lament that young people don't
read enough, preferring TV and online entertainment.

But a new report from the National Endowment for the Arts says
that "literary" reading is growing, not shrinking, with 112
million readers:

http://www.nea.gov/news/news09/ReadingonRise.html

Likewise, many in the publishing world fear that the printed
book is fading away, as more people read in digital form.
But books are not dying either:

http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=8501

But bookstores ARE dying as more and more readers buy books
online. This trend is virtually certain to accelerate in a
time of economic crisis and high fuel prices. Why drive to
a bookstore when you can browse online from the comfort of
your home or office, saving time, money and natural resources?

Likewise, the traditional publishing industry practice of
printing and warehousing thousands of copies of each new
book is fading away, as "Print-on-Demand" grows more and
more popular.

The traditional publisher's habit of overprinting, then
giving up big discounts to wholesalers and retailers who
return unsold books for pulping is wasteful, inefficient and
environmentally unfriendly. It will be replaced by more and
more authors self-publishing POD books -- then selling them
directly to readers.

Watch for dramatic changes in the book world this year. Some
will result from short-term factors triggered by the global
economic crisis. Others are coming after decades of unsound
business practices by mainstream publishers and booksellers.

But at the end of the day, the book itself is very much alive.
And everyday people are still reading them. Only the methods
used to print and deliver books are destined to change.

Podcasting: Revolution or Fad?

A podcast is like an audio book, except shorter -- usually just
a chapter. And usually they're free, intended to attract book
buyers. Podiobooks.com says that 45,000 podcasts are downloaded
daily.

Podcasting also benefits from the current trend toward delivery
of more and more "reading" material to portable devices, such
as the mighty iPod... and now the iPhone or Google Android.

For success stories of self-publishers who used podcasting to
land publishing deals, see the following article:

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1872381,00.html

Snow Signs with Wiley & Sons

The Book Industry Study Group is pleased to announce that Danny
O. Snow has been signed as a contributor to its upcoming
publication Print on Demand For Dummies (R), due out in May 2009. The book is being published in partnership with John Wiley
& Sons, publishers of the popular 'For Dummies' (R) series, and
will be available exclusively from the BISG Web site.

Reminder: Snow to Speak in NYC

"Print Publishing in 2009's Digital Landscape" is the topic of
an upcoming panel by Danny O. Snow at the 2009 Publishing
Business Conference, March 23-25 at the New York Marriott in
Times Square.

Adam Davidson and Alex Blumberg of NPR, plus a host of book
industry leaders will deliver a diversity of workshops and
panels on the hottest trends in today's fast-changing
publishing world.

Subscribers to this newsletter can get a free pass to Snow's
panel Visit http://www.PublishingBusiness.com then select
"EXHIBIT HALL + 1 SESSION." Use the discount code Snow09
to get a freebie courtesy of U-Publish.com.

Quotation of the Month:

"Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to
better." -- Richard Hooker (1554–1600)

The Savvy Self-Publisher, January-February 2009

2009-01-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

Tip of the Month:

WeRead.com is a new social networking site for book lovers. It
could prove especially helpful to authors and publishers for two
reasons: a) most books sold by Amazon.com and Lulu.com are now
listed in its catalog; and b) it is now integrated with Facebook,
allowing FB users to recommend books to their friends.

For those unfamiliar with today's social networking phenomenon,
imagine that you have published a book and joined Facebook.
With WeRead, you can "chuck" (recommend) it to your circle of
FB friends, and ask them to do likewise. Each of your friends
has a separate circle of other friends who might be interested
in your book. Each of those in your friend's circle has more...
and so on and so on.

Facebook has more than 80 million users, so a "viral marketing"
campaign for your book could potentially reach a huge audience.

If you have a book on Amazon or Lulu (or both) you can join
Facebook and install the WeRead application at no cost. Build
a circle of friends, then chuck your book(s) to them -- and ask
them to do the same. Who knows? Your book might interest many
friends-of-friends who would otherwise miss it.

For more tips on using Facebook as a book promotion tool, see
the item from SPAN following later in this newsletter...

Lead Story: Are Bookstores Doomed?

On January 5, Borders appointed Ron Marshall as its new CEO,
as well as replacing other key executives.

The company's stock, which first tanked in March 2007, had
recently fallen to as little as 38 cents per share, down from
a 52 week high of $11.20. It soared to a whopping 59 cents
on the day following the announcement. (NYSE: BGP)

If Marshall can rescue Borders, he'll earn our applause.
But this would not, however, change the sorry state of the
conventional bookselling industry in general. To counter-
paraphrase McCain, "the fundamentals are NOT strong."

Return policies (stocking books on spec) are wasteful and
unfair to authors and publishers. Shipping the same book
five times between printer and reader is insane. Focusing
on a handful of trendy bestsellers at the expense of less
commercial books with legitimate literary merit is a shame
for everyone.

As Poynter and Snow have said for years: booksellers need
to remember the lessons learned in the music business
(Napster, iTunes, etc.) to survive. Book sales will
increasingly happen online, period. Books will move more
and more directly from author to reader, period. e-Books
will play an increasingly important role, period.

The upcoming re-release of millions of out-of-print and
backlist books by Google Book Search will intensify the
pressure on "brick and mortar" booksellers to catch up in
a changing world.

A few years ago, chain stores could argue "but we have
millions of loyal customers." (Just like Tower Records,
circa 1999.) Today, that claim rings increasingly hollow:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/weekinreview/28streitfeld.html

But bookstores might survive with in-store printing, or
possibly following the old Sears "catalog store" model
that lets customers browse in the store, then place
orders for shipment to their homes. However, using stores
as mini-warehouses (supplied from maxi-warehouses) will
soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.

We hope that Ron Marshall is successful in bringing
Borders back from the brink of ruin. Either way, we
also hope that the struggles of Borders will help drag
all mainstream booksellers (kicking and screaming if
neccesary) into the 21st Century.

Reminder: News to Use:

The Small Publishers Ass'n of North America (SPAN) has published
a good primer on how you can use Facebook to promote your book:

http://www.spannet.org/article-applequist-facebook.htm

(Ad) You can also join SPAN with a *huge* "new member discount"
courtesy of U-Publish.com. To get the discount, you must apply
using the following link:

http://www.u-publish.com/services.htm

Snow to Speak in NYC

"Print Publishing in 2009's Digital Landscape" is the topic of
an upcoming panel by Danny O. Snow at the 2009 Publishing
Business Conference, March 23-25 at the New York Marriott in
Times Square.

Adam Davidson and Alex Blumberg of NPR, plus a host of book
industry leaders will deliver a diversity of workshops and
panels on the hottest trends in today's fast-changing
publishing world.

Subscribers to this newsletter can get a free pass to Snow's
panel by sending an e-mail message to newsdesk@u-publish.com
by February 1. Please put "March Event" in the subject line.

Visit

http://www.PublishingBusiness.com for more information.

CreateSpace Now Offers Previews

Got a book in progress? Want feedback from readers before you
go to press?

Createspace.com now allows you to upload a public
or private preview, and invite up to 100 people to preview it,
rate it, and send feedback to five questions of your choice.

Professionals use "focus groups" to fine-tune other products
before public release. Why not fine-tune your book? Many
publishers circulate bound galleys to reviewers months before
publication, but this can be a slow and expensive process.

This is an effective way to "workshop" a manuscript without
paying to print and distribute advance copies. Or use it to
get "blurbs" (endorsements) from readers that make good
advertising copy -- especially if they are VIPs or experts in
your field.

As an added benefit, after you have evaluated the feedback
from early readers, revised your manuscript and are ready to
go public, you can also use Createspace as a POD printer that
accepts orders from the public, prints and ships your book,
then pays you a royalty on each sale.

Library Downloads Jumped 76% in 2008

Library patrons checked out 5.3 million e-Books (plus audio
and video) in 2008, using Overdrive.com's delivery platform:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6626593.html

Stephenie Meyer was the most downloaded author at libraries
with her book "Twilight."

As Publishers Cut Back, Self-Publishing Is Better than Ever:

It was hard to land a traditional publishing contract BEFORE
the global economic crisis of 2008. Now it's even harder --
but self-publishing is easier and more effective than ever
before!

In his highly informative post below, David Carnoy covers most
of the latest options in the POD and self-publishing landscape:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-10119891-82.html

This report is highly recommended as a "quick start" roadmap
for authors who want to self-publish in 2009. For the advanced
course, get the upcoming 2009 edition of our book, which will
address many of the same options in greater detail.

Workshop for Texans:

THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING WORKSHOP SERIES, Saturday Jan 17,
Houston. $45 registration includes lunch. Call 713-937-9184
or e-mail rita.mills@comcast.net for details. Bring your
marketing materials for the free display table. RSVP by 1/13.

Ad: Prove Your Market Before Printing in Bulk

Special services for U-Publish.com visitors help you prove the
market for your book BEFORE you invest in bulk printing:

http://www.u-publish.com/special.htm

Don't get stuck with a garage full of unsold books! Test your
book's public appeal at little or no cost before placing big
print orders.

Quotation of the Month:

"The [wise] reader... is capable of reading between these lines
what does not stand written in them, but is nevertheless implied."

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

The Savvy Self-Publisher, December 2008 - January 2009

2008-12-01T00:02:00.001-08:00

Tip of the Month:

If you need books for re-sale during the holidays, allow extra
time for printing, and extra time for shipping. The period from
November 15 to December 15 is traditionally the busiest time of
the year for printers, rushing books to market for the holidays.
Likewise, shippers like UPS and *especially* the USPS often get
swamped with holiday shipments, slowing delivery times.

In the dark economic climate of late 2008, the holiday crunch
may be less serious -- we are getting sad reports that printers
are starving for work and shipping out orders promptly. Just
the same, it's wise to allow an extra week or two during this
traditionally busy season.

Lead Story: An ATM for Books?

In-bookstore printing of books continues to advance with the
release of a new "edition" of the Espresso Book Machine 2.0,
according to an excellent article by Wade Hemsworth:

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/465769

The 2.0 machine is cheaper, faster and smaller than earlier
versions.

Imagine a bookstore where 100,000 book titles are "on file" in
digital form, but not on the shelves. At your request, any
one of them can be printed in a matter of minutes, at a
reasonable price. This includes rare and hard to find old
books rarely stocked by conventional stores.

Imagine a bookstore where no book is out-of-print or
out-of-stock, a store where readers can get more than just
trendy new bestsellers.

Imagine having YOUR book on file, allowing you to print
single copies as needed -- for about six cents per page,
no shipping charges, and delivery in minutes.

It's all getting closer. Stay tuned to "The Savvy Self-
Publisher" for updates.

Additional Stories for December 2008 - January 2009

2008-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

U-Publish.com Featured

In September, "The Writer's Edge" Blog featured U-Publish.com as
an antidote to doldrums from the weakening world economy:

http://writersedgeinfo.blogspot.com/2008/11/your-dream-can-come-true.html

From a recent press release:

"Survey after survey shows American broadband quality and access
falling perilously behind countries in Europe and Asia. Getting
everyone connected to an open Internet should be a national
priority." FMI:

http://internetforeveryone.org

Love Your Librarian

In November, Dan Snow had a question about upcoming appointments
in Washington. On a whim, he decided to try the "Ask a Librarian"
link at the Library of Congress:

http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/

A day later, he received a detailed response from Reference
Specialist Judith Gray. It was not a form letter; it was not
a useless cut-and-paste reply, or a set of instructions to
look for answers somewhere else. It was a real answer from
a real person. How rare these days, and how refreshing! How
good to see public funds delivering real benefits to real
taxpayers! Hats off to librarians everywhere ...

Amazon Reader Reviews:

OK, we've all heard the rumors about authors who write glowing
reviews of their own books at Amazon.

The following link will direct you to a long chain of discussion
about an alleged case like this, which is somehow both humorous
and sad at the same time:

http://www.u-publish.com/links.htm

Please note: we have not read the book(s) in question, nor any of
the reviews. We are not taking sides.

Instead, our point is to illustrate that reader reviews are simply
not reliable sources of literary criticism. Amazon does post
real reviews by professional reviewers, such as Jim Cox of the
Midwest Book Review, who regularly reviews self-published books.

Please read our book for more tips on getting real book reviews
and other media coverage, which are more credible (and free!)
sources of exposure for your book.

Reader Survey

Danny O. Snow will present a panel titled "The Convergence of
Print and Digital Content" at the 2009 Publishing Business
Conference, March 23-25 at the New York Marriott.

Snow wants input from subscribers to this newsletter who sell
their books in both printed AND digital form:

-- If you sell e-Books, what is the best outlet for them?
Your own Web site or Blog? A third-party service provider?
A mainstream online bookseller?

-- Do you use the e-Book (or a preview) as a sales tool for
the tree-Book? If so, where and how?

-- What is the best way to use a 'Blog or social networking
sites like MySpace and Facebook to promote books?

-- Where do most readers read your e-Books? On a desktop or
laptop computer? Palm pilot or other PDA? A dedicated device
like the Kindle or e-Reader? An iPhone or other G3 device?

Please send comments to
newsdesk@u-publish.com with the phrase
"Reader Survey" in the subject line. Those who respond will
get a free pass to the panel, and a transcript.

Our newsletter links:

Read excerpts online:

http://www.u-publish.com/monthly.htm

Get full issue by e-mail:

http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm

Please Vote for Our Site!

Please help get U-Publish.com back in the top 101 sites for
writers by sending a message to
writersdig@fwpubs.com with
"101 Best Websites" in the subject line. Thanks!

Reminder: Eric Hoffer Book Award

$1500 grand prize, $45 entry fee, many categories. Deadline
January 15, 2009. FMI:

http://www.hofferaward.com

Quotation of the Month:

"Habits in writing as in life are only useful if they are broken
as soon as they cease to be advantageous."

-- W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)

The Savvy Self-Publisher, November-December 2008

2008-11-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

Tip of the Month:

Just in: an e-mail post that reads "The International Library
of Poetry has just announced that over 1,175 prizes, totaling
$58,000.00, will be awarded in the International Open Amateur
Poetry Contest. The contest is open to everyone, and entry is
free."

Contests like this could be legit... but if you enter, beware
of follow-ups that notify you that your poem has been chosen
not for a cash prize but for inclusion in a book -- that you
must buy for $50 -- or an invitation to attend an upcoming
awards ceremony... at your own expense.

Lead Story: Google Pays $34 M to Seed "Book Rights Registry"

The good folks at Google have settled a lawsuit brought by
the equally good folks at The Authors Guild and the AAP,
opening the door to make millions of books available online
forever. FMI:

http://books.google.com/booksrightsholders

and

http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSTRE49R71K20081028

Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, called
the settlement "the biggest book deal in U.S. publishing
history." He added that a "vast repository of books --
millions upon millions of out-of-print books and many in-print
books -- will find a new home and new readers online."

The new "Book Rights Registry" will be open to self-publishing
authors as well as big publishers.

This is positive, historic news for everyone in the book world.
Please stay tuned to future issues of this bulletin for updates!

Additional Stories for November-December 2008

2008-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

November 1:

Co-author Danny O. Snow will be interviewed at Carol Denbow's
"A Book Inside" 'Blog on November 1, with Q and A sessions
over the next few days. Please join us:

http://abookinside.blogspot.com

News to Use:

The Small Publishers Ass'n of North America (SPAN) has published
a good primer on how you can use Facebook to promote your book:

www.spannet.org/article-applequist-facebook.htm

(Ad) You can also join SPAN with a huge "new member discount"
courtesy of U-Publish.com. To get the special discount, you must apply
using the following link:

http://www.u-publish.com/services.htm

More News to Use:

Self-publishing authors can now use Google Book Search to embed
easy-to-navigate previews of their books on a Web site or blog,
(like uTube videos) which can lead to more orders:

http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/16478

How does this differ from Amazon's "Look Inside" feature?
Danny O. Snow remarks:

-- It's free.

-- Readers can order directly from you, for more income.

-- It's an open platform, not a proprietary system that holds
readers and writers captives of a single bookseller.

For an example, click the "Free Preview" link in the
right-hand column of this page.

The announcement from Google gives authors and publishers an
alternative way to let readers "look inside" their books in
a more open environment.

Barnes & Noble has introduced its answer to Shelfari, Goodreads
and other social networking sites for books:

http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/17590

Likewise, Lulu.com has struck a deal with http://www.WeRead.com
that benefits authors who self-publish their books at Lulu.

(Ad) Get a free advertising package courtesy of U-Publish.com
when you self-publish a book at Lulu:

http://www.u-publish.com/services.htm

Please Vote for Our Site!

Please help get U-Publish.com back in the top 101 sites for
writers. Send a message to writersdig@fwpubs.com
with "101 Best Websites" in the subject line. Thanks!

Quotation of the Month:

"The writer who neglects punctuation, or mispunctuates, is
liable to be misunderstood.... For the want of merely a comma,
it often occurs that an axiom appears a paradox, or that a
sarcasm is converted into a sermonoid."

-- Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1845)

================================================================

The Savvy Self-Publisher, October-November 2008

2008-10-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

Tip of the Month

As we approach the holiday season in Oct-Nov-Dec, be cautious
about requests for free review copies -- other than those from
working journalists. Some so-called "book reviewers" may be
unethical scammers, trolling for free books from unsuspecting
authors to use as gifts. It may be an urban myth, but one
anecdotal report claims that a self-proclaimed "reviewer" asked
a small press for review copies of a dozen different books --
concluding, "And would you gift-wrap them, please?"

Lead Story:
Keeping Readers in a Time of Crisis

In the aftermath of 9/11, some 4,500 small U.S. publishers went
out of business when the American economy faltered. In late
2008, the economic horizon appears infinitely darker.

How will authors and publishers survive such a downturn? Or
can we survive at all?

Aside from academic texts ("required reading"), books are often
considered discretionary purchases by the public; simply put,
when money is tight, people buy fewer books.

Some more exceptions might include books that help readers save
money in a time of belt-tightening, like (ahem!) U-Publish.com
and The Self-Publishing Manual. Or books that help people earn
money.

But even a garden variety novel can be marketed as an economical
alternative to other forms of entertainment, such as movies, music
and video games.

Another way to wring more revenue from your writing is to make
your book available in multiple formats for readers with special
needs. You've probably spent many months -- even years --
writing the book... with today's technologies, it's relatively
easy to add an e-Book, large print edition, or even a talking
book for busy commuters who don't have time to "read."

Most of all, authors can get more actively involved in the
promotion of their own books. There are many, many ways to
build a grassroots audience at little expense, other than your
time. To cite just one quick example: nearly every author
should set up a "news alert" at Google that prompts you when
there is breaking news on topics related to your book. Then
you can post your expert commentary, signing "John Doe, author
of 'Book Title,' www.yourbook.com" in the closing.

Please read the 2007 edition of U-Publish.com for more tips
about gaining exposure for your book at a minimum of expense.
It takes creativity and diligence to promote a book, but it
isn't rocket science. Thousands of self-publishing authors
have already proven that it's possible. You can be one of them!

Additional Stories for October-November 2008

2008-10-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

To Blurb or Not to Blurb?

A recent article by William Leith discusses the pros and cons
of putting "blurbs" (endorsements) on the cover of your book:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/22/advertising

Danny O. Snow adds that blurbs DO make a difference when the
endorsement comes from a recognized expert in your field, a
celebrity with name recognition, or a dash of humor. Jim
Cox of Midwest Book Review once wrote "I'd review Dan Poynter's
laundry list if he were to publish it!" A witty phrase like
this is almost certain to attract readers:

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/jimcox/may_05.htm

Bill Tancer says that "How to write a book" is the 62nd most
frequently asked how-to question on the Internet:

http://www.borders.com/online/store/ArticleView_click

Tools for Agent-Hunting:

Jim Duxbury (http://www.lulu.com/cdbooks) recommends:

http://www.agentquery.com

Dan Snow adds:

http://www.everyonewhosanyone.com

Remember that you can self-publish while you are looking for an
agent... or a conventional publisher. Use early book reviews to
demonstrate the book's appeal. More importantly, use your sales
records to prove public demand; NOTHING attracts agents (and the
publishers they approach) like objective proof of commercial
potential. If you get a good offer, sell out. If not, you're
already in print with a growing readership.

A Book Inside

For a nice complement to U-Publish.com (book and newsletter),
visit Carol Denbow's blog:

http://abookinside.blogspot.com

Danny O. Snow will be interviewed by Carol on November 1.
Please tune in!

News to Use:

Record a video of yourself defining a word that holds special
meaning to you. Then upload it to:

http://wordia.com

Vote for Our Site!

Please help get U-Publish.com back in the top 101 sites for
writers by sending a message to
writersdig@fwpubs.com with
"101 Best Websites" in the subject line. Thanks!

Quotation of the Month: The ultimate bad book review!

"The covers of this book are too far apart."
-- Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914)

The Savvy Self-Publisher, September-October 2008

2008-08-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

Tip of the Month

If you have a book in production during October, November or
December, use a 2009 Copyright date rather than 2008. This way,
in January your book won't appear as if it's "last year's" book
when it's actually still fresh and new.

Lead Story:
Booker Prize by Phone: a Lesson for the Future

Britain's oldest and most prestigious literary award will be
posting extracts of leading books to cell phones starting
September 9. Both text and audio will be available. FMI:

http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/16085

Why is this important to writers? Because it's the wave of
the future! We all love traditional tree-Books made of paper
and ink... but e-Books made of bits and bytes are here to
stay. Moreover, we predict a growing trend toward reading
on multipurpose, handheld devices. Why?

-- Who wants to sit in front of a desktop computer for hours,
reading a book?

-- Laptops are portable, but most are fragile and weigh more
than a book.

-- The mighty iPod can now display text, but the screen is
tiny.

-- Will millions of people pay $200 to $300 (plus the cost
of books) for single purpose devices, and books in formats
that don't work elsewhere?

Enter the iPhone and its ilk: it's a phone, a PDA, an
e-mail device, a Web browser, a TV... and now an e-Book
reader.

Fictionwise has released eReader 1.1, the first of several
upgrades of the eReader software for the trendy iPhone:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6587044.html

Last year, half of Japan's top ten sellers were "cell
phone novels" meant to be read as text messages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_novel

If the staid, traditional old Booker Prize recognizes
the trend, so should we. For years, Poynter and Snow
have held that e-Books are virtually guaranteed to play
a growing role in the book world, and that portable,
multi-purpose devices will prevail as the leading
vehicle for delivering them.

Freebies and Discounts

Thanks to the popularity of our book and Web site, we are
now pleased to offer a growing number of free and discounted
services, exclusively for U-Publish.com readers:

http://www.u-publish.com/services.htm

Please check back periodically for new specials, coming soon!

Additional Stories for September-October 2008

2008-08-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Problem - And the Solution

In the article below, Richard Laermer explains why he believes that traditional
book publishing is dead. But as Poynter and Snow explain in our book, using new technologies to slash costs, and using grassroots marketing methods to reach readers more directly, still works!

Recommended reading:

http://tinyurl.com/5h8yfx

PMA now IBPA

The Publishers Marketing Association has changed its name to
the Independent Book Publishers Association... new name, same
great benefits for members. Join IBPA, SPAN and SPAWN whether
you are new to publishing or a veteran:

http://www.ibpa-online.org

Reminder: The Writer's "Secret Weapon" Arrives

Is "there" or "their" or "they're" the right word?

New software takes over where Word's spell checker stops:

http://stores.lulu.com/cdbooks

Money back guarantee. Reviews from early adopters wanted at
http://u-publish.blogspot.com where you can share ideas with
fellow authors and publishers.

News to Use

Good advice on getting published from Judith Kelman:

http://www.jkelman.com/publish

Please feel free to forward copies of this bulletin to your
fellow authors and publishers. This is a fre@ resource that is
available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't
accept paid advertising, endorse or guarantee products or
services, nor accept fees for mentioning them without full
disclosure. Please visit http://www.u-publish.com to subscribe.

e-Rights v. tree-Rights

A new article by intellectual property lawyer Ivan Hoffman
discusses the difference between print rights and electronic
rights, a subject of growing importance to writers in the 21st
century:

http://www.ivanhoffman.com/collective.html

DIY Book Festival Contest

Deadline: Oct. 25, 2008. Grand Prize $1500. Entry fee $50.
Many catagories. Details:

http://www.diyconvention.com

Quotation of the Month

"Writing ought either to be the manufacture of stories for which
there is a market demand - a business as safe and commendable as
making soap or breakfast foods - or it should be an art, which
is always a search for something for which there is no market
demand, something new and untried, where the values are intrinsic
and have nothing to do with standardized values."

-- Willa Cather, 1876–1947

Our Newsletter Links:

Browse excerpts:

http://www.u-publish.com/monthly.htm

Get FULL newsletter by e-mail:

http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm

The Savvy Self-Publisher, August-September 2008

2008-08-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

Lead Story: Book Title Tips and Tricks

As explained in "Writing Nonfiction" by Dan Poynter, choosing
an effective title for your book is a BIG key to success.

Think of it in terms of a company name listed in a phone book:
suppose you run a veterinary clinic in San Francisco... would
you name it "San Francisco Pet Hospital" or "Pet Hospital of
San Francisco" instead? The latter choice is better, because
your prospective customers are MUCH more likely to look in the
phone book under "Pets" than "San Francisco."

The same is true for books. When people search online for a
book, they may not know a specific title or author... but they
do know the subject of the book they want to buy. For this
reason the subject MUST be part of your book's title for best
results.

Dan Poynter's book "Writing Nonfiction" practices what it
preaches: it's almost always shelved correctly in bookstores,
and is the #1 listing for Google Book Search when readers
search "writing nonfiction" or "nonfiction writing." Use
Poynter's success as your guide, and pick a title for your
book that readers will find, even if they don't know your
name or book title!

The Writer's "Secret Weapon" Arrives

Is "there" or "their" or "they're" the right word you need now?

New software takes over where Word's spell checker stops:

http://stores.lulu.com/cdbooks

Money back guarantee. Reviews from authors wanted.

How We Become Writers

If you are hesitant about becoming a published author because
you fear that you are not qualified, you should read about how
other writers got started. Writers become writers in some
strange ways. One noted animal writer, for example, was helped
by the divorce of a famous actress. Another writer got his
start when he applied for a job he was totally unqualified to
get. "How We Became Writers" tells how writers, some well-known
and others not well-known yet, got published for the first time:

http://www.howwebecamewriters.com

Our newsletter links:

Read excerpts online: http://www.u-publish.com/monthly.htm

Get full issue by e-mail: http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm

Post your comments: http://u-publish.blogspot.com

Guest Column

Bookstore Distribution: Self-Publisher's Dream Come True?
Or "The Emporer's New Clothes?"

by Ron Pramschufer of BooksJustBooks.com

http://www.u-publish.com/bjb.htm

Mainstream booksellers return unsold books to you for a refund
on a regular basis. There are better outlets!

Self-Published Authors in Action -- Success Story

Hal Runkel, author of SCREAMFREE PARENTING self-published his
book. He invested $25,000 in media outreach with Planned
Television Arts. PTA got him 60 radio interviews, lots of local
tour media and a regular gig on TV's The Daily Buzz, which led
him to a deal with Random House and a $500,000 advance. FMI:

http://www.PlannedTVArts.com/?u-pub

Quotation of the Month

"No passion in the world is equal to the urge to alter someone
else's writing."

-- H. G. Wells
(re-worded by D.O. Snow)

When will the e-Book World Learn from Music?

Amazon is rumored to have a new version of the Kindle e-Book
reader ready to ship as early as October. Meanwhile, the buzz
over growth of e-Books continues:

http://www.bookbusinessmag.com/story/story.bsp?sid=113971&var=story

Our predictions:

Single purpose devices won't prevail. Already there are real,
full featured computers like the ASUS that are the same size
and same price... but do much, much more.

Another battle will be fought between proprietary formats like
Amazon's Mobipocket versus cross-platform formats like PDF.

From music, we already know that copy protection won't work.
Amazon and Sony are trying to keep a captive market, while
music sites are now selling freely copyable MP3 downloads at
low prices.

From the success of iTunes we know that consumers will pay for
legal downloads if they're reasonably priced. And they want
files that work on different devices, without technical hassles.

When will e-Book leaders learn the lessons of history?

The Savvy Self-Publisher, June-July 2008

2008-06-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

Lead Story: IN-STORE POD -- DREAM BECOMES REALITY

Blackwell's, a leading British bookseller, will soon start
printing books on demand in its stores while customers wait:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2286818,00.html

The Espresso Book Machine can store up to 400,000 titles in
digital form, whether or not the books are on the shelves.
Compare this to a "Superstore" with 100,000 to 200,000 books
in stock.

When a customer requests an EBM title, the device prints a book at
a speed of 40-80 pages per minute while the buyer waits, perhaps
browsing books on the shelves or enjoying a cup of coffee.

This isn't just good business; it has profound implications on
the future of bookselling. Most notably, Blackwell's stores
will be able to offer vast numbers of books that would otherwise
be out-of-print or out-of-stock. This relieves today's unhealthy
pressure to stock only hot new titles -- often at the expense of
books with legitimate literary merit but less commercial appeal.

Until now, POD has relied on a few remote printing facilities
that ship books to stores a day or two after they are ordered.
This is much better than filling warehouses with mountains of
unsold books in the vague hope that someone will buy them --
but it lacks the power of instant gratification afforded by
the EBM's partnership with a major bookseller like Blackwell's.

As early as 1999, when POD was in its infancy, Poynter and
Snow predicted that in-store POD could one day become the
"silver bullet" that combines the best of both worlds: the
huge economic advantage of avoiding unsold inventory, in
combination with instant, in-store availability.

Imagine a world where every worthwhile book ever written
is available in minutes at your local bookstore! This
dream is now an important step closer to real life,
following this possibly historic announcement. FMI:

http://www.ondemandbooks.com/?u-pub

http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/15364

Additional News for June-July 2008

2008-06-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

Big Freebies -- Exclusively for U-Publish.com Readers!

Upload your book for printing in paperback or hardback via the
link below and get $45 in FRE-E search engine ads, courtesy of
Lulu.com:

http://www.u-publish.com/special.htm

At the location above you can also join the Small Publishers
Association of North America at 70% below the standard $115
membership fee. That's a full year for just $34.50. SPAN's
"members only" resources are easily worth MANY TIMES the
reduced enrollment fee, exclusively for U-Publish.com readers.

ABA Launches New Web Site

A new Web site, IndieBound.org, will serve as a gateway for
independent booksellers, writers, publishers and more. It
features The Indie Next List ("Great Reads From Booksellers
You Trust") and the Indie Bestseller List. Just opened, it
will add more content and community-building features in the
coming months.

e-Book News

Simon & Schuster has become the latest publisher to sign on with
LibreDigital to provide digital distribution of its books:

http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/15413

Pacific Crest analyst Steve Weinstein argues that global e-book
sales at Amazon could reach $2.5 billion by the year 2012:

http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/15396

Bulk Sales of Your Book

Premium Book Company sells non-fiction books to non-bookstore
buyers - on a commission-only, non-returnable basis. PBC will
place your book in a catalog that goes to 1800 sales people who
sell to corporations, associations, schools, etc. The set-up fee
is $200 for the first title. PBC buys books from you 1,000 or
more at a time at 60% off the list price to fill orders. The
deadline for inclusion in the catalog is July 11:

http://www.premiumbookcompany.com/signup.asp

Bonus: use the promotional code "SNOW" and get a $25 discount
on the setup fee, while we get a commission!

Read this issue online: http://www.u-publish.com/monthly.htm

Receive by e-mail: http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm

Post your comments: http://u-publish.blogspot.com

Snow Interviewed by Mainstreet.com:

U-Publish.com co-author Danny O. Snow was interviewed by Amanda
Beals at MainStreet.com on June 20 about takeover news between
Microsoft, Yahoo and Google:

http://www.u-publish.com/media.htm

"Automatic Writing" excerpted from The EducationGuardian.co.uk:

When a professor invents a machine that writes books, and then
uses that machine to write more than 200,000 different books,
there arises the question, "Why?"

Philip M. Parker, a professor of management science at Insead,
the international business school based in Fontainebleau, France,
patented what he calls a "method and apparatus for automated
authoring and marketing". Turn to page 16 of his patent, and
you will see him answer the "Why?" question.

Parker quotes a 1999 complaint by the Economist that publishing
"has continued essentially unchanged since Gutenberg. Letters
are still written, books bound, newspapers printed and
distributed much as they ever were."

"Therefore," says Parker, "there is a need for a method and
apparatus for authoring, marketing, and/or distributing title
materials automatically by a computer."

The book-writing machine works simply, at least in principle.
First, one feeds it a recipe for writing a particular genre of
book - a tome about crossword puzzles, say, or a market outlook
for products. Then hook the computer up to a big database full
of info about crossword puzzles or market information. The
computer uses the recipe to select data from the database and
write and format it into book form.

Nothing but the title need actually exist until somebody orders
a copy. At that point, a computer assembles the book's content
and prints up a single copy.

Among Parker's bestselling books (as ranked by Amazon.co.uk)
one finds surprises.

His fifth-best seller is Webster's Albanian to English
Crossword Puzzles: Level 1.

No 21: The 2007 Import and Export Market for Seaweeds and
Other Algae in France.

The 2007-2012 Outlook for Chinese Prawn Crackers in Japan
is Parker's 66th-best seller.

Full story and related links:

http://education.guardian.co.uk

The Savvy Self-Publisher, May-June 2008

2008-04-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

Lead Story: AMAZON BUZZ BUILDS... BUT WHY?

Rumors of proposed anti-trust lawsuits, boycotts and even hacker attacks against Amazon have been circulating for weeks, since the online bookseller announced that it would discontinue carrying POD books from its competitors.

But why should Amazon matter so much to self-publishing authors? For years, Poynter and Snow have repeatedly admonished writers that conventional bookstores are the LAST places to sell books, online or offline. Mainstream booksellers demand huge discounts, pay slowly, and often require the right to return unsold books for a full refund. On the other hand, when authors sell books from their OWN sites or at live events, they retain far more income, get paid much faster, and see fewer (if any) returns.

For some reason, first-time authors often feel that it's "sexy" to boast that their books are available at Amazon. But in today's world almost anyone can get a book on Amazon, whether it holds any real public appeal or not. The truth is that 99% of self-publishers are better off focusing on other outlets.

For the other 1%, outlets like Borders.com and BN.com can fill the void left by Amazon. Barnes & Noble already has its own affiliate program. Very soon, Borders.com will be entirely independent of Amazon. In many cases, self-publishers can simply link from their own sites to BN or Borders.com instead of Amazon, and keep their books available without much fuss... while enjoying better earnings.

Additional Stories from April-May 2008

2008-04-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Closes "Live Book Search"

On May 23, Microsoft announced that its alternative to Google
Book Search is closing:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6563730.html

Meanwhile, our friends at Google are continuing their quest to
digitize every book ever published, to the true benefit of
readers and writers everywhere.

In spite of grumbling from some larger publishers, GBS is a
great thing for humanity... and a great alternative to Amazon
and its ilk for the little guy.

PBA Contest Deadline August 15

$500 grand prize, many categories, POD and self published books
welcome. $50 entry fee:

http://premierbookawards.com

New Blog on Special Sales

In the publishing world, we call book club deals, customized
editions for bulk buyers, and other ways of selling books in
large numbers to a single buyer "special sales." And they really
ARE special: just a single book club deal can move thousands of
copies; a customized special edition for a corporate sponsor
can dwarf one-at-a-time orders from Amazon and its ilk.

A new blog from Brian Jud discusses the ins-and-outs:

http://blog.bookmarketing.com

Barnes and Noble Going Digital?

In February, Borders made a bold move to update its business model,
with the announcement that it would open slick new "Digital Centers"
in as many as 20 stores during 2008:

http://www.u-publish.com/borders.htm

Now Barnes and Noble has jumped on the bandwagon with a new Web-
based wiki for the hot "How-to" market:

http://mashable.com/2008/03/24/barnes-and-qumut

Imitation = Flattery?

A new site named (ahem) "YouPublish.com" appears to be the latest
DIY book publishing service to appear, following Lulu, Wordclay,
Cafe Press, CreateSpace, etc.

Reviews of their services from U-Publish.com subscribers are
welcome at http://u-publish.blogspot.com where you can share
your feedback with fellow authors and independent publishers.

We're flattered by their choice of names... But please remember
that the 'real' U-Publish.com has been serving self-publishers
since 1999!

"Live" Appearance ???

Co-author Danny O. Snow joined a panel discussion about Amazon
at SecondLife.com on April 26 as an animated character:

http://www.u-publish.com/2ndlife.htm

Snow enjoyed his visit to SL immensely (especially the flying
lessons) and recommends the experience highly to others:

http://www.secondlife.com

AuthorNation Founded

At a new "Online Community for Authors, Writers, Poets and their
Readers" you can create a profile that includes a bio, reviews,
photos, videos, abstracts, poems, stories and a link to sell
your book through the retailer of your choice:

http://www.AuthorNation.com

Reviews of AuthorNation from U-Publish.com subscribers are
welcome at http://u-publish.blogspot.com

-- Tip courtesy of Brian Jud, www.bookmarketing.com

Read newsletter online: http://www.u-publish.com/monthly.htm

Receive by e-mail: http://www.u-publish.com/enroll.htm

Post your comments: http://u-publish.blogspot.com

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