Getting Started

Hello Everyone, I know many self published authors out there get asked the questions "How did you start?", "Was it hard?" and although this is not a question, it is my favorite "Oh, I always wanted to write a book". Well many people have asked so I decided to put what I did in writing - this is what I did, I am not saying this is the right or wrong way to do things it is just what got me to the finished product of Simon Says Share. I am going to break this into different segments and going to start with the basics so please don't take offense.

Get organized - get your office supplies, notebooks, computer, printer ink, pens, pencils and a quiet place to work. If you are lucky enough to have a home office get a file cabinet and mark your folders for your every need. The dollar store sells office supplies, you don't have to break the bank going to Staples, or Office Max. If you are working out of a small area in your home buy a travel size file cabinet, they have great stylish ones at Job Lot or Wal-Mart. You notice I said get organized, staying organized is another subject all together but just know when you initially set up your space it will be easy to put back into place because everything is already labeled. My desk is a mess but once I week I go through everything and put it where is belongs just so I can start over again.

Take your time - research the steps you want to take for your book, print on demand or a traditional publisher either way both take research, and there are a lot of sites out there. Use more than one URL to conduct your search Google is great but it's not the only one. I typically will use Yahoo, MSN and others and Google last, type your search the same way each time. I created folders in my bookmarks for those I find interesting and I want to look into a little more. I must warn you, this process is long or as long as you want it to be and will have you spending less and less time with family and friends so monitor the time you spend researching. If you are only getting negative feedback from what you are attempting to do, you know what to do. Not everyone will understand what you want to accomplish and not everyone will believe what you are doing is important. Negativity is not your friend so stay away from it. I have lost people I considered friends because of what I want to accomplish but guess what when my first book was released they reappeared (SURPRISE). So let me make myself clear - I am NOT saying get rid of your family and friends, I am just saying stay away from the negativity. Go to the library and check out books, you can buy them from Barnes and Noble, Amazon and other online book stores but if you want to save money check them out of the library. I photo copy the pages I find interesting and filed them away in my labeled folder. If you must buy the book, check out Amazon's used books before you buy new. Many of these books have minor markings in them and your just going to do the same thing. If you no longer need the book, put it back on Amazon and sell it, why not make a little money in the process.

Network - although you are in the beginning stages, you want to begin to establish some networks. I placed the networks I belong to the right of this post for you to look at. Many are great but remember only sign up for as many as you can handle. I found an illustrator for my second book "Lillie Walks With An Angel" on one of my networking sites and he is great. Start with one, my favorite is Book Marketing Network everyone has something positive to say and much advice. Join networking groups I find many on Meet ups, you can use this site to search by genre and your town.

The Pain of finding an illustrator

Okay most of us have been there. Trying to find an illustrator for our books and as the search goes on you get more frustrated. So now I'm here to tell you to take a deep breath, relax and refocus, use all of the networks you belong to and make them work for you. I will tell you for my Simon Says series of children books I have the best illustrator in the game Mr. Mike Motz, he was able to put every vision I had on paper. The illustrations came out great, no they came out perfect. My Simon Says series are going to sky rocket because of his creativity.

For my second book, I wanted to use someone else, not that I don't love Mikes work I just wanted to give someone else a shot, it's a about creativity but it was back a square one. So I took a deep breath and started my postings and for a couple of days not response but then it happened on my Book Marketing Network a friend on my page Bobby Ozuna gave me a name and I contacted him not only was he available he nailed my book cover on the first go, so THANK YOU BOBBY for the hook-up. I was at work when I opened it and let out a scream of joy I love it so THANK YOU Marcello for the excellent cover, you are a natural talent.
So for everyone out there going through the frustrations of finding an illustrator, proofreader, graphics artist, promotion material etc use your networks, that's what they are for. So now when someone says happy hunting, they mean it. Have a Wonderful Holiday.

Visit Your Secretary Of State Website

If you have not visited your states Secretary of State Website, you are making a big mistake. I visited the Connecticut Secretary of State website, they have free seminars and networking events for business owners. For those of you who established a business to publish our own books, this is a perfect opportunity to get your name out there. Visit your states Secretary of State Website today.

Essex Library Signing

I don't know how many people are from Connecticut but you have to go to the Essex Library. It is beautiful and the Librarian Judie McCann is WONDERFUL, she is just WONDERFUL. I was able to read my book to the children, take a few photos and admire the great job they did on the remodel. I can't wait to finish my second book to go back. I was a little nervous on the drive down because it was my first official engagement but as soon as you walk through the front doors you are relaxed.

The children enjoyed the story and I enjoyed them. I had friends tell me don't do in person signings, go the virtual route...are they crazy? Yes, I plan to do virtual touring but I could never give up the person to person contact I just caught the bug. This is what I was meant to do, write books and share them with people. I can't see why I can't do both.

Again, check out the Essex Library it is BEAUTIFUL.

GOD Bless

The Book Release

Simon was a hit, I will have pictures posted shortly. EVERYONE showed up, my family, my friends and my church family. I have not smiled that much in a long time, I even had the people from my local Chamber of Commerce show up. The restaurant was nice, the food was good, it was GREAT.

Now that I have had this official release I feel a little lost, I keep asking myself what am I suppose to do now. I know what I'm suppose to do, get out there and network, make connections and sell my book. I am doing that everyday but it just felt like everything built up to the release party so now I need to regroup.

If anyone is out there that felt the same way, I would love to hear what you did after your successful book lauch.

GOD Bless

I Met An Angel Today

I may have not mentioned but earlier today I had my very first Blogradio interview with no other than Ms. Dawn Martin of Divas By Design. It was great but I didn't know how great until she really revealed to me today that she is an ANGEL. She introduced me to some wonderful authors, she introduced her wonderful way of communicating through oovoo and she has started her very own webinar university called DIVA University. Her ANGEL status comes in because she has a program called The Princess Club, I don't want to talk about it because I could never do it any justice so I urge everyone to contact her and get the information. If you live in an area where little girls need positive empowerment and you want to do something CALL her, if you feel you can make a positive difference in a little girls life CALL her, if you want to ensure you don't leave this earth without making a contribution CALL her. The program is wonderful, I was so inspired, I'm going to start one in my town. Why? because of an ANGEL named Dawn.

Dawn if you are reading this, YOU ARE DOING Wonderful things, keep opening those doors GOD has put in front of you. You are truly a BLESSING, you and Ms. Angie.

This is Dawn's contact info:
Dawn Martin
CEO/Just Dazzlind Productions
justdazzlind
937-270-8118 Office
937-837-2938 Fax

Simon on Diva By Design

Hello EVERYONE,
I just wanted to inform everyone Simon Says Share is making its debut today. Today has just been awesome, first my interview with Dawn Martin on Diva by Design was WONDERFUL, you have to check out her blog, she is doing great things Divas By Design. The guest she had on today to include me are walking through all the doors GOD has opened for them. I wish them great success.

She introduced us to a new system called oovoo.com it work wonderfully, I can wait to check out her new Diva University tomorrow. I feel so blessed to be doing something I love to do, to do something GOD lead me to do. Dawn's show is enlightening and insightful, if you haven't checked it out you should. Special props to Angie Bee for holding it down during technical difficulties. I can't wait to read S.I.S Morgan's book Living testimonies and Honey for the Soul and most definetly the book Strong Black Coffee. Can't wait to get to Cananda on April 26 for that Diva Tour.

I can't say enough Dawn is doing WONDERFUL things, GOD bless to her and all the women out there working it. Thank you and keep an eye out for Simon Says Share and future books published by Phylira, LLC.

Today @ six the OFFICIAL book release is happening at Kumo's Restaurant, 780 Lakewood Road in Waterbury, CT.