What Do I Want For The Holidays

Tis the season. The number one question right now is "What do you want for the holidays?" Well today I wish and want everyone to have a joyful, and safe Holiday. Often times we get caught up in our shopping, cooking and baking and forget to wish others well. We don't mean to but we do, we'll use the "It's Implied" line.

This is the time we as self-publishers put off our business and get involved with the Holidays all the while saying we're gonna make up the time. We know it's not true because the time is gone and our work can't be rushed or forced, but we say it anyway. It makes us feel better. So I am saying to you, all of you enjoy your holiday, be safe and get back to work on December 26.

Have a HAPPY....

GOD Bless

Lillie Walks With An Angel - Coming Soon

Lillie Walks With An Angel is a story about an 11- year old girl whose strong faith in GOD helps her through some tough times. Her mother died during her tour in IRAQ. Her grandparents move into the house to take care of her. Her father and brother are currently on tour overseas in Afghanistan. Lillie finds comfort by having a strong love for GOD, gratitude and family. While giving her testimony in front of the church congregation, Lillie is presented with a tear filled surprise. This story is a must read for everyone, girls, mothers and daughters, it will make you laugh, cry and smile. The book also includes bible scriptures and space to express yourself.

Title: Lillie Walks With An Angel
ISBN: 978-0-982879-1-6
Type: Paperback
Pages: 80
Price: $8.99
Genre: Religion, Children, and Faith
Author: Teresa Butler
Illustration: Marcello Milteer

To pre-order Lillie Walks With An Angel "CLICK HERE"

I love what I do

I love what I do, I love meeting new people I love this. I have met so many people doing such wonderful things it amazes me everyday. I told someone yesterday, this is all worthwhile! Yes, I want to sell my books and make money but THIS is more than I expected. I have to talk about this book I love it, I love the message. When I first saw the cover on the Book Marketing Network I just had to ask the author who did the illustration. Since that first question Adonya and I have been communicating off and on about certain things and it is great.


In My Mind...
The World through the Eyes of Autism
by Adonya Wong

"“In my mind, I see many colors, bright like a rainbow, shooting about like comets in a night sky.” Take a closer look… What do you see? In My Mind, by Adonya Wong, explores the inner world of an autistic child—the world that no one else can see. From exciting adventures to silly games and conversations with friends, look closely and see how a child with autism sees the world…and how the world sees him. "

You have to go to her site M.O.C.H.A. Mothers of Color for Holistic Alternatives is a not for profit community based organization that sees as its mission to promotion of healthy, natural alternative and life choices for underrepresented minority women and their families.

So for those of us new to the POD game and still learning, try seek out people who will help. Yes, you will have those that want to keep the information to themselves but forget about them and move on. I love to share information and I love to receive it as well. Every good deed is recognized by others and by GOD. We believe in what we are doing and if we band together and believe in ourselves as a group, we would be a force to be reckoned with.

Watch the trailer for In My Mind

Find more videos like this on Book Marketing Network

Professional Criticism

Many people do not like constructive criticism, and no one likes to be criticized on something they poured their heart into. Print On Demand authors I am here to say take it with a smile, it can only help you, make you better and strengthen your spirit. This is how my professional criticism about my book started. I met Courtney Crosslin of Have a Wonderful at a Cocktails and Connection Meet-up in New Haven, CT given by Apresenta Concept. Courtney and I spoke throughout the night and she mentioned Bea’s Book Store. The real name is A Walk In Truth Christian Books – Black Print Bookstore located at 162 Edgewood Avenue, New Haven, CT. Everyone knows it as Bea’s Bookstore because Ms. Bea Dozier-Taylor has been in the book business for 20 years. Congrats to you Ms. Bea. Courtney kept in touch by e-mail and sent me the information I needed to contact the bookstore. I followed up and talked with Ms. Jaymes Grace of Communication Works 4U on the telephone and we set up a date and time.

Needless to say I prepared for my presentation the night before, I knew what I was going to wear, backwards planned the time I should leave the house everything. Now for a 20-minute ride that took me 1 hour and 20 minutes, I could not believe this could be happening. I called ahead to inform her I was going to be late and the traffic was out of control. I’m in the military late is never an option but I was not going to let this turn of events spiral into something worse so I kept a positive attitude and I finally arrived.

I gave my presentation, my press kits; promotional items everything, I was proud of myself because I am new at this public speaking thing. Then Ms. Bea let me have it, now do not get me wrong, EVERYTHING she said to me was true and made so much sense but what I keep playing in my mind to this day and what we as self-publishers should always keep in mind. We are not like traditional authors/publishers with agents, these authors have a team of experts that are paid by the company to make sure the book is 100%, while we as self-publishers research and pay many people for a service to make sure our books are a 100%. We must not settle for anything less than perfection. Ms. Bea gave me some wonderful advice and I will take every single one of them with a strong embrace. I called my graphics guy and told him to do my bookmarks over – he agreed but I have to pay for shipping.

So I said all of that to say this, many of us do what we do for the love of writing, creative freedom and joy of it so do not allow ANYONE to take that away by giving you substandard service. If it is not what you want have them do it again or demand your money back. I am proud of my books and look forward to bringing them to Ms. Bea Dozier-Taylor and Ms. Jaymes Grace for their stamp of approval. Thank ALL of you ladies for everything.

PS: Everyone should attempt to seek out a Ms. Bea Dozier-Taylor and Ms. Jaymes Grace they will be your best resource, nothing but positive things can happen.

Praising Networks Again

Praising networks again, I met another self-published author doing great things on Book Marketing Networks. Ms. Chaun Archer wrote the children's book "Wonderful Wigs" a story of an 8 year old girl copying with cancer and hair loss. Wonderful Wigs makes it possible for cancer patients and survivors to have beautiful, quality wigs at little or no cost. You have to check out her site Chaun Archer and see what great things she is doing. Her book is currently available on Lulu or contact her at sales@chaunarcher.com. You can also become friends with Chaun on her MySpace page. Another example of Wonderful people doing Great things, that's what networking is about sharing the information and encouraging creativity.

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.