For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

All Blog Posts Tagged 'publishing' (379)

10 Ways to Maximize Cash Flow & Profits in an Unpredictable Economy

1) Start with the end in mind.

Understand how you will sell your book before you sell it. Have a sales plan and stick to it. Selling will be the number one problem in 2009. Clearly identify why anyone should buy your book. Distribution channel expansion is your number one job.

2) Know how to keep score.

What criteria will determine success or failure for your book? Focus more on profitability than sales growth.

3) Analyze your Balance Sheet.

The balance… Continue

Added by Bill Frank on January 5, 2009 at 2:00am — 1 Comment

THE ECONOMIST Facts and Figures on Book Publishing in America

THE ECONOMIST reports in the June 7, 2008 edition that 411,000 new titles were published in America in 2007. The adult trade segment of the book publishing market grew at 4.3%. Since 1985, books' share of entertainment spending has fallen by seven percentage points. Books have changed little in the past half millennium, but they may be on the verge of going digital. Unlike digital music or video, however, digital books require consumers to change their consumption habits. Another new technology… Continue

Added by Bill Frank on January 4, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

The Terrorist Attack on Mumbai, India and the Media

By Ben Furman, former FBI Counterterrorism Chief

Here are my thoughts about the media coverage of the terrorist attack on Mumbai, formerly Bombay, India. The media, as it often does, caused my blood pressure to skyrocket by its soft-pedaling of the identification of the terrorist attackers as Muslims. I guess reporting this fact was something it considered offensive and politically incorrect. But this reporting by omission follows the media’s template of not calling terrorists… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on December 16, 2008 at 2:08pm — No Comments

Border Drug Wars, Bombs & Terrorism

Our southwestern border is surely in the same zip code as Hell!

A November 16, 2008 Los Angeles Times article pointed out that, “Few regions of the U.S. are immune to drug-trafficking organizations that have caused horrendous death and destruction." So far in 2008 drug related violence in Mexico has left nearly 4,000 of its people dead. And the violence has spread deep into the United States. There is a trail of slayings, kidnappings and other serious crimes that lead to at least 195… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on December 9, 2008 at 2:34pm — No Comments

Terrorism & Other than Mexican (OTM) Illegal Aliens

Other than Mexican (OTM) is a strange term. What does it mean? Ninety percent of the illegal aliens who cross the U.S. southern border each year from Mexico are Mexicans. The rest that come from all parts of the world are labeled Other than Mexican illegals by our government.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees Customs, Immigration and Border Patrol enforcement said in a recent oversight committee that tens of thousands of OTMs enter the U.S. illegally each year.… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on December 9, 2008 at 2:33pm — No Comments

Consequence Management -- WMD

Foreign and domestic terrorists continue to poke and probe at our defenses with the sinister intent to use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons (WMD) against us. If they are successful, can we respond to and manage the death and destruction that we’ll face in the aftermath?

Giant steps have been taken to coordinate and incorporate civilian and military assets into dedicated prevention and response forces, and fast paced efforts are ongoing. This post will be a quick introduction.… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on December 9, 2008 at 2:32pm — No Comments

Rejection: Is your book really THAT bad?

Rejection. Oh, how it stings. Most of us have been through it - plenty. Seeking jobs, college admissions, love, or publication for our books. It hurts. Destroys our self-image. For a while, anyway. And it tears at the thin fabric in which we cocoon with our fragile writer's ego, protecting the inner belief that our work is valid.

A new writer recently emailed me after receiving a flurry of rejections from big agents. With a crushed… Continue

Added by Aaron Paul Lazar on December 9, 2008 at 7:22am — 1 Comment

Free Teleseminars - Best-selling Author Secrets: How to Create a Six-Figure Income and Boost Your Celebrity Status

Bestselling Author Secrets:

How to Create a Six -Figure Income and

Boost Your Celebrity Status

Tuesday, December 9th

Thursday, December 11th

Tuesday, December 16th

8:00-9:00 PM EST

Register…

Continue

Added by William R. Patterson on December 5, 2008 at 1:32pm — No Comments

Free Resources for Writers, Editors and Publishers

In these lean times, we need all the free resources we can get. I hope you find the following completely free resources helpful:

For Writers and Editors

How to Get Internet Terms Right

This easy-to-use guide encapsulates the Chicago Manual of Style's recommendations for using Internet terms.…

Continue

Added by Carla Chadwick on November 30, 2008 at 11:30am — No Comments

The Three P's of Writing

The Three P’s of Writing

I have had an occasion recently to witness the turmoil of some writers and publishers when things don’t go according to plan. It was a sad thing to watch, and I am grateful to have maintained good working relationships with all the parties involved. I offer, therefore, some assistance for the new, budding, aspiring, frustrated writer still working on getting their masterpiece into the hands of the readers. Please take it for what it is, and I hope these tips… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on November 14, 2008 at 6:01pm — 2 Comments

If you self-publish your book are you a published author?

I read an interesting blog post today that states "First and foremost, a self-published novel does not a published author make." I find that statement most disturbing. It goes on to talk about the expectations of the author. If one just wants to put their novel out for a few friends then it is okay to use a vanity press. But you won't ever sell a "zillion" books. She also… Continue

Added by Bill Walker on November 7, 2008 at 11:55pm — 3 Comments

What People Had To Say [Reviews/Comments}

By Bill McDonald, President: American Authors Association.

Poet Kevin Brian Wright is a romantic in the best sense of that word. He captures the divine romance of life through his brilliant prose. His words come across as if they were written by a 15th century monk who is high on the spiritual bliss of Holy Communion. One can almost feel this inner joy and "light" he projects with images from his words and phrasing.

Wright's poetry evokes those same sacred feelings that… Continue

Added by Kevin B Wright on November 7, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments

Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal -- The Mirrored Pool

The narrow dirt path made a turn at the bottom of the hill and continued through a patch of large ferns. Sam hesitated. The woods would be dark soon, but she’d come so far and she really wanted to see where the path led. She parted the delicate ferns and stepped through. “So beautiful!”

The path ended at a small pool that reflected everything around it like a giant mirror. An ancient underground stream above seeped through invisible cracks in layered stones, gathered and tumbled… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on November 5, 2008 at 7:40am — No Comments

Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal -- The Beginning

“Samantha Mae Costas! Come on, or we’re going to miss the plane!”

Sam knew that when her father used her complete name he meant business. She grabbed her well-worn Yankees ball cap off the bedpost and pulled it down tightly over her long red braids.

It was a dreary, gray day. During the night a blast of cold air rushed down from Canada and brought with it dark clouds and a drenching rain. The mist fogged Sam’s glasses, and after a couple of tries to wipe them off, she… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on November 5, 2008 at 7:39am — No Comments

The National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC)

In the aftermath of 9/11 the world heard the scathing indictment of the U.S. intelligence agencies charged with preventing terrorist attacks. The dots weren’t connected! Why? Because intelligence agencies that had bits and pieces of the attack information hadn’t provided it to their counterparts. There was a myriad of reasons for this, including protecting one’s turf, fear of critical information leaks to the press and the like, but the “stove pipe” analogy was the most troubling. “Stovepiping”… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on November 5, 2008 at 7:38am — No Comments

Terrorism Defined

This is the first in a series of posts that will deal with terrorism.

If you want to enter a never-ending fracas, just come up with your own definition of terrorism and jump in. Even though terrorism has been used since the beginning of recorded history, it’s still a bear to define.

So where does the term terrorist come from anyway? The Latin word terrere means “to frighten.” The French word terrorisme brought the usage forward in time. The word is associated with the… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on November 5, 2008 at 7:35am — No Comments

Thoughts About Writing

Is there room in the box to add one more tip or one more thought about writing? Not much, but I’ll try to wedge mine in somehow. Writing rules and regs change with the times, and what’s in fashion now will disappear over the horizon only to orbit back and become “it” again. This recycling bit is the reason, or in my case, the rationalization I give my wife for not tossing my old ties. I know someday the string bow tie will make a come back.

Have fun writing. I don’t mean dancing… Continue

Added by Ben Furman on November 5, 2008 at 7:33am — No Comments

Galley Time

The lifecycle of a novel is a long one. First I submit a proposal to my editor. This usually consists of three chapters and a synopsis. If she likes what she sees, she makes my agent an offer. They haggle a bit and finally everything is agreed upon.And we're off to the races.

I may or may not adhere to my original synopsis and in the case of VEXING THE VISCOUNT, this story didn't even have a title. It was the option book in a 2 book… Continue

Added by Emily Bryan on November 2, 2008 at 10:58am — No Comments

Indpendent Authors

I have just recently started blogging. My blog can be found at WordPress.

As part of my regular posts on Tuesdays I'm going to be featuring profiles of Independent Authors. If you are a self-published author or want to be and want to be featured on my blog please contact me.

Added by Bill Walker on October 30, 2008 at 1:37pm — No Comments