Prismatic Publishing recently had the privilege of publishing author A. K. Buckroth’s first book My Diabetic Soul – An Autobiography.  Here is the teaser from the back of the book:

So, you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes. Now what? Sure, life changes will happen – they have to.  But it is not a death sentence.

In 1959 at the tender age of two years old, author Andrea Kae Buckroth was diagnosed with diabetes.  Now she takes you through her 50-yes, fifty years of living with this disease. Medically categorized as a “Juvenile Diabetic,” she has followed a difficult path. Her experiences of being ostracized as a child, facing adolescent peer pressure, pursuing young adult higher education opportunities with career beginnings, and advancing into menopause, have culminated in a progressive, successful and blessed life.

Andrea’s stories are true. Her experiences are real. Overcoming what may seem the simplest of life’s ordeals have often been encumbrances to this life-time diabetic. However, with perseverance and minute strategizing, they have been overcome with a positive attitude and a genuine love of life. This book portrays and encourages a conscientiousness to the develpment of your own blueprint to health.

Learn for yourself! Then learn some more! Take care.

Take this opportunity to learn about the experiences of one who has lived with diabetes from the tender age of two.  Author A. K. Buckroth is a remarkable woman.

Order you copy of My Diabetic Soul – An Autobiography today!

For more information about author A. K. Buckroth, visit her website and blog.

Connect with Andrea on Facebook.

I think a lot of writers that write books, begin the writing process without really thinking about what their publishing objectives are. They don’t think about questions such as: Why am I writing in the first place? Why do I want a traditional publishing contract? For whom am I writing this book? Who is my target market.

These are questions that should be answered prior to writing your book. Here are a few things to consider:

What are your goals and objectives?

• Why do you want to publish a book? (What is your Big “Why”?)
• Is this a hobby or do you want to earn a living as a writer?
• Are you going to print just a few copies for friends and family or do you want worldwide distribution?
• Do you want to become a household name?
• Who is your target market?
• Are you passionate about your writing?

How do you envision your writing career?

• Hobby – A favorite leisure time activity or occupation
• Job – A paid or unpaid position of employment
• Career – A life’s work or journey

It doesn’t matter if you view your writing as a hobby or a career there are times when you need to treat it as a job. If your goal is to earn your living as a published author it is even more important to treat your writing as a job. Life happens and it’s easy to fill your time with things that will keep you busy. Don’t let that happen. When it’s time to write, write! When it times to market your book, get out there and market.

Treat your writing as a business

• As an author you are an entrepreneur.
• As an entrepreneur you need to treat your writing as a business.
• As a business, have you written your mission statement and vision statement?

In my opinion, there has never been a better time to be a writer. The internet makes it easy to connect with your fans anywhere in the world. The world of publishing is changing and this change has resulted in a tremendous opportunity for writers to take control of their careers.

I’m going to end with a quote about the future of publishing:

“Let’s be clear. Everybody who writes is going to publish what they write. This is not one of those things that is debatable anymore…And it doesn’t really matter whether you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for the world of books and publishing – it is going to happen regardless of what any of us thinks”

- The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing – p. 27
- quoting John Feldcamp, Pres. of Xlibris Corp.

Take control of your writing career today!

I wish you much success.

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I wrote about this topic once before on a different blog and thought it was time to address this topic again. I believe the publishing world is changing and as a result, the way people receive information is no longer controlled by the major publishing houses. With the tools that are available today it can literally cost nothing to create content and make it available for others to enjoy.

With that being said the following disclaimer applies to the rest of this post:

This post is not going to deal with the quality of books that are self-published, nor discuss the possiblity or probability of financial success. This is just going to address whether or not one can be considered published by publishing their own book.

I once read a blog post that states “First and foremost, a self-published novel does not a published author make.” I find that statement most disturbing.

I don’t like the term self-publish because it causes so much confusion. I believe there are two different kinds of self-publishing – Print-on-Demand or POD and Independent or Indie Publishing. Both methods allow an individual to have relative control over the production and distribution of their book.

Now, let’s look at some basic definitions:

• publish – to issue (printed or otherwise reproduced textual or graphic material, computer software, etc.) for sale or distribution to the public. (It also needs to made available to the public – meaning people anywhere can purchase your book.)
• self - by one’s own effort
• independent – Not determined or influenced by someone or something else; not contingent

To be published, then, means preparing a work (book) for sale and then made available for distribution to the public.

The act of self-publishing means using your own efforts to prepare a book to issue for sale and then made available distribution to the public.

Therefore, “self-publishing“ ones own book for sale or distribution does a published author make.

Just because your book is now available for sale does not mean that it is the same quality as a book put out by a traditional publishing company. It doesn’t mean that you will be successful as an author. It doesn’t mean that your book will be respected traditional publishers and other industry professionals. It does, however, make you a published author.

There have been several authors who got their start by taking control of their writing careers and self-published their own books. Some of these authors later signed traditional publishing deals. I believe that everyone has the right to have their words read by their fans. I believe that authors should write books for their fans (target market) not a publishing company or agent.

It is your responsibility as an author to make your books as professional as possible. This includes tasks such as professional cover design, formatting and editing. Having your indie published book well-written and appear as professional as possible and your marketing abilities will be key in determining the financial success or your book and the probablility of securing a traditional publishing deal in the future – if you so desire.

I know I have some strong opinions and feelings on this matter but I would love to hear your opinions regarding this topic. I believe the author that writes for their fans should use whatever publishing method that works best, to get his/her work to those fans. I completely support those who take control of their writing career and self/indie-publish.

How do you feel about self/indie-publishing?

How do you perceive those who do publish their own books?

Let’s talk about marketing the books we’ve written, but first:

Most people, I believe, who desire to read a book do one of the following:

1. Find one off their own bookshelf which they have enjoyed in the past.
2. Head for the nearest Brick & Mortar bookstore…browse, and select.
3. Head for the local library and, again…browse and select.
4. Pull out their cell phone or book reader…download through the internet, or
5. Select a book from the many on-line bookstores.

It is a little known fact that more books are now published in some other way than through traditional publishing. These alternative ways of getting one’s writings within reach of the reading public are as follows: POD (print on demand), e-books (books available as a download directly to your computer), self-published, or independently published.

In a nutshell, POD books are, by the individual copy (book will be printed only after purchased by a reader) and are quite expensive. The high cost and limited supply tend to suppress the potential mass market appeal for the books. They will never show up at a Brick & Mortar bookstore because they are so high priced and available in such limited supply.

Next, e-books. They are relatively low in cost, but require the reader to change the way they think about book reading. The rising generation may well adapt to the idea of books being stored in a computer memory and reading them via LCD screen, but it is commonly felt that there will always be a tendency to hold in high esteem a tangible, page containing book. We’ll have to see how this concept plays itself out. It is also thought, that if a reader loves something they are reading via e-book, their next action will be to purchase a soft- or hard-bound copy to keep on the book shelf in their home.

Third, self-published books. Typically, they are the result of a writer finishing his/her book, hiring someone to design the cover, edit, format, etc. and then taking everything to a printer, who prints as many copies as the author chooses. These books may or may not have an ISBN or bar code. All too often several boxes of their “master pieces” sit in the dark corner of the basement or garage. There was no thought at all about how to get the books into the hands of a potential reader/fan base. I know of authors that writes a book and admits that his/her subconscious must have somehow been convinced that the world would somehow know they had written a “master piece” and find them—perhaps even mob their house in search for the written word they were destined to possess.

Lastly, independently published books. This method of putting out books is comprised of a working agreement between a writer and a publisher. The primary costs of producing a book are borne by the author. But, the publisher contributes significantly in the cost factor by arranging the production of the book (cover design, editing, layout, printing) with established business partners. The result is a more professional book at a lower cost. The publisher, as a rule, has an online bookstore. He is actively networking and promoting the books and authors with which he has labored. He makes available to the author his experience and expertise which aid the author in producing a polished, marketable book on a par with the quality the public has come to expect at any Brick & Mortar bookstore.

The trend, as I see it, is in the direction of and in favor of the writer that chooses to take the independent-publishing approach. It is my intention to present in future blogs an in depth exploration of the current trends with books and their readers. The cold, hard truth is that there has been in recent years a literally “explosion” of books that hit the market. There is no way that the Brick & Mortar bookstores can handle them all. Bookstore shelf space is very limited, especially when considering the number of titles produced each year (in excess of 750,000). If a book store carried only five copies of each book, the size of the book store would need to cover several acres in floor space.

So, join me as we dig into the alternative ways books are made available and see if there is a “best” way for you to proceed and thereby maximize the chances for you to obtain sales of your books in an amount that will provide you with sufficient funds to keep your books available to your future fans.

Just as a hint of what is to come in future blog posts, we will deal extensively with the writers opportunity to market his/her own books. Your first reaction to this idea may be, “I’m a writer, darn it. Don’t suggest I go out and “sell” my books.” That position may in and of itself spell failure on your part. Look around yourself…right now. Everything within sight got to you because someone was willing to perform some salesmanship. Think about it.

Author: Bill Walker
Contributing author: David R Christensen

While visiting family this past week, I noticed these 15 commandments posted on the wall. I asked my uncle to email them to me so I can share them with you. He couldn’t find the book/magazine from which they originated. If you know who the original author is please let me know so appropriate credit can be given.

1. Thou shalt think like a professional, starting now.
2. Thou shalt begin and keep going till you’re through.
3. Thou shalt take your efforts and desires seriously.
4. Thou shalt call it work.
5. Thou shalt write for yourself, not the market.
6. Thou shalt not wait for visits from the muse.
7. Thou shalt not ask whether you are good enough.
8. Thou shalt not intimidate yourself by comparing your writing with a published and polished work.
9. Thou shalt not worry whether your idea is new enough.
10. Thou shalt not talk your idea away.
11. Thou shalt not self-censor at all during the first draft.
12. Thou shalt not risk writer’s paralysis by looking for the precise word or being afraid of sounding dumb.
13. Thou shalt not believe that if writing is hard, you must be no good.
14. Thou shalt not set yourself up for failure with impossible goals.
15. Thou shalt not believe in writer’s block.

I hope you find these useful as you pursue your writing. Now is a great time to be an author.