Tag Archives: Indie Books

Join my Anthologies

This is a blog post written by Mara Reitsma who is one of my contractors. Mara gives her time to my Anthologies to help others get their names out there…It’s a good read…there again so are the Anthologies

http://itybityqt.wixsite.com/marareitsma/single-post/2018/12/09/Anthologies-Abound–Want-in-on-the-fun?fbclid=IwAR1aXNuQoYy0GZJjAzDrPpOjn2U_FkpQ4dc-KI_2zTjXJutjIynB4-t9GSg

Indie Publishing News

Indie Publishing News Magazine Issue 8 OUT NOW

This months Magazine had Tory Gates as our Featured Author. A Man of many talents.  We also have antoher five interviews from Indie Authors around the world who you need to know about.  New Releases, Poetry, a short story…. and much more.

Indie Publishing News. Issue 8 PDF

GET YOUR COPY HERE TODAY

Business Reflections of 2016

Reflections of the past twelve months. What have we done. The highs and lows. The requests and even the chat.  

I have met some amazing people over the last twelve months. Many who have helped to improve my love of learning, friendship, sisterhood and much more. With business growing I find it is now time to thank everyone who had helped make this a great year. Thank you for your comments, chat, shares, reblogs and support. Without you I would not be where I am today.  A fine spot with more highs than lows. THANK YOU

Clients of 2016

We have assisted EIGHT AUTHORS with NINE books – ebook and print.  We have also assisted these authors along with another FOUR to learn the ropes of Publishing.  Some wish to do as much as they can, others like assistance each time.  Some of these authors have several more works to be published and we are looking forward to working with them again. We have also worked with twenty-five authors for our Anthology…More on that later.

Sponsorship 2016

We set up a Sponsorship earlier in 2016.  Our WINNER was J B TAYLOR  with his Sci Fi novel called DISCOVERY.   J B Taylor was Awesome to work with. We’d also like to thank Limelight Literature and Fantasia Covers for been part of this Sponsorship. 

Indie Publishing News

We opened a new avenue to MARKETING for FREE to all Indie Authors and those who supported Indie Authors in February 2016.  This newsletter grew at such an astounding rate it is now MONTHLY ONLINE MAGAZINE which goes worldwide.  US, UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, INDIA, EUROPE – Time to do a survey. All a person needs to do for FREE Marketing is sign up to receive the Magazine and share it out, this helps spread the word on their work as well as anyone else who participates in the group.  We now run a SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR who gets the cover page as well as around 5 – 6 pages of information about them, their books, reviews etc.

Last month we introduced the Roving Reporter idea. This is for those who write or find interesting articles they wish to bring to attention of other Indie Authors and supporters.

As from January 2017 we will have a BACK PAGE ADVERT.  For next year this will be Advertising GOINDIENOW an wonderful company who supports Indie Authors with marketing and video discussion – plus much more.

Anyone who else who wishes to support the Magazine to keep it FREE is welcome to place on-going adverts (the same one each month or bi-monthly for a small fee.  This Magazine is not out to make money! It is there to help. However at 40 plus pages it takes time, so assistance is always welcome.

Ghostly Writes Anthology

FREE Anthology for those who wish to write a short story of up to 6K for Halloween.  Once again this was well received. We had 25 Authors participate, some publishing for the first time.  The Anthology was well recieved and is still downloading well on KINDLE – The eBook is FREE)  We are looking at writing a short Ghostly Romance Anthology for Valentines…However this has an entry FEE of $10 each.  The HALLOWS EVE ANTHOLOGY WILL ALWAYS BE FREE IN EBOOK FORMAT.

Join the Group today: – Ghostly Writes Anthology Group

On going Training

As the Director of Plaisted Publishing House I have continued my Business Training with a Diploma in Small Business Enterprise – Level 5. I graduate in 2017.  I will continue to grow and learn to make my company one of the best, if not the best out there for Indie Authors. I love being a Small Press Publisher. I love to chat and see how I can help. Please dont’ hesitate to contact us.

The Lows

There have been a few lows, through seeing people in a positive light and them coming back to bite you due to living in a negative world and thinking they know what we should be doing as a company.  Even we are still learning the ins and outs, though there are many out there who know – WE KNOW OUR JOB. I’d like to thank those who have given us the love and support we have needed, mainly from friends and clients worldwide – we are proud to say we pulled through – taking the bull by the horns and growing stronger than ever before.

WATCH OUT 2017

 

Indie Editing & Local Book Stores

Bashed after professional editing and no it wasn’t by my excellant Editor.  It seems to get a book into a bookstore your book has to be perfect if you are an Indie Author – never mind the bloody Traditional Published books which nearly always have one or two errors in them. The Bookstore owners sure as hell aren’t going to read them just to point out errors otherwise they’d not have a business.

I am sick of it.  No only is spelling and grammar different in each English speaking country, you then have to fight for the right to sell them locally.  Online it is fine, if someone points out an error you fix it and re-publish, be it print or eBook.  

I do wish New Zealand would catch up with the rest of the world with Independently Published books and give them a chance.  Personally if I ever won lotto or inherited a fortune I would open an Indie Book Store with a Coffee Shop.  If only…

It isn’t that I think we should be lazy with our editing at all.  It should be top rate, as good as you can afford.  It also needs Beta Readers, Proof Readers, Line Editor and so on.  If you know someone you can exchange services with etc then go for it.  Writing sure as hell isn’t a cheap business.  Even with all the above errors will still find a way in…You could edit for years and never publish at all I suppose.  

Anyway I was given a helping hand and a possible solution to help tighten up my books with editing which includes my lovely editors.  It was Thanks to A L Mengel who I chatted to earlier this evening for ideas and ways to improve my own books.  Here is what he told me.

I practice several rounds of edits. The first round,is the story structure, I do myself. Someone has to turn the draft into a flowing story, and the author really needs to do that.
 
After that, I send it out for a read through for flow and consistency
 
Then more edits are made.
 
Next is another set of eyes for line edits – Remember the first editor is already too familiar with the story. They may read over errors.
 
Then more edits are made again before it goes to the proofreader. Another set of eyes
 
The last step is the beta readers.  They receive special copies which they read (usually 1-5 people) and if they see an error, they’re asked to record it.
That is where my conversation ended with Mr Mengel.  There is one main thing I noted.  He had different people doing different parts, making sure new eyes were looking over the book.  It is this sort of journey which will give you and exceptional book in the end.