Self-pub Nightmare

This is what I feared. Something going wrong at the last minute. My debut novel was scheduled for release today, but that is in jeopardy. I received this email from Amazon last night:

We checked your files and found issues you need to fix before your book can be published on KDP:

Cover

• Resize your front cover so that the image or background on the front cover extends far enough beyond the edge. Add an extra 0.125″ (3.2 mm) along the top, bottom, and sides of your cover. This prevents manufacturing issues when the cover is trimmed.

• Resize your back cover so that the image or background on the back cover extends far enough beyond the edge. Add an extra 0.125″ (3.2 mm) along the top, bottom, and sides of your cover. This prevents manufacturing issues when the cover is trimmed.

But I ordered my proof months ago and it’s perfect. As a self-published author, Amazon doesn’t give the option to list print books for pre-order, which would have helped me avoid this problem. Little Big Brother has been advertised for May 13 from the beginning, and one thing I struggled with was when to actually click publish on Amazon. It can take up to 2 days for a book to be made available after clicking publish. Click too early and it’s released before the advertised date, meaning it’s not synced with your promotion and could cost you sales and rankings depending on how early. Click too late and it’s not available when you said it would be.

I’ve contacted Amazon and received this response:

As you are okay with the proof copy received about bypassing this error I’ve reached out to our Technical team to investigate this issue. I’ll contact you with more information within 2-3 business days.

At least the Kindle version is available.

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Little Big Brother Pre-Order Giveaway

There’s only two more weeks until Little Big Brother is available in paperback! While we wait, I’m offering a signed bookmark to anyone who pre-orders the Kindle edition before the May 13 release date. All you have to do is pre-order the book and message me a picture of your confirmation through Instagram or Twitter.

Little Big Brother bookmark

Writing as a Business

When I wasn’t working, I had all day to write. But I never wrote all day. It might be impossible, but that’s not the point. The point is, since I’ve been working part-time I’ve gotten more done than when I literally had the option to write all day. I’ve done this by treating my writing as a business and seeing myself as a business owner. Here’s how and why I did this, along with some of my favorite resources (other writers talking about this).

Scheduling Time to Write

I used to think if I loved writing so much I’d make time to do it. Sounds good, but it was hardly ever the case. The thing is, I love doing other things as well. It’s about prioritizing these loves. I don’t have to schedule a three hour block of time to be productive. Scheduling thirty minutes is enough. That half hour may be a struggle or it may lead to hours of writing.

Consistency

Scheduling time to write once every two weeks probably isn’t enough if you want to take your writing seriously. Unless you’re actually writing all day. Consistency also applies to this blog. I don’t always have a poem or topic ready to go (I’m trying to schedule more posts). Writing something when I know I need to publish it can be difficult, so any time I have an idea or line for a poem, I make a note in my phone. That way when I sit down I at least have a starting point.

Promoting

Why promote my work or myself when I don’t have a following? That was my #1 question when wondering why I should bother sharing my work on social media. Every article I’ve read or video I’ve watched on this topic says the same thing. Post no matter what. People aren’t going to know what you write or who you are without you sharing. If people find you on social media and you have no posts, or no engaging, relevant posts, they’re not going to follow you. Prior to posting consistently on social, I searched for other indie authors and bloggers to follow on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Some of them had very few followers or subscribers, but I followed them anyway because I liked their content. I finally decided that should be me. You don’t go from zero followers to verified overnight (or years in my ongoing case). Every post doesn’t have to go viral, just consistently sharing and participating will get you noticed.

Little Big Brother Blurb

This is a big week for my writing self. Wednesday, I’ll be releasing the cover art for Little Big Brother, and Friday I’ll let everyone know the release date. As for today, here is the blurb that will be featured on the back cover of Little Big Brother:

Charlie is like most high school freshmen: prone to embarrassing moments and little experience with the opposite sex (okay, none). Thank God his older brother can guide him through it all. Well, sometimes. The dead can’t visit on a whim.

DeAndre’s visits are the only things keeping Charlie afloat as he navigates his teenage years. But this blessing is also a curse, straining Charlie’s friendships and threatening to derail his wishful romance with Samantha. Before Charlie can move on he needs to know if he’s really communicating with his dead brother or if it’s all in his mind as his mother and therapists believe. The clock is ticking. DeAndre tells him he won’t be around forever and the grief is tearing at the seams of Charlie’s relationships.

An encounter between DeAndre and Samantha may provide the answer, and how Charlie deals with it will be the difference between keeping those he loves and losing them forever.

Today is the Day

A year from now you will wish you had started today.

That’s a quote from author Karen Lamb. It’s resonating with me today. I’m so excited about publishing my debut novel, Little Big Brother, but I do wish I’d started earlier. I knew I would feel this way. I wrote the first draft in two months in the fall of 2017. Wanting to take a break from it so I could return with fresh eyes, I finished the Unholy Revelations novella. When I returned to LBB with fresh eyes I edited it countless times. Then, I waited. For what, I don’t know. There was probably some fear, some nerves, but regardless of the reason, I wish I had started earlier. Because I can’t wait to get it out there now.