Author: Martin Crosbie

Martin Crosbie is the administrator of BookDoggy.com and writer of seven published novels. His self-publishing journey has been mentioned in Publisher’s Weekly, Forbes Online Magazine, and Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper. You can learn more about Martin on his Amazon author page.

How This Author Became a Big Deal in Moulton, Alabama

rock star author picWhen my Andy Warhol appointed fifteen minutes happened back in 2012 and my book was topping the charts, I didn’t have to look for promotion opportunities. They found me. I was asked to give interviews, guest blog, even teach courses on how to self-publish. Some of those efforts helped me connect with readers and some did not. Among the requests I received was an email from a woman in Moulton, Alabama asking me to send her a print copy of my book. Sending out print books can be expensive and you often wonder whether it’s worthwhile. When my moment in the sun was shining so brightly that I could hardly see, I didn’t have time to research every opportunity that came my way. I just kept saying “yes”.

The woman in Moulton claimed to be a reviewer for a number of small newspapers in the area. She’d read the blurb of my book, saw that it was doing well and wanted to read it. But, she wasn’t interested in any of those eBook thingies. She wanted a print book. I suppose I could have got on the Google (as I heard it said recently) to verify her identity, but I didn’t have time for that. I was busy watching my dashboard change every copy of My Temporary Life I sold. So, I sent out the print version. And, I waited for something to happen. Continue reading “How This Author Became a Big Deal in Moulton, Alabama”

Additional $ources of Revenue for Canadian Authors

authors making money-case-163495_960_720
Yes, we know that’s not Canadian money. Stop being so picky.

Happy New Year, authors. I’m going to try and help make 2016 begin with a bang for you, especially if you’re Canadian.

If you’re a Canadian author there are a couple of financial opportunities available that you may not be aware of. There are two organizations that would like to compensate you financially for your hard work. There is no charge to sign up for these programs, the checks come annually, and the payments are available to traditionally published authors as well as self-published authors. You just need to know where to apply. Continue reading “Additional $ources of Revenue for Canadian Authors”

The Self-Publisher’s Dashboard of Gratitude

aurora-borealis-69221_960_720Ode to the Reader

Twas the night before I uploaded to KDP and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring as my hand hovered over my mouse.
My masterpiece had been edited and formatted with care,
While visions of soaring up Amazon’s rankings floated through the air.

Okay, I’ll stop now.

You know that feeling you get when you check your dashboard and you’ve sold another book, or a reader has borrowed your book through Kindle Unlimited? You know what I’m talking about. It’s that little jolt you receive. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling thousands of books a month or a handful, there’s still some kind of a charge. I can attest to this because I’ve been in both camps. I’ve had months where I’ve sold tens of thousands of books and I’ve had months where the sales barely trickled in. Yes, ‘tis a fickle vocation we find ourselves in, isn’t it. As the jolly season approaches, I find myself in a contemplative mood, and I was wondering – what is that little burst of energy we feel when the numbers increase on our screen? What does it really mean? And, what should we do about it? Continue reading “The Self-Publisher’s Dashboard of Gratitude”

Lessons Ed Taught Me

Ed Griffin
Author & Mentor Ed Griffin 1937 – 2015

Canadian writing legend Ed Griffin passed away recently leaving a legacy of several books, a thriving writer’s festival, and a family who adored him. But he left us with much more.

I lost my mentor this past July. Ed Griffin passed away. His life will be summed up far more ably by others, and his accomplishments will be documented in many other places. Instead, I’d like to pass along some of the things I learned from him. Some of you may be familiar with Ed’s lessons from his online posts (including this website), or attending his writing classes. For those of you who didn’t have the privilege of meeting him in person – please imagine a fiery, pasty white guy, in love with the spoken word – warmly, strongly, and passionately teaching you these lessons. Continue reading “Lessons Ed Taught Me”