Category: Staff Articles

Writing advice and insights from the staff of Indies Unlimited.

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”

Library Journal’s SELF-e Program for Self-Published eBooks

Library Journal SELF-e LogoLibrary Journal is arguably one of the most respected catalogs relied upon for book selections by public libraries. Historically, they’ve only listed books by big-name publishers, but in 2015 that all changed when Library Journal and Biblioboard partnered to form the SELF-e program for self-published and small press authors.

Nearly a year ago, our own Melissa Bowersock interviewed Mitchell Davis, one of the founders of BiblioBoard. The interview makes for interesting reading, covering the inspiration and genesis of the program, as well as benefits to both libraries and authors. I want to take time today, however, to talk about submissions, the where and how of it all. Continue reading “Library Journal’s SELF-e Program for Self-Published eBooks”

LynneQuisition: A Vine Voice Reviewer

Interviews by Lynne CantwellYou may have seen the “Vine Voice” tag on reviews around Amazon’s website, and wondered what it meant. Here to help us figure it out is Mystery Reviewer, who participates in the Vine Voice program. He has agreed to take a seat in the comfy chair while I ask him a few questions. (He thinks he’s safe because he doesn’t review many books, but just in case, he wishes to remain anonymous…)

Mystery Reviewer (MR), how does the Vine program work, and how did you get into it? Continue reading “LynneQuisition: A Vine Voice Reviewer”

Fuel-Efficient Productivity for Writers Part 2

too many notebooks for author organization
Photo courtesy of Rants of the Archer

Yesterday, I said that I’d found a better way to keep a combination writer’s notebook and Capture Device (from GTD.) A way so simple, so elegant, so fuel-efficient that I can envision myself using it for years to come. I found the method on Pinterest. It’s detailed in this article in the English-language version of The Tokyo Times, which says:

This little useful hack was taught in Japan but it’s a bit messy. Also, it’s something most people will not find themselves doing all the time, but it may come in handy for the right subject. Continue reading “Fuel-Efficient Productivity for Writers Part 2”