When it comes to the online world, Google is a major player, with its search engine and web browser kings of the market. So, it would seem like Google would be a good place to sell eBooks. On the surface, that makes sense. But, recently, the only major self-publishing distributor that allowed authors easy, commission-based access to Google’s platform — Draft2Digital — stopped offering that service. As this was one of the only services to help authors get published on Google, some are asking whether Google Play is worth the trouble.
The simple answer, unfortunately, is Continue reading “Should Authors Give Up Selling Books through Google?”
I began my writing career in drama, and when I start a new chapter of a novel, the first thing that comes to mind is the dialogue. Bad idea. When you come into the middle of a conversation, you always feel like you’re missing something, and I suspect my readers react the same way. So I went looking for a metaphor that would help me write an effective opening paragraph for every chapter. And to do that, I had to figure out what readers want at the beginning of a chapter.
From our mailbag: a reader forwarded an email she got from a man named Steve Harrison promoting the Quantum Leap Program. Never heard of it? You’re probably lucky. The email acknowledges the many choices an author may face: going the traditional route, choosing a hybrid publisher, or self-publishing, and offers to help you navigate the options. Here are some of the offers he makes: 
I’m in a lot of writers’ groups and have been for eight years now. That means I see a lot of similar posts and comments from people at various levels of experience and success. One of the most common refrains I hear is, “I don’t sell a lot of books because I suck at marketing.”