\u2022 Scrolled through my Twitter followers (for the first time, I was GLAD I don\u2019t yet have more than 4K followers) to find people with whom I\u2019ve interacted, who I would trust to respect my manuscript and my copyright, and who I could ask if they wanted to do a review exchange. At least fifteen agreed, and I\u2019ve already received two reviews that can be posted on Goodreads and elsewhere, once I get the book pages set up, and on Amazon the day the book goes live.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Started a website for Niveym Arts, LLC; this is a task which laughs in my face and takes way longer than it should, since I am *NOT* technically inclined. No problem. I\u2019ve got this, and I\u2019m learning.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Posted a couple of snippet quotes from early reviews onto my FB author page (though not like below; I\u2019ll do that later today).<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u2022 Posted a couple of links to articles related to Phagey\u2019s theme on my FB author page.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sent out a newsletter update on my revised release date.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Attended another indie writer\u2019s release party.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Decided to give my newsletter subscribers a first look at upcoming blog posts on Niveym Arts\u2019s site, and sent out the first one.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sent out queries on Twitter and my FB author page for subjects related to the climate-issue theme of Phagey \u2013 fishing for subjects readers want to see.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Searched for online reviewers; three are listed below.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reviewed books for fellow writers; there is so much good work out there! Keep an eye on my reviews page to see my recommendations.<\/p>\n
The three book reviewers I mentioned above are:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Midwest Book Review<\/a>\u2014they want two print copies of the book for free reviews, or $50 for e-book reviews, but they give priority to indie publishers;<\/p>\n 2. Indie Reader<\/a>\u2014charges $275 for a basic review with 7-9 week turnaround, but if you purchase at least 5 weeks prior to publication, you save $50\u2014IR reviews are distributed and\/or available for distribution to Amazon, B&N, IR, and Ingram, and if it gets 4+ stars, it\u2019ll be included in the monthly \u201cBest of\u201d, and invited to participate in IR\u2019s \u201cAll About the Book\u201d interview feature; and<\/p>\n 3. Self-Publishing Review<\/a>\u2014prices range from $89 to $329, with associated increases in bennies; 7-30 day turnaround, depending on pkg. Still want\/need to do:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Scroll through Phagey to find dynamic quotes I can post as blurbs on social media.<\/p>\n \u2022 Add a link to every page on both my websites that take the visitor to the newsletter sign-up.<\/p>\n \u2022 Begin listing the metadata terms I want to use when I publish Phagey \u2013 terms like climate fiction; medical sci-fi; South Pacific; coral reefs; Austin, Texas; pandemic. I\u2019m still working this out.<\/p>\n \u2022 Read all the resources I downloaded back in January before we knew we had to move.<\/p>\n \u2022 Take the other classes I\u2019ve signed up for, mostly in marketing. (This is the task I find most daunting.)<\/p>\n \u2022 Once I get my files back from Duncan, skim\/read both formats for any glitches that might have snuck in (I don\u2019t doubt Duncan\u2019s skill, but it\u2019s on *me* to ensure there are no accidental returns, etc.)<\/p>\n \u2022 Once I know the documents are good to go, upload to Ingram Spark.<\/p>\n \u2022 Order an author\/proof copy of the printed book to review, once again, for quality assurance.<\/p>\n \u2022 Once I\u2019m happy with the formatting and print job, order at least 50 copies to begin my promotions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And\u2026it\u2019s there where my brain fizzles. I know uploading to Amazon comes either next or soon thereafter, but I can\u2019t manage to get further than this in As a first-time indie author, this process is overwhelming. There are always more things that need doing in the promotion and marketing arena, and the same process won\u2019t always work for every writer. With day jobs, families, and other obligations, it often feels like you might never figure it out. Think of it like the myth of Perseus and Medusa: if you gaze directly at the Gorgon you can be turned to stone, frozen into inaction. My advice to you is to keep end goal in sight to be sure you stay on track, but don\u2019t try to confront it all at once; tackle and complete one task at a time before moving on to the next.<\/p>\n Whether you use my method or come up with your own, if you can manage to avoid the glut of All That Needs Doing, you\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n Stay tuned and know I\u2019m wishing all the best to you in your self-publishing journey!<\/p>\n **Please note that I am not a professional. Outside the writing part\u2014for which I have taken numerous classes and workshops, and for which I\u2019ve seen enormous improvement over the years, but which I am still learning\u2014I mostly have no idea what I\u2019m doing. I\u2019m reading everything I can get my hands on, looking at how others who have been successful have done it, and learning this process as I go. I don\u2019t want any reader of these posts to think I\u2019m teaching THE way to self-publish; there are as many ways to do this as there are writers on the path. I am only sharing how I have done it. Your mileage may vary.<\/p>\n Photo credits:<\/p>\n Brain Upload \u2013 by Matryx\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Reef Dive \u2013\u00a0by 7inches<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThere are plenty more \u2013 many free through book review bloggers. Do your due diligence and pick the ones most likely to benefit your book.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/overwhelmed.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1\")
my plans just yet. I\u2019ll figure it out as it comes; I always do. But that enormous, amorphous grey glow of What Comes Next, stamped in my mind with text from the classic Sidney Harris\u2019s cartoon \u201cthen a miracle happens,\u201d is intimidating. I need to take this one (or two) steps at a time. If I let my thoughts wander too far ahead of myself, I stall.<\/p>\n