Producing a publishing-quality
book can be expensive. Editing, formatting, and cover design can all add
up to quite the hefty chunk of change.
But does it have to?
Indie author Jean Bauhaus shares the methods she used to produce no
fewer than six self-published books without spending a dime – including
the novel that got her noticed and landed her a three-book publishing
contract. This is a comprehensive guide for bootstrapping
do-it-yourselfers and for the would-be indie who thinks she needs a big
platform and a successful Kickstarter campaign before she can get
started.
And she doesn’t stop there. Jean goes beyond the basics of e-book and
paperback production to walk you through the publishing and
distribution process and educate you about your options so you can
develop the best publishing strategy to serve your long-term career
goals. She also explores your options for publicizing your book and
helps you determine where to focus your marketing efforts at this stage
of your author career.
If you think you can’t afford to get started with self-publishing, this audiobook is a must-listen. It will give you all the tools you need to launch your first book and set your publishing career on course to reach the stratosphere.
This book is very useful, and I expect I’ll return to it time and again as I progress through my indie publishing career. Jean Bauhaus covers the end to end process of self publishing, and goes over the necessary steps to make a minimally viable book product. I especially found useful the broken out sections of “if you have a little money” and “if you have no money” for the different steps.
There are lots of resources out there for indie publishers, and this book does a great job of rounding up the best advice out there and presenting it in a very accessible, no-nonsense way for indie authors everywhere. Go forth and pick this up–you won’t be sorry!
Amazon Reviewer Seanimal
About the Author
Jean Bauhaus is a total nerd for good storytelling. She is also incapable of being quiet when someone asks a question she knows the answer to, a trait that is largely responsible for the creation of this book. She grew up in Oklahoma and is a recent transplant to the Ozark mountains, where she lives in the middle of the woods with her husband, Matt, a cat, two box turtles, and a Chihuahua who seems to think he’s an actual child. He might have had some encouragement in thinking along those lines. Jean writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy and horror under the name Jean Marie Bauhaus.
Spring,1916. Best friends Tulsa May Bruder and Luther Briggs are on a mission. After a very public jilting, everybody is looking at Tulsa May with such sad, sorrowful eyes. Can a pretend romance turn that pity into gossip? The plain preacher’s daughter and the handsome heartthrob with the bad reputation. Would anyone even believe it? Convincing the town requires moonlit walks, stolen kisses and a brassiere used as a fanbelt.
“Morsi’s novel has a strong sense of time and place…rural American in the days of carousels, country dances and the simple pleasures of church and home.”
Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Pamela Morsi is a USAToday Bestselling author with an award-winning career spanning 25 years. She is a two-time recipient of the RITA, the romance genre’s most prestigious award and a member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame.
His destiny brought them together, but will her past rip them apart? Ever since her father’s mysterious death, Rose Bauer has suffered from migraines. Visions and voices reach out to her from the intense pain. Is her father’s spirit trying to contact her? Or is she going crazy? Now is not a good time to be crazy. Zeke Clayton claims destiny led him to her door. But how strong can destiny bind two souls when one is as tainted as hers? Is his love for her and faith in God strong enough to survive all her secrets? Will justice ever be served against the one who has betrayed them all?
About the Author
Lynn Donovan spends her days chasing after her muses, trying to get them to settle down and behave long enough to write down their words and actions. The results are numerous novels, anthologies, and short stories.
Lynn enjoys reading and writing all kinds of fiction, paranormal, speculative, contemporary romance, and time travel. But you never know what her muses will come up with for a story, so you could see a novel under any given genre. All that can be said is keep your eyes open, cause these muses are not sitting still for long!
Hetta Coffey is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she’s not afraid to use it—most of the time. She’s an intrepid cruiser, but wild rumors of marauding gangs of flesh-shredding giant Humboldt squid on a rampage in the Sea of Cortez could keep even Hetta tied to an expensive dock. However, when the opportunity for an intriguing and highly lucrative charter arises she talks her best friend, Jan, into signing on for a mysterious cruise.
Damn the calamari! Full bank account ahead!
I’ve been really enjoying a lot of audiobooks of late–engaging the brain while the body is otherwise occupied doing such mundanities as laundry, cleaning, shoveling snow . . . I started in on “Just Different Devils,” the very first book I’ve read by Jinx Schwartz, and was immediately caught up in a FEMALE heroine off on the same sorts of hijinks usually reserved in thrillers to the male of the species. Occasionally bordering on the slapstick, Hetta Coffey, a forty-year-old adventuress who is living on a boat near Baja, Mexico, gets involved in a string of events with her dog, Po Thang, and an assorted group of friends with whom she’s clearly had many an adventure in the past. We are treated to some delightful female bonding plus all the derring do and action of a Bruce Willis flick (Brucetta?), well narrated by Stevie Puckett who clearly has an ear for Scottish, Texan, and Spanish inflections.
Betababe, Audible Reviewer, 1/17/18
About the Author
USA TODAY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, Jinx Schwartz, has written fourteen books, including ten in the Hetta Coffey series. Hetta is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she’s not afraid to use it!
A ninth-generation Texan, Jinx has lived and worked all over the globe, and much like the protagonist in her Hetta Coffey mystery series, she’s a woman with a yacht and not afraid to use it!
Territory bachelor, Jedwin Sparrow, was merely hoping to sow some wild oats. And from what he’d heard, a logical place to start might be the cottage of Mrs. Cora Briggs, a notorious divorcee. Cora’s first instinct was to slap his face! Then a better plan occurred to her. Why not call the tune and string him along. What better way to exact revenge on those gossipy hens than to ensnare one of their own in that wicked web of lies. An unexpected love story, two people who discover the truth about themselves within the heart of each other.
“Wild Oats is another perfect little gem-a wonderfully warm read that brings readers a sense of delight and deep satisfaction.”
RT Magazine
I was pleasantly surprised that this book was a delight to listen to. It takes you on a journey from infatuation to friendship and from friendship to love. The characters seem so real with their quirkiness and flaws. The story progresses into a lovely story of small-town life of gossip & misunderstandings and a love story that features two lonely hearts who feel undeserving. It’s a lovely story and worth a credit.
I loved the narration on this book. Each character’s voice was unique which added to the enjoyment and ease of listening.
Dara, Audible Reviewer, 7/21/17
About the Author
Pamela Morsi brings to life a small-town America of a bygone era with endearing, realistic characters and a special brand of humor that touches the heart.
Hetta Coffey is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht and she’s not afraid to use it!
After several months of cruising Mexico’s hauntingly beautiful Sea of Cortez, Hetta’s in Puerto Escondido, a place once described by author John Steinbeck as “a magic harbor.” Anchored out, swaying on the hook at the whim of breeze and tide, surrounded by magnificent views and turquoise water can be magical. Stuck at anchor alone? Not so much.
So when her best friend, Jan, gets them an invite to a party at a nearby luxury resort hosted by a Japanese businessman—all expenses paid—Hetta figures, why not? Why turn down an evening of free food and booze? And besides, what could possibly go wrong?
With Hetta involved? Plenty.
Not only are she and Jan soon up to their necks in hot sake, a succession of unsavory intruders sends Hetta scurrying for a safe harbor, but not before she reaches the conclusion that some folks just need killin’.
Author Jinx Schwartz’s refreshingly free and fun-loving duo of Texas cuties in their late youths (40 is the new 30) romp and stomp on the Sea of Cortez and its environs in this delightful book which has references ranging from the Conquistadors to the Texas Rangers to World War II and the Japanese plan to buy Mexico (well, something like that). And I had the added delight of listening to the AUDIO, vivaciously narrated by Stevie Puckett who perfectly captures our madcap gals.
When an outspoken senator is found dead, there isn’t enough evidence to point to the senator’s death as a suicide, as everyone thinks. There is something just too perfect about the life of Frances “Frankie” McGuire-mother, Irish Catholic congresswoman from Boston, and powerful pro-life senator. Sergeant Fiona Fitzgerald, daughter of a Senator, takes nothing at face value, especially when politics are involved. Everyone in Washington has a secret, and the senator’s personal world turns out to be much more complicated than anyone ever knew. A pregnancy, an estranged husband, a mistress, and the fragility of life-both wanted and unwanted-collide, leaving Fiona to sort out the consequences of the messy case. Fiona faces the issues of abortion and women’s rights just as she is contemplating her own pregnancy, with or without a steady man in her life.
About the Author
Warren Adler is best known for The War of the Roses, his masterpiece fictionalization of a macabre divorce turned into the Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated dark comedy hit starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
DEATH OF A WASHINGTON MADAME is book #3 of Warren Adler’s 9-book Fiona Fitzgerald Mystery Series, currently in development as a new TV series entitled CAPITOL CRIMES. DEATH OF A WASHINGTON MADAME- Detective Fiona Fitzgerald is an unlikely force for justice in Washington, D.C.’s predominantly male police force. As a Senator’s daughter and top investigator in the homicide division of the Metropolitan Police Department, Fiona maneuvers between two vastly different worlds, moving quickly from opulent State galas to gritty crime scenes. Born into the elite social circles of the nation’s capital, and armed with intimate knowledge of the true face of the political establishment, Fiona is determined to expose the chicanery concealed within the highest echelons of the American political aristocracy. Old money, old secrets. The elderly mother of the Governor of Virginia, an icon of Washington society, is found dead and sexually assaulted in her posh Washington, DC, residence. Metropolitan Police detective Fiona Fitzgerald investigates the horrifying crime. As a senator’s daughter, she has the advantage of knowing the world of Washington’s privileged. Young Martine, the accused, has no advantages. He was not raised in a family with political leverage and does not understand the inner-workings and secrets of Washington’s politicians. Then there is the devoted servant, the status-hungry daughter-in-law, the drugs, power, and money-but where does the truth lie within this complicated family drama? Through it all, Fiona wrestles with her own feelings about marriage as she considers marriage to a former general, who is now mounting a massive offensive for her hand. Will an inside look at one Washington marriage-and all of its dirty little secrets-help her choose? Fiona must battle both privilege and prejudice as she uncovers the inevitable truth behind the political facade.
I really enjoyed this book. Though this is the third book in the series, I had not read the previous books before starting this one, but I never felt like I was missing out on something explained in the previous books. This book felt like a realistic look at Washington politics and racial tensions. The characters were interesting and well-developed and the plot was masterfully woven. I listened to the Audible audio version of this book narrated by Stevie Puckett. I enjoyed her narration and I felt like she gave an authentic voice to each of her characters. If you’re looking for a gripping mystery with lots of twists and turns, I highly recommend this book.
Mission Driven: Moving from Profit to Purpose aims to help the jobseeker — whether a student, a mid-career professional or a retiring Baby Boomer — take advantage of the many career opportunities burgeoning in the non-profit sector by answering these questions and more: • Is now the right time for me to transition into the nonprofit sector? • Will my skills transfer to the nonprofit sector? • How do I even begin to move from the corporate to nonprofit sector?
The nonprofit sector is changing to accommodate the enormous richness of experience all of these individuals can bring with them. This book endeavors to help each of them find their place in the new nonprofit sector.
Very interesting point of view about the business world. Very easy to listen. I enjoyed very much the narration.
Lylian, Audible Reviewer, 8/13/17
About the Author
Laura Gassner Otting’s 25-year resume is defined by her entrepreneurial edge. She served as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton’s White House, helping shape AmeriCorps; left a leadership role at respected nonprofit search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to expand the startup ExecSearches.com; and founded and ran the NPAG, which partnered with the full gamut of mission driven executives, from start-up dreamers to scaling social entrepreneurs to global philanthropists.
Bliss or Bust: Uplifting Thoughts, by Stevie Puckett, is a different kind of book. It is not filled with the author’s life story or case studies or research. It is an easy and potentially powerful read. It will help you realize the practical importance of disciplining your thoughts through awareness of your emotions and how to use them. It is also about intuition, how to trust it and why it can provide a life-enhancing advantage to intentionally develop it.
This book is short and sweet. It is not a book that you will necessarily want to read straight through. You may just read it when you want a lift or just read one entry a day or one entry at different points in the day. You might even just pick it up occasionally and flip to any old page for a special message to consider.
Bliss or Bust: Uplifting Thoughts is a compilation of ideas to help build a foundation from which to live a more enjoyable life intentionally and authentically. If you are open to a new perspective that will ease your mind and help you to feel your best, then you are going to love this book.
There are a couple reasons I’ve given this short work a five star rating. Stevie Puckett has found her niche with this work. She has done a beautiful job of clearly expressing a series of thoughts, that are each an uplifting meditation. Her performance here is one that reflects the simplicity and purity of this positive thinking. You will enjoy this as a positive affirmation to fall asleep to at night or starting your day with.
Have you wondered about whether or not you are deeply in love with your partner? Are you thinking about whether or not your relationship contains all the necessary ingredients to be passionate and successful together? This test has the main questions, some of which are more relevant than others, to see if you match, if you are compatible with your partner or potential partner. It’s a fun test that you and/or your partner can do to learn more about yourselves, relationships in general, and your love for each other. So feel free to get this book for just a few bucks and have a fun 30 minutes or hour learning more and comparing.
Is there such a thing as the perfect job? I’m sure we each have our own definition of perfection in the workplace. Some people prefer to work in the great outdoors, others enjoy the air-conditioned comfort of an office in a skyscraper, and some enjoy working out of an RV.
A characteristic that creates a pleasant work environment is the belief that the company cares, the boss listens, and there is a chance to get ahead and, perhaps, get a raise or promotion. Being taken advantage of often causes the perfect job to become dreary and tedious. Like most of us, I’m sure, bosses have made promises to me in the past to get extra work and longer hours and then reneged when the time came to pay up.
Regardless, sometimes conditions conspire to make the regular trek to a job feel like a trip through Dante’s Inferno. Sometimes, these are out of our control, such as a malicious manager or incompetent colleague. On the other hand, we can take control of our lives and workplace and improve our situation.
Get this book to learn what you can do when your job sucks.
About the Author
After spending over 33 years in the computer and information technology industry, Richard decided to take early retirement to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional writer and published author. Richard is a leader in the computer industry, serving as Vice President of Consulting at Software Techniques and Beck Computer Systems before settling down as Director of Computer Operations at Trader Joe’s. During his twenty-year tenure at that esteemed company, he focused on computer security and preparing for the possibility of disaster.
So you think you want to be a freelance writer and you are looking at doing some ghostwriting. Well, ghostwriting is hard work!
Yet when properly managed and priced, ghostwriting can be one of the most lucrative freelance writing careers.
This book goes through how to successfully run a ghostwriting project, from the initial contact with a prospective client to delivering the completed work. Potential pitfalls are discussed in detail, along with solutions and suggestions.
Here is a summary of what you’ll learn:
* How to price a ghostwriting project * How to set up a ghostwriting business * Running meetings with your client * Doing interviews and research * Why communication is especially important * How to write a Statement of Work to protect yourself and your client * How to handle the inevitable revisions * How to deliver your final project.
About the Author
In addition to creating hundreds of articles for the web and blogs, Richard actively works as a professional ghostwriter. In that role, he has completed books on a wide variety of subjects including memoirs, business volumes, and novels. Because of his in-depth background in software management and computer security, Richard has ghostwritten a number of major books in those areas.
