Anyone Can Be a Gatekeeper

Today, I read an article titled "Self-Publishers Should Not Be Called Authors" by Michael Kozlowski. In the article, the blogger states: "Just because its easy to upload your written word, so that it can be downloaded to another machine does not make you an author, any more than me buying a stethoscope allows me to be … Continue reading Anyone Can Be a Gatekeeper

What Do You Really Think About Self-Publishing?

A few years ago, I belonged to a local writers group. I'd just completed my first novel a few months prior and knew little nothing about the publishing process. The group was a mix of fiction and non-fiction writers, with a few writers who had self-published, a few writers who were in the midst of … Continue reading What Do You Really Think About Self-Publishing?

What Are You Worth? (Pricing Indie Books)

I'm sure you've all heard the expression, "You get what you pay for." But, how true is this phrase? In the literary world, this phrase doesn't seem to apply. For example, I've found some real gems in the Kindle slush pile for only 99 cents. I've also paid thirteen dollars for a traditionally published book … Continue reading What Are You Worth? (Pricing Indie Books)

Do You Need a Website?

As a newbie writer, I resisted the pull of social media for as long as I possibly could. I avoided Facebook, had no clue what Twitter was used for, and shunned the internet altogether. For me, the internet was a necessary evil, a large-scale phone book I referred to when I needed to look up … Continue reading Do You Need a Website?

What Can Your Publisher Do For You?

Hello, it's me again. Harping on small publishers. Yes, I know I've covered much of this territory before, but after talking to a new round of unhappy authors, I thought I'd better talk about publishing again. Over the past couple of days, I've been working on formatting The Seance. I've formatted a book before, but … Continue reading What Can Your Publisher Do For You?