Twenty years ago, if a friend told me they were going to the hospital for 3-4 weeks, it usually meant that they were headed to the “drunk tank” to dry out. While I was pretty wild twenty and thirty years ago, I managed to steer clear of that particular life experience but I am headed into the hospital on another life adventure. I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s T-Cell lymphoma early this past … [Read more...]
I am having trouble selling my books. Can you offer me any advice?
By Ron Pramschufer, President, Self Publishing, Inc - Helping Authors Become Publishers Since 1995 As luck would have it, SelfPublishing.com recently sponsored our first webinar, Cold Calling for People who Hate to Cold Call, featuring the “Queen of Cold Calling”, Wendy Weiss. This hour long event sold out in only two days, which tells me that there are more than one of you out … [Read more...]
What’s all this talk I hear about Keywords?
Keywords are words designed to get the attention of an individual. When I was a kid, my mom used to stand at the back door and scream out “Ronnie” when she needed me. It usually got my attention and I came running when I heard it... mission accomplished. Any other word was completely ignored. Today the term keyword is associated with websites and search engines but the same theory as my mom … [Read more...]
I received my books today and the type on the front cover wasn’t centered. Can I make the printer reprint the books?
By Ron Pramschufer, President , Self Publishing, Inc. - Helping Authors Become Publishers since 1995 This was a real case that came up this past week and is very typical of some of the problems an author faces when he puts on the Publisher hat. The simple answer is, if you signed the printer proof as “ok to print” and the books match the signed proof, you’ve bought the books. The … [Read more...]
I heard that your Publishing Basics Seminar in New York went well. When are you going to do one in California?
The recent Publishing Basics Seminar played to a packed house in New York City the Monday prior to the opening of Book Expo America. This seminar was received so well that the group has decided to offer it again for our West Coast friends on August 1st in Anaheim, California. California … here we come! The 2nd Annual Publishing Basics Seminar was held on Monday, May 23rd at the Seminar Center … [Read more...]
My books don’t seem to be selling. What should I do?
How does that saying go? In order to make sales you need to make sales calls. Over the years I have used stories of all my children and grandchildren to help me illustrate a point. A recent trip to Ohio to visit my son in college will help me demonstrate this one. Last week my wife and I traveled out to visit my son who is a sophomore attending Ohio Wesleyan University. He was being presented an … [Read more...]
What are your plans for this year’s Book Expo America in New York City?
My first Book Expo America was at the brand new McCormick Place in Chicago, back in the late ‘90s. Since then, I have worked shows in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. This year will be the first year that I will not have a booth in this annual event. Want to know why? Trade shows have changed dramatically over the past fifteen years that I have been exhibiting in them. Book … [Read more...]
How are you coming along with that short run (under 100) printing that you were talking about?
Good question. As of today, anyone who is part of the SelfPublishing.com Thor distribution program simply needs to sign into their Customer Resource Center, click on Fulfillment/Thor orders, enter any quantity from one on up, fill in a few lines on an order form, and wait a few short days and …. Poof…. The books are at your front door. My basic self-publishing philosophy has not changed. If you … [Read more...]
Book Design Cause & Effect: You’ll Reap What You Sow
Spring is a busy season in the publishing world as authors and publishers scramble to get books ready for summer and fall sales. It’s no different here at Self Publishing, Inc. The seasonal buzz has begun. Having seen how some customer-designed files are arriving to be printed, it’s a good idea to remind you of the importance of professional book design. When you purchase a product—any … [Read more...]