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On the verge of their first publications, self-publishers can be preoccupied with many questions. Is the content up to snuff? Is the cover right? How do I market? Etc.  If this is you, sit down and take a deep breath.…

Ah, Kindle Direct Press, the world’s largest venue for self-publishers. They don’t discern for quality—hence millions of poorly crafted books fill cyberspace—but they do care about copyright issues.  MY MISTAKE: I originally chose King James Bible verses for Sons of Adamah because…

SO MANY COSTLY MISTAKES.  Let me count the ways: 1.  I aimed for a gorgeous work of art rather than a genre-specific cover. My first cover artists were brilliant artists but not familiar with my genre, so their ideas didn’t…

“Advanced readers” read books before publication and prepare their reviews to coincide with the launch.  That’s the theory, anyway.  MY MISTAKE: Most of the people who (kindly and graciously) agreed to be my advanced readers for Sons of Adamah didn’t normally read science…

OR—HOW TO AVOID REWRITING AND REPUBLISHING YOUR BOOK You’ve incorporated many of the changes suggested by your beta readers, and now it’s time for the professionals. The best assessors, developmental editors, copy editors, and proofreaders will lift your book to…

So you’ve huddled in a corner of your home or coffee shop, studied the craft of writing, and pounded out your story to the best of your ability.  Now what? Send it out to your acquaintances (beta readers).  We all have…

Or Self-Inflicted Pain. I self-publish rather than seek a publishing house for its flexibility and creative control. I’m no longer sure the concerns driving my decision are founded, but here I am. Self-publishing is the best option for many authors, however,…