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| JUST 2.99 FOR LIMITED TIME |
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Review:
"London is back with an edgy
thriller that's sharp and taut. Cyd and Ewan are very complex individuals with
loads of baggage, and tension is rife in this gripping read."
Romantic Times Magazine
Story:
When Ewan Lochlain returns to Fairy Cove on Lake Michigan,
his plans clash with fiery Cyd Callahan’s. Determined to stake his claim on
what’s his, including flame-haired Cyd, Ewan is haunted by his parents’ deaths—
which are somehow linked to Cyd’s terrifying, hidden memories, and to deadly
secrets.
Now people are dying in Fairy Cove and a killer is stalking
the night…
~~~
Like many traditionally published who are
heading for Indie publishing, I am struggling with time for writing, time for
promotion (big Essential here), and leading a flesh and blood life.
With a number of reverted books in my
pocket, I’ve learned bits about graphics and promotion. REPEAT: Bits. Graphic artists
already have a jump in the cover business, but as an Indie publisher, like the
covers I create, either in ideas for a graphic artist, or buying premades.
A writer may not always be happy with
their traditional/legacy publisher covers, and if you’re lucky there, you can have
cover input. “Input” only means you can share ideas with traditional, which may
use or not use them, or adapt as they see fit. If you’re lucky, you get a great
cover, and well, flip that over…
Time management is critical, and many
writers simply do not have time, and/or to create their own covers and handle the social
media required. Highlight SOCIAL MEDIA TIME.
Tips abound out there to share posts and
many businesses charge for the services. And this is where value comes in…
It’s like every other business. Value for
product.
Through my Indie publishing time, a few
years now, (my publishers at HQ and HarperCollins have my books, too) I have tried freelance editors, formatters, graphic artists, etc.
and have settled into what works for me. This landscape is changing, with more
developments upping the competition while making Indie publishing easier.
If you read my earlier blogs, you’ll see
that I firmly believe writers need a “cold eye” on their work, or beta readers,
or some reference, other than themselves. Few writers can see the holes in
their work or catch every copyedit error. Many writers trade services to help
what could be a significant $ editing charge.
Here’s an example in which contracted
services was not up to par:
I tried a recommended “editor,” who
charged high and whose work was less than mine, a long-term career writer. We
settled her charges and she apologized. She had a number of excuses. I have no
idea if she is still representing herself as an editor or not. It was quite the
discussion. :)
There are lots of services representing
themselves as professional—they are either not qualified, or qualified but
doing shoddy work. This is a Buyer Beware situation where even recommended
services are not up to sales-competition par.
Some Indies have one big plus:
Skilled family members/friends who chip in to help. Repeat: Skilled/and or
Trained.
On the other hand, you might like friend
Joe, and he may say he will edit/create graphics/format/publish/promote, but is
he does he lay down an effective product for you?
If you are an Indie, you have advantages
in moving to better services easily. But if you are truly dissatisfied, try to either work with the service, or to get your $ back, or in some proportion.
If you hire of service of any kind, it’s
tricky until the Proof is in the Pudding and you actually experience what you
get: You get what you agree to pay for, what is specifically included in your
contract with the service. Be very careful as you mine through the contract
points.
Just 2.99 for a Limited Time.
