I Dood It!

It's alive! My first-ever self-published novel, The Mountain Lion King, is now available through Smashwords and Amazon! Smashwords has already started distribution, so it should also be available through Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, and a ton of other ebook vendors. I'm focusing on Smashwords and Amazon because they have the name recognition, and those are the places where I uploaded.

Brief blurb: Mountain lion shifter Rick Donnelly lives alone on his Montana mountain and likes it … until he finds himself defending a Bengal tiger bride who ran away from her intended husband. Hubby is a piece of work who's out to kill them both. Rick and Bari fall in love. It's a paranormal romance of the shapeshifter variety and yes, it does have a happy ending, psychotic tigers notwithstanding.

This book began as random posts on Shapeshifter Seductions. Click on the link to hop over there and read the full commercial. The blog you're on here is my Author's Notes, continuing my account of how and why I ended up self-publishing.

I believe I've mentioned the reasons before, but here they are again: I self-pubbed as a legal courtesy to my fellow Shapeshifter Seductions authors. We've created a shared world over there, and this book is set in it. I used concepts and a couple of characters in my book that were created by others. If I'd gone to a regular publisher with this, copyright problems might arise, lawyers would get called in, and everybody loses. Therefore, by mutual agreement, any book set in Talbot's Peak needs to be self-published. Sorry, Matlock, no court case for you this week.

Last time I blogged I was wrapping up the formatting. I ended up skipping the linked Table of Contents because I couldn't get the damn thing to link correctly. If done right, you click on, say, "About the Author" and it jumps you to the back of the book and the author bio. Mine wouldn't jump. After wrestling with it for a good chunk of the morning, I decided just having a ToC was enough. A lot of readers don't bother with all that stuff in the back of the book anyway. If they want to read it, it'll be there when they get to the end of the book. If you can't wait, well, that's why keyboards have a "Page Down" key.

With formatting as done as I could manage, I went to the library, got on Smashwords, set up an account, and sent my baby into the world. Forget what I said last week. Uploading was surprisingly easy. Far more easy than the formatting, but that was my first time. I think I spent more time wrapping my head around the instructions than I did actually formatting. If you're going to self-publish, follow the instructions in the Style Guide. They work. At least, they worked for me. My file shot right through the system with no reportable errors. Good thing I decided not to link the Table of Contents.

And that was that. The book went live on Smashwords almost immediately. I enjoyed about twenty minutes of first-page display fame before other people's books knocked me off, but that's how it goes. The book has been manually checked and approved and is being shipped off to vendors as we speak.

I'm hoping there are no problems. I couldn't check my Epub file because even though I installed the Adobe Digital app, my laptop wouldn't open the file. I'm sure if there had been problems Smashwords would have told me. If you get an Epub version and it has issues, drop me a line, okay?

Uploading at Amazon was similarly smooth and problem-free. It took me longer to fill out all the paperwork than it did to upload the book. That one I was able to preview, and it looked okay. I now officially recommend skipping a linked Table of Contents.

My book was up on Amazon in less than 48 hours. I already have an author page over there, so I've added it to my backlist. Now all I have to do is market like crazy, which includes promo like this blog. Then sit back and watch the money roll in.

Yeah, right. Since I hit "upload" back on Monday, I've sold exactly one copy, and that was to fellow SSS writer Rebecca. Thanks, Rebecca, I do appreciate the support, and when your novel comes out I'll buy a copy because I've read your excerpts on the blog and it's damned impressive. You can write, woman! Thanks also to Savanna and her editing assistance. Savanna gets her plug in the Bonus Chapters. There is no link from the Table of Contents. Sorry, you'll just have to scroll.

I don't know at this point how my sales will go. I could do okay, or sink without a trace. Even if you go with a regular publisher, that's the chance you take. Right now it's way too soon to make predictions. Remind me in six months and I'll give you an update.

# # #

Since this wouldn't be a proper blog by me if I didn't bitch about something, I'll leave you with this: Amazon is only paying me 35% royalties. It used to be 70% for a self-published ebook, but that changed on January 1 of this year. Something to do with tax laws in Europe. Amazon still offers the 70% option, but only if you're exclusive to Kindle. If you want to sell elsewhere, as I did, you have to sacrifice your percentage.

And what, pray tell, does Amazon do to earn the Lion King's share of your money? They display your book on their virtual shelves. That's it. Amazon does not pay you for the right to publish your book. They do not provide editing. Their upload system does provide stock art and the means to create your own cover if you don't have one already. They will do some promotion, but only if you're selling exclusively through them, and only if you're selling a lot. The more you sell, the more they make, so the harder they'll push your (or is it their?) product. Self-fulfilling prophesy again.

The rest of us are basically paying to have our wares displayed on the world's biggest retail site with the most name recognition. My largest percentage of sales do come through Amazon, so I can't discount it out of hand. But a 65% cut of the take when I did all the heavy lifting and they're just providing a venue? Over at Smashwords, the author can earn royalties of up to 80%. Trouble is, even Smashwords admits not many people buy from their site. Smashwords sales come mainly from their distribution outlets. Those royalties are still higher than Amazon's grab.

My final recommendation: if you choose to self-publish, go exclusive with Amazon for the first few months, until sales start to drop off. Then switch to the lower royalty rate and self-pub with Smashwords for wider book distribution. That's what I'll be doing with my next self-published novel, which may not happen for a while. My next book will be through a regular publisher. Let somebody else do the editing, marketing, and cover artwork. I'm a writer, not a small business.

Or maybe we should be a small business. I'll have to talk it over with the other Shapeshifter Seductions writers and see if we want to be publishers. Ellora's Cave is practically extinct, so there's a void someone could fill. But then we'd have to call in lawyers. Never mind.

Home Stretch

Success!

Almost.

After lots of panicking and even more foot-dragging, I'm finally on the brink of creating my first self-published book. I've been working my way slowly but surely through the manuscript, following the Smashwords style guide. Why Smashwords? Because they distribute to more outlets than Direct2Digital, and I want my masterpiece available in as many markets as possible. Direct2Digital does the formatting for you, but I think they also take a bigger slice of your pie. No thanks. I want every penny that's due me. Anyway, if I get good at this, I can charge other newbies to format their books. Always think ahead.

Yesterday I put in chapter heads and learned how to create centered front matter. I'm turning into a regular tech wizard. Yay, me!

So what esoteric secrets have I learned that I can pass on to you, the eager would-be self-publisher? Glad you asked.

Formatting the basic manuscript is amazingly easy, once you know which buttons to click. I use the 2007 version of Microsoft Word, and it's so kind to Luddites like me. That's for the overall format, though. One of Smashword's pre-prep steps involves stripping all previous formatting out of your file, to make sure no hidden garbage slips through. That includes any bold or italics you might've used in the text. Now me, I'm a big supporter of italics, especially for dialogue emphasis and to indicate a character's thoughts. Too bad. All that's gone. I ended up having to go through all 132 pages, putting all the italicized words back in. My characters won't be thinking quite so much in any future books.

(Fortunately, here's where my obsession with print copies comes in handy. My ancient computer-and-printer combo system, the Troglodyte 1000, is so old it still indicates italics with an underline. All I had to do was flip through the pages and look for underlines. Here's to the old-fashioned methods!)

But wait, there's more. The manuscript, the actual story you're looking to tell, is only the beginning. If you're like me, you've got a couple paperbacks (or hardbacks, if you have a job) on the nightstand next to your bed. Pick one up and flip through the opening pages. See that page with all the Copyright By and Published By and We Own This So Don't You Steal It stuff on it? That's front matter. The blurbs, too. And the quotes from reviewers. The Table of Contents goes in the front, but I'm not sure if it counts.

Front matter, especially all the legal weasel words, is required by Smashwords. Leave it out and they won't accept your book. And it all has to be formatted. During my first attempt, I forgot about this part. I was going along, blissfully formatting my book file, when it got to the part about front matter and how to create a specific style for it. Style for what again? Oops. I had to put formatting on hold while I came up with a whole new section of the book. Then I had to learn how to create and change styles so I could format that. See how tricky this gets?

This is the kind of stuff a regular publisher handles. All you the author have to do is write the book. Well, guess what? You're the publisher now. Coming up with front matter is your responsibility. So is editing, proofreading, book design, formatting for upload and procuring a cover. Still want to self-publish?

Back matter is easier. For starters, you don't have to include it. However, it's still a good idea. Back matter is stuff like About the Author and Visit My Web Page and Here's a Bunch of Other Books I Wrote. If the readers like your book, they'll want to know these things. They may even want to buy your other books. The Smashwords style guide includes instructions on how to make hyperlinks within the book itself, so readers can jump straight from your Table of Contents to the back sections. I haven't attempted that yet. I just read the instructions a little while ago. Once my brain stops hurting I'll read the instructions again, then bite the bullet and give it a whirl. Pray for me.

Keep in mind all this is still the preparation phase. I haven't even tried to upload yet. That comes with its own set of problems. If the system doesn't like all that formatting you put it, it'll tell you about it. Then you have to figure out where you messed up and fix it and upload the book again. Then you have to check all the versions Smashwords produces to make sure they all look good. Who knows how long that will take.

I was hoping I'd be ready to upload today, because I'll be tied up this weekend. That's not happening now. I still have several tasks to master, like the hyperlinks. I'm not looking forward to that.

Once I go to upload, I'll want to set aside a couple of hours just in case there are problems. That means the library. I'll be damned if I'll hang out in a Dunkin Donuts on a Sunday wrestling with a stubborn computer program. After the first hour or two they might insist I buy something.

And this is just for Smashwords. What about Amazon? They don't offer a style guide. They won't even tell you squat until after you've signed in with your payment and personal info. That's why I'm going with Smashwords first. I should have all the kinks worked out of the file before I commit to Amazon.

I hear All-Romance Ebooks is tricky, too. Smashwords doesn't distribute to them, so I'll have to upload there separately. All for a book that may end up selling a dozen copies total, if I'm lucky. I love being a writer.

Those people who tell you, "Self-publishing is easy! Just write the book, click Upload, and you're done!" are lying. Next time somebody says that to you, kick 'em in the pants. I'll be back next week to tell you how I fared in the upload department. Either that, or I'll be in the national news as that woman who climbed to the top of the bridge in Harrisburg and hurled her laptop into the Susquehanna River. At least I'll get media exposure. The books I have out with actual publishers might sell better then. Every little bit helps.

Old Dog, New Tricks

Once again I find myself poised on the brink of entering unknown territory. In this case, it’s self-publishing. My first Talbot’s Peak novel, The Mountain Lion King, is almost done with the editing phase. (I should probably call it my first intentional novel, since our freebie offering, Love to the Rescue, just kind of happened. You can download that one from Smashwords. Just click on the cover to the right and follow the link.) As soon as it’s as perfect as my editing skills can make it, the formatting and the fun begins.

Correction: as soon as I quit dragging my feet.

I’m not in any rush to get to the formatting part. Months back, when we were putting Love to the Rescue together, I downloaded the Smashwords style guide and read through it. Several times. Mr. Brain realized how much work was involved and immediately went into panic mode. That gave my procrastination tendencies an excuse to come out and play. I formatted my copy of the file part way and then just gave up. Fortunately Savanna knows how to format so she put it all together for us (thanks, Sav!). Click on the cover over there and get ready for a roller-coaster ride of romance and adventure. For free. That should be enough plugs for one blog.

Meanwhile, I’ve still got a manuscript rapidly nearing completion, with the prospect of formatting looming before me. At some point I’ll just have to bite that bullet.

There are alternatives, I know. I can hire somebody to format it for me. And I would, except I’m cheap. I won’t pay big bucks for somebody to do something I know I could do myself if I’d just stop whining and get to it. I could take the file to Direct2Digital, which will format the manuscript for me, but they also take a higher cut, and they don’t distribute to as many outlets as Smashwords. I want all the pennies, or as many as I can get away with grabbing. Greedy, cheap and lazy. The manuscript’s not the only thing with issues.

Eventually the greed will probably win, even against the procrastination. It’s just fear anyway, fear of the unknown. Or fear of work. Because in order to master formatting, I’m going to have to work. I’m going to have to do something new. Dear God, I’ll have to learn something.

I don’t know why I’m so scared of this. I did make that earlier, half-assed attempt. Once I got started, the process wasn’t as confusing as I’d feared it would be. It had even begun to make sense. I think it was having to work at something that did me in. Lazy trumps greed, in this case.

Too bad. If I’m going to make it in the world of modern publishing, I should learn as much about the process as possible, so I can do it on my own if I have to. Because I’m also cheap and greedy, I already know I will. I’ll just keep editing while the cheapness and greed beat the laziness into submission. Then I’ll be ready to go.

At one point I was going to self-pub “erotica” (what they’re calling porn these days) on Amazon. I have a finished story I could have experimented with. Never quite made it to the formatting stage. In this case it was more Cheapskate Me than Lazy Me. I didn’t want to pay for a cover. That shouldn’t have stopped me from practicing my formatting skills on the file. I can still do that. I can put off formatting the book by formatting the story instead. Make procrastination work for you!

That’s where my self-publishing career stands at the moment. Lots of intentions, very little forward movement. For now. At the moment I’m in the process of updating the files with all the editorial changes I marked on the printed version. Sure, having a printed version is another form of put-offery. I consider it backup. If the laptop crashes, I’ve still got a copy of the full manuscript, complete with all the changes. Paper rules!

Deep breath. Okay. I’m ready now. Just have to finish the updates. Then read the Smashwords instructions again. Then go to the library to post this blog. Then screw around at the library for a couple of hours. Then watch TV. Don’t worry, I’ll get to it eventually. Trust me.

# # #

I did learn something this week and last, and I have my co-blogger Savanna to thank for it. Being too cheap to hire an editor, I sent the manuscript to the other Shapeshifter Seductions writers for beta-ing. Savanna’s suggestions pointed out more than random typos and shaky sentences. I really did need to put more emotion into the story. All of a sudden, I saw how. Several sentences got reworked to better reflect POV, and one paragraph went from “tell” to “show,” thus improving the story. These are things I’ll have to keep an eye on in the future, if I’m going to edit my own stuff.

Actually, it pays to have several eyes on a “finished” manuscript. People who aren’t as close to the story as you are will spot all the bloopers and blemishes you missed. This is what a good beta or a good editor does. You don’t want the readers doing it. Those are called “sucky reviews.”

So thanks to the other SSS writers, with an extra-special thanks to Savanna on top. You taught the old bitch some new writing tricks. The readers will benefit now, or whenever I get around to learning how to format. Hope you weren’t expecting payment. Like my manuscript, I am a work in progress.

(No Subject)

I don’t have anything specific to talk about this week, so I’m just going to jump around. We’ll start with an entry from the “Oh, the Irony” column. The local library’s running a promotion for Banned Books Week: get your photo taken with a banned book. Somebody else got Stephen King, so I went with Harry Potter. (By the way, have you seen that “fanfic” some alleged housewife is writing, that replaces all the references to magic in Sorcerer’s Stone with Christian ideology? In the first installment, Harry is rescued from his Godless existence and learns true Christian values. Common consensus among fandom is that this is really a satire perpetrated by one or more pro writers as a joke. Geez, I certainly hope so. Oh, and since Dumbledore was revealed as gay in the actual series, I suppose we can look forward to a priest-and-altar-boys subplot in an upcoming installment.)

While I was there, I told the ladies running the camera I write erotic romance, but the library’s content filter won’t let me access my publisher’s web site—in effect, banning me from viewing my own output. Their response was instantaneous: “There’s nothing we can do.” It’s the computer program, you see, not the fault of anyone human. I considered asking them who programmed the computer, but I suspect that would have been futile. Apparently the computer programmed itself and makes its own decisions independent of human direction, Hey, scientific community, look over here! The Lancaster County library system has successfully created AI! Terrific. Amish Country will one day be the birthplace of the Terminator. (“Come with me if you want to live, vunst.”) Now we can be famous for more than just buggies and Witness.

I forgot to mention how the filter fails to stop kids from getting into such fun sites as tips for growing pot indoors and how to build a pipe bomb. As long as you’re not having sex with stuff, the program thinks it’s okay. I did point out that the books the program’s designed to block are still readily accessible on Amazon. This revelation took them by surprise. In point of fact, you can still find flat out porn using the library system if you know which sites to look for.

Maybe instead of a computer program they should get that housewife “fixing” Harry Potter to flag sites inappropriate for children. That would reduce options to Teletubby fan sites and the 700 Club home page. I really need to get home Internet.

# # #

Over on our other blog, Shapeshifter Seductions, we’re in the process of putting the serial story together for self-publication. I downloaded the Smashwords style guide and read through it. Now my head hurts. I’ve been working with computers since the early ‘80s, worked for typesetting companies off and on for at least ten years, I’ve got Microsoft Word on my laptop, and I can’t tell you a thing about coding, fonts or typography. I didn’t pay much attention to that stuff. I was just there to type. Maybe that would explain why I kept getting laid off from these places.

But what really gets me is covers. I don’t know how to do graphic design either, in spite of that background listed above. I took a six-week course in Adobe way back when, but didn’t pursue it. How was I to know publishing your own ebooks would become a thing fifteen-odd years later? Who even heard of ebooks fifteen years ago?

I’ve also got a bone to pick with stock images. Covers aren’t created by artists any more. They’re compiled from disparate images through Photoshop. If your lead character has a distinctive tattoo or hair style and they don’t have a picture of it in the files, you and your book are SOL. I foresee a lot of bland, similar-looking covers (with identical-looking leads) in the future.

We’re having that problem right now with our cover for the serial story. We’re trying to come up with a mammoth for the background. The one in the book was a mutated creature with wolf and human attributes, but there aren’t any stock images of that. We’ll have to settle for a generic mammoth (and when’s the last time you saw that term used in a sentence?). It might take longer, but it would look so much better, and much more unique, if we could just draw the damn thing. Why didn’t I take art in college instead of English?

I know I said we weren’t going to gather all the story’s separate posts together into a book. I lied. I’m a lying swine. There, I said it. Never trust a writer. We’re doing it as a promotional aid. The plan is to introduce ourselves and create awareness of our blog (and the books we wrote and advertise on it) to a wider audience. It’s what I’ve been talking about these last three weeks. This is us attempting to reach those million people who, we hope, will give us each a dollar. The serial story itself will be free, but if they like what they read they might check out our backlists. See how it all fits together?

One last thing. If your goal is to be a writer, don’t major in English in college. Take something that’ll let you earn a living. You can learn more from reading a really bad book than any lit courses anyway. But not our books. Our books are great. Keep those dollars coming!