Author, Blogger, Book Designer
I might have outwitted myself. My post entitled Vanna Depresses was a tongue-in-cheek look at the division between self-publishing and traditional publishing. But if you've never heard of a "vanity press" or a "hybrid publisher," then that post will probably seem a little obscure. So here's a quick primer... "Vanity press" is a term used within [...]
A lot of people have warned me to watch out for Vanna D. Just like her namesake on that long-running television game show, she's quite a make-up artist. Vanna D offers cosmetic assistance to self-published authors, promising them great results. I wouldn't be surprised if she struggles with her own self-esteem beneath that well-made-up surface, because almost every writer [...]
I lost today ... and still won. I learned this morning that I did not make the list of finalists for the inaugural Whistler Independent Book Awards. I had been thrilled to find my name on the list of 10 fiction nominees -- the "longlist" -- for what some are calling the first major awards for self-published authors [...]
Feedback is rolling in for Goodnight Sunshine. I'm trying to absorb it as a whole without focusing too much on the details. Trying to give my writer's mind the time and space required to sort through the dozens of messages it is receiving, to reconcile conflicting views and recognize consistent patterns. Once we release a work of fiction, there [...]
I launched my first novel today. It feels strange, and yet familiar. In my past life I ran a small software company. Product launches were the rhythm section for the whole company. Launch, upgrade, update, update ... Launch, upgrade, update, update ... that was the sound of software being released into the wild. Major launches were significant [...]
I am told that an author these days needs to be a master promoter -- a frequent blogger; a frenetic Tweeter; a "friend" to everyone and their dog, and to their dog's friends too; a member of multiple writing groups; a contributor to writers' forums; a reviewer of other authors' works; a public speaker. In short, a [...]
Mark of Words 