Breeding Readers from a Garden of Books

April 10, 2012

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. ~Cicero 

It is National Library Week. A city or town with a strong, vibrant library breeds a community of readers. The Bud Werner Memorial Library in our town of Steamboat Springs,Colorado is a beautiful gathering place and it’s resources include not only what is housed inside, all the books, music and DVDs, but also a variety of events, programs and book clubs. One can be kept busy attending the special offerings almost every day of the week. 

If someone were to ask me what the top reason for residing in this town is, I’d have to say aside from the natural beauty of the environment, our state-of-the-arts library facility ranks very high – perhaps at the top of my list. 

Today, as part of National Library Week, we honor library workers everywhere – the Director and the staff who tend to cataloging and purchasing; media specialists, researchers, archivists and more. 

On Wednesday, we celebrate Bookmobile Day and the Six Word Story Contest!. Bringing books into remote areas is a wonderful service that libraries in many communities offer. Bookmobiles promote literacy. 

Check with your local library to see how to participate in the Six Word Story Contest; sounds like an interesting challenge to me. Join in by writing your own! 

Thursday is geared toward teen literature. A good idea! During adolescence, an interest in reading generally declines.  A library that draws strong patronage from the teen population is probably staying current with technology and multi-media offerings. 

Make a point to visit your local library this week and show your support! For more information on National Library Week, please visit this site. http://bit.ly/z06jxM.

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Artist’s Interactive Magazine Keeps Publishing Green

April 3, 2012

This winter, a new quarterly art magazine, independently published,  was launched. It is called Artists on Art. Although it is not supported through ad space, it is available digitally and by PDF download at a very fair price. Not only is the magazine published in a “green” format, sparing a lot of trees, it is an interactive magazine with step by step guides to painting techniques; a way for art students and connoisseurs of fine art to connect with master painters. 

Each issue contains fulfilling articles, written by artists, sharing ideas, philosophy and knowledge that can be read on mobile phones and touch screen devices such as the iPad and on personal computers, too. As the magazine continues to issue new content, archived issues will be available to download for a small additional price. 

To explore and discover why this innovative idea in magazine publishing gives a leading edge to artists, because of it’s interactive qualities, visit this website and watch the video designed to help you to decide whether or to subscribe or not. http://bit.ly/HBnq6k.

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Author Throws Caution to the Wind

March 29, 2012

Free yourself from the burden of feeling the need to hold on to anything. Let go, you are part of everything.” ~ Steve Marboli 

It has been said that “somewhere around the world, one of John Locke’s e-books are downloaded every seven seconds, twenty-hours a day.” How’s that for an unknown author who entered into the independent publishing industry with only a desire to entertain readers? 

This former insurance salesman felt he had nothing to prove and no one to answer to other than himself, as he began to electronically publish his novels featuring protagonist, Donovan Creed. Despite a lack of literary credentials, Locke’s e-book sales have exceeded big-name authors such as James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Stieg Larson just to mention a few. 

Locke said he “couldn’t think of a single reason a publisher would want to put money into an unknown author without a writing background.” An offer from Simon & Schuster will bring hard-copy versions of Locke’s entire Donovan Creed series to the marketplace and it has him rethinking his remark. His success has proven that indeed, there are first time authors with great talent worth investing in. 

How I Sold 1 Million e-Books in 5 months is just one of Locke’s new publications. His goal is to publish fulfilling e-books for “stressed-out readers” every eight weeks. Fast-paced reading with a straightforward storyline is what he aims for. He has even tackled, with success, the western genre in his book entitled “Follow the Stone.” 

For more information on this hugely successful e-book author, please visit this link http://bit.ly/nizAeM.

Return tomorrow on Film Friday, for more independent thoughts, words and views from the company blog site of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

 

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29 Cities of Creative Industry

March 19, 2012

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can change the world! ~ Joel Arthur Barker 

Today, we are returning to a subject we shared on Saturday, St. Patrick’s Day – UNESCO’s designated Cities of Creative Industries. There are 29 cities that play integral roles in developing new technologies in publishing, cinema, design, culinary arts, music and crafts. Opportunity for opening up new prospects for globalization of exchange, cultural diversity and economic development has put these cities in the lead:

There are many reasons urban hubs are identified by UNESCO as outstanding places for creative industry including excellent libraries and bookstores along with their experience in hosting festivals and literary events. The promotion and preservation of foreign literature and cities with publishing houses also make them top contenders. Existing educational arts programs and initiatives and the involvement with new media also  may qualify a destination for the international dimensions that UNESCO is looking  for. To read more information on the Creative Industries Network, please visit this link http://bit.ly/wX0CNg.

At the local level, there are many small cities across the globe that are looking at their own arts and culture as ways to bring more tourists and economic development, including where I live –Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Visitors from all over the globe come here to experience the natural beauty in a mountain resort. While they are here, tourists want to gain an appreciation for  fulfilling things that are found in the Art of the West.

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Itchy Niches for Books

March 14, 2012

Look, all you can do when you find your niche is go with it.” ~ Vincent D’Onofiro

Independent publishers, have you put any creative thought into selling your goods in out-of-ordinary places?  Many independent publishers have great success when they find the proper niche market and then capitalize on that. Non-fiction, in particular, lends itself well to selling in non-traditional places where your publication compliments a main line of business. For instance: 

  • If you are an independent musician who has produced a CD of music that leads a listener into quietness, meditation and contemplation, a massage therapist may welcome having a reinforcing product to offer his or her clients.
  • A home goods store selling refurbished or salvaged furniture and accessories may be itching to get their hands on a book to sell in the store about creating a beautiful home by “turning trash into treasure.”
  • Realtors may want to purchase publications on “How to Ready your Home for a Successful Sale” as a premium product to offer to their prospective clients. 

Independent publishers are known for publishing books, films and music that is different than what can be found in bookstores and in traditional retail environments. You never know, your publication may be just “the thing” a catalog company, an association/organization or a retail environment (other than a bookstore) is scratching to find.

Leave no stone unturned when putting your marketing plans together for your independent publication. As an independent publisher and independent business-owner it means researching non-traditional spaces and places to sell your book.  Start locally and find what works, then expand your visibility into other communities where your niche publication fits. 

Remember, packaging and branding is important too. Corner your niche market with a quality ,desirable and unique publication, market it well and you will see fulfilling, positive results.

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Engage in Results Based Marketing

March 13, 2012

Being entirely honest with oneself is good exercise.” ~ Sigmund Freud 

I’ve never thought that I have an addictive personality – could care less about chocolate, drugs have never been my thing and I tend to avoid big blasts of caffeine. A morning and afternoon cup of honey-laced tea is for me. Don’t even mingle with a just few sips of alcohol. It puts me off my feet. I’m not fitness-crazed; only the recommended daily walk.  Yet I have developed a co-dependency, there is no doubt! 

 Addictive personality traits help people deal with life, and in my case, addiction to social media brings gratification to the heart of the business. The substance behind the addiction of internet marketing is communication. How can anyone isolate themselves and not do business without engaging in social media? It does not work. Fact of the matter is, and I am not just trying to rationalize, in this day and age does anyone have a better choice?

All Things Fulfilling is my enabler. The blog connects me with other folks who live, breathe and talk independent publishing and find fulfillment in the creative arts.  My addiction to blogging is fueled by results. 

This is one addiction worth hanging on to. If you are an independent business owner of any kind (including those who work in the creative arts) who is getting few positive results from  old fashioned marketing tactics, such as in-print ads and direct mailings, there is help available. Remember, we are now in the digital age.

Contact a company that specializes in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers. Learn about the new dimension in advertising and promotion that is far reaching and relatively low cost. It is worth getting hooked ..

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Paranormal Book Sales?

March 8, 2012

“I think that it is very good for people to talk about their paranormal experiences and share stories about things that they cannot explain.” ~ Rosemary Ellen Guiley 

Evidently paranormal romance is big among young-adult fiction readers. Amanda Hocking will attest to that. 

Amanda Hocking was not previously known as an author until April 2010, approximately two years ago. In fact, she was a group home worker until she began selling 9,000 e-books a day. Yes, that is right… a day! Her 17 novels were written in her free time and she has sold over one million of nine of them, earning  two million dollars in just a few short years. Some of  Amanda Hocking’s books, because of their initial popularity as e-books, are now being sold as perfect bound paranormal romance paperbacks. What is para-normal romance? Visit this site http://bit.ly/zx6KqT.

While many might say – “No wonder why she has sold so many, she is only selling some of them for $.99 cents,” my reply is “That is great! She has made some bucks and has found her niche market, too. She is fulfilling a need and her objectives of selling books that people want. Not every author, traditional or independent publisher,  can tout that!” 

This may be an example of out of the ordinary sales for most e-book authors, but in my own opinion, with the growth of e-book fans, we may be seeing  more very successful e-book publishers coming down the pike. 

What do you think? Don’t be too quick to judge unless you have checked out the new generation of publishing in – e-books. There is some fascinating stuff that just can not be found elsewhere.

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Platforms for Readers include Laps

March 7, 2012

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” — Emilie Buchwald

Book buyers base their decisions on feelings. Yes, they look at the ink and the quality of paper but the ultimate decision comes down to what is in this book for me?  If a consumer is buying fiction – they may ask “Will his book send me on a grand adventure, a magical fantasy or a romantic interlude?”  If the buyer is purchasing non-fiction, the decision is based on whether the knowledge, inspiration or help that they need is inside the cover of the book. 

Decision-making in book buying now includes another yet another option. Shall it be hardcover, a perfect bound soft-cover book, an e-book or audiobook?   E-books have seen spectacular growth. The Wall Street Journal http://on.wsj.com/hZCMtj is predicting e-book revenues in 2012 of 2.0 billion dollars. 

Why? Because people are discovering it does not matter what kind of platform you read on as long as you find fulfilling content. It is as plain and simple as that. 

With the arrival of e-books, young people have all kinds of digital content at their dispose on the devices that never leave their hands. Will this new generation become life long readers with the help of e-books? It is difficult to forecast, only time will tell.

Foster a love of reading in your home. Parents, when buying books consider what kind of reading platform would best engage your child.

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Read an E-Book Week

March 6, 2012

I have seen how the foundations of the world are laid, and I have not the least doubt that it will stand a good while.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

We are smack dab in the middle of Read an e-Book Week

More and more Americans are gaining access to the internet through WiFi. No longer tethered to desktop computers, communicating through digital devices in most communities, is possible even when we are on the go. Many people have traded in their telephone landlines for wireless phones. Smart Phones and i-phones are very handy for accessing electronic bookstore catalogs if you do not have a Kindle, a Nook or any other brand of digital reader. 

If you have a hand-held device already, why not join in on Read an e-Book Week? It involves no monetary investment at all. There are plenty of e-books you can download for free or for less than the cost of a cup of coffee. A trip to the bookstore or to the library is no longer necessary to pick up a good read. You probably have what you need to locate and download a fulfilling book right in your hand! 

 What do you like to read? Fiction, non-fiction, mystery, chick lit, mind-body-spirit, detective stories or comic books? E-books are now available in most genres or categories of literature. Books for young readers and academic textbooks in are available in digital format, too.

 Think what sustainable publishing will mean to this new generation of readers as they grow up. They are witnessing the building of a strong foundation for green publishing now.  Print on demand publishing and e-books means a reduced number of books will end up in landfills. That is a good thing! 

Although Read an e-Book Week is designated from March 4 to 11th, the beauty of independent on-line bookstores is you can gain access 24/7! No locked doors at any time. Pick up a book whenever you want – the store is always be open. 

It is a very exciting time for independent publishers. Do you have story to tell? Join in!

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Sending Bliss Your Way

February 28, 2012

 “If you want to be happy, be.” ~Leo Tolstoy 

February is Heart Month! Before this month is over, I must mention  March 3rd is just around the corner. Do you know what that means? It is National I Want You to Be Happy Day! How about that! 

Today, too,  is a great day to send happy thoughts to family, friends, business associates and acquaintances both near and far. The best ways to feel good about ourselves is to help others, put others first and by thinking cheerful thoughts. 

Nice sentiment to want others to be happy, for sure!  However, as much as wish we could make others happy, it really is up to us to do it for ourselves. 

This day and everyday, I encourage everyone at to wake up and search your own heart. Pick one simple thing that will make your day more fulfilling and do it!  It may be taking a long bubble bath, having that special cup of vanilla, hazelnut coffee that you crave, cuddling more each day with your cat or dog, giving yourself the luxury and permission of sitting at the table and visiting for an extra 15 minutes before you clean up the dinner mess….whatever brings you low cost pleasure. What is your intuition telling you would make a difference in your life? It is never a waste if it brings a smile to your face. 

What am I going to do on I Want You to Be Happy Day? I am going to be a little self-indulgent and download an e-book that I have been waiting to start. I can think of no better day than March 3rd to dig in. 

What is the book called?  The Art of Hearing Heart Beats by Jan-Philip Sendker. Listening may be more appropriate for this title. It is available in audio book, too.

More independent thoughts, words and views tomorrow from All Things Fulfilling, the company blog spot from www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.