Category Archives: Book marketing

Are You a Dinosaur?

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“The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you have been.” ~ Madeline L’Engle

As most little boys are, my son was completely obsessed and consumed with dinosaurs when he was 4. One day, as I sat on the floor building Legos with him, he looked up at me and asked, oh so seriously, “who came first, his grandmother and grandfather or the dinosaurs?” This tickled me because even now, I think of my parents as being young and young at heart. At the time, his grandparents had just turned 60 and were hardly an ancient species. But – it is all relative!

Business trends have undergone vast changes in the past few years. All companies are looking for less expensive and more far reaching ways of marketing and reaching their client base.

Enter — E-Marketing! Social networking is no longer just what our kids spend their time on. Smart companies have also jumped on the bandwagon! It is a whole new way of reaching potential clients, communicating with existing clients and learning more about what your client base wants and needs.

Staying stuck in habits of the past, serve companies no good! Resisting current trends will only leave a company lagging behind.  Is your business doing all that it can to stay current? Or is it becoming a dinosaur?

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Dazed and Confused?

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“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” ~  Henry Ford

All independent publishers have had moments of feeling overwhelmed at some point throughout the publishing process.  As an independent publisher, there is a lengthy list of things to accomplish beyond the writing of a book or production of a cd or film.

When you don’t know which way to turn, it can be confusing! If you seek professional help, solutions will be easy. With the assistance of the internet, you can find freelance consultants to help with almost anything you need. There are editors, layout designers, cover designers, book coaches as well as book marketing experts.

You can quickly cross a few items off your list if you search for “order fulfillment for independent publishers.” They are the folks that can help you with the business side of shipping your orders all over the globe. After all, as an independent publisher, there are only so many things you can do in a day!

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Order in the Court

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“Good order is the foundation of all good things.” ~ Edmund Burke

Before the holidays, I was feeling stuck in the snow. I had decisions to make, tasks to accomplish, unsolved business to attend to. All things that had me feeling bogged down.

It is difficult to move into a New Year with unfinished business, whether it is in your personal life or business life. Indecision only brings delays!

What a freeing feeling it is when we finally make decisions, right or wrong! What power we give to ourselves when we step out of indecision. Making a decision paves the way for movement, change and growth. It puts us one step closer to our goals!

You will notice, that as of today, we have put into place some changes in the appearance of our blogsite. It improves functionality of the site for our readers and positions us for exciting changes in the future. Stay tuned, as things develop!

For our independent publishing clients, if you are stopped in your tracks and unable to finish a project, no need to struggle. There are freelance publishing professionals that can help you with every step along the way. If there are decisions that you have put off making, be brave! It is all part of being independent – you can make your own decisions regarding what is best for your own publishing business. Use those freedoms to bring the results and outcome you have been striving for!

Clear the way for success – act now!

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New Beginnings

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“All time management begins with planning.” ~ Tom Greening

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? For alot of people, New Year’s resolutions are the same year after year. They include determination to loose weight, to stop smoking, to include a fitness regiment in their daily living. My New Year’s resolutions include things such as adjustments in attitude – choosing action vs. inaction, taking a new path rather than the same trampled route, focusing on forward motion rather than remaining static.

Determination to move into new territory is scary and uncertain, but the way I see it, it is better than quiet desparation. It involves a leap of faith. Without faith, there is no hope! What it really comes down to is, I would rather feel a sense of accomplishment knowing I have done all I can to succeed.

There is always something in all of our lives that can be done a little differently. Discard what is not working and pave the way for more efficient ways of doing things. It can make a world of difference in your publishing success.

What would you change that would allow you to focus better on your business at hand as an independent publisher? Let us hear from you!

Wishing you all a thoughtful, productive, prosperous and Happy New Year!

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Once in a Blue Moon

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“The only thing you live to regret are the risks you didn’t take”~ Unknown

Today, I am feeling very fortunate. Since starting my company, I have had the opportunity to meet many incredible people that I would not have ordinarily met, had I not taken a risk. Among them have been extraordinarily talented artists, filmmakers, and individuals who serve their communities through the non-profit sector – all of them independent publishers. All have had similar goals – to share beauty, kindness and knowledge through their unique and creative talents.  All have been so very committed to changing our world for the better and each person is awe-inspiring in their very own way.

Tonight, as the New Year approaches, I will be taking some time to reflect on these past few years to remember some of the individuals that I have crossed paths with. Many of these individuals I have not met face to face, yet through an e-mail or a telephone conversation, they have left a mark on me. I can recall the discussions we have had about their goals and aspirations for their independent publishing companies. All have inspiring, educational or entertaining stories to tell through their books, films or music or through their commitment to a cause or a mission. All are the kinds of people you meet only once in a blue moon.

We want to hear from more of you! By posting your comments to our blogsite, we can together build a community of like-minded people who have independent thoughts, ideas and dreams to share.

Happy New Year 2010! May this coming year bring publishing success to each and every one of you!

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A Gargantuan Gift

“Love is, above all, the gift of oneself ” ~ Jean Anouilh

For me, the greatest gift on this earth, is the gift of my family and our independent publishing clients, who allow us to serve them each and every day. They are the purpose of our work. I know blessings when I see them!

This blog will remain silent throughout the holidays so that I can give the best gift of all to my family – my time. If you have children, give them your undivided attention when they need it most. It is the best way to demonstrate how much you value their presence in your life. Unlike other things, nurturing children is not something that can wait.

We appreciate and value the feedback we have gotten from loyal followers of this blog site. In 2010, you will be able to post your comments on this site. Our aim is to provide a community of like-minded readers sharing our dreams, ideas, goals and needs as independent publishers. We want to hear from you and your comments will be a gift to us!

We look forward to sharing some exciting news with you, our loyal readers from around the globe, in 2010.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to All!

Classic Cinema Celebrations

“It is the little things that make life big” ~ Unknown

I need to do some quick research! In a few days from now, our son will be arriving for the Christmas holidays. Not only do I have to set in food provisions for a ravenous, 21 year old college “kid” but, I need to come up with some movies that we can all enjoy watching as a family. It is part of what we do together during the holidays.

Sometimes I wonder whether my son’s desire to be a filmmaker didn’t start with watching The Muppet Christmas Carol as a toddler. He would sit and watch it three consecutive times before he tired of it. And I plead guilty – I let him!! He was, and still is, a child with over-the-top energy and it was the only way he and I could rest.

I am going to put a little leg-work into finding a newly released independent holiday film. I know exactly where I will start my search – The Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com. Any independently produced movie you are looking for is sure to be listed in this useful database. There must be something fresh and new on the indie film scene that is destined to be a holiday classic! If not, we will pull out the old classic holiday films like Holiday Inn, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life.  I never tire of seeing them all.

What will be different for sure this year, is when I pass around the popcorn, I will surprise my son with a bottle of beer, too.  Ah, how kids grow. Enjoy the journey!

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Come, Bearing Gifts of Healthcare

“It is characteristic of wisdom, not to do desperate things.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

I love Christmas carols and all the traditions of Christmas. As a child, I was the one who awoke before daybreak on Christmas morning, roused my two brothers and twin sister and gathered my parents under the Christmas tree to open presents before the sun came up! I wanted to see the tree all lit up in the darkness of Christmas morn! There was NEVER any sleeping in on Christmas, not with me around!

One of my favorite carols is We Three Kings and I decided this year, I would delve deeper into what the gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold are all about. What I have discovered is the three wise men were, infact, very wise!  They were pioneers in healthcare. They came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh,  maybe not because of the great value to the ancient world, but because all three have significant health benefits!

Frankincense, I will suggest, was an early form of aromatherapy. It’s pleasant scent is used in soaps, lotions, essential oils and incense. It comes from the resin of the Boswellia tree.

Myrrh is used for certain inflammatory conditions, as well as for chapped lips, wounds, and when mixed in proper amounts with food, may protect against gastric ulcers.

Gold, it has been said, has a hisory of treating rheumatologic conditions. I would add that it is used for psychological well being – to enhance one’s sense of prosperity. Don’t we all like to feel a few gold coins jangling around in our pockets?

Whether Santa comes bearing gifts or not, I will still  be up before dawn on Christmas morn because I still love the holidays like a child. I can’t wait to see the faces of those I love – those are the best gifts we can receive.

Maybe in 2010, some old wise man will arrive with a potion that will let me sleep past six am every morning. Nah, I think I will leave my circadian rhythms alone. I like the clock I run by. Chapstick, laced with a little myrrh, in my Christmas stocking for this cold dry Colorado winter, is all I ask for this Christmas!

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A Book with a Bonus

“A quiet mind cureth all.” ~ Robert Burton

Did you know that all books come with a bonus gift that you can give to mothers of young children? That is right! It is free and it is available with all books that sit on bookstore shelves. What is the bonus, you may ask?  Time to read it alone!

I hear so many young mothers say “they would love to be able to read, if given the time.” I can relate, I have been there and sometimes, I still feel that way.  My husband is and was a very wise man. He seemed to know when I was at wit’s end with our child and all I needed was time alone to curl up in a chair with a cup of tea and sink myself into a book.  That was when he and our son planned to do something “just for guys.”

Fathers with young children – whether you are buying your wife a cookbook, the latest hot novel or a non-fiction book on women’s spirituality, child-rearing, the Arts, home decorating, architecture, gardening or a book about independent publishing, give an additional gift, time to read it Alone! Your whole family will benefit and you will be among the Wise Men!

…..psst – maybe, just maybe, the gift will be returned in kind!

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Weekend Indy Publishers News

Poets and Writers Magazine 50% off  newstand price go to www.pw.org

Literary Magazine – The Kenyon Review www.kenyonreview.org   Holiday special 25% off newstand price and a one year subscription will give you access to 70 years of  literary excellence through digitally archived copies that are  now available on-line.

Ne w Book  – Fiction Writing for Dummies http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog by Randy Ingermanson. Now available in stores. This is one of the latest from the “Dummies” serious of books, that many people find so useful.

Don’t know what to give a writer for a holiday gift? How about something that will inspire, education and inform? Magazine subscriptions and books about writing are always a welcomed gift, and they can be ordered on-line, often at reduced prices.

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