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Author Chris Scott’s Tips on Using Colour Images in Books
Posted by: | CommentsLynn Serafinn interviews Chris Scott on using imaging a colour book, working with a photographer, and how crossover authors can communicate their message.
Today, I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 7 of Chris Scott’s Virtual Blog Tour. Chris’ book Face With a Heart: Mastering Authentic Beauty MakeUp is celebrating its big Amazon launch TODAY, June 2nd, 2015.
NEWS UPDATE June 2nd:
This afternoon, Chris’ book Face With a Heart hit #1 bestseller in “Cosmetics” on Amazon US.
CHRIS SCOTT, M.A. is the creator of San Francisco-based Makeup Gourmet®. Over his nearly 30-year career, in addition to doing makeup for top models from every corner of the planet, he has also had the honor of working for legends like Paul McCartney, US Vice President Al Gore, Shirley Temple Black, Maya Angelou and Olympic Gold medalists Oksana Baiul and Kristi Yamaguchi. He was the creator and host of the TV show Makeup Gourmet from 2008 to 2010, he was a leading Chanel Beauté national artist for over two decades, and is also the creator and guest teacher of Fashion Makeup at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He created his unique Makeup Gourmet line to ensure his clients and the public have access to high-quality, ethically produced, ‘green’ makeup and skincare with a low-carbon footprint. Chris is also the author of the wonderfully visual ‘how to’ book Face with a Heart: Mastering Authentic Beauty Makeup (2014), as well as Cosmetic Counter Survival Guide: How to Buy the Right Skin Care and Makeup (2003).
Yesterday, Chris visited Mali Apple and Joe Dunn at http://bit.ly/1JJYsPI where they talked about tapping into our own beauty, and why authentic beauty is unrelated to our age.
Today, I’d like to share a recent interview I had with Chris when I got to ask him some questions on how to choose visual images for a full-colour book, working with a photographer, and how ‘crossover’ authors can communicate their message to their audience. I hope you enjoy it.
*** INTERVIEW ***
Lynn: As a makeup artist, your challenges as an author are different from many of us, as your work depends upon having excellent images/visuals in your book. What tips would you give other authors about planning and selecting the right images for their books, and about choosing and working with a photographer?

Author Chris Scott
CHRIS: For original images, commit as much time to the image production and selection process as to the writing process. Be annoyingly picky. Do not waste your time with a ‘bargain’ photographer. Get a pro. Shoot it right.
I also suggest tapping into the vast online stock image libraries. Pay the royalty fee and the image is yours to use without any copyright infringement. This is a real time/money saver if appropriate for your title.
Something I also did before I released the book to the public, I made some prototype copies and handed the books to selected individuals, observing how they responded to each image as they skimmed the book.
I spent an equal amount of time working with an illustrator for this book. There is no substitute for this. If you need to illustrate a point, illustrate it to your exact specifications. Specificity and meticulousness will pay off in rewarding dividends.
Lynn: I see your book as a ‘crossover’ in the market. It’s not just about ‘how to put on makeup’ but it’s also about self-image, confidence and inner beauty. How easy or difficult was it to communicate this combination message when you were writing your book?
CHRIS: The process is about embracing my authentic message and lending it a visual and textual voice. I love to deconstruct to clarify each element. It is the breaking down and then the rebuilding that helps me (and others) grasp the authentic beauty message. This is how I teach so this is how I write.
Lynn: How easy or difficult has it been to bring this crossover message in your marketing or when you are telling other people about your book? How do you make sure people ‘get it’ and get what you are all about?
CHRIS: I do it through open-ended sound bites and questions that inspire conversation. As this is a layered philosophy, it is important to present the layers individually and then expand from where people first engage with the conversation. Here are two strong examples. For some it is all about the makeup, for others it is about wanting to stay true to themselves and not put out an air of falseness.
To be 100% corny, this is the easiest thing I have ever marketed because I have tested it so much and believe so devoutly in my message. I know it works and love finding ways to turn peoples head in my direction to see the new alternative to traditional beauty makeup.
Lynn: What advice would you give other authors who want to bring a ‘mind body spirit’ slant to something not usually associated with it, like you have done with makeup?
CHRIS: First, believe it. Second, test it.
I employed the why/how technique with this book. I first tell people why I am doing something and then tell them how. The ‘why’ informs the ‘how’ and gives it context and meaning.
By the way, two of my favorite examples of authors ‘spiritualizing’ their passions are Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig and Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity by John Kao.
My advice to mind-body-spirit authors is this: Be fearless and say exactly what you mean. People will hear you. We all find solace in something in which we excel. Deconstruct that solace and share it along with sharing your expertise. They are inseparable, so write from your heart as I did with Face with a Heart.
*** END OF INTERVIEW ***
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Chris Scott and that you’ll check out his book Face With a Heart: Mastering Authentic Beauty Make-Up during his big Amazon launch TODAY, June 2nd. When you buy the book during the launch, you’ll receive dozens of free gifts from Chris, and his friends and colleagues. You can CLICK HERE to find out more about the book and these free gifts.
One of the gifts when you buy the book is the MP3 downloads to Chris’ 3-Day Telesummit ‘The Keys to Feeling Authentically Beautiful’, with fabulous panel of 11 internationally renowned image experts.
To get the book and receive all the authentic beauty bonus gifts, go to
http://makeupgourmet.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.php
*** FOLLOW CHRIS ON HIS BLOG TOUR ***
If you’d like to catch more of Chris’ Virtual Blog tour, ‘visit’ him at these dates and places:
WEDNESDAY MAY 27th: Andrew Mondia’s Pear-Shaped View Blog at http://bit.ly/1Go22vZ where they will talk about how beauty is for everyone, inner beauty, and seeing yourself through the eyes of others.
THURSDAY MAY 28th: Tina Games’ Moonlight Musings blog at http://bit.ly/1nJGkuY where they will talk about authentic beauty, believing you are beautiful, and the difference between ‘classic’ and ‘authentic’ beauty makeup.
FRIDAY MAY 29th: Callie Carling’s Cancer Goddess blog at http://bit.ly/1Jv46Zf where they will talk about how light affects the way we look, and regaining confidence through authentic beauty.
SATURDAY MAY 30TH: Dana Taylor’s Supernal Living blog at http://wp.me/p1yTXR-AL where they will discuss authentic beauty for the older generation, and the keys to maintaining healthy skin as we age.
SUNDAY MAY 31ST: Michelle Galatoire’s Nourish and Bloom blog at http://bit.ly/1DBQWCI where they will talk about being seen authentically in public, and how to see ourselves the way other people see us.
MONDAY JUNE 1ST: Mali Apple’s and Joe Dunn’s The Soulmate Experience at http://bit.ly/1JJYsPI where they will talk about tapping into our own beauty, and why authentic beauty is unrelated to our age.
TUESDAY JUNE 2nd: Lynn Serafinn’s Spirit Authors blog at http://wp.me/p3cvXN-Tf where they’ll be talking about how to choose visual images for a full-colour book, working with a photographer, and how ‘crossover’ authors can communicate their message to their audience.
Thanks for reading! Please share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.
Lynn Serafinn
Join us on the Spirit Authors Page on Facebook
Connect with us on Twitter.
LYNN SERAFINN, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach, teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and author of the number one bestseller The 7 Graces of Marketing — How to Heal Humanity and the Planet by Changing the Way We Sell and Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically. She is listed in the Top 20 of the Top Marketing Authors on Twitter by Social Media Magazine and was a finalist for the prestigious Brit Writers Awards. She also received the eLit Book Awards Silver Medal in Humanitarian and Ecological Social Affairs, as well as the Bronze Medal in Business and Sales.
Lynn’s eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. Her innovative marketing campaigns have produced a long list of bestselling non-fiction authors through her company Spirit Authors. Lynn is also the Founder of the 7 Graces Project, created to train, support, mentor and inspire independent business owners to market their business ethically, serve society and planet, and restore all that is best about humanity.
Twitter:
@LynnSerafinn @SpiritAuthors @7GracesMarketng @GardenOfTheSoul
Facebook:
LynnSerafinn SpiritAuthors 7GracesOfMarketing 7 Graces Global Garden (group)
NEWS – Book ‘Sleep Your Fat Away’ Soars to Number 1 Today
Posted by: | CommentsSpirit Authors clients Drs. Joy & Roy Martina launch their book ‘Sleep Your Fat Away’ on Amazon today. Find out how to buy it and get some great bonus gifts.
APRIL 21st 2015: Today at Spirit Authors, we have been busy with the book launch of our clients, Drs Joy and Roy Martina. Their book is called Sleep Your Fat Away: Train Your Brain to Lose Weight Effortlessly. Published by Morgan James Publishers, the book teaches a novel approach to losing weight.
You can buy the book AND receive some very special bonus gifts at:
http://sleepyourfataway.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.php
The book launch started just after midnight Pacific Time this morning. Within hours, it shot up to become the #1 ‘Hot New Release’ in the Eating Disorders category on Amazon US. As of this writing at 1pm Pacific, the paperback AND the Kindle are #1 and #4, respectively, of all New Releases in Eating Disorder Self-Help. The paperback is also currently #13 of ALL books (not just new ones) in eating disorders, and #16 in Britain. I’m sure it will keep on going up over the next few hours.
Co-authors Drs. JOY AND ROY MARTINA are a husband and wife duo who, between them, have published more than 70 books on healing and self-improvement, and have trained over a quarter of a million people around the world. In Sleep Your Fat Away, Joy and Roy share decades of experience as hypnotherapists to teach what they believe is missing in nearly every popular approach to weight loss: the crucial connection between losing weight and the unconscious mind. Instead of talking about willpower, diets or long hours in the gym, the authors show how to retrain your brain to overcome addictions and change your lifestyle habits so you can attain your optimum weight and become the healthiest you possible.
When you buy the book during our Amazon launch celebration, you’ll receive a generous collection of bonus gifts from Joy and Roy’s friends and colleagues (including one from me). PLUS, as a special bonus gift from Joy and Roy, when you buy the book you’ll also receive:
- The MP3 audio downloads from the ‘BUSTING THE MYTHS ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS’ Telesummit’ with over 4 hours of information-packed insight from Joy, Roy and a panel of nine other world-class wellness experts.
If you’re a regular follower of Spirit Authors, you might remember that we launched Roy’s book Emotional Balance (Hay House) a few years ago, and it became an international #1 bestseller. I am sure they will repeat that success today with Sleep Your Fat Away.
I’ve had such a good time working these many months with Joy and Roy Martina, and I wish them every success.
I do hope you’ll check out their book at:
http://sleepyourfataway.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.php
Join us on the Spirit Authors Page on Facebook
Connect with us on Twitter.
LYNN SERAFINN, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach, teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and author of the number one bestseller The 7 Graces of Marketing — How to Heal Humanity and the Planet by Changing the Way We Sell and Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically. She is listed in the Top 20 of the Top Marketing Authors on Twitter by Social Media Magazine and was a finalist for the prestigious Brit Writers Awards. She also received the eLit Book Awards Silver Medal in Humanitarian and Ecological Social Affairs, as well as the Bronze Medal in Business and Sales.
Lynn’s eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. Her innovative marketing campaigns have produced a long list of bestselling non-fiction authors through her company Spirit Authors. Lynn is also the Founder of the 7 Graces Project, created to train, support, mentor and inspire independent business owners to market their business ethically, serve society and planet, and restore all that is best about humanity.
Twitter:
@LynnSerafinn @SpiritAuthors @7GracesMarketng @GardenOfTheSoul
Facebook:
LynnSerafinn SpiritAuthors 7GracesOfMarketing 7 Graces Global Garden (group)
The Challenge of Writing a Book on Wellness with Your SPOUSE
Posted by: | CommentsLynn Serafinn interviews Joy & Roy Martina on the challenges of writing a book on wellness, working with a publisher and co-authoring a book with your spouse.
Today, I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 3 of Dr Joy and Roy Martina’s Virtual Blog Tour. Their new book Sleep your Fat Away: Train Your Brain to Lose Weight Effortlessly is celebrating its official launch on Tuesday April 21st, 2015.
Drs. JOY AND ROY MARTINA are amongst the world’s leaders in helping people get back into their power. Between them, they have published over 70 books (translated into more than 10 languages) and have trained hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Their passion for natural approaches to health, longevity and fitness has led them to write their book Sleep Your Fat Away.
Yesterday, Joy and Roy visited Callie Carlings’ blog at ‘Cancer Goddess’ at http://www.cancergoddess.co.uk/2015/04/sleeping-your-way-to-wellness-and.html where they discussed emotional eating disorders and the effects of yo-yo dieting.
Today, I’d like to share with you a recent interview I had with Joy and Roy on the challenges of writing a book on wellness, the experience of working with a publisher and what it’s like to write a book with your spouse!
***INTERVIEW***
LYNN: I know you use these weight loss strategies with your clients. What were some of the major challenges you faced when trying to translate practical work into written lessons? Many of our readers are authors writing their own ‘how to’ and ‘self-help’ books, and I’m sure they’d appreciate your advice.
The biggest challenge is to keep it simple and easy to understand. As experts we are so used to doing what we do that we sometimes forget to keep it simple and that a novice might have a hard time understanding our instructions if we get too much “in our heads”. I like using my friends or kids as guinea pigs and see if they are able to follow what I am saying. If they get it, I know I am on the right track.
LYNN: Like you, many of our readers are also in holistic health and wellness professions. Are there specific things you have to look out for when writing a book on wellness? I mean, how do we avoid promising our readers ‘too much’ while also encouraging them to be the best they can be?
By keeping to real life examples and telling stories about successful interventions and clients’ experiences.
LYNN: What are you most proud of about Sleep Your Fat Away? What do you think you really communicated perfectly? What do you like most about the way it was written, laid out, illustrated, etc.?
We like to think that our book is easy to understand and an entertaining read; we like the down to earth and “real” life approach we took also by using many examples from our own lives – making it authentic and helpful at the same time.
What did we communicate well? That you don’t need willpower or diets to lose weight. That real change can only come from the inside – by understanding how we are wired in our brains and subconscious mind and so being able to become aware of limiting beliefs and destructive patterns – which can then lead to real life style changes.
LYNN: Many of our readers are self-published. Tell us about your experience working with a publisher. How easy was it to ‘land the deal’? How have they been supporting you throughout your publishing journey?
It was easy to land the deal as they approached us. We are grateful for the actual experience of working with the publisher was interesting but it is not one we want to necessarily repeat. We did not feel supported by our publisher at all.
We found that the extra team we hired (Lynn’s team and the Wasabi PR team) were far more helpful and supportive than the publisher themselves. In our eyes marketing is one of the most important keys to a successful launch and this you need to take care of yourself as the publisher will not do it for you.
LYNN: And finally, to close, I’d love to know what it was like writing a book with your SPOUSE! What made it easy/not easy? What tips can you give to others who are co-authoring a book (especially those who are co-authoring with someone close to them).
JOY AND ROY: We love writing together – we are used to working together anyway and are lucky to really complement each other in many ways. -So we thoroughly enjoyed the process and found that we got the writing done in an extremely efficient and speedy way as we kept each other accountable and were able to motivate and inspire each other along the way.
*** END OF INTERVIEW ***
I hope you enjoyed this brief interview with co-authors Drs Joy and Roy Martina. This week, I am delighted to be HOSTING a special FREE 3-Day Telesummit with Joy, Roy and their friends and colleagues:
“Busting the MYTHS about Weight Loss”
Register FREE at
http://sleepyourfataway.com/book-launch/pages/telesummit.php
Here is Joy and Roy’s line up of guest panellists for this event (in order of appearance):
- JOY and ROY MARTINA – #1 Holistic Thought Leaders, authors of Sleep Your Fat Away
- LYNN SERAFINN – Marketing strategist for authors & ethical entrepreneurs, bestselling author (and someone who has recently lost 70 pounds herself)
- ELLEN W. CUTLER – chiropractor, author, natural healing expert, creator of BioSET
- LORI SHEMEK, PhD – bestselling author, international leader in health and weight loss
- DOREEN POLIZZI – Health, wellness and lifestyle coach
- DONI WILSON, N.D. – Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, nutritionist, midwife, bestselling author
- AMBER ROMANIUK – holistic nutritionist, speaker, healthy eating expert
- MATTHEW B. JAMES, Ph.D, – Doctor of Psychology, NLP master trainer, author of The Foundation of Huna
- ERAM SAEED – Producer of “From Heartache to Joy”; founder of Journey to Joy Foundation
- MAL DUANE – life recovery coach; transformational guide for women, bestselling author of Alpha Chick
- ADAM HILL – Triathlete; Ironman triathlon All World Athlete
Again, you can register FREE at
http://sleepyourfataway.com/book-launch/pages/telesummit.php
If you cannot make the live broadcast, register anyway so you can listen to audio replays.
THEN, when you buy Sleep your Fat Away: Train Your Brain to Lose Weight Effortlessly during its official Amazon launch on April 21st, you’ll receive dozens of free gifts from Joy and Roy, and their friends and colleagues. You can CLICK HERE to find out more about the book, and these free gifts.
If you’d like to catch more of Joy and Roy’s Virtual Blog tour, “visit” them at these dates and places:
MONDAY April 13th: Tina Games’ Moonlight Musings’ blog at http://moonligtmusepress.com/blog/, where they will discuss how emotions affect our eating patterns and how to maintain a healthy weight.
TUESDAY APRIL 14th: Callie Carlings’ “Cancer Goddess” blog at http://www.cancergoddess.co.uk/2015/04/sleeping-your-way-to-wellness-and.html where they will talk about emotional eating disorders and the effects of yo-yo dieting.
THURSDAY APRIL 16th: Krystalya Marie’s Empowered Spirit blog at http://EmpoweredSpirit.com, where they will discuss childhood obesity and how we can keep weight off permanently.
FRIDAY APRIL 17th: Naturopathic Doctor Donielle Wilson ND’s blog at http://doctordoni.com/ where they will be discussing how visualisation can help with weight loss and the connection with mind and weight.
Thanks for reading! Please share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.
Lynn Serafinn
Join us on the Spirit Authors Page on Facebook
Connect with us on Twitter.
LYNN SERAFINN, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach, teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and author of the number one bestseller The 7 Graces of Marketing — How to Heal Humanity and the Planet by Changing the Way We Sell and Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically. She is listed in the Top 20 of the Top Marketing Authors on Twitter by Social Media Magazine and was a finalist for the prestigious Brit Writers Awards. She also received the eLit Book Awards Silver Medal in Humanitarian and Ecological Social Affairs, as well as the Bronze Medal in Business and Sales.
Lynn’s eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. Her innovative marketing campaigns have produced a long list of bestselling non-fiction authors through her company Spirit Authors. Lynn is also the Founder of the 7 Graces Project, created to train, support, mentor and inspire independent business owners to market their business ethically, serve society and planet, and restore all that is best about humanity.
Twitter:
@LynnSerafinn @SpiritAuthors @7GracesMarketng @GardenOfTheSoul
Facebook:
LynnSerafinn SpiritAuthors 7GracesOfMarketing 7 Graces Global Garden (group)
Be a Promotional Partner on Our April 2015 Book Launch
Posted by: | CommentsHi everyone. Lynn Serafinn from Spirit Authors here. I would like to invite our Spirit Authors readers to consider being a promotional partner on our next book launch:
BOOK: Sleep Your Fat Away: Train Your Brain to Lose Weight Effortlessly
AUTHORS: Drs. Joy and Roy Martina
LAUNCH DATE: Tues, April 21st, 2015
PROMOTIONS RUN: Mon March 16th – Tues April 21st, 2015
Many of you may remember Dr. Roy Martina when we launched his tremendously successful book
Emotional Balance, which was an international #1 bestseller in US, UK, Canada and several European countries.
WHO SHOULD JOIN THIS CAMPAIGN?
Anyone whose audience is interested in:
- health and fitness
- holistic health and lifestyle
- weight loss; finding alternatives to the ‘diet industry’
- positive life changes; self-empowerment; self-esteem
- mind-over-matter; working from the ‘inside out’
- escaping addictions or addictive behaviour
- releasing past traumas
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?
There are FOUR activities for this launch:
1) A joint venture partner (JVP) campaign, where you can offer a bonus gift for the launch. This means anyone who buys the book on launch day will have the opportunity to opt into YOUR list and get your free offer.
2) A Virtual Blog Tour, where you can feature a written interview with the author on your blog, and have dozens of people promoting your blog on your ‘stop’ on the tour.
3) A Radio Tour, where you can book the authors on your radio show or podcast.
JUST SO YOU KNOW: We are also organising a 3-Day Telesummit called ‘Busting the MYTHS About Weight Loss’, with a panel of world-renowned experts (with many names I’m sure you’ll recognise). Our Spirit Authors telesummits can attract thousands of registrations, and a high percentage of them will go on to buy the book AND download YOUR bonus gift. That’s a great win-win for everyone involved in the campaign.
HOW CAN YOU JOIN THIS CAMPAIGN?
Just fill in the form at
http://the7gracesofmarketing.com/be-a-partner-on-the-book-launch-of-sleep-your-fat-away-by-drs-joy-and-roy-martina/
BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13th, 2015
(the earlier the better!).
Thanks for considering becoming one of our network of promotional partners. I do hope you will join us for this book launch.
MORE LAUNCHES COMING: Please stay in touch, as we will soon begin registering partners for Makeup Gourmet Chris Scott’s book Face With a Heart.
Drop me a line via the contact form on this page if you have any questions.
With gratitude,
Lynn Serafinn
7 Graces Project, CIC
Spirit Authors Book Promotions
LYNN SERAFINN, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach, teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and author of the number one bestseller The 7 Graces of Marketing — How to Heal Humanity and the Planet by Changing the Way We Sell and Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically. She is listed in the Top 20 of the Top Marketing Authors on Twitter by Social Media Magazine and was a finalist for the prestigious Brit Writers Awards. She also received the eLit Book Awards Silver Medal in Humanitarian and Ecological Social Affairs, as well as the Bronze Medal in Business and Sales.
Lynn’s eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. Her innovative marketing campaigns have produced a long list of bestselling non-fiction authors through her company Spirit Authors. Lynn is also the Founder of the 7 Graces Project CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise created to train, support, mentor and inspire independent business owners to market their business ethically, serve society and planet, and restore all that is best about humanity.
Twitter:
@LynnSerafinn @SpiritAuthors @7GracesMarketng @GardenOfTheSoul
Facebook:
LynnSerafinn SpiritAuthors 7GracesOfMarketing 7 Graces Global Garden (group)
An Editor’s Insight into Writing about Personal Challenges
Posted by: | CommentsLynn Serafinn interviews Vrinda Pendred from Conditional Publications on the challenges of writing a personal life story that is accessible to a wider audience.
Today, I have the great pleasure of being the host on DAY 7 of the Virtual Blog Tour for Richard David Price, author of the brand new book Beating the Adversary: A True Story of Schizoaffective Disorder, officially released on 1st December, 2014. On its debut, it became Amazon’s #1 best-selling new release in ‘schizophrenia’.
Yesterday, Richard visited Christine Miller’s Growing Edge Blog at http://christinemiller.co/category/christine-miller-growing-edge-blog/, where they discussed about hallucinations, therapies and other elements he encounters in dealing with his condition.
Today, I’d like to share with you a recent interview I had with the editor of the book, Vrinda Pendred, as I thought it would be of particular interest to authors who write transformational books, especially those that incorporate personal memoire.
VRINDA PENDRED is the Editor and Founder of independent publishing house Conditional Publications, which is devoted to giving a ‘voice’ to people diagnosed with neurological conditions such as Tourette’s Syndrome, ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder and much more. She is also a writer and a prolific novelist.
Beating the Adversary is the third book released by Conditional Publications. It is the autobiographical account of author Richard David Price, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder as a teenager, as a result of a childhood accident.
(And…not to be biased or anything…Vrinda is also my amazingly talented daughter).
***INTERVIEW***
LYNN: What were the challenges for you as an editor, in making a book of this kind accessible to a wider audience?
VRINDA: One of the features of schizoaffective disorder is disorganized thought. That in itself wasn’t a challenge, so much as trying to get the balance right between making the book ‘readable’ and maintaining the author’s voice. What’s the point of publishing a book with the intention of allowing your audience insight into what it’s like to suffer with such a condition, if you remove everything that demonstrates that condition?
This meant editing the book perhaps fifteen times (I lost count) before we felt it was not only accessible, but authentic. It was vital that the author still feel like it represented his struggle in an honest way, even if he understood we had to make changes to ensure the general audience would make the effort to hear his story.
The original draft also left out the whole missionary section of the book. I’m not Mormon myself, but I asked Richard to add that in. I was interested. He was concerned about coming across as ‘preachy’, but I assured him we would edit it so it didn’t feel that way. I think we managed this. The point of including it was to show how he had overcome his challenges. When I spoke to him about it over the phone, he told me his faith was what got him through it. When that wasn’t in the book, I felt we were cheating the audience.
Keats said, ‘Truth is beauty,’ and I wanted this book to be as truthful as possible. I didn’t care whether the audience was Mormon or not. I think the most fantastic thing about people is that we all come from different walks of life, yet something deeper connects us. I don’t think the reader needs to be Mormon to appreciate Richard’s transformative experience. As a non-Mormon, when Richard finally delivered to me his first complete draft, including every gritty and profound moment, I cried – because he’d finally expressed his truth, and Keats was right: it was beautiful.
LYNN: What do you think is the value of people writing about and publishing their own transformational journey / personal challenges?
VRINDA: Writing is therapy; I would hope most people in this day and age know that. Writing about your journey is some of the best medicine you will ever find, and it’s free without side effects – because it’s important to remember (and I say this from experience) that even if you have an incurable disability, there is more to that than the physical. These things have an emotional effect, and can often be traumatic. Writing may not change your circumstances, but it helps you exorcise the frustration or pain. That alone can be enough to get you through each day.
In terms of taking the time to publish that journey, that’s more about the reader. To take myself, as an example, I have Tourette’s Syndrome and one of the most important moments in my life was when I started talking to others with the same condition – when I realised I wasn’t alone. I stopped regarding myself as a ‘freak’ and started to understand I am one of a very large population of people who face the same sorts of challenges. It helped me accept myself. That’s why I founded Conditional Publications; I want to give a voice to people suffering in silence and help others realise they are not alone. In this way, I think there is great value in publishing your memoirs, whether they go on to be best-sellers or not. Even if they make a difference in just one person’s life, your work has served a purpose.
LYNN: What were some of the challenges you faced in getting this book ready for publication?
VRINDA: I think the trickiest part was trying to get everyone on the same page at the same time. I work at a distance, via email and social networking, with some long-distance telephone calls. We’re all in different time zones, so you can’t always get the immediate response you’d like, which means you have to plan ahead with everything. Once you find people you can rely on, hold onto them!!! They’re more precious than gold dust, and they will help you build something unexpected.
LYNN: Can you give tips to other authors in this category, with regard to marketing?
VRINDA: Read Lynn Serafinn’s book Tweep-e-licious! I’m following it like the Bible.
(Lynn blushes).
LYNN: What words of encouragement would you give other authors writing about their personal journey / challenges? What’s the message to authors about beating their own adversary?
VRINDA: I’ve always wanted to write, ever since I was 3. When I was 20, I told someone about this dream. They were older and wiser and asked, ‘Is this really what you want to do? Is it what you feel in your heart you’re meant to do?’ I said yes, absolutely. They said, ‘Then you will do it. All you need is to want it enough. That’s all it takes to succeed.’
I’ve always born this in mind, and the older I get, the more I see it’s true. Everything comes down to motivation and energy. If you really want to get your story out – no matter what it is – just do it.
If you get writer’s block, don’t worry. Don’t push it. If the ideas aren’t flowing, whatever you write will ring false. Just relax, do something else, and wait until inspiration strikes again. And it will; it grips you when you least expect it, and suddenly you find you can’t do anything without words flying through your head. You have no choice but to write them down, so they don’t drive you nuts. That’s when it will sound sincere. Keep at it, and trust those moments will come; they always do.
***END OF INTERVIEW***
I hope you enjoyed this brief interview with author Richard Price and that you’ll check out his new book Beating the Adversary: A True Story of Schizoaffective Disorder.
When you buy Beating the Adversary during its official Amazon launch, you’ll also receive a free novel entitled The Ladder by Vrinda Pendred, founder of Conditional Publications – an independent publisher dedicated to writers with neurological conditions.
To buy Beating the Adversary and get your free novel, go to:
http://www.conditionalpublications.com/pages/beating-the-adversary.html
Thanks for reading! Please do share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.
Be sure to follow Richard tomorrow on the next stop of his Virtual Blog Tour, when he’ll be visiting Pippa Moye’s Silver Ray Healing Therapies blog at http://www.silver-ray.co.uk, where they’ll be talking about how spiritual beliefs can help counter depression and other topics.
Lynn Serafinn
Join us on the Spirit Authors Page on Facebook
Connect with us on Twitter.
LYNN SERAFINN, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach, teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and author of the number one bestseller The 7 Graces of Marketing — How to Heal Humanity and the Planet by Changing the Way We Sell and Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically. She is listed in the Top 20 of the Top Marketing Authors on Twitter by Social Media Magazine and was a finalist for the prestigious Brit Writers Awards. She also received the eLit Book Awards Silver Medal in Humanitarian and Ecological Social Affairs, as well as the Bronze Medal in Business and Sales.
Lynn’s eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. Her innovative marketing campaigns have produced a long list of bestselling non-fiction authors through her company Spirit Authors. Lynn is also the Founder of the 7 Graces Project CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise created to train, support, mentor and inspire independent business owners to market their business ethically, serve society and planet, and restore all that is best about humanity.
Twitter:
@LynnSerafinn @SpiritAuthors @7GracesMarketng @GardenOfTheSoul
Facebook:
LynnSerafinn SpiritAuthors 7GracesOfMarketing 7 Graces Global Garden (group)
The Practitioner Author – Why Writing a Book is a Great Idea
Posted by: | CommentsLynn Serafinn interviews naturopathic doctor Doni Wilson ND about how therapists (and patients) can benefit from their writing a book on alternative medicine.
Our team at Spirit Authors have been supporting authors since 2009. Over that time, the vast majority of our clients have been what I would call ‘holistic service’ professionals, i.e. coaches, consultants, therapists, alternative medical doctors, etc. Most of them are working on a book (or have already published one) in which they share a specific area of their professional expertise.
One example is our client Dr. Doni Wilson, ND – a naturopathic doctor. Known on Twitter as @GlutenFreeDoc, Doni has written extensively about the advantages of a gluten-free diet. But Dr. Doni’s primary passion is to educate the public about the damaging effects of STRESS in our modern world, and how it is responsible for a plethora of chronic health issues.
For that reason, in 2013 Doni published a definitive 340-page manual on the subject called The Stress Remedy: Master Your Body’s Synergy and Optimize Your Health. This month, Doni also released a short eBook called Stress Remedies: How to Reduce Stress and Boost Your Health in Just 15 Minutes a Day, which she says is a ‘practical companion’ to her larger book. She’s selling it on Amazon for only 99 cents.
As so many of our readers at Spirit Authors are what I would call ‘practitioner authors’ (or are aspiring to be one), I thought I would share part of a recent conversation I had with Doni on Skype, when I asked her about why she wrote her books, and her thoughts on the value of practitioners putting their expertise into words.
LYNN: Why do you think it’s important for alternative therapists to write books?
DONI: Alternative practitioners have a unique voice and knowledge. However, busy practitioners are often so caught up in serving their patients that they don’t have time to spend writing. But unless they make the time, there is no way to bring the collective voice and knowledge of alternative medicine to the rest of the world. I believe it’s important to bring their voice into the written form, so it can help more people than they can reach through their individual professional practice.
LYNN: Apart from the difficulty of finding time to write a book, what other challenges did you face when writing your books? What encouragement can you give other practitioners?
DONI: Well, when I started, I didn’t know anything about putting a book together – writing, publishing, promoting, etc. It was all a big, daunting mystery to me. I had to find people to help me, and TRAIN myself in how to make it happen.
It’s understandable that a practitioner might feel mind-boggled at the prospect of writing a book, and thus not entertain the idea seriously. But the more alternative practitioners who publish books, the more people can access naturopathic medicine. This will give more people the tools for preventative medicine instead of one that simply focuses on treating symptoms of disease.
LYNN: How has writing books helped you professionally?
DONI: First of all, I want to say that some practitioners mistakenly think writing a book will result in people not needing them anymore, and patients won’t bother to come to them because it’s all explained in their book. But actually, the opposite is true. I get more patients since being an author than before I wrote my books.
And it’s not just numbers. The quality of my patients has improved because they are more educated before they even pick up the phone to book an appointment with me. Potential patients know my philosophy and professional approach before they meet with me. They come to their appointment with much more clarity about what they need and what they want. This makes communication between us easier when we start to work together, as they already understand the language and the rationale behind what we will be working on together. That makes my job so much easier.
It also helps attract the ‘right’ kind of patient to me, as it establishes a link between us. Let’s say someone reads the book and they feel it validates their intuition about their health AND it backs it up with science and informed advice. Well, that person will already be pre-disposed towards my professional approach. They will be more likely to reap the benefits of treatment, as they will be more committed to it at a personal level.
Finally, having a book makes it easier for the practitioner to speak with patients without having to explain every little thing. If a patient reads my book, it means I won’t have to say the same thing over and over again!
LYNN: Why did you write this shorter eBook Stress Remedies? Didn’t you cover it all already in your larger book The Stress Remedy?
DONI: I see the two books as complementing each other. They are both about stress, but they approach the subject from different angles.
The Stress Remedy goes into great detail on topics such as diet, supplements, cortisol testing, etc. But what I didn’t cover in much depth were ‘daily stress remedies’, which are part of what I call my ‘Stress Remedy Master Plan’.
Rather than make The Stress Remedy longer than it already was, I thought it would be a great idea to write a short (and hopefully ‘stress-free’) practical, activity-based guide to balancing stress that didn’t involve changes in diet or supplements. So, in Stress Remedies, I help people understand the health benefits from specific activities, so they can choose the ones that work best for them and optimise the natural rhythms of their own healthy body and mind.
Some people might wonder what having a 99-cent eBook could possibly bring a practitioner from a business perspective. They might wonder why they should bother to put effort into something that has little promise of high profit. Well, I believe a small eBook is more likely to encourage those who do not know me or my work to read what I have to say on the topic. They will be more willing to take a chance on me, as spending 99 cents to read a short eBook is a much smaller commitment of time and money than buying (and reading) a 340-page book. Hopefully, if they like what they read, they might visit my website or check out my book The Stress Remedy. If they continue to follow my work, perhaps one day they will also contact me as a patient or make another purchase on our website.
Basically, the Stress Remedies eBook is another doorway to meeting and greeting new people, and sharing my passion for the naturopathic lifestyle. I strongly recommend other practitioners to build their own doorways by sharing their wisdom in a book.
Dr. Doni’s eBook Stress Remedies
is available on Amazon Kindle for only 99 cents at
http://doctordoni.com/dr-donis-new-kindle-ebook-stress-remedies-just-99-cents
If you’re a practitioner who has a book (or you’re hoping to write or publish one in the near future), feel free to contact our team here on Spirit Authors to see how our platform building packages, business mentoring and other packages might suit your needs. Just drop us a line via the contact form on this site and request a free 30-minute consultation.
9 Dec 2014
Lynn Serafinn
Join us on the Spirit Authors Page on Facebook
Connect with us on Twitter.
LYNN SERAFINN, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach, teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and author of the number one bestseller The 7 Graces of Marketing — How to Heal Humanity and the Planet by Changing the Way We Sell and Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically. She is listed in the Top 20 of the Top Marketing Authors on Twitter by Social Media Magazine and was a finalist for the prestigious Brit Writers Awards. She also received the eLit Book Awards Silver Medal in Humanitarian and Ecological Social Affairs, as well as the Bronze Medal in Business and Sales.
Lynn’s eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. Her innovative marketing campaigns have produced a long list of bestselling non-fiction authors through her company Spirit Authors. Lynn is also the Founder of the 7 Graces Project CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise created to train, support, mentor and inspire independent business owners to market their business ethically, serve society and planet, and restore all that is best about humanity.
Twitter:
@LynnSerafinn @SpiritAuthors @7GracesMarketng @GardenOfTheSoul
Facebook:
LynnSerafinn SpiritAuthors 7GracesOfMarketing 7 Graces Global Garden (group)
Ebook Marketing – Getting the Word Out on a Budget
Posted by: | CommentsE-book author Erica Martin interviews book marketer Lynn Serafinn about her top marketing tips for authors with a small (or non-existent) marketing budget.
Next to writing a great e-book, effectively marketing your e-book is probably the most crucial step to getting sales. But many people, myself included, don’t have a lot of money to spend on e-book marketing. That’s why this week I’m excited to publish a guest post by e-book marketer Lynn Serafinn, where she answers some of my questions about e-book marketing on a budget.
Erica: How did you get started in e-book marketing?
Lynn: First, I just want to clarify that I don’t just work in eBook marketing, but in online book marketing in general. I actually got started (as many who do book marketing do) by learning how to promote my own books. I attended many seminars, both online and in person. I learned the best and rejected the worst (least ethical) ways to market a book. Then, in 2009, I launched my first (paperback) book using the online marketing strategies I had honed and it became a bestseller. Soon after, someone asked me to write an article about my process on their book marketing blog. From that, I got my first book launch client. I got her to #1 bestseller status. After that, I had a steady stream of clients coming my way, all wanting to use my services. Since then, our company has grown and I have a team of 6 others who help me create book launches. We also offer other services such as online platform building for the author just starting out. Lately, a lot of authors have also been hiring me to write the copy for them that goes on their online book pages (on Amazon, etc.).
Erica: What are your thoughts on using fiverr to find someone to do e-book marketing? Is it potentially a good resource or can an e-book author do it themselves for cheaper?
Lynn: Honestly? I’ve never used these services and any time one of my clients has hired via these types of sites they often get ‘budget’ quality support. For me, ‘doing e-book/book marketing’ is about designing a strategy and developing a regular practice with it. I think budget assistants can help you implement the ‘legwork’ of your strategies, but they cannot ‘do’ marketing for you.
When I work with an author, I work with them to find out about the heart and soul of the book they are writing. What is the message? Who is most likely going to want to read it and why? Who is the author as a ‘brand’? What else (besides their book) does the author have for their audience? What is the bigger aim of the author’s business? Is it just about writing books or is there something else? How can we make this a long-term sustainable enterprise for them? These kinds of considerations are what distinguish successful authors from struggling ones, even if they are self-published.
Based upon the answer to these (and many other) questions, the author and I then build an online marketing strategy. At that point, and only then, when we are really clear about what needs to be done, you might approach hiring Virtual Assistants to help you.
From experience, I know that looking for the cheapest price can often end up costing you more in the long term. I’ve had several clients who chose to hire ‘budget’ assistants from sites like fiverr or eLance thinking this was the best way to go. They see a price of $4 an hour as opposed to $50 an hour and think it’s a bargain. But honestly, I have never seen budget hires actually save money (or time) for my clients, because while they might understand basic graphic design or basic social media principles, they don’t understand marketing at all. One of my clients paid hundreds to get her website designed by a budget hire. It looked very pretty but it was completely non-functional from a marketing and customer experience perspective. She ended up having to spend a whole lot more to get it sorted out. Another hired a budget assistant to work on getting her followers on Twitter. When I looked at her followers, about 50% either didn’t speak English (which was my client’s language) or were inactive accounts. It took me weeks to clean up her account and rebuild. Another client hired a cheap assistant who immediately got her account ‘stuck’ by following too many people too quickly, and she had no way to help my client to undo the damage. The stories go on and on.
I think the best ‘budget’ marketing is to learn as much as you can yourself, either by spending a little more to hire a marketing strategist who comes highly recommended to guide you. You should also read as many articles and books on book marketing as you can, and attend webinars on the subject. Know that you do NOT need to use everyone’s ideas if they don’t resonate with you. The best and most natural marketing is when you combine the best ideas of others with your own style and make it feel good to you.
Once an author knows how to create a good marketing strategy, he/she can then direct their hired help to implement it. But if you rely upon cheap hires to create a marketing strategy for you, you will only end up wasting your time and money, and are likely to get discouraged.
Erica: Everything I’ve read says that the most important tool for marketing a Kindle book is the Kindle book page – what tips can you give for writing a good book description?
Lynn: Writing a great book description (sometimes called a ‘wholesaler description’ or ‘wholesaler blurb’) is extremely important and, again, it’s a marketing issue. I have many clients who hire me JUST to write their book descriptions (called ‘copy writing’). It’s often difficult for an author to be objective about their book, and see it through their potential reader’s eyes.
This is a big subject, so rather than diving deeply into this here, Erica, I’d like to direct your readers to an article I wrote on this very subject called ‘How to Write Good Blurbs and Back Pages for Your Book’. In that article I go step-by-step through the process of writing a good book blurb that speaks to the audience rather than from a subjective perspective.
Your readers can find the complete article at http://spiritauthors.com/news/how-to-write-good-blurbs-and-back-pages-for-your-book/
Erica: Do you have any tips or suggestions for e-book authors with a small (or non-existent) marketing budget?
Lynn: In my experience, marketing is not just a monetary issue for authors; the truth is, they don’t really want to spend time on marketing. Many also imagine that if they can get a publishing deal, their marketing woes are over. This is a gross misunderstanding. Most publishers these days won’t sign you unless they see you already have a strong marketing platform established. The reality is that the modern authors simply must take ownership of their marketing, and build marketing into their business routine and their budget. That said, online book marketing doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take up all your time IF authors are willing to study and learn how to do it themselves, or learn just enough about it to direct their assistants to support them.
For me, the best, cheapest and most long-term book marketing strategy is to:
- Develop a large body of great blog and/or video content
- Drive traffic to this content through social media
- Develop a consistent, ‘do-able’ social media strategy
- Syndicate your content to article directories and other relevant blogs
- Watch your stats and make sure your site’s SEO is working for you
- Develop business relationships and build collaborations with others you meet on social media
Of course, there are other things you can do like organise virtual blog tours, radio tours and big book launches. I do these things for many clients. But these are far more expensive marketing choices because they require the help of other people (and these people need to be experienced). You don’t necessarily need these glossier marketing strategies if you devotedly focus on the ‘slow burn’ instead of the ‘big flash’, and are willing to wait for the results.
If you aim towards developing a consistent, continually evolving, long-term reputation, you will eventually see a tipping point where your books start to sell consistently. Your older books will experience an increase in sales every time you bring out a new title, and you’ll start to make a steady income from your books. The key is to stick with it. In my experience, most authors start to make real money after they’ve published their THIRD book. Keep writing. Keep building.
Erica: What other marketing resources can you suggest for e-book authors who are on a budget?
Lynn: I have dozens of free articles on book marketing on my Spirit Authors website at http://spiritauthors.com. I try to publish a new article every Wednesday (although with my busy schedule, that can get tough sometimes!). Authors can subscribe for free and receive these info articles via email every week. They can even get Spirit Authors articles delivered directly to their Kindle for 99 cents a month.
Authors may also wish to check out my book Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically, which is available in paperback and Kindle (other eBook formats coming in September).
The can also get loads of online book marketing ideas from my free 90-minute Twitter marketing class at http://tweepelicious.com
And, of course, if authors are looking for some guidance, we offer a platform-building package for authors. It’s not a ‘budget’ package, but we really do provide a great service. Your readers can read about this at http://spiritauthors.com/hire-us-for-your-book-launch/ and then drop me a line via the contact form on the website if they’d like to discuss it.
I hope this information was helpful to your readers, Erica. Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today.
This article originally appeared on Erica Martin’s blog ‘My eBook Journey’ on August 6th, 2013 at http://myebookjourney.com/ebook-marketing-getting-the-word-out-on-a-budget/
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LYNN SERAFINN, MAED, CPCC is a certified, award-winning coach, teacher, marketer, social media expert, radio host, speaker and author of the number one bestseller The 7 Graces of Marketing — How to Heal Humanity and the Planet by Changing the Way We Sell and Tweep-e-licious! 158 Twitter Tips & Strategies for Writers, Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers Who Want to Market their Business Ethically. She is listed in the Top 20 of the Top Marketing Authors on Twitter by Social Media Magazine and was a finalist for the prestigious Brit Writers Awards. She also received the eLit Book Awards Silver Medal in Humanitarian and Ecological Social Affairs, as well as the Bronze Medal in Business and Sales.
Lynn’s eclectic approach to marketing incorporates her vast professional experience in the music industry and the educational sector along with more than two decades of study and practice of the spirituality of India. Her innovative marketing campaigns have produced a long list of bestselling non-fiction authors through her company Spirit Authors. Lynn is also the Founder of the 7 Graces Project CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise created to train, support, mentor and inspire independent business owners to market their business ethically, serve society and planet, and restore all that is best about humanity.
Twitter:
@LynnSerafinn @SpiritAuthors @7GracesMarketng @GardenOfTheSoul
Facebook:
LynnSerafinn SpiritAuthors 7GracesOfMarketing 7 Graces Global Garden (group)
A short intro to digital media for authors who haven’t got a clue from author, coach, book marketer Lynn Serafinn.
I’m a fairly techie person. I’m on the computer so much, sometimes I think it would be more practical to have a microprocessor implanted directly into my brain so I wouldn’t have to sit at my desk all the time. But although I’m pretty expert with the Internet, social media, WordPress, web pages, etc., there are two areas in which I’m a bit of a late bloomer. One is mobile technology (I’ll be talking more about that in a later issue). I only just got my first “smart” phone (a Blackberry) less than 6 months ago. And while I work with authors ALL the time, the second area to which I am admittedly a late bloomer is the world of digital books—eBooks.
Actually, these two things (mobile technology and digital format books) are very, very much related, and if we authors do not have a clue about them, and how they work together, we are quite likely to miss out on half (if not more) of our potential book sales. In fact, my good friend Tony Eldridge from “Marketing Tips for Authors” recently became a #1 seller SOLELY because of his digital book, and only last week my own new book The 7 Graces of Marketing hit #1 & #2 in Kindle shops on both sides of the Atlantic.
I used to think an eBook was just a PDF file that was pretty much a duplicate of your print book. And up until a few years ago, that was true. Then, along came the Kindle, and a whole new market opened up. But THEN, “smart” mobile technology, such as iPhones, iPads and so many other formats entered onto the scene. It’s a confusing quagmire of technology, and it’s VERY easy to get overwhelmed with the options.
So I thought I’d write a VERY basic introduction to some of the practical considerations for eBook creation and distribution for authors who are self-publishing.
Question 1:
Do you need to bother publishing your book in an electronic format if you have a print edition?
Answer:
ABSOLUTELY YES!!! Amazon actually sells MORE Kindle eBook sales than it sells print books! Can you believe I don’t even own a Kindle yet? What was I thinking? (I’m ordering one next month!)
Question 2:
What eBook formats are there? Which format should I use?
Answer:
There are many formats, but the two you should concern yourself with most are Kindle (a bespoke format from Amazon) and the ePub format, which is used by iPad and other companies.
Kindle is the big leader in eBook sales (having been around for almost 5 years now), but iPad is catching up with currently nearly a quarter of all eBook sales at last count. Also, the ePub format is compatible with many other mobile devices besides the iPad. You should use BOTH formats, as well as PDF.
Question 3:
Where do I have to go to set up accounts for an eBook?
Answer:
My suggestion is to use THREE: Amazon (for Kindle), Lightning Source AND Smashwords for other electronic formats. They all distribute to completely different channels (the only overlap I have found between LS and Smashword Kobo).
For Kindle, go to https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin and get started. Be SURE to read all their guidelines before submitting anything. You don’t have to have an ISBN, but I think it’s a great idea to have one.
For Lightning Source, go to http://lightningsource.com. Download their list of “CoreSource” Fulfilment partners (there are probably about 60 of them, including MBS Books, Lulu, CyberRead, The Book Depository, Kobo and many others. They deliver eBooks in Adobe Acrobat ebook Reader, Microsoft Reader, and Palm eBook formats. You WILL need a new ISBN for your eBook version.
If you go to Smashwords at http://smashwords.com you’ll see their distribution partners on their home page as Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo and the Diesel eBook Store. Again, you don’t need an ISBN, but I think it’s a lot better to use your own, as it associates your book with YOU as a publisher, and not with Smashwords.
Question 4:
How do I get my book into digital format for Kindle and ePub? Do I just upload my PDF of my print book?
Answer:
Nope. Each company has their own formatting guidelines and it’s EXTREMELY important you follow them. If formatting is not your “thing” someone can help you prepare your book for digital format. Smashwords will even send you a list of suggested formatters, who are all quite reasonably priced.
The Kindle Direct site is a bit confusing (I think it’s because their gradually updating their information), but if you hunt around it enough, you’ll also find a of suggested places where you can get your book formatted for Kindle. The one I’ve been using is called “LiberWriter” (LOVE the name!) at http://liberwriter.com/. You can test them out for free, and then if you want to use their services, it’s $25 to use their do-it-yourself conversion, and $50 to have them format and convert for you. They also actually respond to personally to customer service requests (always a plus).
Question 5:
Let’s talk about money. How do I price my book, and what kind of royalties will I receive per sale?
Answer:
The short answer to how to price your book is at LEAST 50% LESS than your print version. So, if your print book sells for $15.95, then price your eBook around $7.95 or less. If, however, you’re using this book more or less as a promotional tool (as opposed to a proper “book”), consider selling for as low as $0.99.
Regarding royalties, it goes like this:
Smashwords
Wholesale compensation = 60% of retail (when sold on sites other than their own)
Example: if your eBook is selling for $7.95, the author would get $4.77.
When your eBook is sold ON the Smashwords site, you get 85%. In other words, if your eBook is selling for $7.95, the author would get $6.76.
Lightning Source
LS take 7.5% taken from net (in other words, the author gets 92.5% of net sales). Net is calculated by taking the list price and subtracting the discount you are giving the distributor. For example, if your eBook is selling for $7.95 and wholesale discount is 50%, net world be $3.98, and the author would get $3.68. Of course, you could set your discount at a much lower rate wholesale discount if you wish to achieve a higher profit (example: at 30% discount, you would receive $5.14).
Kindle
You can get as high as a 70% royalty rate from Kindle, minus “delivery” costs. Deliver costs are relative to your file size. On Amazon.com, the delivery cost is $0.15/mb. So, if your eBook that is selling for $7.95 is 5mb in size, your royalty would be: $7.95 X 0.70 = $5.57 – (5 X $0.15) = $4.82.
NOTE: to qualify for a 70% royalty your Kindle retail price must be between $2.99 and $9.99. If it is higher or lower, you are restricted to 35%. That means that you will actually make MORE money selling your Kindle at $9.99 than you would if you were selling it at $18.99, and you would probably sell a load more Kindle versions of your book if you price it as low as is reasonable. For example, I make only about $5.00 per print copy of my book that sells at $24.95, but I make almost $7.00 on my Kindle sales that are priced $9.99.
ALSO: The 70% royalty is NOT valid in all countries. If you select 70% and your Kindle sells to someone who does not live in one of the participating countries, you will receive 35% for those sales. It IS valid in countries such as US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and many others. The 70% royalty is NOT valid (as of this writing) for sales made to residents of the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries. See Kindle Direct for the latest listing of sales territories that qualify for the 70% royalty.
Please note, these prices and calculations are correct as of this writing, and may have changed since that time.
The key idea with eBooks is to get your book OUT in as many formats, and in as many distribution channels you can. Make sure that links to where people can purchase these products is very visible and easy to find on your website.
I hope this short introduction has given you a bit more information about the practical why, where and how of eBooks. There’s a LOT more to talk about, especially how to make the most of your eBook format and how to market it. But, we’ll save that for another day.
I would very much welcome to hear about your own experiences, so pleae LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW or drop me a line at http://spiritauthors.com/contact to let me know what you have learned in your own eBook adventures.
And do subscribe to the Spirit Authors blog for more info and insight into the world of writing, publishing and book promotions.

Lynn’s Books:
International #1 Bestseller in Business Ethics, Marketing and Communication (Dec 2011)
- The 7 Graces of Marketing: how to heal humanity and the planet by changing the way we sell (PAPERBACK)
- The 7 Graces of Marketing: how to heal humanity and the planet by changing the way we sell (KINDLE)
Spirituality Bestseller (2009):
The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self (2009)
To contact Lynn for coaching, campaign management or media appearances, please fill in the form at http://spiritauthors.com/contact.
Spectacular FREE Spirit Author Events in April and May 2011
Posted by: | CommentsThe great poet T.S. Eliot started his work The Wasteland with the famous words: “April is the cruellest month.” Well April surely isn’t cruel here at Spirit Authors. The weather here in Britain is great and the birdsong (including owls at night!) is stunning.
But what is also very special this April is the fabulous line up for FR*EE online events with Spirit Authors from around the world! A few of them are already over, but you can still download the audio if you register before the end of the month.
Here’s an overview of these great author events. Click the links to register.
TUES APRIL 26th – THURS APRIL 28th (1pm Eastern)
“I’m a Mom… But Who Am I REALLY” Telesummit
http://moonlightmomscircle.com/book-launch/pages/telesummit.html
With author of Journaling by the Moonlight, Tina M Games. 11 leading authors and speakers show creative writing moms and grandmothers discuss how to use intuition, creativity and journal writing as pathways to a deeper understanding of self and life purpose. If you’re a mom, grandmother or…heck… anyone who’s curious about how journal writing can bring sparkle to your life, join us.
TUES APRIL 19th and 26th (4pm Eastern)
FREE Class on Emotional Balance from Dr Roy Martina
http://emotionalbalance.com/book-launch/launch.php
You can still receive an invitation to attend 2 free online classes (or download the audio) on Emotional Balance by Dr Roy Martina, along with over 40 free gifts, when you buy his international #1 bestseller Emotional Balance before Friday April 29th.
THURS APRIL 28th (3pm Eastern)
“How to Help Your Clients Use Mind Intelligence
http://www.awakenedwisdom.com/Public/Webinars/20110421/index.cfm
Part 1 of a FR*EE 3-part webinar series with Executive Coach and #1 bestselling author of Awakened Wisdom, Patrick J Ryan. Learn a deep new coaching model that will give you the EDGE in your practice and set you out from the rest. Register and you can also enter to win a free demo coaching session right on the air.
TUES MAY 17th – THURS MAY 19th (12pm Eastern)
Discover YOUR Divine Worth
http://divineworth.com/book-launch/pages/telesummit.html
With author of Divine Worth, Kimberly Ann Coots. Nine leading authors, coaches and speakers on how you are ALREADY worthy enough to create the life you desire! Speakers include Michelle Casto (aka “Bright Michelle”), Amethyst Wyldfyre, Saskia Roell, Morgana Rae, Nan Akasha, Amoda Maa Jeevan and Kavi Jezzie Hockaday.
~ STILL AVAILABLE through April ~
The Note Project Telesummit
http://noteproject.com/launch/pages/telesummit.html
Originally aired April 18-20, 2011. Download the audio of these THREE inspiring 90-minute broadcasts on making appreciation a way of life. TEN top authors and speakers including Dan Millman (aka Peaceful Warrior), John Kralik, Michael McMillan, Chester Elton, Florence Isaacs, Nia Peeples, Gail Lynne Goodwin (Inspire Me Today) and Queen of Forgiveness Brenda Adelman.
What to Do When Your Children Feel Negative Emotions
http://www.cellularmemory.org/landing/webinar-2011-apr12-signup.html
Originally aired April 12, 2011. Download the audio of this beautiful class on building trust, honest and respect in your relationship with your children. Taught by Luis Angel Diaz, Founder of CMR – Cellular Memory Release and international #1 bestselling author of Memory in the Cells.
I hope you’ll join me for these great events with a fabulous array of bestseller mind-body-spirit authors.
Remember, if you cannot attend live, you’ll receive a link to download the audio if you register.
About Lynn Serafinn, Creator of Spirit Authors
Lynn Serafinn is a transformation coach, book promotion coach, radio host and bestselling author of the book The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self.
Her upcoming book, The 7 Graces of Marketing, is coming in June 2011.
She also works as a campaign manager for mind-body-spirit authors and has produced several top-10 book campaigns, including FIVE #1-sellers in the past year. She created Spirit Authors to offer training, coaching, business-building and inspiration for mind-body-spirit authors, whether established or aspiring. Contact Lynn about YOUR book project at at http://spiritauthors.com/contact.
Be sure to subscribe to this blog for regular book writing and promotion tips (just fill in form at right of your screen).
Sign up for Lynn’s bi-monthly newsletter Creative Spirit (fill in form below) packed with inspirational articles, self-promotion tips, broadcast guide to her radio show, and news about upcoming spiritual author book releases.
Throughout the year, Lynn also hosts large-scale telesummits with world-class speakers on a range of mind-body-spirit topics. Your subscription to Creative Spirit will ensure you’ll be the first to know how to attend these free events.
BOOK: Emotional Balance: The Path to Inner Peace and Harmony (Hay House)
AUTHOR: Dr Roy Martina
LAUNCH DATE: Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
TO APPLY TO BE A PARTNER ON THIS CAMPAIGN,
CLICK HERE
Roy Martina is a world-renowned medical doctor AND holistic therapist, specialising in health coaching and personal development, with more than 30 years of experience working with so-called ‘incurable cases’ and helping people learn how to cure themselves. His unique background enables him to understand the true causes of physical disease and emotional imbalance, and he has helped thousands of people over the years to learn practical tools for self-healing, personal development and inner awareness.
If you are looking to pump-up your online visibility, meet new networking partners, have FUN and feel proud to have helped author Dr Roy Martina reach #1, please join us for this exciting book launch.
Our aim is to reach over 2 million readers on this campaign, so if you are hoping to get more widely known in this target audience, I do encourage you to apply (deadline is Friday Jan 14th, 2011).
Become a partner on this campaign by filling in the form at this link
no later than Friday January 14th, 2011:
http://spiritauthors.com/pages/roymartina/book-launch/pages/roy-martina-book-launch-invitation-form.html
I look forward to working with you!
Warm wishes,
Lynn Serafinn
Spirit Authors Coach Book Promotions
http://spiritauthors.com/contact
“We unlock #1 selling mind-body-spirit authors through full-service, spirit-based book promotions.”
P.S.: If you haven’t partnered on a book launch in the past, and you’d like to know WHY you might want to do this, read this article called “7 Reasons to Partner on Someone Else’s Book Launch NOW” at http://tiny.ly/2JwC