Blog
A Self-Publishing Tale: Part 3. Production Details. Layout and Design.
Part 3: Having accomplished the initial tasks required to republish my novel, it was time to get going on book production.
How to Write a Historical Romance Novel
How do you write a novel that feels fresh and contains all the elements of a bestselling historical romance? This guide will help you make sure you know the keys to success.
9 Tips For Tweaking A Novel Or Screenplay
Whether revising or rewriting, novelists and script writers should follow these practical tips to improve plot, character, humor, and pacing.
Publishing Terminology: 10 Terms You Should Know
When it is time to seek publication for your book manuscript, even if you are self-publishing, you will need to explain what your book is about. You will need condensed descriptions for your pitch or your submission packet. Out in the wide world, some of these terms...
How to Make Your Self-Published Book an Amazon Bestseller
Becoming a bestseller is almost every author’s dream. However, not every author is able to achieve it. Ever stop to wonder why? Let’s assume you have a book that’s well-written, properly edited, and correctly formatted. But something is still holding your work back....
Best Historical Fiction of Summer 2019 (so far)
Summer is not even over yet, and already fans of historical fiction have many wonderful options to choose from. As an avid fan of the genre, I’m amazed by the new topics being explored by historical authors today, but I also never get tired of a great World War II...
Fiverr, Upwork (and others) v. Book Editing Associates
Why would you consider hiring a "cheap editor" over a professional and proven book editor? • You’re tempted by an inexpensive quote • You imagine your book is so close to perfect it barely needs editing • Your hopes and dreams are realized---so few changes! That’s...
Writing Mentally Ill Characters
If you are researching "sensitivity readers," it's likely that you have written into your novel a mentally ill character and you’re concerned about portraying that character accurately and humanely. That's smart. Regardless of your preconceptions, you won’t be able to...
The 6 Best Military History Books of 2019
Bestselling and most loved military history books focus on what it is to be human in the most inhuman pursuits of all—war. Here are some of our favorite military history books of 2019.
4 Ways To Format Your Book For Amazon
Get your KDP formatting right. Did you know that your manuscript needs to be in one of Amazon’s very own publishing formats?
A Self-Publishing Tale: Part 2. Cost, Categories, Keywords.
With my cover image selected and sent off to the designer, I turned my attention to another key decision: which self-publishing vehicle to use?
How To Balance Description, Exposition, And Action In Your Story
People generally go one of two ways when they start working on their manuscript. Either they start adding in extra material until the manuscript is so bloated it’s bursting at the seams, or they strip it down in desperation and turn the work into a skeleton of what it...
21 Tips – How to Write a Self-Help Book
If you want to write about a topic and can dumb it down (i.e., simplify) enough to appeal to an idiot (i.e., a curious reader), follow these guidelines.
Hiring A Book Editor: 9 Reasons To Trust Your Gut — And Wait
Finding a professional book editor How long should you wait? What's reasonable? There comes a time in every good editor's life when they build up a backlog that's weeks or months deep, with customers waiting patiently (or not) for their services to become available. I...
A Self-Publishing Tale: Part 1
My self-publishing journey: A case history.
