6 Common Book Launch Mistakes to Avoid At All Costs: Guest Post by Desiree Villena

11/18/2020 by Sally Ember, EdD

6 Common Book Launch Mistakes to Avoid At All Costs:
Guest Post by Desiree Villena

Launching your book is arguably more challenging than writing it. After all, you’re a writer, not a marketer, and there’s a massive to-do list of tasks:
—sending offers to your email subscribers
—deciding on price promotions
—possibly even planning a launch party!
Publishers will lend you a hand if you’re going the traditional route, but when self-publishing, you’ll do most of the work yourself — and that’s where mistakes can happen.

On that note, let’s talk about six of the most common book launch mistakes and how not to make them, so that you have a smooth(er) launch. We’ll be focusing on the digital aspect because online marketing is essential whether you are a novelist or nonfiction writer and regardless of how much experience you have.

Mistake #1:
Not Investing in a Strong Book Cover

(Covers, above, by Isabelle Arné, Jason Anscomb and Patrick Knowles, from the gallery of book cover art)

Unfortunately, despite the overused idiom, people do tend to judge books by their covers — at least when they’re considering whether to buy them. Even when buying classic books that have been reprinted numerous times, we already more-or-less know what’s inside, so our decision to buy often rests on how the volume looks.

And for lesser-known books, the group to which yours likely belongs, a visually unappealing cover can lead to readers’ disregarding it altogether. Unless they’re first compelled to click on your book cover, they probably won’t even make it to the first line.

Many self-publishing authors, especially those working on their first launches, are tempted to cut costs by making their own covers. However, unless you are very familiar with design tools and artistic styles, this decision is bound to backfire. Now’s not the time to skimp! A professional cover will pay for itself once you launch your book.

On a separate but related note, your book’s interior design should also be perfected (and, yes, this is crucial, even if you’re only selling ebooks!). Regardless of medium, reading is about more than just enjoying a book’s content; you also need to facilitate a smooth visual experience, and interior design is a huge part of that.

Mistake #2:
Failing to Utilize Back Matter

Speaking of what’s inside your book, let’s talk about back matter, or end matter. This comes after the main contents of your book and often includes an epilogue, acknowledgements and an appendix. But don’t limit your back matter to just these things — instead, try to tap further into the interests of your readers while they’re still thinking about your work!

Consider providing some personal information about yourself and your book — perhaps its conception or charming stories about the writing process. You might include a Q & A from yourself, ideally led by another author, to shed light on certain details. If this is a nonfiction book, include a guide or a link to your website for more useful information.

Indeed, encouraging readers to visit your primary landing page helps you build a rapport with them. It also increases the chances of their buying your future books.

Marketing has to be continuous if you’re building a career as an author, so don’t make the mistake of passing over this opportunity! Not only will you be adding readers to your leads, you’ll be taking them one step closer to a platform where they can buy and review your book.

Mistake #3:
Rushing Through the Book Description

Once you’ve ensured your book is optimally designed and structured for its launch, it’s time to return to Amazon and construct a perfect product page. Amazon self-publishing can be your best friend, if you know how to do it efficiently, and that means writing a stellar book description!

But make no mistake, your book’s blurb is not its description, and you can’t just stick it on your product page and call it a day. Ideally, a blurb summarizes the book’s content in a way that makes the reader curious about it, while a description does more than that — it addresses the reader more directly. Think of your description as a sales pitch; if you’ve cranked out an attractive blurb, you’re about one-third of the way there.

The other two-thirds include the parts that sandwich your blurb: a first-line hook and an encouraging ending. The hook should be short but impressive, while the end can be more elaborate.

One effective technique is to let readers know what to expect in terms of genre by mentioning well-known similar books or comparable titles. You could also include a review or two to boost the credibility of such comparisons:

(above, from the Amazon product page for This Changes Everything by Sally Ember, Ed.D., The Spanners Series, Volume I)

Make sure to put your “grabby” bits at the beginning! Amazon only displays the first couple of lines of your description by default — the buyers will have to click “read more” if they’re curious — so this book description structure can really make a difference in terms of converting traffic into sales.

(Note that these tips also apply to your Amazon Author Page, but that’s less crucial to sales than your book product page itself.)

Mistake #4:
Planning for a Short Launch

Setting your book’s presentation aside for now, let’s dive into actual marketing strategy. As mentioned, book marketing is an ongoing task for most authors, although many believe it’s only a one-time thing. As a result, a lot of authors start their marketing campaigns too close to their launch dates and end them too early.

To combat this, consider dividing your campaign into pre-launch, soft-launch, and the final move in order to generate a constant flow of new buyers. Given that the Amazon algorithm tends to favor books with steady sales over a longer period of time, you should definitely plan for a process that lasts at least a month, from pre-launch to finally letting your book sell on its own.

There are plenty of strategies and tools you can use to fill up this month. For example, for the pre-launch, it’s generally good practice to provide free previews for people who are already following you before the release date, so you can attract reviews as soon as possible.

For the soft launch, consider making your book free or deeply discounted for several days, especially if you are a new author and have limited preexisting reach. Otherwise, just be ready to sell the book cheaply for a week or so to gain traffic and reviews!

The final phase of this gradual process is to increase to the standard price. Maybe do one last round of email marketing to those who haven’t responded to your previous calls to action.

Mistake #5:
Not Optimizing Your Ads

One cannot talk about launching a book without advertisement — but optimizing your book’s ads can be tricky. There are three main platforms to choose from when it comes to advertising your book: Facebook, Amazon, and BookBub. If you are publishing through Amazon, it’s handy to use its advertisement tool as well, since you’ve already done most of the work by creating the perfect book description with good keywords and category tags.

Unfortunately, things aren’t so simple when it comes to advertising on other platforms. The audiences on Facebook and BookBub are very different, since Facebook is obviously a much less book-focused community. Consequently, advertising on each requires different practices (you can learn more about that from Mark Dawson and David Gaughran, respectively). It may seem harmless to ignore these subtle differences, but you’ll save yourself a world of stress and money if you can adapt specifically to the algorithm of each platform.

Mistake #6:
Disregarding Professional Help

So you need to maintain an online presence on several platforms, refine your Amazon product and author pages, create extra promotional materials, and get your Facebook and BookBub ads going. Despite all there is to do, most authors simply roll up their sleeves and take it on — because how hard can it be, right? On top of that, doing things yourself means cutting costs.

But of course, the day-to-day responsibilities of promoting a book can really add up. On any given day, you could be researching anything from Amazon algorithms to Facebook ads. The five mistakes previously covered should give you an idea of how much can go wrong when you don’t have the expertise. Also, even if you can handle each small task individually, it’s unlikely that you can give 100% to all of them at once.

The result may be that nothing will be of high quality. What’s worse, you won’t be able to keep track of how each part of your campaign is working, i.e., what is most effective in increasing traffic and fostering conversion. Consequently, it’ll be hard to know how to revise your strategies for maximum success.

The truth is, you’ll do much better with professional help. Most authors have at least one weak spot where they could use some assistance: a fiction author who writes in a popular genre may want advice on how to narrow down the vast market, while a nonfiction writer may want help dealing with metadata and website optimization. No matter what your situation, rest assured that hiring the right marketers will not be a waste. If anything, it’s a valuable investment not just in your current launch, but in your next launch, too.

*******************************

Launching a book can sometimes feel like launching a rocket. It may be a bumpy journey from here, but don’t be discouraged; at least now you can avoid making some common mistakes (and you can access even more tips through the guide linked here). With the right help and mindset, you’ll be able to get through it all.

Good luck, and happy marketing!

***********************************************
Desiree Villena is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Desiree enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories. She’s very passionate about indie publishing and hopes to help as many authors as possible achieve their dreams!
Connect with Desiree Villena:
https://www.instagram.com/reedsy_hq/
https://twitter.com/ReedsyHQ

#selfpublish #selfpublishing #selfpublishingtips #indiepublishing #indiepub #authormarketing #bookpromotion #authorbrand #pubtips #authoradvice

Mazel Tov to the Finalists of the “Foreword Reviews”‘ 2017 Indies Book of the Year Awards!

03/28/2018 by Sally Ember, EdD

Mazel Tov to the Finalists of the “Foreword Reviews”‘ 2017 Indies Book of the Year Awards

image from https://www.forewordreviews.com/articles/article/foreword-reviews-announces-finalists-for-2017-indies-book-of-the-year-awards/

I take issue with the use of the term “Indies” to categorize these finalists, since many were published by traditional publishing companies (university and other presses that are quite well-known).

I also strenuously object to the missing names of many authors for this list: where are the creators? Why do they get so good at listing the ISBN (which I deleted from the list, here, but you can find them on the original listings on the Foreword website) and publishers but not the writers? Very odd, that.

Finally, why are some finalists listed in more than one genre? Seems unnecessary.

Special congrats to:
— Joy Passanante, older sister of Jean Passanante (classmate and lifelong friend of my older brother; also, an award-winning daytime dramas writer), for her first book’s being selected, and
— William Least Heat Moon, author of a favorite nonfiction book of mine, Blue Highways, for his first novel’s being included.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Reviews is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2017 INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

More than 2,000 entries spread across 68 genres were submitted for consideration. The list of finalists was determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners are now being decided by a panel of judges across the country, reflecting Foreword’s readership of booksellers and librarians.

The complete list of finalists can be found, below, with live links and details at:

https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/finalists/2017/

“Choosing finalists for the INDIES is always the highlight of our year, but the job is very difficult due to the high quality of submissions,” said Victoria Sutherland, founder/publisher of Foreword Reviews. “Each new book award season proves again how independent publishers are the real innovators in the industry.”

Winners in each genre—–along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Year—–will be announced June 15, 2018.

Foreword Reviews
March 20, 2018

FULL LIST OF 2017 FOREWORD INDIES FINALISTS

ADULT FICTION

Erotica
Covet, Riptide Publishing
Dangerous Affections, by Deanna Moore-Lopez, Sway Publishing Los Angeles
Her Best Friend’s Sister, by Meghan O’Brien, Bold Strokes Books
Snapdragon, by Kilby Blades, Luxe Publishing
The Master Will Appear, Self-Published

Fantasy
Falling, by Dawn Davis, FriesenPress
GODS’ Fool, GB Publishing.org
Kasper Mützenmacher’s Cursed Hat, by Keith R Fentonmiller and Eugene Teplitsky (illustrator), Curiosity Quills Press
Nite Fire, by C.L. Schneider, CreateSpace
Shadow Mountain, by Tess Collins, BearCat Press
The 53rd Card, by Virginia Weiss, Richard L. Goettling (illustrator), and James Monroe (designer), Beaver’s Pond Press
The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost, by Lucy Banks, Amberjack Publishing
The Deeds of Pounce, by Benjamin Wachs, Beating Windward Press
The Infinite Now, by Mindy Tarquini, SparkPress
The Legend of the Albino Farm, by Steve Yates, Unbridled Books
The Mountain Goddess, by Shelley Schanfield, Lake House Books
The Rite of Wands, by Mackenzie Flohr, BHC Press
The Walmart Book of the Dead, Vine Leaves Press

General
Ash Falls, by Warren Read, Ig Publishing
Celestial Mechanics, by William Least Heat-Moon, Three Rooms Press
Grounds for Tenure, by Barbara Lalla, The University of the West Indies Press
Our Tiny Useless Hearts, by Toni Jordan, Text Publishing
Red River, iUniverse
Tangier, by Stephen Holgate, Amphorae Publishing Group
The Lemon Jell-O Syndrome, by Man Martin, Unbridled Books
The Runaway, by Claire Wong, Lion Fiction
The Sasquatch Murder, by Jeffery Viles, Beaver’s Pond Press
To the Stars through Difficulties, by Romalyn Tilghman, She Writes Press
You and I and Someone Else, by Anna Schachner, Mercer University Press

Historical
A Bit of Candy in Hard Times, by Blaine Beveridge, Promontory Press
Agrippa’s Wake, by Ralph Jackman, Knox Robinson Publishing
Amah & the Silk-Winged Pigeons, by Jocelyn Cullity, Inanna Publications
Botticelli’s Muse, Juiceboxartists Press
David and the Philistine Woman, by Paul Boorstin, Top Hat Books
Liar’s Winter, Kregel Publications
South California Purples, by Baron R. Birtcher, The Permanent Press
The Fairness of Beasts, by Gar LaSalle, Solipsis Publishing
The Indigo Girl, by Natasha Boyd, Blackstone Publishing
The Three Pleasures, Anvil Press
This Is How It Begins, by Joan Dempsey, She Writes Press
Tiger Pelt, by Annabelle Kim, Leaf~Land
What Is Forgiven, by C.F. Yetmen, Ypsilon & Co. Press
Where My Body Ends and the World Begins, by Tony Romano, Allium Press of Chicago
Windigo Moon, by Robert Downes, Blank Slate Press

Horror
A Debt of Survival, by L.F. Falconer, Outskirts Press
Blackwell, by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor, Vesuvian Books
City of Ghosts, by J.H. Moncrieff, DeathZone Books
Habitat for Human Remains, by Scott A. Lerner, Camel Press
Shadows and Teeth, Volume 3, Darkwater Syndicate
The Muse, by Arjay Lewis, Arjay Entertainment

Humor
Don Quixote and Candide Seek Truth, Justice, and El Dorado in the Digital Age, by Stefan Soto, W & B Publishers
Fanny on Fire, by Edith G. Tolchin, Michelkin Publishing
Insomniac Dreams, Outskirts Press
Lala Pettibone’s Act Two, by Heidi Mastrogiovanni, Amberjack Publishing
Lying to Children, Fitzwilde LLC
MAD Librarian, Madison Press
Muir Woods or Bust, by Ian Woollen, Coffeetown Press
The Moskowitz Code, by Joel Bresler, Tasfil Publishing

LGBT
Back to You, by Chris Scully, Riptide Publishing
Bend, by Nancy J. Hedin, Rachel Haimowitz (editor), and May Peterson (editor), Anglerfish Press
Beulah Land,by Nancy Stewart, Duet Books
Earth as It Is, by Jan Maher, Indiana University Press
Heart Stop, by Radclyffe, Bold Strokes Books
Large Animals, Catapult
Olympia Knife, by Alysia Constantine, Interlude Press
Postcards from the Canyon, by Lisa Gitlin, Bywater Books
Sappho’s Bar and Grill, by Bonnie J. Morris, Bywater Books
Stealing Home, by Tom Mendicino, Kensington Books
The Ada Decades, by Paula Martinac, Bywater Books
The Infinite Now, by Mindy Tarquini, SparkPress
The Night Language, by David Rocklin, Rare Bird Books
The Winter Loon, by Lori Henriksen, Book Savvy Studio (editor), and Maggie McLaughlin (designer), Cougar Creek Books

Literary
A Loving, Faithful Animal, Catapult
Cages, by Sylvia Torti, Schaffner Press
Glory Days, by Melissa Fraterrigo, University of Nebraska Press
Near Haven, by Matthew Stephen Sirois, Belle Lutte Press
Olympia Knife, by Alysia Constantine, Interlude Press
Once in a Blue Moon, John F. Blair, Publisher
Purchase, by Christopher K. Doyle, Blank Slate Press
Queen of Spades, by Michael Shou-Yung Shum, Forest Avenue Press
Show Her a Flower, a Bird, a Shadow, by Peg Alford Pursell, WTAW Press
The End We Start From, by Megan Hunter, Grove Press
The Lost Daughter Collective, by Lindsey Drager, Dzanc
The Silence of the Spirits, by Wilfried N’Sondé and Karen Lindo (translator), Indiana University Press

Multicultural
Amah & the Silk-Winged Pigeons, by Jocelyn Cullity, Inanna Publications
Kill the Ámpaya, by Dick Cluster (translator, editor), Mandel Vilar Press
Lucia Zárate, by Cecilia Velástegui, Libros Publishing
Mary Poser, by Angel A and Lori Draft (editor), Angel’s Leap
Moon Goddess, Loose Moose Publishing
Murder under the Fig Tree, by Kate Jessica Raphael, She Writes Press
So Many Olympic Exertions, Kaya Press
The Coyote Hunter of Aquidneck Island, by James Conroy, The Permanent Press
The Hour of Daydreams, by Renee Macalino Rutledge, Forest Avenue Press
The Shores of Our Souls, by Kathryn Brown Ramsperger and Estella Vukovic (designer), TouchPoint Press
The Wrong Kind of Indian, by Jey Tehya, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
Yasmeen Haddad Loves Joanasi Maqaittik, by Carolyn Marie Souaid, Baraka Books

Mystery
A Negro and an Ofay, by Danny Gardner, Down & Out Books
Deadbomb Bingo Ray, by Jeff Johnson, Turner Publishing Company
Full Service Blonde, by Megan Edwards, Imbrifex Books
Getting off on Frank Sinatra, by Megan Edwards, Imbrifex Books
Gumshoe for Two, by Rob Leininger, Oceanview Publishing
Heaven’s Crooked Finger, by Hank Early, Crooked Lane Books
Murder under the Fig Tree, by Kate Jessica Raphael, She Writes Press
My Darling Detective, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Operation Light Switch, by John Wemlinger, Mission Point Press
Red Earth, by Lisa Canfield (editor) and A.J. Canfield (illustrator), joined at the hip inc.
Sing for the Dead, by Cynthia Drew, Water Street Press Books
THE RULES OF BACKYARD CRICKET, by Jock Serong, Text Publishing
Tune Up, by Joe Klingler, Cartosi

Religious
David and the Philistine Woman, by Paul Boorstin, Top Hat Books
Foy, Material Media
If We Make It Home, Kregel Publications
Last Things, Montemayor Press
Love Big, Be Well, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Papa Luna, Friesen Press
Pistaco, In Extenso Press
Tethered, CrossLink Publishing
The Believers In The Crucible Nauvoo, Myfourleggedstool Publishers
The Elusive Miss Ellison, Kregel Publications
The Transmigrant, Kristi Saare Duarte
Waiting for Butterflies, by Karen Sargent, Amphorae Publishing Group

Romance
All That Makes Life Bright, by Josi S. Kilpack, Shadow Mountain
Chasing Mercury, by Kimberly Cooper Griffin, Night River Press
Eyes like Those, by Melissa Brayden, Bold Strokes Books
Heart Stop, by Radclyffe, Bold Strokes Books
In The Land of Eternal Spring, by Alan Howard, Harvard Square Editions
Lickety Split, by Damon Suede, Dreamspinner Press
Love Is Heartless, by Kim Fielding, Dreamspinner Press
New Hand, Riptide Publishing
Roxie & Fred, by Richard Alther, Regent Press
Set the Stage, by Karis Walsh, Bold Strokes Books
Shelter My Heart, by L.G. O’Connor, Collins-Young Publishing
Strings, by Megan Edwards, Imbrifex Books
The Curse of the Braddock Brides, by Erica Obey, Walrus Publishing
The Dog Walker’s Diary, by Kathryn Donahue, North Star Editions
The Nobleman’s Daughter, by Jen Geigle Johnson, Covenant Communications
The Truth about Goodbye, by Russell Ricard, Wise Ink Creative Publishing

Science-Fiction
Age of Order, Plebeian Media
Alvar’s Spear, by Charles Freedom Long, Silver Star Press
Ardulum: First Don, Ninestar Press
Caveman at the End of the World, by Brad Rau, SmallPub
Dog Logic, by Tom Strelich, Owl Canyon Press
Escape, by Gun Brooke, Bold Strokes Books
Fata Morgana, Blackstone Publishing
Hell Divers II: Ghosts, Blackstone Publishing
Near Haven, by Matthew Stephen Sirois, Belle Lutte Press
Skeet Love, by Craig Francis Power, Breakwater Books
Space Fandango, by Henry Mosquera, Oddity Media
The Punch Escrow, by Tal M. Klein, Geek & Sundry
The Stargazer’s Embassy, by Eleanor Lerman, Mayapple Press

Short Stories
Annie Muktuk and Other Stories, by Norma Dunning, The University of Alberta Press
China Girl, by Ho Lin, Regent Press
Dolph the Unicorn Killer & Other Stories, by Martin Lastrapes, Cannibal Press
Magic for Unlucky Girls, by A.A. Balaskovits, Santa Fe Writers Project
States of Motion, by Laura Hulthen Thomas, Wayne State University Press
The Museum of Possibilities, by Barbara Sibbald, Porcupine’s Quill
The Things We Do That Make No Sense, Switchgrass Books, an imprint of NIU Press
The Truth about Me, by Louise Marburg and Peg Alford Pursell (editor), WTAW Press
The Widow’s Guide to Edible Mushrooms, by Chauna Craig, Press 53
There’s So Much They Haven’t Told You, by Michelle Ross, Moon City Press
These Are Our Demands, by Matthew Pitt, Engine Books
Things We Do When No One Is Watching, BkMk Press, University of Missouri-Kansas City
To Lay to Rest Our Ghosts, by Caitlin Hamilton Summie, Fomite Press
You Are Not Needed Now, Anvil Press

Thriller & Suspense
Blood Truth, by Matt Coyle, Oceanview Publishing
Cashed Out, by Michael H. Rubin, Fiery Seas
City of Ghosts, by J.H. Moncrieff, DeathZone Books
Come Home, by Patricia Gussin, Oceanview Publishing
Deadbomb Bingo Ray, by Jeff Johnson, Turner Publishing Company
Do Not Ask, by Elaine Williams Crockett, BookBaby
Give Up the Dead, by Joe Clifford, Oceanview Publishing
Hard Dog to Kill, WildBlue Press
Inside V, by Paula Priamos, Rare Bird Books
Naked We Came, by Robert Lane, Mason Alley Publishing
The Han Agent, by Amy Rogers, ScienceThrillers Media
The Killing Files, by Nikki Owen, Blackstone Publishing
The Point of a Gun, Edition Barenklau

War & Military
Altar of Resistance, by Samuel Marquis, Mount Sopris Publishing
Operation Light Switch, by John Wemlinger, Mission Point Press
Seven Wings to Glory, by Kathleen M. Rodgers, Camel Press
Sheppard and the French Rescue, Koehler Books (Battle Flag imprint)
Sins of the Fathers, Suspense Publishing
The Chords of War, White Whisker Books
The Fairness of Beasts, by Gar LaSalle, Solipsis Publishing
The General’s Women, by Susan Wittig Albert, Persevero Press
The Trumpets of Jericho, by J. Michael Dolan, Monochrome Books
War, Spies & Bobby Sox, by Libby Fischer Hellmann, The Red Herrings Press
Wickwythe Hall, by Judithe Little, Black Opal Books

ADULT NONFICTION

Adventure & Recreation
Base Camp Las Vegas, by Deborah Wall, Imbrifex Books
Brewed in Michigan, by William Rapai, Wayne State University Press
Sea Trials, by Wendy Hinman, Salsa Press
The Dragon Run, University of Alberta Press
True North, by Lou Marincovich, Bering Press

Architecture
100 Midcentury Chairs, by Lucy Rider Richardson, Gibbs Smith
Creating Biophilic Buildings, by Amanda Sturgeon, Ecotone Publishing
Designing Detroit, by Michael G. Smith, Wayne State University Press
Designing Your Perfect House 2nd Edition, Dalsimer Press
Mosques, Rizzoli
The Detroit Public Library, by Barbara Madgy Cohn and Patrice Rafail Merritt, Wayne State University Press

Art
Botanical Visions, by Julie Sasse and MF Cardamone (illustrator), Pomegranate
Cast, by Jen Townsend, Renée Zettle-Sterling, Smith Publicity (publicist), and Jamie Elfrank (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
Chip Kidd: Book Two, Rizzoli New York
Expanding Tradition: Selections from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection, by Shawnya Harris and David Driskell, Georgia Museum of Art
Golden Kingdoms, by Joanne Pillsbury (editor), Kim N. Richter (editor), and Timothy Potts (editor), Getty Publications
Kuniyoshi X Kunisada, MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Matisse in the Studio, MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Menage, SF Design / FrescoBooks
Michelangelo, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Monongraph by Chris Ware, Rizzoli New York
Primal Beauty, by Lawrence Stoller, Cameron + Company
Richard Diebenkorn, by Scott A. Shields and Richard Diebenkorn (illustrator), Pomegranate
The Art of Mondo, Insight Editions

Autobiography & Memoir
Derby Girl, by Sammi Jones, North Dakota State University Press
Doing Time Like A Spy, by John Kiriakou, Rare Bird Books
House Built on Ashes, by José Antonio Rodríguez, University of Oklahoma Press
How to Be an Indian in the 21st Century, by Louis V. Clark III (Two Shoes), Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Hummingbird, Rare Bird Books
Kill The Gringo, Rare Bird Books
Life Detonated, by Kathleen Murray Moran, Amberjack Publishing
Necessary to Life, by Louisa Leontiades, Thorntree Press
Of Bulletins and Booze, Texas Tech University Press
Open Midnight, Trinity University Press
Punk Avenue, by Phil Marcade, Three Rooms Press
Raven Walks around the World, by Thom Henley, Harbour Publishing
Self-Portrait with Dogwood, by Christopher Merrill, Trinity University Press
Siberian Exile, University of Nebraska Press
This Is Just My Face, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Biography
A Mother’s Tale, by Phillip Lopate, The Ohio State University Press
A Witness to History, Texas Tech University Press
Dream of a House, George F. Thompson Publishing
Eleanor, Westminster John Knox Press
Frank Little and the IWW, by Jane Little Botkin, University of Oklahoma Press
Hemingway’s Brain, University of South Carolina Press
Jackie Robinson, Westminster John Knox Press
Maximum Volume, by Kenneth Womack, Chicago Review Press
Say To These Mountains, Light Messages Publishing
The Rebel in the Red Jeep, West Virginia University Press
Through a Long Absence, by Joy Passanante, Mad Creek Books/The Ohio State University Press
Wilde’s Women, by Eleanor Fitzsimons, The Overlook Press

Body, Mind & Spirit
Aging with Wisdom, by Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle and Larry Rosenberg (contributor), Monkfish
Change the Story of Your Health, by Carl Greer, Findhorn Press
Claiming Anishinaabe, by Lynn Gehl, University of Regina Press
Healing Civilizations, by Nadim Shaath, Cameron and Company
Hidden Blessings: Midlife Crisis as a Spiritual Awakening, by Jett Psaris, Sacred River Press
I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years, by Ilchi Lee, Best Life Media
Right Here Right Now, by Amy G. Oden, Abingdon Press
Spirit of the Earth, by Joseph A. Fitzgerald and Michael O. Fitzgerald, World Wisdom
The Alchemy of Illuminated Poetry®, by Xianna Michaels (author, illustrator), Alcabal Press, LLC
The Ayurveda Way, by Ananta Ripa Ajmera, Storey Publishing
The Surrender Prayer, by Kristian Lynch, Surrendered Publishing
The Yogi Diet, by James Morgante and Richard Smoley (contributor)
Whispers in the Wilderness, by Erik Stensland (author, photographer), Janna Nyswander (editor), and Jerry Dorris (designer), Morning Light Photography

Business & Economics
Beyond Default, LID Publishing
Collaborating with the Enemy, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Happier at Work, by Gayle Van Gils, She Writes Press
Humility Is the New Smart, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Pacing for Growth, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
PLAN COMMIT WIN, QuestFusion Publishing
Raise Capital on Your Own Terms, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Set for Life, by Scott Trench, BiggerPockets Publishing
Tax Guide for Short-Term Rentals, by Stephen Fishman, NOLO
The Clean Money Revolution, by Joel Solomon and Tyee Bridge, New Society Publishers
The Disabled Workforce, CreateSpace
The Millennial Myth, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Wealth by Virtue, by Chad Gordon, 7209361606

Career
Always Eat Left-Handed, Ideapress Publishing
Ask Outrageously!, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Crowdfunding Basics In 30 Minutes, i30 Media Corporation
Culture Infusion, Peaceful Daily
Get the Most Out of Retirement, American Bar Association
Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Health…and Pays the Bills Updated Edition, Wiley
SPIKE, LID Publishing
The Academic Gateway, by Timothy Sibbald (editor) and Victoria Handford (editor), University of Ottawa Press
The Workplace Writer’s Process, by Anne Janzer, Cuesta Park Consulting
Up Is Not the Only Way, Berrett-Koehler Publishers

Coloring Books
Color Your Way Content, HIC Books
Enchanting Mandala Mazes, Get Creative 6
Inkspirations Mindful Living, HCI Books
The Historical Heroines Coloring Book, White Wave Press
Twilight Garden, by Maria Trolle (illustrator), Gibbs Smith
Wonder Body, Got G’nads Press

Cooking
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Life!, Rizzoli New York
Cooking with the Wolfman, by David Wolfman and Marlene Finn, Douglas & McIntyre
Perfectly Aged, Taste of Texas
Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen, by Brittany Wood Nickerson, Storey Publishing
Stock the Crock, by Phyllis Good, Time Inc. Books
The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, by Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley, University of Minnesota Press
The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide, Insight Editions
What Can I Bring?, by Elizabeth Heiskell, Time Inc. Books
Wholefood Heaven in a Bowl, by David Bailey and Charlotte Bailey, Gibbs Smith
YumUniverse Pantry to Plate, by Heather Crosby, The Experiment

Crafts & Hobbies
Extreme Stickering Day of the Dead, by Any Puzzle Media, Printers Row Publishing Group
Journal Sparks, by Emily K. Neuburger, Storey Publishing
Mosaic & Lace Knits, Stackpole Books
Stitching Pathways, Landauer Publishing

Ecology & Environment
A Temporary Refuge, by Lee Spencer, Patagonia
Being the Change, by Peter Kalmus, New Society Publishers
Compact Farms, by Josh Volk, Storey Publishing
Dawn Again, by Doniga Markegard, Propriometrics Press
Grass Roots, by Nick Johnson, Oregon State University Press
Malama Honua, Patagonia
Megafire, HMH
One Man’s Maine, Green Writers Press
Rising Tides, by John R. Wennersten and Denise Robbins, Indiana University Press
The Green Amendment, by Maya K. van Rossum and Mark Ruffalo (contributor), Disruption Books
The Magnificent Nahanni, University of Regina Press

Education
Beyond Testing, Teachers College Press
Cultivating Mindfulness in the Classroom, Marzano Research
EMPOWER Your Students, Solution Tree Press
Infant-Toddler Social Studies, Redleaf Press
Messy Maths, Independent Thinking Press
Mr. Clark’s Big Band , by Meredith O’Brien, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
Realizing the Distinctive University, by Mark Roche, University of Notre Dame Press
Softening the Edges, Solution Tree Press
Teaching, Learning, Literacy in Our High-Risk High-Tech World, Teachers College Press
The Complete IEP Guide, by Lawrence M. Siegel, NOLO
The Lazy Teacher’s Handbook – New Edition, Independent Thinking Press
When the Adults Change, Everything Changes, Independent Thinking Press

Essays
A Man’s World: Portraits, by Steve Oney, Mercer University Press
Accidental Gravity, by Bernard Quetchenbach, Oregon State University Press
American English, Italian Chocolate, University of Nebraska Press
Don’t Come Back, by Lina María Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas, Mad Creek Books / The Ohio State University Press
Flutterpoint, by Erik Anderson, Zone 3 Press
Most American, by Rilla Askew, University of Oklahoma Press
Ordinary Skin, Texas Tech University Press
Pain Woman Takes Your Keys and Other Essays from a Nervous System, by Sonya Huber, University of Nebraska Press
The Long Weeping, by Jessie van Eerden, Orison Books
Vintage Saints and Sinners, by Karen Wright Marsh, InterVarsity Press
Where the Tiny Things Are: Feathered Essays, Punctum Press
Woodland Manitou, by Heidi Barr, Homebound Publications

Family & Relationships
Come to Life! Your Guide to Self-Discovery, Porterville Press
Evolutionary Relationships, by Patricia Albere and Katherine Woodward Thomas (contributor), Oracle Institute Press
Filling Her Shoes, She Writes Press
Garden of the Lost and Abandoned, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Grow Together, by Josette Luvmour, Create Space Independent Publishing
I’m the One Who Got Away ,by Andrea Jarrell, She Writes Press
Lost in the Reflecting Pool, by Diane Pomerantz, She Writes Press
Motherprayer, by Barbara Mahany, Abingdon Press
Positive Parenting 101, Bayou Publishing
The Happiest Kids in the World, The Experiment Publishing
The Place of Peace and Crickets ,Twisted Road Publications
The Stuff of Family Life, by Michelle Janning, Rowman & Littlefield

Grief/Grieving
A Friend Indeed, by Amy Florian and Jessica Chipkin (contributor), Corgenius
At Death’s Door, by Sebastian Sepulveda and Gini Graham Scott (contributor), Rowman & Littlefield
Bearing the Unbearable, by Joanne Cacciatore, Wisdom Publications
Breaking Sad, by Shelly Fisher (editor) and Jennifer Jones (editor), She Writes Press
Expecting Sunshine, by Alexis Marie Chute, She Writes Press
I Know It in My Heart, by Mary E. Plouffe, She Writes Press
Resilient Grieving, The Experiment Publishing
Should I Still Wish ,University of Nebraska Press
The Greater Weight of Glory, by Robin Farnsworth, Create Space

Health
Back to Balance, by Halee Fischer-Wright, Disruption Books
Change the Story of Your Health, by Carl Greer, Findhorn Press
Don’t Eat This If You’re Taking That, Skyhorse
Medicare For Dummies, Wiley
Move Your DNA, by Katy Bowman, Propriometrics Press
Pain Woman Takes Your Keys and Other Essays from a Nervous System, by Sonya Huber, University of Nebraska Press
Second Chance, She Writes Press Inc.
The No-Meat Athlete Cookbook, The Experiment Publishing
The Secret Life of Your Microbiome, by Alan C. Logan and Susan L. Prescott, New Society Publishers
The Sweet Bloods of Eeyou Istchee, by Ruth DyckFehderau, Cree Board of Health& Social Services of James Bay
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer, Jane Thomas Press
Yoga for Diabetes, by Rachel Zinman and David Young (photographer), Monkfish

History
A Hero for the Americas, by Robert Calder, University of Regina Press
Beauty in the City, by Robert A. Slayton, Excelsior Editions
Chief Seattle and the Town That Took His Name, Sasquatch Books
Detroit 1967, by Joel Stone (editor), Wayne State University Press
March 1917, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, University of Notre Dame Press
Road Through Time, University of Regina Press
Spirit in the Rock, by Jim Compton and Bill Stafford (photographer), Washington State University Press
The Blue Shirts, by Hugues Théorêt and Ferdinanda Van Gennip (translator), University of Ottawa Press
The Burr Conspiracy, Princeton University Press
The Iaşi Pogrom, June–July 1941, Indiana University Press
The Truth of the Russian Revolution, by Konstantin Ivanovich Globachev, Sofia Nikolaevna Globacheva, and Vladimir G. Marinich (translator), SUNY Press
World War II and the Caribbean, by Karen E. Eccles and Debbie McCollin, The University of the West Indies Press

Home & Garden
Designing Your Perfect House 2nd Edition, Dalsimer Press
Don’t Repot That Plant!, by Will Creed, Button Street Press
Garden Wisdom 365 Days, by Cheryl Wilfong, Heart Path Press
Homegrown Pantry, by Barbara Pleasant, Storey Publishing
My Smart Home for Seniors, Pearson
The Grumpy Gardener, by Steve Bender, Time Inc. Books
Welcome to the Farm, Lyons Press

Humor
A Die Hard Christmas, Insight Editions
A Doorman’s Memoir, Dick Candy Productions
Fierce, Funny, and Female, by Marti MacGibbon, Stay Strong Publishing
Lexicon: American Style 2, Outskirts Press
The Full English, 220 Publishing
Uncle John’s OLD FAITHFUL 30th Anniversary Bathroom Reader, Printers Row Publishing Group
Vagabonding with Kids: Brazil, by AK Turner, Brown Books Publishing

LGBT
¡Cuéntamelo!, by Juliana Delgado Lopera (editor), Aunt Lute Books
2Brides 2Be, by Laura Leigh Abby, Archer
A Sinner in Mecca, by Parvez Sharma, BenBella Books
Accidental Activists, by David Collins, University of North Texas Press
Derby Girl, by Sammi Jones, North Dakota State University Press
Finally Out, by Loren A. Olson, Oak Lane Press
Gay Pioneers, by Jack Fritscher and Mark Hemry (editor), Palm Drive Publishing
Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality, by Jeff Guaracino and Ed Salvato, Columbia University Press
Lesbian Decadence, by Nicole Albert, Nancy Erber (translator), and William Peniston (translator), Harrington Park Press
LGBTQ-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care, by Kimberly D. Acquaviva, Harrington Park Press
Queer Threads, by John Chaich and Todd Oldham (editor), AMMO Books
Solace: Writing, Refuge, and LGBTQ Women of Color, by S. Andrea Allen (editor) and Lauren Cherelle (editor), BLF Press

Multicultural
Accomplice to Memory, by Q. M. Zhang, Kaya Press
Beyond Colorblind, by Sarah Shin, InterVarsity Press
Black Domers, by Don Wycliff (editor) and David Krashna (editor), University of Notre Dame Press
From the Kingdom of Kongo to Congo Square, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
Jacob Isaac Segal, by Pierre Anctil and Vivian Felsen (translator), University of Ottawa Press
Mestizos Come Home, University of Oklahoma Press
THE GOOD FIGHT, Against All Odds Productions
The Myth of Equality, by Ken Wytsma, InterVarsity Press
Wonder Girls, by Paola Gianturco, Alex Sangster, and Foreword by Musimbi Kanyoro, powerHouse Books

Nature
A Temporary Refuge, by Lee Spencer, Patagonia
Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier, by Nick Jans and Mark Kelley (photographer), Mark Kelley Photography
Dawn Again, by Doniga Markegard, Propriometrics Press
Deep into Yellowstone, by Rick Lamplugh, Rick Lamplugh
Great Hiking Trails of the World, Rizzoli New York
How to Read Nature, The Experiment Publishing
Into Africa, Insight Editions
Leaves Surface Like Skin, by Michelle Menting, Terrapin Books
Nature, Love, Medicine, by Gary Paul Nabhan, Nalini Nadkarni, Elisabeth Tova Bailey, Stephen Trimble, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Lowe Fleischner (editor, author), Jane Hirshfield, Alberto Búrquez, Gwen Annette Heistand, Brooke Williams, Laura Sewall, Edie Dillon, Sarah Juniper Rabkin, Mitchell Thomashow, Alison Hawthorne Deming, Judith Lydeamore, Saul Weisberg, Pablo Deustua Jochamowitz, Peter H. Kahn, Jr., Lauret Savoy, Jana Richman, Melanie Bishop, and Robin Wall Kimmerer, Torrey House Press
Spirit of the Earth, by Joseph A. Fitzgerald and Michael O. Fitzgerald, World Wisdom
Wild and Scenic Rivers, by Tim Palmer, Oregon State University Press

Performing Arts & Music
Blood on the Stage, 1800-1900, Rowman & Littlefield
Create!, by Ronald Rand, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
Dirty Windshields, by Grant Lawrence, Douglas & McIntyre
Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music, Indiana University Press
Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, Insight Editions
Maximum Volume, by Kenneth Womack, Chicago Review Press
Totally Scripted, by Josh Chetwynd, Lyons Press

Pets & Animals
Dog as My Doctor, Cat as My Nurse, by Carlyn Montes De Oca, She Writes Press
How to Speak Chicken, by Melissa Caughey, Storey Publishing
Lina Unleashed, Beaver’s Pond Press

Philosophy
Alan Watts – In the Academy, by Alan Watts, Peter J. Columbus (editor), and Donadrian L. Rice (editor), SUNY Press
Edgar Allan Poe, Eureka, and Scientific Imagination, by David N. Stamos, SUNY Press
Heretics!, Princeton University Press
Mountains, Rivers, and the Great Earth, by Jason M. Wirth, SUNY Press
Your Evolving Soul, by Byron Belitsos, Origin Press

Photography
American Firefighter, Welcome Books
Arrête pas la musique!, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
Indiana Across the Land, Indiana University Press
Irving Penn, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
London Rock: The Unseen Archive, Insight Editions
Marfa and the Mystique of Far West Texas, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
On an Acre Shy of Eternity, by Robert Dash, Hyla Press
People of Yellowstone, Elm Grove Press
Raghubir Singh, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Straight Bourbon, Indiana University Press
Tending the Fire, by Christopher Felver (photographer), University of New Mexico Press
The Edge of the World, Falcon

Poetry
American Purgatory, Eyewear Publishing Ltd.
Body, in Good Light, by Erin Rodoni, Sixteen Rivers Press
Calling a Wolf a Wolf, by Alyssa Neptune (editor), Alice James Books
Matria, Black Lawrence Press
Please Bury Me in This, Four Way Books
Silencer, by Marcus Wicker, HMH
Street Calligraphy, by Jim Daniels, Steel Toe Books
The Bird-While, by Keith Taylor, Wayne State University Press
The Woods Are On Fire, by Fleda Brown, University of Nebraska Press
This House That, by Peter Grandbois, Brighthorse Books
Village Prodigies, by Rodney Jones, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
What It Done to Us, by Essy Stone, Lost Horse Press

Political Science
A Land without Borders, by Nir Baram, Text Publishing
Being Kurdish in a Hostile World, by Ayub Nuri, University of Regina Press
China’s Great Migration, Independent Institute
Flash Points, by Jade Wu, Excelsior Editions
Mediatized Political Campaigns, by Indrani Bachan-Persad, The University of the West Indies Press
The Capital Times, Wisconsin Historical Society Press
The Resistance Handbook, by Markos Moulitsas and Michael Huttner, Disruption Books
Toward Truth, Freedom, Fitness, and Decency, Greenleaf Book Group

Popular Culture
Gay Pioneers, by Jack Fritscher and Mark Hemry (editor), Palm Drive Publishing
Let’s Get Monster Smashed, by Jon Chaiet, Marc Chaiet, and Meghan Schaffer (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garcons, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The 100 Best Celebrity Photos, by Editors of PEOPLE magazine, Time Inc. Books
The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History, Insight Editions
UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens, by Donald R. Prothero and Timothy D. Callahan, Indiana University Press

Psychology
Anger anonymous, MSI Press
Beyond Bedlam’s Door, Thunder Lake Press
Change the Story of Your Health, by Carl Greer, Findhorn Press
Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Sabina Spielrein, by Angela M. Sells, SUNY Press
When It’s Never About You, Harte & Co

Reference
Blood on the Stage, 1600-1800, Rowman & Littlefield
Inside Story: Everyone’s Guide to Reporting and Writing Creative Nonfiction, by Julia Goldberg, Leaf Storm Press
Origins of a Story, by Jake Grogan, Cider Mill Press Book Publishers
Oscar’s Favorite Actors, McFarland
San Diego County Mammal Atlas, San Diego Natural History Museum
Social Security For Dummies, Wiley
The Essential Poet’s Glossary, by Edward Hirsch, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
The Legal English Manual, Second Edition, by Kathrin Weston Walsh (editor), Julian Cornelius (contributor), Jenna Bollag (contributor), Sandra Kuhn-Schulthess (contributor), Alison Wiebalck (contributor), Richard Norman (contributor), and Clemens von Zedtwitz (contributor), BarWrite Press

Regional
Baja’s Wild Side, Sunbelt Publications
Beauty in the City, by Robert A. Slayton, Excelsior Editions
Bodie, Sunbelt Publications
Campaign Crossroads, by Andrew Stoner, Indiana Historical Society Press
Greetings from Detroit, by Dan Austin, Wayne State University Press
Hauntings of the Underground Railroad, Indiana University Press
Mississippi and the Great Depression, The History Press
Natural Wonders of Assateague Island, by Mark Hendricks and Tracee Groff (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
Picturing Harrisonburg, George F. Thompson Publishing
The 1928 Bunion Derby, by James R. Powell, Seascape Publishers
The Adirondack Architecture Guide, Southern-Central Region, by Janet A. Null, Excelsior Editions
Yosemite People, by Jonas Kulikauskas, A Thousand Words Press

Religion
A Bigger Table, Westminster John Knox Press
Abducted in Iraq, by Saad Sirop Hanna, with Edward S. Aris, University of Notre Dame Press
Disarming Beauty, by Julián Carrón, University of Notre Dame Press
Image and Presence, Stanford University Press
Invisible Hosts, by Elizabeth Schleber Lowry, SUNY Press
My Jewish Year, by Abigail Pogrebin and A. J. Jacobs (contributor), Fig Tree Books
Religious Agrarianism and the Return of Place, by Todd LeVasseur, SUNY Press
Satan and Apocalypse, by Thomas J. J. Altizer, SUNY Press
Serving Others, by John E. Koenig and Fr. John F. Kamwendo, Outskirts Press
Single, Gay, Christian, by Gregory Coles, InterVarsity Press
The Great Re-imagining, by Theodore Richards, Homebound Publications
The Wisdom of Not Knowing, by Estelle Frankel, Shambhala
Vindicating the Vixens, Kregel Academic

Science
A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, The Experiment Publishing
Angle of Attack, by Roger Rapoport and Shem Malmquist, Lexographic Press
Cerebrum, Dana Press
Move Your DNA, by Katy Bowman, Propriometrics Press
San Diego County Mammal Atlas, San Diego Natural History Museum
See It with a Small Telescope, by Will Kalif, Ulysses Press
Strange Science, Printers Row Publishing Group
The Driver in the Driverless Car, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
The Runaway Species, Catapult
This Phenomenal Life, Lyons Press
Tides, Trinity University Press

Self-Help
Bearing the Unbearable, by Joanne Cacciatore, Wisdom Publications
How You Learn Is How You Live, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years, by Ilchi Lee, Best Life Media
Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude, updated new edition, Sound Wisdom
Prisoners of Our Thoughts, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Rules For Mavericks, Crown House Publishing Ltd
The Body Image Blueprint, Jenny Eden Coaching
The Launch Book, LID Publishing
The Mindful Way to a Good Night’s Sleep, by Tzivia Gover, Storey Publishing
The Wisdom of Not Knowing, by Estelle Frankel, Shambhala
Treasure Hunt, Watkins Publishing
Wild Ideas, by Cathy Wild, Standing Place Press

Social Sciences
Back to Balance, by Halee Fischer-Wright, Disruption Books
Dig Where You Are, by Nan Alexander Doyal, Casper Press
Federal Prison Handbook, by Christopher Zoukis, Middle Street Publishing
Firsts, by Editors of TIME, Time Inc. Books
Lean Media, by Ian Lamont, Zach Gajewski (editor), and Monica Thomas, TLC Design (designer), i30 Media
Mean Men, by Mark Lipton, Voussoir Press
THE GOOD FIGHT, Against All Odds Productions
The Great Vanishing Act, Fulcrum
When Parents Are Incarcerated, American Psychological Association

Sports
A Mountaineer’s Life, Patagonia
Dynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Hard To Grip, Schaffner Press
Sports Illustrated Football’s Greatest Revised and Updated, by Editors of Sports Illustrated, Time, Inc. Books
Stories from the Dirt, Falcon
The Streak, Hmh
The Year of the Pitcher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Travel
Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier, by Nick Jans and Mark Kelley (photographer), Mark Kelley Photography
Arlington, John F. Blair, Publisher
Beyond Mile Zero, by Lily Gontard and Mark Kelly (photographer), Harbour Publishing
Four Seasons in a Day, DJWorking Unlimited Inc.
Holy Rover, by Lori Erickson, Fortress Press
Ireland, by Matt Walker and Zeneba Bowers, Little Roads Publishing
Patagonian Road, by Kate McCahill, Santa Fe Writer’s Project
The 1928 Bunion Derby, by James R. Powell, Seascape Publishers
The Best Women’s Travel Writing, Volume 11, Travelers’ Tales
The World’s Most Travelled Man, by Mike Spencer Bown, Douglas & McIntyre
Trappist Beer Travels, by Caroline Wallace, Sarah Wood, Jessica Deahl, and Meghan Schaffer (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
Uncorked, Sea to Sky Books (self)
Yellowstone Treasures, Updated Fifth Edition, by Janet Chapple, Granite Peak Publications

True Crime
Gaslight Lawyers, by Richard H. Underwood, Shadelandhouse Modern Press
In Vino Duplicitas, by Peter Hellman, The Experiment
Sidetracked, by Richard T. Cahill Jr., Wildblue Press
The Pinks, by Chris Enss, TwoDot
Trial by Fire, by Kaia Anderson, Pyxis Press
When Normal Blew Up, by Joni Foster, Red Raku Press

War & Military
Canada’s Dream Shall Be of Them, by Eric McGeer and Steve Douglas (photographer), Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Compassionate Soldier, by Jerry Borrowman, Shadow Mountain
Dispatches from the Pacific, Indiana University Press
Foxtrot in Kandahar, by Duane Evans, Savas Beatie
Navigating a Life, BkMk Press, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Rebel Bulldog, by Jason Lantzer, Indiana Historical Society Press
The Last Veterans of World War II, by Richard Bell and Harrison Lutz (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
The World Turns to War, by Jay Wertz, Monroe Publications

Women’s Studies
Ask, by Kitty Stryker, Thorntree Press
Feminine Genius, by LiYana Silver, Sounds True
Fierce, Funny, and Female, by Marti MacGibbon, Stay Strong Publishing
Matria, Black Lawrence Press
Violence Against Indigenous Women, by Allison Hargreaves, Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Why They Stay, by Bonnie Britt (editor), C.J. Burton (photographer), Janet Michaud (designer), and Sara Morsey (narrator), Ogunquit Press
Wonder Girls, by Paola Gianturco, Alex Sangster, and Foreword by Musimbi Kanyoro, powerHouse Books

ANTHOLOGIES

Anthologies
Adam’s Ladder, by Michael Bailey (editor), Darren Speegle (editor), Jeffrey Thomas (contributor), Brian Evenson (contributor), B.E. Scully (contributor), Gene O’Neill (contributor), Ramsey Campbell (contributor), Tim Lebbon (contributor), Erinn L. Kemper (contributor), Roberta Lannes (contributor), Rena Mason (contributor), John Langan (contributor), Laird Barron (contributor), Lisa Morton (contributor), Damien Angelica Walters (contributor), Chaz Brenchley (contributor), Scott Edelman (contributor), Mark Morris (contributor), Paul Meloy (contributor), and Mark Samuels (contributor), Written Backwards
Ask, by Kitty Stryker, Thorntree Press
Challenges to the Dream , by Jim Daniels (editor), Carnegie Mellon University Press
Edge of Morning, by Jacqueline Keeler (editor), Torrey House Press
Forgotten Women, by Ginny Lowe Connors (editor), Grayson Books
Pie & Whiskey, by Samuel Ligon (editor) and Kate Lebo (editor), Sasquatch Books
Poetry of Presence, by Phyllis Cole-Dai (editor) and Ruby R. Wilson (editor), Grayson Books
Pope Francis and the Caring Society , Independent Institute
The Music of the Soul Lives On , by Henry Mackaman, Beaver’s Pond Press
The Obama Inheritance, by Gary Phillips (editor), Walter Mosley (contributor), and Nisi Shawl (contributor), Three Rooms Press
The Soul of a Great Traveler, Travelers’ Tales
The World Is Just A Book Away, USC Libraries Press

GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS

Graphic Novels & Comics

Daddy Hall, by Tony Miller, The Porcupine’s Quill
Diary of a Reluctant Dreamer, by Alberto Ledesma, Mad Creek Books/The Ohio State University Press
Encyclopedia of Black Comics, by Sheena C. Howard, Christopher Priest (contributor), and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (contributor), Fulcrum
Flutter, Volume Three: Rid of Me, by Jennie Wood, Jeff McClelland (editor), Jeff McComsey (illustrator), and Chris Goodwin (contributor), 215 Ink
I, Parrot, by Deb Olin Unferth and Elizabeth Haidle (illustrator), Black Balloon Publishing
John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight Volume 3, Storm King Productions, Inc.
Jurassic, RexTooth Studios
Knights of the Skull , by Wayne Vansant (author, illustrator) and Harrison Lutz (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
M.F.K., Insight Comics
Renegade, by Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino, Plough Publishing House

CHILDREN’S

Juvenile Fiction
Embers of Destruction, by J. Scott Savage, Shadow Mountain
Esme Dooley and the Kirkkomaki Circus, by Jane Donovan (author, illustrator) and Holly Trechter, Sky Candle Press
From Ant to Eagle, by Alex Lyttle, Central Avenue Publishing
If My Moon Was Your Sun, by Andreas Steinhöfel and Nele Palmtag (illustrator), Plough Publishing House
Mosquitoes Don’t Bite Me, by Pendred Noyce, Tumblehome Learning
Slug Days, by Sara Leach and Rebecca Bender (illustrator), Pajama Press
The Beginning, by M. J. Thomas, WorthyKids/Ideals
The Forbidden Temptation of Baseball, by Dori Jones Yang, SparkPress
The Magnificent Flying Baron Estate, by Eric Bower and Agnieszka Grochalska (illustrator), Amberjack Publishing
The Seasons of a Giant, by Pamela Hartley, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
The Splendid Baron Submarine, by Eric Bower and Agnieszka Grochalska (illustrator), Amberjack Publishing
The Strange Round Bird, Bancroft Press
Veronica and the Volcano, by Geoffrey Cook and Gabrielle Shamsey (illustrator), Violet Moon

Juvenile Nonfiction
Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix, READERS to EATERS
Fairy House Cooking, Down East Books
Hedy’s Journey, by Michelle Bisson and El Primo Ramon (illustrator), Capstone
Hockey , by Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids, Time Inc. Books
If You Were Me and Lived in … the Mayan Empire, by Carole P. Roman, Chelshire, Inc.
Lights On!, by Cynthia Simmerlink Becker and Benjamin Hummel (illustrator), Filter Press
N is for Never Forget, by Nancy Polette and Paul Dillon (illustrator), Elva Resa Publishing
One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve with Math! • Misterios de un Minuto: ¡Misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Matemáticas!, Science, Naturally!
Standing up for Civil Rights in St. Louis, by Amanda E. Doyle and Melanie A. Adams, Missouri History Museum Press
Stormy Seas, Annick Press
The Curse Ends, by Jeff Attinella and Mike Pascale (illustrator), It Had To Be Told Publishing
The Football Fanbook, by Gary Gramling, Time Inc. Books
The Girl Who Ran, Compendium
The Survival Guide for Kids in Special Education (and Their Parents), by Wendy L. Moss and Denise M. Campbell, Free Spirit Publishing
The True Story of Jim the Wonder Dog, by Marty Rhodes Figley, The RoadRunner Press
What I Can Learn from the Incredible and Fantastic Life of Steve Jobs, by Melissa Medina, Fredrik Colting, and Natsuko Yoneyama (illustrator), Moppet Books

Picture Books
BabyLit: Anne of Green Gables, by Jennifer Adams and Alison Oliver (illustrator), Gibbs Smith
Dream Big, by Kat Kronenberg, Greenleaf Book Group
Dust Flowers, by Lisa Gammon Olson and Kyle Olson (illustrator), Eifrig Publishing
Elisapee and Her Baby Seagull , by Nancy Mike and Charlene Chua (illustrator), Inhabit Media
Grandpa Alan’s Sugar Shack, Page Education Foundation
Hello Humpback!, by Roy Henry Vickers (author, illustrator) and Robert Budd, Harbour Publishing
I Dreamed I Was a Dog, by Joel Nakamura (author, illustrator), Leaf Storm Press
I Love My Purse, by Belle DeMont and Sonja Wimmer (illustrator), Annick Press
I See You , Magination Press
It’s Just So…Little!, by Brenda Faatz and Peter Trimarco (illustrator), Notable Kids Pubishing
Marielle in Paris, by Maxine Rose Schur and Jeanne B. de Sainte Marie (illustrator), Pomegranate
Maybe God Is like That Too, by Jennifer Grant and Benjamin Schipper (illustrator), Sparkhouse Family
My Beautiful Birds, by Suzanne Del Rizzo, Pajama Press
Plume, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
So Many Cuddles, by Ruth Austin and Clare Owen (illustrator), Compendium
So Many Smarts!, Magination Press
The Day I Ran Away, by Holly L. Niner, Shari Dash Greenspan (editor), and Isabella Ongaro (illustrator), Flashlight Press
The Lonely Mailman, by Susanna Isern and Daniel Montero Galván (illustrator), Cuento de Luz
Think Circles!, by Karen S. Robbins and Tracee Groff (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
Wakem the Rooster: Up All Night, by David FitzSimmons and Richard Cowdrey (illustrator), Wild Iris Publishing

Picture Books, Early Reader
A Different Pond, by Bao Phi and Thi Bui (illustrator), Capstone
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Applesauce Press Book Publishers
Kohana, Fahrenheit Books
Moby Dick, by Mandy Archer and Annabel Tempest (illustrator), Gibbs Smith
My Dad Got Hurt. What Can I Do?, Lulu.com
Nile Crossing, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Princess Sophie and the Six Swans, Wisdom Tales Press
Robyn Boid: Architect, by Maree Coote, Melbournestyle Books
Space Pilgrim, by Ryan Winch (author, illustrator) and Elizabeth Winch (editor)
The Rock Maiden, by Natasha Yim and Pirkko Vainio (illustrator), Wisdom Tales
The Watcher, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Unraveling Rose, by Brian Wray, Shiloh Penfield (illustrator), and Tracee Groff (marketer), Schiffer Publishing
Wild Zoo Train, by Carmela LaVigna Coyle and Steve Gray (illustrator), Muddy Boots
Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You, Dawn Publications

Young Adult Fiction
Afterdeath, by Benoit Chartier and Cryssy Cheung (illustrator), Trode Publications
Archie of Outlandish, by Lynnette Kraft, Abigail Kraft (illustrator), and Jared Kraft (Composer) (contributor), New Wrinkle Publishing
Bend, by Nancy J. Hedin, Rachel Haimowitz (editor), and May Peterson (editor), Anglerfish Press
Beulah Land, by Nancy Stewart, Duet Books
Grrrls on the Side, Interlude Press
Seeking Mansfield, by Kate Watson, Flux
Starswept, by Mary Fan, Snowy Wings Publishing
The Big Lie, by Julie Mayhew, Candlewick Press
The Road to Winter, by Mark Smith, Text Publishing
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic, by F.T. Lukens, Interlude Press
Those Who Run in the Sky, by Aviaq Johnston and Toma Feizo Gas (illustrator), Inhabit Media
Trell, by Dick Lehr, Candlewick Press
Zero Gravity, by Tom Lamarr, Marcinson Press

Young Adult Nonfiction
#NotYourPrincess, Annick Press
Come Sunday, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
Feminism From A to Z, Magination Press
Green Card Youth Voices, Green Card Voices
How to Be Happy, by David Burton, Text Publishing
Project You, by Aubre Andrus, Switch Press
Release Your Inner Drive, by Edward Watson and Bradley Busch, Crown House Publishing

GENERAL

Augmented Reality
THE GOOD FIGHT, Against All Odds Productions

Child Author (17 and Under)
The Day Tajon Got Shot, by Beacon House Writers, Shout Mouse Press,
The Global Warming Express, Terra Nova Books

Indie Author Day 2016, At a Library Near You?

09/16/2016 by Sally Ember, EdD

Indie Author Day 2016, At a Library Near You?

All below is from BookWorks

“Calling all indie authors! We’re pleased to announce a nationwide event that, literally, has your name written all over it. Indie Author Day 2016 is happening on October 8th and you’re not going to want to miss it!

“Emilie Hancock, Content and Media Editor of BiblioLabs/BiblioBoard and their partners Library Journal/Self-e, gives us the scoop on the event, along with ways you can participate and help make it a huge success.

“Take it away, Emilie…”

“As the indie book movement continues to develop, authors are constantly looking for ways to reach new audiences. Through a ton of hard work and a bit of luck, indies have been making their way onto the shelves—and into the hearts—of new readers. Their successes are largely due to strong support systems provided both in their local communities and across a global network. The first annual Indie Author Day, set for October 8th, takes that powerhouse duo and runs with it.

What Is Indie Author Day?
“Indie Author Day is a one-day, all-out occasion for local authors, libraries and publishing industry experts to celebrate, educate and collaborate. Libraries across North America will host local events, then come together at 2 PM EST USA for a digital gathering that will offer inspiration, information and advice for authors. It’s a chance for the indie writing community to unite through library systems both physically and digitally, and an opportunity to meet, network, make friends and form business partnerships.

What Kinds of Events Will There Be?
“Besides the aforementioned digital presentation, which will bring together all participating libraries, each library will hold its own local event. These can include, but are not limited to, an author panel featuring traditional, hybrid and self-published authors from the community; presentations from local indie authors about writing, marketing and more; book readings and/or signings from local authors; presentations from local industry leaders; writing workshops and informative presentations and workshops about tools available to the writing community through the library.

Indie Author Day 2016
http://BookWorks.com

Indie Author Day 2016

Why at the Library?
“Libraries are magical places—or, as the American Library Association’s Libraries Transform campaign likes to call them, maker-spaces. As their traditional role transcends being warehouses for books, we see them increasingly becoming havens for creative minds in the community. A plethora of tools and guidance are now available in libraries and beyond, placing libraries in a better position than ever to make a genuine impact in the lives and careers of local writers. As the self-publishing and indie industries grow, writers who may not have been discovered through traditional channels are able to get their voices heard.

Who’s on Board?
“So far, over 200 libraries have registered to be Indie Author Day hosts across the United States and Canada, where several thousand authors are expected to gather. It’s easy for libraries to sign up, and for authors to get their local library on board. In addition, Indie Author Day partners comprise over 20 author and library organizations:

BookWorks – BookBaby – IngramSpark – SELF-e/Library Journal – BookLife – Pressbooks Public – Califa – Rails Libraries – IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Assocation) – IndieReader – Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Project – Bibliolabs – Massachusetts Library System – Where Writers Win – No Shelf Required – Author U – Read Local – Written Word Media – Indies Unlimited – Publishers & Writers of San Diego (PWSD)/Publishers & Writers of Orange County (PWOC)

Next Steps
“The early and general deadlines have already passed, but libraries still have until the final deadline on September 1st to become an Indie Author Day host.

“Authors who want to attend events but don’t see that their library is participating can inform the Indie Author Day team.

“Authors and libraries who already know they’ll be involved can keep up with the latest news on the Indie Author Day website [http://indieauthorday.com/?utm_source=BookWorksBlog&utm_medium=blogPost&utm_campaign=IndieAuthorDay ] and by following or tweeting with the hashtag #AuthorDay16.

GET INVOLVED!
“During the Inaugural Indie Author Day on October 8, 2016, libraries from all across North America will host their own local author events with the support of the Indie Author Day team.

“In addition to these local programs, each library’s indie community will come together for an hour-long digital gathering at 2 PM Eastern USA time featuring Q & A with writers, agents and other industry leaders. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity for libraries and authors to connect on both local and global levels!

“Be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming announcement about the rock star industry specialists who will be talking about their experiences and giving advice during the digital panel.”

SELF-e_IndieAuthorDay_Logo_White-02-e1462825520372

See more at: https://www.bookworks.com/2016/07/indie-author-day-2016-coming-to-library-near-you/#sthash.qMW1ZQhQ.dpuf

**Announcing: Timult Books!**

10/26/2015 by Sally Ember, EdD

Announcing the formation of my own small press:

For now, Timult Books (pronounced with the long “i” as it “eye”) publishes print and ebook versions of The Spanners Series, which are science-fiction/ romance/ multiverse/ psi-infused/ utopian stories for adults, Young and New Adults about our alternative present(s) and near future(s).

Soon, I may accept others’ publications or write some of my own that are not part of that series. All publications are somehow to be related to the science-fiction/ speculative fiction themes of timultaneity, timulting, timult (these are terms invented by my actual son, Merlyn Ember, for and Clara Branon’s son, Zephyr Branon in The Spanners Series).

The terms refer to the simultaneous nature of all time and the multiple timelines in our multiverse (timultaneity) which some people have the special skill to be able to be perceiving/”seeing” and “knowing” (which is timulting). When they use their skills to look into various possible and actual “presents,” “pasts” and “futures,” that person is said to timult their own and/or others’ events, circumstances and lives.

These URLs, below, are now mine. For a while, they all redirect to THIS site (http://www.sallyember.com) and are not developed at all, until I decide to put in the time to have a separate website for the publication company. When I am ready, I’ll be using the first one only, timultbooks.com .
http://timultbooks.com
http://timultbooks.net
http://timultbooks.org
http://timultbooks.info
(I purchased the other three so no one can use them and confuse anyone by having anything that is not published by MY company on those sites.)

If you are an indie author who would like to have your writing, either fiction of the speculative / science-fiction genre, such as short stories, novellas, novelettes, novels, graphic novels, or poetry, screenplays, nonfiction or essays that utilize these themes or topics to be developed under this imprint and wear the banner of , contact me at sallyember AT yahoo DOT com .

I provide the services of editing, formatting, proofreading, writing tutoring for variable and negotiable hourly rates.
I also offer marketing and other types of support and assistance for a small fee or barter, regardless of how your books are published.

If your writing fits into the Timult Books‘ themes and you want to “join” my small press, let’s talk!

If you’re feeling congratulatory, supportive, and are somewhat “flush” and/or want to celebrate my writing, videocasts and publishing accomplishments and hope for more, please consider a contribution to my #crowdfunding campaign (which entitles you to “rewards” ranging from a free ebook to discounts on my services to writers), at http://www.patreon.com/sallyember

OR use the PayPal donation button on my site (look to the right sidebar) for a non-reward contribution opportunity.

I am putting The Spanners Series’ ebooks into print!

10/20/2015 by Sally Ember, EdD

I am putting The Spanners Series’ first three Volumes of ebooks into print-on-demand!

Announcement: NEED FUNDING HELP!

image from http://www.kevinsmithukip.com

As soon as I can raise the money to purchase my 10 ISBNs, I can put my print editions up for sale on Amazon via CreateSpace! Turns out it is important for series authors to have their own International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) and for indie authors to retain the publisher’s rights by owning their ISBNs rather than allowing the original purchaser of the ISBN to be listed as the “publisher.” Therefore, I have to forego the free and discounted ISBNs provided everywhere and buy my own.

If you’d like to support putting my books into print, please use either my #Crowdfunding Campaign site: http://www.patreon.com/sallyember, which entitles you to “rewards,” such as a free ebook ($4.00 donation) and/or discounted proofreading, editing or writing tutoring, depending upon the size of your donation and how many get there before you, or
the PayPal Donate button here on my site http://www.sallyember.com allows you to contribute any amount to my effort.

10 ISBNs cost $295 if purchased together, which is a great deal because buying a single ISBN costs $125, if purchased separately.

So, I hope I am finally doing it! Got my formatting gloves on, cracking my knuckles and biting all bullets.

My original cover art will carry over (THANKS, WillowRaven!), and all other aspects will be faithful to the ebook versions, with a few surprise additions.

Special thanks to Annie Douglas Lima for posting a guide to doing this so that I can use the Print on Demand feature of CreateSpace on Amazon, and to Madeline Duffy for providing a template I could revise and use.

Volume I is ready as of 10/20/15!… just need the cash for ISBNs

I plan to have each Volume of the three published so far ready for sale as print books no later than December 12, 2015.

Wish me luck! Contribute! Tell your friends!

image from http://powerthruconsulting.com

Watch this space for release dates and purchase links.

Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours

04/18/2015 by Sally Ember, EdD

Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours

This is Letter Four of Four of my “open letter to my earlier self” series that first appeared on The Book Cove Reviews, http://www.thebookcove.com/2014/12/author-sally-ember-edd-letter-to-my_15.html, late November – December, 2014.
Letter One appeared on my site, http://www.sallyember.com/blog , on 3/26/15.
Letter One posted on 3/26/15; Letter Two appeared on 4/4/15 and Letter Three on 4/11/15.

image from http://phyllisiturner.com

I published my first ebook in December, 2013, and my second in June, 2014. I intend to publish my third in April, 2015. What I wish I had known before my first ebook went into pre-sales in November, 2013, about Virtual Book Tours and Blog Hops and other kinds of “shared” PR continues to grow. I write these Open Letters in order to share my wisdom “backwards” to my earlier self from today’s vantage point.

Dear Sally,

Now that you know you are going to be an indie published author, and you know you’re going to start with only ebooks and then see what happens, your choices about book marketing are more limited than if you were going to have both print and ebooks available or if a major or even minor publisher were backing your books. Mostly, your entire author platform and writing life are going to exist almost exclusively online.

That all means no book signings (you have no books to sign). It also means that you will have few or not any public readings, at least, not yet, since those usually go with book signings. You won’t be paying for much publicity since you have almost no budget for it, so forget print ads, posters, or other signage in the “real” world. Your PR is going to all be virtual.

What does this new type of non-in-person, non-print PR include besides your blog? You will have online “stores,” places that sell your books online, where the cover, blurb and reviews live. You can post your photo and bio there (on some, anyway). You should have author pages and book pages on vendor sites. What else?

Blog Hops and Virtual Book Tours.

Well, no wonder you have no idea what a “Blog Hop” or “Virtual Book Tour” is: You just barely started to blog last August, 2013, and barely know what blogging is. You have recently published your first fiction book while is also your first ebook. It’s hard to be more of a newbie than you are!

When someone invites you to “join” a Blog Hop or be part of a Virtual Book Tour, you don’t know what you’re saying “Yes” or “No” to, do you? How could you?

First of all, go visit/go on a Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour at least once, each. Be a visitor to one or more that have some of the same organizer(s), authors and/or books as the Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour you’re considering as a participant.

Take notes: what do you like/not like? What is confusing/clear? How appealing are the promos, widgets, banners, graphics? Since you are also a reader, consider: would YOU be more or newly interested in these authors/these books because of this Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour?

If the answer is “NO,” stop there. You might want to join a Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour, but not THIS one.

Visit some more until you can say “Yes” to these questions, above.

Now that you know what you like, it’s time to get more educated. There are hundreds of (free or fee-based) webinars, Google+ Hangouts On Air (HOAs), teleseminars, podcasts, blog posts, and, don’t forget: BOOKS and EBOOKS devoted to explaining everything about creating or joining a Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour and all aspects of book marketing.

I won’t even try to recap it all here. Nonfiction can or should be marketed differently than fiction, short fiction differently than long. Target audience for and chosen genre/subgenre of your writing change the PR scene as well. Poetry and memoirs are in their own niches. Etc.

Attend, read, watch. Take more notes.

There was an excellent month-long series of educational events and posts I attended last May, 2014. Well worth it. Thanks, D’vorah Lansky! The Book Marketing Challenge has both free and paid options. Look into them! Email D’Vorah and ask about the next round: support@bookmarketingmadeeasy.com

image from http://buildabusinesswithyourbook.com/community-blog-hop/

If you are leaning toward “Yes,” before deciding whether or not to join a particular Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour or to create your own, regardless of how enticing the organizers or instructors make it sound or you found theirs to be, there are some key questions to ask:

What are the requirements? Are they easy, moderately easy or arduous to fulfill? If you have to create or acquire a lot of new graphics, redesign or add to your website, write new blurbs or text to fit their guidelines, is it worthwhile? Answer the other questions, below, to determine that.
What’s in it for you? Are you allowed to promote/feature your own books, your blog, or just others’ books and blogs?

image from http://acupofteaandabigbook.blogspot.com
How much of your precious writing time will be given over to this endeavor?
How long does it go on? Does that timeframe work with your schedule (i.e., for visiting others’ sites, cross-promoting, posting widgets/modifying your own site, commenting, etc.)?
Can you be ready to submit everything by the deadlines and post on your day as scheduled?
How much does it cost to join, e.g., do you have to provide a “Raffle” prize, a “giveaway,” or any other “swag,” discount coupons, gift cards, or what? Is that affordable?

image from http://www.crystaljordan.com
What amount of traffic is likely to be driven to your site from these other sites, i.e., how many followers do they have, what are their ALEXA scores?
Are the other Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour participants in the same or similar or at least compatible genres/subgenres with yours?
Are the other blogs/sites/books/authors’ brands compatible with yours (NSFW [Not Safe For Work] vs. SFW [Safe For Work], for example)?
Is this organized by a paid promoter or someone else with experience organizing a Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour so that there is at least one person who will handle the responsibilities of corralling, collecting, scheduling, managing this event professionally and well?
How many other participants’ sites are being visited on the same day as yours? Do that number and variety seem likely to be competitive, supportive, confusing, appropriate?
What possible benefits will there be and how likely are they to accrue to YOU?

image from http://www.rtbookreviews.com
Having answered all these questions, is this Blog Hop or Virtual Book Tour a worthwhile endeavor?

Bottom line, Sally, is that your writing time MUST be a priority, but you also have to put in time to create relationships in order to find readers, get more visible, be part of an online community with important and meaningful connections, and, oh, yeah, MARKET your books. Be cautious, be discerning, be wise.

I hope you are finding this series of Open Letters helpful to your decision-making and planning for your first and subsequent book launches and ongoing marketing and promotions. I might add to this series as I get even more experienced; we’ll see.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to ENJOY the ride!

Best to you!

Your future Sally

IndieReCon2 = April 15-17, 2015, ONLINE and FREE! #IndieReCon #IRC15

04/13/2015 by Sally Ember, EdD

The online IndieReCon2 conference is “a 3-day global event to promote quality and craft in #indie #publishing…scheduled for April 15-17, 2015, with online seminars, workshops, discussions and master classes culminating in a reader-centered, Indie #Author Fringe Fest live!”

Our posts, talks and online seminars cover all stages of the publishing process:

—Author Education: How to Write and Publish Well
—Author Empowerment: Finding Your Best Pathways to Publication
—Reaching Readers: Understanding and Serving Your Readers

“10 Reasons to Attend IndieReCon2” HERE:
ONE: “IndieReCon2 is FREE to attend.”
TWO: “IndieReCon2 is a conference for authors by authors.”

Click link below for the other 8 reasons:
http://www.selfpublishingadvice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/10ReasonsToAttendIndieReCon2.pdf

REGISTER HERE:
http://indierecon.org/register/

SPEAKERS LIST HERE:
Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, and Orna Ross, founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors (sponsor of this event), and many others!
http://www.selfpublishingadvice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/All-you-need-for-IndieReCon-2015.pdf

…and more info, plus photos and bios of speakers HERE:
http://indierecon.org/speakers/

EVENTS LIST HERE:
http://indierecon.org/events/

PRIZES/COMPETITIONS LIST HERE:
http://indierecon.org/competitions/

Learn more about the ALLi and its Ethical Code HERE:
http://allianceindependentauthors.org

Won’t Retweet, Won’t do Review Swaps, Won’t “Vote Up” Reviews: Why I Don’t Automatically Play Along with Many Writers’ Groups Anymore

03/28/2015 by Sally Ember, EdD

Won’t Retweet, Won’t do Review Swaps, Won’t “Vote Up” Reviews:
Why I Don’t Automatically Play Along with Many Writers’ Groups Anymore

As Holly Near sings in her iconic relationship-gone-sour song, “Started Out Fine,” it “started out fine; we were moving ahead.” [Great song: go watch her sing it!]

Holly’s “Started Out Fine” on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qhxkd6Gn0E

When I first decided to become an independent author and self-publish after having gone the trad route with nonfiction and made a few attempts to go the trad route for fiction, I knew next-to-nothing about the social media circus I was about to join. I was starry-eyed, optimistic, eager and trusting.

I would get reviewers. I would network. I would make online author friends. I’d become part of communities I would find online. Yippee!

Oy.

Sure, I had a Facebook page, I had opened (and never used) a Twitter account, and I was listed on LinkedIn, for professional purposes (but hardly ever used it).

I had found Authonomy http://www.Authonomy.com and Wattpad http://www.Wattpad.com and decided to post excerpts on these sites, hoping to begin to get readers, reviewers, friends, colleagues.

My niece set up my first website, Sally Ember, Ed.D., and I began to “blog my book,” posting excerpts there and on Facebook for weeks prior to publication (catching up with both excerpts sites, above, before release day).

I researched and decided to go with Smashwords, first, with a pre-order period (several posts about Pre-orders are on my blog, http://www.sallyember.com), then publish to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) when my first ebook went live.

That was the entirety of my social media presence in the summer of 2013, a few months before I hit the “publish” button on my first of the ten volumes in The Spanners Series. Some of these endeavors resulted in my finding exactly what I was looking for: a community of indie and/or self-pub writers, many of whom were also somewhat new, volunteering to review, comment, enjoy my excerpts and then my book! I was so delighted and grateful!

Some of these new connections invited me into groups I’d previously been unaware of, but I happily became quite active in them, for a while. These groups had members who were (and ARE) so supportive, showing me a variety of ways to be involved in cross-promoting one another’s writing.

At first, it was all sunny skies and rainbows. My ebook was gaining visibility, I was making online friends, gaining more reviews and having a good time. Mutual respect, support, encouragement, laughs, tips, ideas and more were flowing around groups and quite helpful to me. I even had some to share back to them. Awesome…for a while.

image from: http://www.dreamstime.com

The clouds rolled in all too soon. Has any of this happened to you?
“Sure! I’ll ReTweet [RT] glowing praise for your book(s) [even though I’ve never read anything you’ve written]!”

“Of course, if you read and review my book, I’d be delighted to read and review yours [until I read a few that were AWFUL!]!”

“Please be assured that, if you vote up my book’s good reviews on Amazon or my book on Goodreads’ Lists or put my book on your “shelves” on Goodreads, I’ll do the same for yours [even though… {PICK ONE: I’ve never read these other writers’ books OR I don’t like the genre and would never read them OR I have started to read them but couldn’t continue because they were AWFUL}]!”

“Oh, great! I’d love to be part of this ‘review each other’s blog’ swap. Oh, what? You’re assigning me to an erotica site when my brand is PG-13?!?!? No can do. Oh, it’s required? Oh, you’re now calling me names, like ‘prude,’ and telling me I’m being ‘judgmental’? ‘Bye, then.”

image from: http://www.artcountrycanada.com

Struck by scolding/lightning one too many times, I dropped out each of those writers’ groups that had absurd or untenable “member responsibilities.” I eventually dropped out of all but a few groups.

Whew! Relieved!

<strong>My integrity has been restored by establishing for myself some great ground rules:
1) I am not on “Tweet teams” which require members to RT every and all Tweets.
2) I do not do “obligatory” reviews or “swaps.”
3) I do cross-promoting only after I’ve gotten to know/read and respect the other person and his/her writing enough to put my name on a public recommendation.
4) I don’t “vote up” any reviews or books unless I’ve read and agree with the votes.
5) I don’t vote for book covers or books for voting-related rewards unless I actually believe they deserve to win.

The best part of being “older but wiser, now” about how writers use social media? If you see my name on a book or blog review, a promotional Tweet, a shared or reblogged post, you can rest assured I believe in what I’m sharing/promoting.

When I haven’t read the work of the authors and don’t know their blog or them at all except as members’ names, I only share or RT general promotions for the GROUP. That’s the way I handle all that social media group cross-promotion pressure, now.

Also, when an individual requests any of the actions I now refuse to take, I gently let them know I don’t do those actions and some I send to the ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) Ethical Code, which I signed and promote on my blog, GLADLY: http://www.theindependentpublishingmagazine.com/2014/11/alli-launch-ethical-author-code.html Go read it. Sign it. Share it. We all should!

So, however you respect my taste and/or me, you can follow my recommendations or leads as you wish.

All the best to you!

Part I: Letter to my Earlier Self, What I Wish I had Known for #Indiepub #Ebooks 1 and 2

03/26/2015 by Sally Ember, EdD

Part I: Letter to my Earlier Self, What I Wish I had Known for #Indiepub #Ebooks 1 and 2

This was originally posted on 11/24/14 as a Guest Blogger on http://www.thebookcove.com/2014/11/author-sally-ember-edd-what-i-wish-i.html, when I was still writing Vol III and before I had written enough of these posts to make a series of “Open Letters.”

Now, there is a series, and I am re-posting them in order, one per week.
(The Book Cove posted one per week, November through December.)
This is Letter One of four, total.

As I get ready to release Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, in my sci-fi/ romance/ paranormal/ multiverse/ utopian The Spanners Series, I consider what I wish I had known for ebooks 1 and 2 of this series, my first launch and second foray into being an indiepub author after having been traditionally published.

I decided to write a series of letters to my pre-publication self, since I believe in simultaneous time. I know that this letter and all the subsequent ones are already written and I am already reading them before I publish Volume I, This Changes Everything, and Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever. I’m sharing this information with the public here (again).

Follow that? It helps to be a sci-fi or quantum physics fan, for sure.

Here is Part I of my tips for my earlier self and therefore, all new indie authors who are about to publish their first ebook (or even afterward). There will be a series of such letters advising myself. I need a lot of help!

I appreciate the The Book Cove Reviews for allowing their blog to be the place these letters first appear. My tips had a chance to reach a much wider audience on that site. I hope many budding and newer indie authors besides my earlier self found them helpful when these letters were first published last fall, 2014!

What I Wish I had Known for #Indiepub #Ebooks 1 and 2:
An Open Letter to my Earlier Self

Part I

Dear Earlier Sally,

So, here you are, in December, 2011, writing your first sci-fi novel. You don’t know, yet, that you’re going to become an “indie” author, or even what that is.

Let’s recap what a sorry state you’re in, as an author, and see what, if anything, we can do to rectify this ignorance that could short-circuit your incipient writing career.

You still think you’re going to write query letters, try to find an agent, seek a publication “house” and become a published author the way you’ve seen it happen with your previous nonfiction books and countless others’ fiction books. You haven’t even considered not having a print book and haven’t even read or seen an ebook at this point. You have no idea how much this industry is about to BOOM!
In fact, even though you’ve heard of Kindles and other ereaders, you’ve never seen one and don’t know anyone who owns or uses one, yet. You’ve never heard of or seen anything about Google+, “author platforms,” or blogging by authors. You think those who blog are self-centered, boring, unemployed journalists or stay-at-home workers who have time to surf the net and write drivel about their lives that you can’t imagine anyone wanting to read.
You aren’t on or aware of most of social media. For example, Twitter: you have no Followers except by accident (you now have 7). You never tweet, retweet, or favorite anyone’s tweets. In fact, you never read and respond on Twitter at all. Furthermore, your Facebook activity is conducted strictly to stay in touch with friends and family, people you actually know. You belong to no Facebook groups except those that include people you know and have a specific purpose (your high school reunion group, a meditation group).
Additionally, even though someone told you to sign up for and join Goodreads, you almost never visit it and have no idea what it’s for. You also believe that people who use it are just sharing book lists and books they like. You never read or write reviews there or on Amazon and rarely buy books from online stores; you prefer bricks-and-mortar bookstores when you buy books and mostly use lending libraries.
You don’t consider yourself a book marketer and have not the faintest idea what book marketing entails, nor do you want to know. In fact, you plan to have all that done by your publisher and perhaps your agent (you’re a little fuzzy on who does what and when). You believe that their experienced and intensive marketing efforts will succeed in getting you/your book on TV, radio, and in print reviews and ads which will make your book rocket to best-seller status very quickly, since you’re sure it’s that good.
You’ve ever heard of or used any Google+ Communities, Hangouts, or Circles.
You have never heard of Metadata and wouldn’t know how to apply that to your ebooks, either.
You do not know about most of nor do you belong to any in-person much less virtual writers’ groups, authors’ groups, marketing groups, review sharing groups, or any professional writers’ groups of any kind.
You’ve never heard of ALEXA, Google Page Ranks, Google Authorship or KLOUT scores and you don’t know much about having an online presence. The extent of your knowledge is that you check Google every now and then to make sure nobody else is using your name or is saying bad things about you online.

Oy, vey.

Can your writing career be salvaged? Can you become a published author and have ANYONE know it? How will your book get reviews? How will you acquire any followers, much less readers? Will you sell even one book to anyone outside your friends and family?

How and when will you ever figure out that you need to create and maintain a website, build and improve your author’s platform, join and become active in online and virtual communities/groups, become KNOWN as YOU, your brand, online, as a sci-fi author and blogger, a creator and curator of useful content?

Tip #1: Forget the query letters, hunts for agents/publishers and all that trad pub jazz. Indie is the way to go. Ebooks are rocking the readers. Believe me. I know.

Tip #2: You may have noticed that I’ve actually decided to write these letters to you to offer a kind of road map to your salvation as an author. If you read and research each of the words or phrases I’ve put into BOLD in this letter, for example, those are the dots you have to connect, the work you have to do, to create the best future for your books and for you as an author.

Do a lot of it NOW, before you publish, and then keep doing more. That is key!

Stay tuned for Part II and subsequent Parts to this intraself communication which will contain advice for many indie authors as we continue on this journey of educating this indie author, earlier Sally: YOU!

Get to work!

Present Sally
http://www.sallyember.com
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HEV2UEW

Dear #Indie #Authors: If You Don’t Want an Honest #Review, Don’t Ask Me to Write One

01/12/2015 by Sally Ember, EdD

image from: http://www.pieceofcakepr.com

If You Don’t Want an Honest Review, Don’t Ask Me to Write One

Some background…
I’m an educator and an editor: I don’t mean to be harsh, but I have a red pen in my mind when I read. Can’t turn it off. Is every piece of my own writing perfect? Not by a long shot. HOWEVER, my proofreading skills, grammar-checking and spelling are excellent, particularly when applied to others’ writing.

I used to teach English writing, grammar and spelling. I have worked as an editor, proofreader and paid writer. I also used to teach kids, teens and adults, all grades, many subjects, pre-Kindergarten through graduate school, including English to Speakers of other Languages (ESL) and literacy/numeracy to adults with severe learning disabilities. I used to train/supervise and evaluate student teachers and classroom teachers. I have a B.A., master’s and doctorate in education, specializing in multicultural and teacher education.

I have had nonfiction, articles, poetry, and short fiction published and plays produced prior to self-publishing my sci-fi/romance ebooks. I write The Spanners Series‘ ebooks intentionally in the present tense, BTW, which confounds many readers and reviewers until they understand the reasons.

Degrees are no guarantee of excellence in any area, as we all know, nor is quantity of publications any indication of quality. My education and experiences are important to note, however, for background.

As a reader: I used to read about 10 books PER WEEK for dozens of years, mostly fiction. Now I read less, but mostly fiction, with some select nonfiction and recently, online pieces and blogs.

I know some stuff.

Really.

Current state of my life…
I’m also very busy. I rarely even agree to attempt a review because I’m so busy.

I’m therefore justifiably extremely picky about what I choose to read and even pickier about what I decide to review.

So, if I agree to review your book but I find that it is not well-written, not carefully edited or proofread, or otherwise NOT going to be getting a stellar review from me, I first will email you and explain my criticisms. Sometimes, I will do your critique in detail, at no small loss to my own writing time, because I truly wish to be helpful. I might not even be able to finish your book; it could be that bad.

image from http://www.brookeharrison.com

When I review your book and it’s not very good news for you…
I will tell you that I usually get paid $100 for these kinds of critiques. I am not joking. I am also not extorting you, just making a point and asking for you to share the wealth, if you ever have any. Paypal button is on my website. You can donate $1, out of respect.

Because, if I do deign to finish your book (because your bad writing and many mistakes hurt my eyes, you should realize that I am doing you a HUGE favor to keep reading under those circumstances; imagine a musician having to listen to someone sing who is tone-deaf!), be amazed. If I further agree to review your flawed tome, the FIRST proper response from you, the author, is: THANK YOU, Sally.

How you could best react to my comments about your book…
If you are serious about being a writer and intend to continue, you should express your eagerness to consider my critique carefully. Think about how you can try to make corrections, do revisions, improve in the future. Do SOMETHING that makes me believe that I haven’t wasted my time.

If you have received only positive reviews up to this point while my criticisms are warranted and accurate, then your other “reviewers” have a very poor professional “eye” or are lying to you to “spare your feelings.” They did you a grave disservice and misled you horribly.

That is not my fault. I am pointing this out so you’ll know whose opinions to trust.

Do not hide behind those “good” reviews and do not make excuses. Do not whine about being “new” or “inexperienced.” Do not complain to me that you did not have enough money to hire an editor or proofreader, so you did it yourself or used your cousin.

If your book is not ready for publication, DO NOT PUBLISH IT. Really.

Honestly: I have given this a lot of thought before I tell you that your book is not currently good enough to merit a positive review. I give you my professional reasons for assigning your book its low rating.

What not to do when you get my email…

Do not call me names. (Seriously?)
Do not act as though I have offended you personally by critiquing your writing professionally.
Do not tell me you have now gone to read my book or my reviews (but not before this???) and have determined from your brief perusal (my books are over 130K words or 300 pages long) that you do not respect me or my writing and, therefore, can ignore what I’m telling you.
Do not tell me not to contact you and then keep emailing me or following my blog, posting about my review on YOUR blog and “calling me out” as a bad reviewer or writer, just to make yourself feel better. Your behavior is beyond appalling. You ASKED ME FOR A REVIEW, remember?
Do not trot out your credentials, degrees, numbers of previously published and much-loved books: I do not care. I am reading THIS one and reviewing THIS book and only this book, and my assessment stands.
Do not tell me how much more you know than I do about_______________(fill in the blank). That is not relevant. This is not a competition. If you actually know that much about good writing but did not apply it to this book adequately, get going to do it better next time instead of wasting your energy deriding me for noticing all the ways that you did not apply your knowledge well in this book.
Do not position yourself as my enemy, my judge or my combatant. What is your purpose in doing that? If my honest review of your book inspires you to denigrate me, a fellow author who donated her time and expertise to try to help you write better, there is a lot wrong with your approach to seeking and receiving reviews that I do not have the time or interest in detailing here.

News flash: Every negative review is NOT to be dismissed cavalierly by your declaration that your book “is not for everyone,” although some reviewers’ opinions certainly can be dismissed in that way. If I took the time to read and review your entire book (and almost always, I do NOT), then I thought (I hoped) that I would like your book. By definition, that means your book was written for me.

What’s true about me and you…
I am not a “troll.” I am not being unfair. I am not “slamming” you or your book. I take no pleasure in having to write a negative or mixed review. I agonize over what I know will hit you hard, especially if you have been surrounded by people telling you, sometimes for years, how great your writing is. Your writing might be entertaining, interesting or creative, and I probably already told you that. Great it is not.

I am an ethical, hard-working author who occasionally tutors writing, edits or proofreads (for money) and writes reviews (rarely, and always for free). If I mention to you that I do this for money, the “this” is not reviewing, it is my tutoring writers and editing. By taking the time not just to offer a review, but to email you (more than once, sometimes) and converse with you about specifics and ways you could improve, mistakes you made, recommendations I’m making, I have now ventured into the arena of work I usually get paid to perform.

I tell you that not to extort money from you, but to let you know that, if you find my insights valuable and you ever have “extra” money, I’d appreciate a donation that recognizes my having GIVEN you my professional expertise, having gone above and beyond what reviewers usually do. It’s an opportunity to respond with courtesy, not a requirement.

I respect most other authors tremendously. However, I am not reviewing your ideas or taking into account your desire for success, however strong they may be. I am professionally reviewing your book, author to author, editor to author, proofreader to author, educator to author.

If I have reviewed your book and you are dissatisfied with my opinions, suggestions or corrections, I strongly recommend you let it go. I will not engage with you beyond providing my critique. I do not want to get into a “flame war,” bloggers’ conflict, take sides, or other such middle-school-era nonsense.

I have writing to do.

If you are too thin-skinned (read: unprofessional), not ready, not willing to improve, AND, if you don’t know enough to respect my opinions and experience much less my expertise, so that, really, you do not want my honesty, DO NOT ASK ME TO REVIEW YOUR BOOK.

Please.

Ask your cousin.

Tell me What Types of Posts you Want More of for 2015! Summary & Links to Posts from 2014’s Sally Ember, Ed.D., Blog by Category

12/31/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

Tell me What Types of Posts you Want More of for 2015! Summary & Links to Posts from 2014’s Sally Ember, Ed.D., Blog by Category

Welcome to all my new readers, followers, and returning ones to this year-end review. I am grateful for all of your attention, especially when you reblog, comment, ask questions or poke at my opinions. THANK YOU for being a part of this writer’s blog experience this year and I hope you continue to visit!

Quick Year-in-Review Stats and Info:

My post, Pros and Cons of #Writers’ Critique Groups, 2/20/14, brought the most visitors in one day (195).
My post, 15 Points about the Effects of #Concussions on #Meditators’ #Brains, 5/2/14, was the most-viewed post (356) (see below for list of ALL my posts, by category and date).
My post, How to STUPENDIFY my #Ebook’s Release with a Virtual Book Tour, garnered the most comments (22).
This blog was viewed about 14,000 times with visitors from 127 countries.
Nicholas C. Rossis was my most active commenter: THANKS, Nicholas!

Link to full annual stats report: https://sallyember.com/2014/annual-report/

If you are new-ish to this blog, you may especially appreciate that I have listed most of my blog posts and major categories, below, so you can cruise around by topic rather than date, if you choose. I am a sci-fi/ romance/ utopian/ multiverse/ paranormal (psi) ebooks author who also has a keen interest in many other subjects, most notably: science, social issues/politics, writing/publishing/ book marketing/ reviews, and spirituality/meditation. Because of a fall that caused a concussion last spring, I also became engrossed in Traumatic Brain Injury and its aftermaths, especially as it impacts meditation.

In addition to the posts listed, below, I also have Author Interviews (with me as the subject), videos of each of my CHANGES conversations (we’re up to Episode 16, to date), links to my guest blog posts and much more on my website (I’m providing the link here in case you’re reading this elsewhere):
http://www.sallyember.com

My broad interests are loosely grouped into the categories I’ve centered and bolded, below, but some posts had to be listed as “doubled” because they straddled more than one area.

I’ve highlighted the TOP (1st, 2nd and 3rd), as in most-viewed, posts as well as some of the least-viewed.

Regarding the least-viewed, many of these are not listed, below, because I didn’t originate the content and/or the posts were not about my own books, but these posts which had between 1 – 3 views included: most reblogs of others’ posts; links to interviews of me or others as Authors; links and excerpts from my books’ reviews and The Spanners Series‘ Vol II’s serialized excerpts; personal stories from my meditation retreat and experiences; announcements of The Spanners Series‘ book trailers, releases, reviews; announcements of my being on someone else’s radio show, blog or other format as an author; some of my opinion pieces on various topics.

No pattern, there, so not sure what to make of these low-readership posts. Wrong day? Wrong week? Not enough followers, yet, when posted? We’ll see in future months!

If you missed a post, enjoyed a topic but didn’t realize I had more posts in that same area, or want to comment on any of this year’s posts, now’s your chance! Please do comment! I reply to all. And, feel free to share/reblog, curate/use any of my content (giving me credit, please, and excerpting ethically, of course).

I hope your holiday celebrations or whatever activities you have been doing lately have brought you joy. Best to you all!

About My Books and Other Science-Fiction

1/8/14: “Finishing the Hat” or, in my case, another #eBook
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/08/finishing-the-hat-or-in-my-case-another-ebook/

1-16-14: “5 Wonderful Stars” for #THISCHANGESEVERYTHING!
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/16/618/

1/18/14: #DNF Review for #THISCHANGESEVERYTHING still shines!
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/18/dnf-review-for-thischangeseverything-still-shines/

1/23/14: Surprisingly Glowing #Review by Carrie Shepherd of This Changes Everything
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/23/surprisingly-glowing-review-by-carrie-shepherd-of-this-changes-everything/

1/24/14: Stellar Review by David ben Efraim for This Changes Everything, Volume I, The Spanners Series: “The End of Humankind’s Loneliness”
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/24/5-star-review-by-david-ben-efraim-of-this-changes-everything-volume-i-the-spanners-series-the-end-of-humankinds-loneliness/

1/25/14: New Book Trailer for This Changes Everything right here!
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/25/new-book-trailer-for-this-changes-everything-right-here/

1/28/14: 3 Stars for This Changes Everything from Alexander Crommich: Book Review
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/28/3-stars-for-this-changes-everything-from-alexander-crommich-book-review/

2/5/14: “Complex, Creative, and Compelling – 4 Stars” from B.C. Brown for This Changes Everything!
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/05/complex-creative-and-compelling-4-stars-from-b-c-brown-for-this-changes-everything/

2/6/14: 4 Stars from “April” for This Changes Everything on Amazon and elsewhere
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/06/4-stars-from-april-for-this-changes-everything-on-amazon-and-elsewhere/

2/6/14: 2nd #BookTrailer for #THISCHANGESEVERYTHING, Vol. I, #THESPANNERSSERIES
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/06/2nd-booktrailer-for-thischangeseverything-vol-i-thespannersseries/

2/10/14: High Praise from Rebecca T for #ThisChangesEverything!
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/10/5-stars-from-rebecca-t-for-this-changes-everything/

2/18/14: #ThisChangesEverything #BookTrailer with #Multiverse Focus
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/18/thischangeseverything-booktrailer-with-multiverse-focus/

2/28/14: #Multiverse #Experiment this week: Tomorrow’s Story Written Today
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/28/multiverse-experiment-this-week-tomorrows-story-written-today/

3/13/14 – 4/18/14: LEAST-VIEWED POSTS (most with only 1 view), so probably will not do for Volumes III and beyond unless YOU encourage me! “Acclaimed, eagerly-awaited SPANNERS SERIES’ Volume II Excerpts”
https://sallyember.com/2014/03/13/acclaimed-eagerly-awaited-spanners-series-volume-ii-excerpts-starting-31614/

3/30/14: 4 stars! #BookReview #THISCHANGESEVERYTHING by Nick LeVar, Free World Authors
https://sallyember.com/2014/03/30/bookreview-thischangeseverything-by-nick-levar-free-world-authors/

4/1/14: #COVER #REVEAL! #THISCHANGESMYFAMILY&MYLIFEFOREVER, Vol II, #THESPANNERSSERIES
https://sallyember.com/2014/04/01/cover-reveal-thischangesmyfamilymylifeforever-vol-ii-thespannersseries/

4/3/14: Another 4-Star Review for #ThisChangesEverything, Vol. I, #TheSpannersSeries
https://sallyember.com/2014/04/03/another-4-star-review-for-thischangeseverything-vol-i-thespannersseries/

5/9/14 (doubled category): 3 Reasons That This Changes Everything, Volume I of The Spanners Series, is Permafree
https://sallyember.com/2014/05/09/3-reasons-that-this-changes-everything-volume-i-of-the-spanners-series-is-permafree/

6/3/14: 4-Star #Review for #THISCHANGESVERYTHING, Vol I, #THESPANNERSSERIES
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/03/4-star-review-for-thischangesverything-vol-i-thespannersseries/

6/6/14: 5-Star #Review of #THISCHANGESMYFAMILYANDMYLIFEFOREVER, Vol II, #THESPANNERSSERIES
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/06/review-of-thischangesmyfamilyandmylifeforever-vol-ii-thespannersseries/

6/9/14: RT and SHARE: Release Date is TODAY! #THISCHANGESMYFAMILYANDMYLIFEFOREVER, Vol II, #THESPANNERSSERIES on sale NOW!
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/09/rt-and-share-release-date-is-today-thischangesmyfamilyandmylifeforever-vol-ii-thespannersseries-on-sale-now/

8/9/14: 5-Stars for Volume II of The Spanners Series on Goodreads!
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/09/5-stars-for-volume-ii-of-the-spanners-series-on-goodreads/

9/10/14: “Mrs. G” Reviewed This Changes Everything, Volume I, The Spanners Series
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/10/mrs-g-reviewed-this-changes-everything-volume-i-the-spanners-series/

9/25/14: 5 Stars for This Changes Everything from “Raving in Alaska” on Amazon!
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/25/5-stars-for-this-changes-everything-from-raving-in-alaska-on-amazon/

10/4/14: “Quick Book Reviews” Gives “Thumbs Up” to This Changes Everything, Vol I, The Spanners Series!
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/04/quick-book-reviews-gives-thumbs-up-to-this-changes-everything-vol-i-the-spanners-series/

11/11/14: **** for This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, Vol II of The Spanners Series
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/11/for-this-changes-my-family-and-my-life-forever-vol-ii-of-the-spanners-series/

12/20/14: SF The Spanners Series, Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, excerpt
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/20/the-spanners-series-volume-iii-this-isis-not-the-way-i-want-things-to-change-excerpt/

Creativity at Work, Here

3/29/14: The Cloud People Dance at #sallyember.com
https://sallyember.com/2014/03/29/the-cloud-people-dance-at-sallyember-com/

7/18/14: Criteria for Selecting Speculative Fiction for Younger Readers: What to Discuss and Why
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/18/criteria-for-selecting-speculative-fiction-for-younger-readers-what-to-discuss-and-why/

8/18/14: My Best Give-Away Story: “Our Family Table becomes Ryan and Gina’s Family Table”
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/18/my-best-give-away-story-our-family-table-becomes-ryan-and-ginas-family-table/

8/19/14: #iamsubject story: “I Find Myself Wherever I Live and I Move A Lot!”
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/19/iamsubject-story-i-find-myself-wherever-i-live-and-i-move-a-lot/

9/4/14: Moving back “home” after living elsewhere for over 40 years https://sallyember.com/2014/09/04/moving-back-home-after-living-elsewhere-for-over-40-years/

9/8/14: How I Benefit from the Celebrities I Grew Up /Worked with and Still Do
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/08/how-i-benefitted-from-the-celebrities-i-grew-up-worked-with-and-still-do/

9/22/14 (doubled category): Goodreads’ Genre-Specific Review Group’s Fall 2014 Blog Hop Tour: “COMFORT”
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/22/goodreads-genre-specific-review-groups-fall-2014-blog-hop-tour-comfort/

9/27/14: My post for the Goodreads’ Genre-Specific Review Group’s Fall 2014 Blog Hop Tour: “COMFORT” is this year’s theme.
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/27/my-post-for-the-goodreads-genre-specific-review-groups-fall-2014-blog-hop-tour-comfort-is-this-years-theme/

10/1/14: My Fall #NewTVShows Reviews: 2014 is a VERY Mixed Season, thru 10/1/14
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/01/my-fall-newtvshows-reviews-2014-is-a-very-mixed-season-so-far/

11/8/14: Today, in #SPAM
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/08/today-in-spam/

12/10/14: “Non-Reciprocity Leads to Less Selfishness”
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/10/what-do-we-have-to-lose/

12/16/14: “Discovering My Inner Con,” for Where do I find it?, Yeah Write Poetry Challenge #192
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/16/discovering-my-inner-con-where-do-i-find-it-for-yeah-write-poetry-challenge-192/

12/23/14: “Most-Anticipated” #Films of #2015: Yeah or Nay? And, one look back at 2014 #SciFi and #Fantasy Films
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/23/most-anticipated-films-of-2015-yeah-or-nay/

About Science

1/30/14 (doubled category): #Buddhism and #Science: the Facts, the Yogis, the Practices
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/30/buddhism-and-science-a-marriage-of-minds-convenience-a-sham-the-truth/

2/14/14: Because of Hormesis: When Heartache Doesn’t Wreck You, It Makes You Stronger
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/14/because-of-hormesis-when-heartache-doesnt-wreck-you-it-makes-you-stronger/

3/14/14: My #1980s #Computer Tutors: Thanks to Jaye Alper (sorely missed ) and Mario Cossa
https://sallyember.com/2014/03/14/my-1980s-computer-tutors-thanks-to-jaye-alper-sorely-missed-and-mario-cossa/

4/11/14 (doubled category): What are the Four Major Upsides and Downsides of #Paranormal #Presentiment?
https://sallyember.com/2014/04/11/what-are-the-four-major-upsides-and-downsides-of-paranormal-presentiment/

8/2/14 (doubled category): Proven, Long-term Effects on Physical Health of those who suffered childhood Trauma, Abuse, Neglect and Bullying
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/02/how-childhood-trauma-can-have-lifelong-consequences/

8/20/14 (doubled category): Bras and Shoes: Breast Cancer, Bunions, Back Strain and “Beauty” Lies
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/20/bras-and-shoes-breast-cancer-bunions-back-strain-and-beauty-lies/

8/28/14 (doubled category): Deadly Eye Makeup and other “Beauty” “Aids”: STOP USING THESE!
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/28/deadly-eye-makeup-and-other-beauty-aids-stop-using-these/

9/18/14 (doubled category): “Actualists” vs. “Realists”: The Evolution of Modern #Fiction thanks to #Quantum #Physics
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/18/actualists-vs-realists-the-evolution-of-modern-fiction-thanks-to-quantum-physics/

10/16/14: #Love According to #Psychology and #Biology
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/16/love-according-to-psychology-and-biology/

10/21/14 (doubled category): Lead Lipsticks, Folliculitis with MRSA from Hair Removal, and other Deadly “Beauty” Choices
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/21/lead-lipsticks-folliculitis-with-mrsa-from-hair-removal-and-other-deadly-beauty-choices/

11/10/14: Latest News in #ParallelUniverses and/or the #Multiverse, According to #Science in 2014
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/10/latest-news-in-paralleluniverses-andor-the-multiverse-according-to-science-in-2014/

About Social Issues and Politics

2/3/14: 15 Ways I PERSONALLY #Conserve #Water and You MUST, Too!
ttp://sallyember.com/2014/02/03/15-ways-i-personally-conserve-water-and-you-must-too/

5/20/14: Guilty is Guilty: Step up and Take Your Punishments
https://sallyember.com/2014/05/20/guilty-is-guilty-step-up-and-take-your-punishments/

6/10/14: #Sexist, #Racist Dress Codes? What is “Proper #School Attire” in the 2010’s?
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/10/sexist-racist-dress-codes-what-is-proper-school-attire-in-the-2010s/

6/27/14: 3rd TOP POST: 271 Views, Why posting about fruit is insulting to women: DO NOT PARTICIPATE in this year’s “Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign”
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/27/why-posting-about-fruit-is-insulting-to-women-do-not-participate-in-this-years-breast-cancer-awareness-campaign/

7/1/14: Facts about #BPA, #Water Bottles, Shower Curtains, #Cans, More, and What to Do
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/01/facts-about-bpa-water-bottles-shower-curtains-cans-more-and-what-to-do/

7/7/14: ‘BOT v. HUMAN: Score 2 for the Human! Transcript of Actual Online Chat with AT & T “Service Representative,” July, 2014
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/07/bot-v-human-score-2-for-the-human-transcript-of-actual-online-chat-with-at-t-service-representative-july-2014/

7/29/14: Supporting gender and sexual orientation diversity is important: It’s sometimes a matter of life and death
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/29/supporting-gender-and-sexual-orientation-diversity-is-important-its-sometimes-a-matter-of-life-and-death/

8/28/14 (doubled category): Deadly Eye Makeup and other “Beauty” “Aids”: STOP USING THESE!
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/28/deadly-eye-makeup-and-other-beauty-aids-stop-using-these/

9/16/14: Being #Single vs. Social #Isolation: Benefits and Costs of #Solitude
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/16/being-single-vs-social-isolation-benefits-and-costs-of-solitude/

10/13/14: #Nobel Prize Winners 2014: Why we should pay attention and be grateful
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/13/nobel-prize-winners-2014-why-we-should-pay-attention-and-be-grateful/

10/24/14: No Woman Wants to Have An Abortion, but We MUST Support EVERY Woman’s Right To Choose
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/24/no-woman-wants-to-have-an-abortion-but-we-must-support-every-womans-right-to-choose/

10/28/14 (doubled category): CONTROVERSY: #Buddhists and #Organ Donation at #Death
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/28/controversy-buddhists-and-organ-donation-at-death/

11/20/14: We Should All Contribute to Raising All Children
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/20/we-should-all-contribute-to-raising-all-children/

12/9/14: “Waiting For Your Boyfriend to Marry You” My Response
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/09/waiting-for-your-boyfriend-to-marry-you/

12/11/14: TEN Ways to Encourage #Victims of Any Age to #Report #Sexual and Other #Abuse
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/11/ten-ways-to-encourage-victims-of-any-age-to-report-sexual-and-other-abuse/

12/30/14: You need to reorganize your life if you are outsourcing your dating activities
https://sallyember.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/you-need-to-reorganize-your-life-if-you-are-outsourcing-your-dating-activities/

About my talk show, CHANGES, a Google+ HOA (Hangout On Air)

7/21/14: “Getting Comfortable with #Technology Takes Time,” Meloney Hall’s “Lights, Camera, #HOA” with Sally Ember, Ed.D., from 7/21/14
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/23/getting-comfortable-with-technology-takes-time-meloney-halls-lights-camera-hoa-with-sally-ember-ed-d-from-72114/

7/28/14: Sally Ember’s CHANGES Google + HOA (Hangouts On Air) Start August 6
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/28/sally-embers-changes-google-hoa-hangouts-on-air-start-august-6/

8/8/14: CHANGES Episode 1 on Youtube Google+ HOA with Sally Ember and Shay West
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/08/changes-episode-1-on-youtube-google-hoa-with-sally-ember-and-shay-west/

12/9/14 (doubled category): #Crowdfunding with #Patreon: Sally Ember’s Campaign Needs Your Support!
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/09/crowdfunding-with-patreon-sally-embers-campaign-needs-your-support/

12/26/14 (doubled category): Sally Ember’s #Crowdfunding Song
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/26/sally-embers-crowdfunding-song/

12/29/14 (Doubled category): The Very Inspiring #Blogger# Award Landed Here!
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/29/the-very-inspiring-blogger-award-landed-here/

My Teacher, Lama Padma Drimed Norbu, known as Lama Drimed

About Meditation and Spiritual Practice

1/11/14: When #Spiritual #Teachers Respond with #Countertransference
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/11/when-spiritual-teachers-respond-with-countertransference/

1/14/14: Another Friend’s Death: Mortality in Daily Life https://sallyember.com/2014/01/14/another-friends-death-mortality-in-daily-life/

1/30/14 (doubled category): #Buddhism and #Science: the Facts, the Yogis, the Practices
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/30/buddhism-and-science-a-marriage-of-minds-convenience-a-sham-the-truth/

2/17/14: How Having a #Buddhist #Spiritual #Teacher Changes Me
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/17/how-having-a-spiritual-teacher-changes-me/

2/23/14: 18 Tweets/3 photos inspired by the live speech of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, 2-23-14, Berkeley, CA https://sallyember.com/2014/02/23/18-tweets3-photos-inspired-by-the-live-speech-of-his-holiness-the-14th-dalai-lama-2-23-14-berkeley-ca/

2/25/14: The Swan Song of my #Buddhist Mini Home #Retreat Sung a Bit Early
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/25/the-swan-song-of-my-buddhist-mini-home-retreat-sung-a-bit-early/

5/2/14 TOP POST, 356 Views (doubled category): 15 Points about the #Effects of #Concussions on #Meditators’ #Brains
https://sallyember.com/2014/05/02/the-effects-of-concussions-on-meditators-brains/

6/20/14: #60for60: 60 ACTS OF #KINDNESS AND GRATITUDE– each of the days before my 60TH
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/20/60-for-60-60-acts-of-kindness-and-gratitude-for-the-60-days-preceding-my-60th-birthday/

6/26/14: I can #Meditate, Again! Ahhhh!
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/23/i-can-meditate-again-ahhhh/

7/14/14: The #Freedom to Die without Regret: Post for #RaveReviewsBookClub #Blog #Recruitment Day
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/14/the-freedom-to-die-without-regret/

8/22/14: #60for60 ENDS Today! 6/21 – 8/22/14
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/22/60for60-starts-today-621-82214/

9/22/14: 10Q begins September 24th, 2014 (Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah)
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/22/10q-begins-september-24th-2014-jewish-new-year-rosh-hashanah/

10/28/14 (doubled category): CONTROVERSY: #Buddhists and #Organ Donation at #Death
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/28/controversy-buddhists-and-organ-donation-at-death/

11/3/14: 5 Ways for #Giving 1% to Offset the Splurging Inspired by the Holidays
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/03/5-ways-for-giving-1-to-offset-the-splurging-inspired-by-the-holidays/

12/13/14 (doubled category): Linda Ronstadt’s Rendition of Desperado Burst my Grief Dam
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/13/linda-ronstadts-rendition-of-desperado-burst-my-grief-dam/

About Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and Concussions

5/2/14 (doubled category): 15 Points about the #Effects of #Concussions on #Meditators’ #Brains
https://sallyember.com/2014/05/02/the-effects-of-concussions-on-meditators-brains/

6/25/14: The Latest Research on Traumatic Brain Injury (#TBI): Causes, Diagnostics, Treatments
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/25/the-latest-research-on-traumatic-brain-injury-tbi-causes-diagnostics-treatments/

9/12/14: #Injuries to the #Mind, #Brain and #Psyche that Cause Difficulties with #Meditation
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/12/injuries-to-the-mind-brain-and-psyche-that-cause-difficulties-with-meditation/

12/13/14 (doubled category): Linda Ronstadt’s Rendition of Desperado Burst my Grief Dam
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/13/linda-ronstadts-rendition-of-desperado-burst-my-grief-dam/

About Publishing, Book Marketing, Writing, Writers

1/20/14: My #Writing Process: Revealed!
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/20/my-writing-process-revealed/

1/21/14: My #Pinterest Boards are for you, my #Readers and #Fans
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/21/my-pinterest-boards-are-for-you-my-readers-and-fans/

1/27/14: My #Literary #Meh List 2014: 15 Plots, Devices, Characters I’m BORED with
https://sallyember.com/2014/01/27/my-literary-meh-list-2014-15-plots-devices-characters-im-sick-of/

2/15/14: #Smashwords vs. #Amazon for #Indie #Authors #ebook #epub: Pros and Cons
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/15/smashwords-vs-amazon-for-indie-authors-ebook-epub-pros-and-cons/

2/16/14: #Female #ebook #Authors: Getting Checked Out More at #Libraries
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/16/libraries-top-circulating-print-books-and-ebooks-in-jan-2014-how-ebooks-are-leveling-the-gender-playing-field/

2/20/14: Pros and Cons of #Writers’ Critique Groups
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/20/pros-and-cons-of-writers-critique-groups/

2/23/14: 2nd TOP POST: 310 Views, Why My First Experience with Using #Pre-Orders Will Help Get My NEXT #Ebook Higher on #Best-Seller Lists
https://sallyember.com/2014/02/23/why-my-first-experience-with-using-pre-orders-will-help-get-my-next-ebook-higher-on-best-seller-lists/

3/12/14: my #SFRB post: Lending Actual People’s Bios to #Fictional #Characters: Pros and Cons
https://sallyember.com/2014/03/12/945/

3/29/14: “I write like Ursula K. Le Guin”! Couldn’t have been more honored! https://sallyember.com/2014/03/29/i-write-like-ursula-k-le-guin-couldnt-have-been-more-honored/

4/29/14: 5 Things Wrong with #Sex Scenes in #Romance Novels and How to Improve Them https://sallyember.com/2014/04/29/5-things-wrong-with-sex-scenes-in-romance-novels-and-how-to-improve-them/

5/14/14: The Anguish of Posting a 2-Star Review of a Colleague’s Book
https://sallyember.com/2014/05/14/the-anguish-of-posting-a-2-star-review-of-a-colleagues-book/

5/16/14: Important Perspectives on #Book #Reviews for #Authors
https://sallyember.com/2014/05/16/important-perspectives-on-book-reviews-for-authors/

5/22/14: #AUTHORS: #Plot Spice, or the 5 Worst Places to Wake Up Unexpectedly
https://sallyember.com/2014/05/22/authors-plot-spice-or-the-5-worst-places-to-wake-up-unexpectedly/

5/27/14: 16 Ways I Use #Goodreads https://sallyember.com/2014/05/27/16-ways-i-use-goodreads/

6/6/14: How to STUPENDIFY my #Ebook’s Release with a Virtual Book Tour
https://sallyember.com/2014/06/06/how-to-stupendify-my-ebooks-release-with-a-virtual-book-tour/

7/2/14: Guest Blog Post: “#Utopian #Sci-fi/#Speculative Fiction: Why it’s Intriguing and Necessary” https://sallyember.com/2014/07/02/guest-blog-post-utopian-sci-fispeculative-fiction-why-its-intriguing-and-necessary/

7/3/14: Excavating your Soul! – Indie and Proud
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/03/excavating-your-soul-indie-and-proud/

7/6/14: 10 Ways to Celebrate #Indie #Authors https://sallyember.com/2014/07/06/10-ways-to-celebrate-indie-authors/

7/10/14: Guest Post: “The Politics of Speculative/ Science-Fiction”
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/10/guest-post-the-politics-of-speculative-science-fiction/

7/16/14: Good #Writing DOES Require #Talent, Not just Hard Work
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/16/writing-does-require-talent-not-just-hard-work/

7/22/14: Parallel Construction: What it is, what it isn’t, and how to write better despite hating your 8th-grade English teacher
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/22/parallel-construction-what-it-is-what-it-isnt-and-how-to-write-better-despite-hating-your-8th-grade-english-teacher/

7/24/14: A DNF (Did Not Finish) Experience Does NOT Qualify for a “Review”
https://sallyember.com/2014/07/24/a-dnf-did-not-finish-experience-does-not-qualify-for-a-review/

8/10/14: My Blogaversary and 1st year of Book Marketing: Report Card
https://sallyember.com/2014/08/10/my-blogaversary-and-1st-year-of-book-marketing-report-card/

9/2/14: Book Sales are like PotLucks: You Don’t Know Who Appreciates Your Creation
https://sallyember.com/2014/09/02/book-sales-are-like-potlucks-you-dont-know-who-appreciates-your-creation/

10/31/14: NOT DOING #NaNoWriMo Writing Plans
https://sallyember.com/2014/10/31/not-doing-nanowrimo-writing-plans/

11/16/14: 15 #Fiction #Promos that should be Revised or Trashed Completely
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/16/15-fiction-promos-that-should-be-revised-or-trashed-completely/

11/17/14: SHARE! EXPERIENCED #editor #proofreader available for quick-turn around jobs
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/17/experienced-editor-proofreader-available-for-quick-turn-around-jobs/

11/18/14: Stale writing? 4 Underused Literary Devices: Aphorism, Hyperbole, Tmesis and Zeugma
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/18/stale-writing-4-underused-literary-devices-aphorism-hyperbole-tmesis-and-zeugma/

11/21/14: Why I LOVE the #Smashwords Blog and you should, too!
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/21/why-i-love-the-smashwords-blog-and-you-should-too/

11/24/14: “What I Wish I had Known for #Indiepub #Ebooks 1 and 2: An Open Letter to my Earlier Self,” Guest Post on The Book Cove
https://sallyember.com/2014/11/24/what-i-wish-i-had-known-for-indiepub-ebooks-1-and-2-an-open-letter-to-my-earlier-self-guest-post-on-the-book-cove/

12/1/14: “An Open Letter to my Earlier Self about #Book #Reviews and #Reviewers,” Guest Post on The Book Cove
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/01/an-open-letter-to-my-earlier-self-about-book-reviews-and-reviewers-guest-post-on-the-book-cove-goes-live-today/

12/8/14: “Part III: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Preorders,” Guest Post on The Book Cove
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/08/part-iii-letter-to-my-earlier-self-about-preorders-guest-blogger-post-on-the-book-cove-reviews/

12/15/14: “Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours,” Guest Post on The Book Cove
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/15/part-iv-letter-to-my-earlier-self-about-blog-hops-and-virtual-book-tours-guest-blogger-post-on-the-book-cove-reviews/

12/26/14 (doubled category): Sally Ember’s #Crowdfunding Song
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/26/sally-embers-crowdfunding-song/

12/29/14 (Doubled category): The Very Inspiring #Blogger# Award Landed Here!
https://sallyember.com/2014/12/29/the-very-inspiring-blogger-award-landed-here/

Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours, Guest Blogger Post on The Book Cove Reviews

12/15/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours

This is Letter IV of four of my “open letter to my earlier self” series that first appeared on The Book Cove Reviews, http://www.thebookcove.com/2014/12/author-sally-ember-edd-letter-to-my_15.html, late November – December, 2014.
Letter One appeared on my site, http://www.sallyember.com/blog, on 3/26/15.
Letter One posted on 3/26/15; Letter Two appeared on 4/4/15 and Letter Three on 4/11/15.

image from http://phyllisiturner.com

Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours, Guest Blogger Post on The Book Cove Reviews

12/15/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours

This is Letter IV of four of my “open letter to my earlier self” series that first appeared on The Book Cove Reviews, http://www.thebookcove.com/2014/12/author-sally-ember-edd-letter-to-my_15.html, late November – December, 2014.
Letter One appeared on my site, http://www.sallyember.com/blog, on 3/26/15.
Letter One posted on 3/26/15; Letter Two appeared on 4/4/15 and Letter Three on 4/11/15.

image from http://phyllisiturner.com

An Open Letter to my Earlier Self about #Book #Reviews and #Reviewers Guest Post on The Book Cove goes LIVE today

12/01/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

An Open Letter to my Earlier Self about #Book #Reviews and #Reviewers Guest Post on The Book Cove goes LIVE today, 12/1/14, and is part of a series.

http://www.thebookcove.com/2014/12/author-sally-ember-edd-open-letter-to.html

Check on Mondays, 11/24/14 and 12/8 and 12/15/14 for the rest of the series! http://www.thebookcove.com

An Open Letter to my Earlier Self about #Book #Reviews and #Reviewers Guest Post on The Book Cove goes LIVE today

12/01/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

An Open Letter to my Earlier Self about #Book #Reviews and #Reviewers Guest Post on The Book Cove goes LIVE today, 12/1/14, and is part of a series.

http://www.thebookcove.com/2014/12/author-sally-ember-edd-open-letter-to.html

Check on Mondays, 11/24/14 and 12/8 and 12/15/14 for the rest of the series! http://www.thebookcove.com

10 Obsolete Beliefs that Can Block Self-Publishing Success by Anne R. Allen

10/02/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

10 Obsolete Beliefs that Can Block Self-Publishing Success
by Anne R. Allen

This is an excellent post with pertinent, supportive, specific information for indie writers. Please read the whole article on her blog (link is below).

My favorites of Anne’s 10 points:

#1: Do we really need paper books to be “successful”?
Apparently not: “EVERY SUCCESSFUL INDIE AUTHOR YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS MADE THE BULK OF THEIR INCOME SELLING E-BOOKS.”

image from: http://blog.nathanbransford.com

#4: Does book “swag” sell books?
Apparently not: “Toys don’t sell books. Word of mouth from readers sells books. Especially word of mouth online, where people can simply click through to a buy page.”

image from: http://lizcoley.com

and, best of all, #10 (and previous ones relate to this as well):

“So what’s the best way to launch a book in this new publishing world? Nobody really knows. Sometimes books take off and the author doesn’t have a clue why…”

Imagine this next image with a big red line diagonally running through it!

image from: http://ebooklaunch.com

What do I keep reading/hearing, repeatedly, sells more ebooks? QUALITY and QUANTITY, both. Write well and publish a lot!

Please go to Anne’s site, read and comment/thank her for the rest. Great post, Anne. Thanks!

posted 8/24/14 and STILL HELPFUL every day!
http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2014/08/10-obsolete-beliefs-that-can-block-self.html

10 Obsolete Beliefs that Can Block Self-Publishing Success by Anne R. Allen

10/02/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

10 Obsolete Beliefs that Can Block Self-Publishing Success
by Anne R. Allen

This is an excellent post with pertinent, supportive, specific information for indie writers. Please read the whole article on her blog (link is below).

My favorites of Anne’s 10 points:

#1: Do we really need paper books to be “successful”?
Apparently not: “EVERY SUCCESSFUL INDIE AUTHOR YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS MADE THE BULK OF THEIR INCOME SELLING E-BOOKS.”

image from: http://blog.nathanbransford.com

#4: Does book “swag” sell books?
Apparently not: “Toys don’t sell books. Word of mouth from readers sells books. Especially word of mouth online, where people can simply click through to a buy page.”

image from: http://lizcoley.com

and, best of all, #10 (and previous ones relate to this as well):

“So what’s the best way to launch a book in this new publishing world? Nobody really knows. Sometimes books take off and the author doesn’t have a clue why…”

Imagine this next image with a big red line diagonally running through it!

image from: http://ebooklaunch.com

What do I keep reading/hearing, repeatedly, sells more ebooks? QUALITY and QUANTITY, both. Write well and publish a lot!

Please go to Anne’s site, read and comment/thank her for the rest. Great post, Anne. Thanks!

posted 8/24/14 and STILL HELPFUL every day!
http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2014/08/10-obsolete-beliefs-that-can-block-self.html

The Anguish of Posting a 2-Star Review of a Colleague’s Book

05/14/2014 by Sally Ember, EdD

As an #Indie #Author, I am keenly sensitive to the ways we are each other’s main support. We have no publishing house, no “team” dedicated to our book unless we gather that team ourselves and pay them individually. Because of this, I have made it a point to join groups on Facebook, Google+ and elsewhere in the blogosphere of fellow indie authors, bloggers and reviewers in order to support one another and be part of a “team.”

Some of these teams are better than others, and I have left a couple of them already (in less than a few months of membership) due to a lack of the very support I joined to acquire. However, some are excellent. #RaveReviewsBookClub is one of those. Its founder, president and fellow author, Nonnie Jules, and the team she has gathered to moderate and administrate the site and its activities (which are many!) are top-notch.

RRBC GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS:

President – @nonniejules

V. President & Mentor Program Director – @bruceaborders

Secretary & Blog Tour Host Co-Ordinator – @mlh42812

Membership Director – @kathrynctreat

PR/Marketing Director – @DanicaCornell

Newsletter Co-Ordinator – @sharrislaughter

Reviews Co-Ordinator – @voiceofindie

“SPOTLIGHT” Author Consultant – @TeriGarringer

I highly recommend joining this FREE group if you are an indie author wanting to get and provide reviews and other types of support: Nonnie’s own site (which leads to the RRBC site) is: http://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/

I belong to several other great Facebook groups: Clean Indie Reads, Amazon Author Support, Female Writers, Science-Fiction Romance Brigade, Gutsy Indie Publishers, eNovel Authors at Work, and more. Many have their own blog or websites and activities beyond Facebook cross-postings and support.

On Google+, I have recently joined several groups that I appreciate. Except for #BookMarketingTools, which provides biweekly Google On Air tools and info shows called “The Author Hangout,” hosted by Shawn Manahar (@ShawnManaher), I am not yet “known” or know many members since I’m not very active, yet.

I am “in” many groups on Goodreads and LinkedIn, but mostly as a reader or sometimes visiting poster/”liker”. Not active, often, as an author, yet. Very much appreciate the tips, tools, ideas and support these offer, regardless of how often I visit, comment or post.

All this is by way of saying: I am anguished to have to post a low rating and poor review of a fellow club member’s indie book. But, I just did. I had to. I do not do many reviews mostly because I am usually writing, marketing and job hunting or working as a consultant: in short, too busy. But,a requirement of joining some groups is to do reviews occasionally.

So, I recently chose a book from the options provided that I thought I’d like and began to read. You can see the results, below.

BTW: When I knew I wasn’t going to be able to give the book a positive review, I reached out to the club moderator, who was very helpful and supportive of my honesty and professional opinions. I also reached out directly to the author. I told her my dilemma and offered her some minimal feedback and also to provide more. She responded and thanked me, but declined.

Since we couldn’t communicate privately, I put my feedback into this review. I sincerely hope my comments and questions inform the author so that, when she is ready to hire an editor and a proofreader for her next book, some new team members could be hired who are better than this book had.

Review of C.E. Wolff‘s Common Denominator

Disappointing: unrealistic and 2-D characters, horrible story arc, unbelievable plot points, poorly proofread /unevenly edited

http://www.amazon.com/Common-Denominator-C-E-Wolff-ebook/dp/B00G8SE5RC

I rarely give bad reviews and hesitate to post this one. I wanted to like this book. I was pulled in, at first. Somewhat interesting story, main characters, situations. Despite some proofreading errors, I continued. Wanted to give a new author the benefit of the doubt.

Then, the number of mistakes became ridiculous. Simple things, but signs of amateurish teamwork that are very frustrating and give indie pubs a bad name. Examples: confusions between “their” and “they’re,” “your” and “you’re,” other spelling and grammar mistakes and overall sentence structure. These all fell short of good publishing standards by a lot. Whatever this author paid the proofreader, it was too much. She should get a refund.

Not wanting to give up because I had made a commitment to review this book, I continued. Parts of the story line and the two main characters showed some promise. However, every one of the secondary characters was a stereotype, without exception. They were 2-dimensionally and boringly depicted or came across as numbingly inconsistent. Each character was an insult to some group: women, men, British citizens, gays, mothers and criminals of all kinds. “Bimbo”? Really? Calling her own sister a “wench”? Harping on age differences between lovers, then going along with it: which is it?

Why are the criminals all “sinister” with zero back stories? Why does the main antagonist have no obvious motivation? We learn more about her taste in clothes and plastic surgery than we ever do about what makes her do what she does.

The main plot, a supposed thirty-year “love” story, is flat-out ridiculous.Maybe if these characters were in their mid-twenties, we could believe they didn’t yet acknowledge/know their true feelings for each other, having been childhood friends, blah blah blah. But, they’re hovering around and over 40, have stayed “best friends” all their lives, and work together every day. Meanwhile, they continually trash each others’ dates/lovers. Unless they have recurring amnesia or personality disorders, the concept is absurd.

The female main character’s obsession with her appearance, physical attributes, clothing and underwear, even in the middle of public places, might have been funny if it weren’t so dysfunctional and unbelievable. What 39-year-old professional, educated woman, the VP of a large corporation, doesn’t know how to dress and conduct herself in public?

And, what 42-year-old male behaves sexually as if he’s seventeen? i could just be out of touch, I suppose. A president of a successful corporation who has remained unmarried and not become a parent obviously has issues.

This begs the question: what do these two see in each other? They’re each a mess. Are they supposed to be anti-heroes? Success.

Whatever she paid the editor: also too much. There is a horrible amount of repetition: I swear, the main character and her sister have the exact same conversations, about two basic topics, more than three times. So do the two main characters. Why? Does this book’s editor not know how to tell an author to CUT and when to insert new material?

The subplots are so thin as to be pulled directly from someone else’s novels and plopped into this one. Not even worth recounting. Cliche after cliche abounds without even one redeeming original moment. Could have phoned it all in.

I stuck it out to the end, hoping she would redeem it, and then POOF: it just stops. No actual ending, no resolution worth discussing.

Up until the non-ending, i was willing to give it three stars for effort and blame most of the problems on her “helpers,” but I just can’t. Two stars. Readers: not worth your time.

I was not paid to review nor did I get the book for free.

P.S. I posted the review on Goodreads and Amazon about two days prior to posting this entry on my blog. On the night of the second day the review appeared, I received this notice: “Fred liked your review of Common Denominator on Goodreads!” This book is also receiving a lot of 5-Star reviews. So it goes!