Anyone who has read a few of my blog entries and articles (such as Authors Are Entrepreneurs and How Proactive Authors Sell More Books) will know that I am a strong proponent of self-promotion. To be a truly successful author, you have to treat book publishing, sales, and marketing as your own business. The same holds true whether you take today's supported self-publishing route or go with a traditional trade publisher.
 
Each time I write about this, I receive emotional comments from various writers that look something like this:

"Authors are not entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are sales people, and sales people are extroverts. Authors are introverts."
 
"Writers should be paid to write. Period. Promotion is the publisher's job."
  
"If I were a car manufacturer, I would not be expected to go on the road and promote my product after I manufactured it. I would be paid to make the car and someone else would be paid to sell it."

While I acknowledge that an introverted personality will have more difficulty getting out there and "selling themselves" than a natural extrovert, the fact remains that authors who do extra marketing on top of their publishers' efforts will see the most success. That's the reality of this business. There's no getting around it.
 
When I read comments like, "if I were a car manufacturer, I would not be expected to sell my product after I make it," I immediately see the mindset of an employee rather than an employer/entrepreneur. This is what writers need to understand—they need to shift their mindset from that of "employee" to "employer" so that they take the necessary steps to ensure their own success.
 
Sure, if you were hired as an employee to manufacture cars for someone else, you wouldn't be all that interested in selling them. Why would you care? You'd receive a salary for your labour by the company's owner regardless of the sales. (It is also worth noting that your income would be capped regardless of the sales.) But if you owned that business and you were manufacturing those cars for yourself, not only would you be concerned about the quality of cars you were manufacturing; you'd also do everything in your power to ensure you had successful sales. Otherwise, you'd be out of business. On that note, here's a rhetorical question for all the writers who believe sales and marketing is "someone else's responsibility" but their own: did you write the book with your publisher's success in mind, or did you write it with your own success in mind?
  
There are several ways even introverted authors can improve the sale of their books:

• Book Signings 
    
  Not only is it possible to move a surprising amount of books at a signing, but it is also a great way for a new author to get used to being "on display" in public without the "pressure to perform and entertain" they may experience at a public reading. 
   
  If writers feel shy about contacting a book store to arrange a signing, they can hire a publicist or friend to do it for them.
   
• Video Readings 
    
  Another possible substitute for a public reading is a video reading. Why not hire a film producer (or a friend) to film you reading from your book? Then post it on YouTube where it will be available to the public to enjoy.
   
• Write a Blog and Promote it Online 
   
  A blog is not only a great place to showcase your topic and writing skills to an interested audience, but it allows you to stay in front of that audience indefinitely. Do you want to know why companies like Coke and McDonald's still continue to advertise even after all their success? They do it for "top of mind awareness" so that their brand is the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks about having a beverage or an affordable treat. If you stay in front of people, they will recall your name when they require your product or service. The more they hear your name, the more they will begin to trust it as the valued source of whatever it is you're offering (branding). And, the more they trust your brand, the more apt they are to not only buy from you once but also keep coming back in the future.

Don’t wait for your publisher to take charge and invest their time, money, and effort into selling more of your books. Take charge of yourself right now. The most successful authors are the ones with an entrepreneurial spirit. They aren’t sitting back and waiting for someone else to bring them success; they are proactively venturing out there each day to find that success for themselves.  
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today.

        

At present, there are three primary ways for Canadians to publish a book: traditional (trade) publishing; vanity publishing; and supported self-publishing. While the trade publishing route is still a respected option for some of today's authors, many others are choosing supported self-publishing with companies like PPG—and with good reason. In order to fully appreciate the benefits of this new preference, it is important to understand the characteristics that differentiate trade publishing from vanity publishing from supported self-publishing.

 

TRADITIONAL (TRADE) PUBLISHING
 
Many writers still envision this process when they consider having a book published: seeking out a Canadian trade publisher that will consider their type of work; mailing a query letter and sample chapter or poem to that publisher with a self-addressed stamped envelop attached; and then anxiously awaiting a response, within three to six months, as to whether or not the publisher will take on the project. More often than not, the unknown author's work is declined; and he or she must move onto the next submission with the next trade publisher in the hopes the book will eventually be accepted.
 
Those new to the book publishing industry often view this as a personal rejection of their work. Many give up hope of ever being published at all. The truth is, writing quality is not the only determinant trade publishers use when deciding whether or not to accept a manuscript for publication. Most receive hundreds (even thousands) of manuscript submissions each and every year from which they select fewer than one dozen new authors to work with—a discriminatingly low acceptance rate. Obviously, budget and manpower play a huge role in their decisions. But one must also consider that many of the small Canadian literary presses, in particular, are funded by operating grants. These grants contain strict guidelines as to what types of work they can/cannot publish. As a result, these publishers’ hands are sometimes tied and otherwise gifted writers may be overlooked.
 
For the writers whose work is accepted, there is a noteworthy implication they may not be aware of straightaway. When a trade publisher agrees to pay for the publication of a manuscript, what they are purchasing is the rights to that work. In other words, the writer must now relinquish much of their creative control over to the publisher. It is the publisher who has final say on editing and design. It is the publisher who has final say on how the book is to be produced and marketed ... because it is the publisher who now owns the book.
 
Aside from loss of ownership, another disadvantage to this type of publishing is the timeline. It can take anywhere from three months to a year for authors to learn whether or not their manuscripts have been accepted for publication; and, if accepted, it can take another full year for their books to be published … sometimes more.

 

VANITY PUBLISHING
 
Most people have heard the term "vanity publisher" as the less respected publishing alternative. Vanity publishers have earned their notoriety by accepting and publishing 100% of the manuscripts that are rejected by trade publishers without much consideration to quality or content ... the opposite extreme of trade publishing. The best way to recognize a vanity publisher is this: their primary concern is profit so they will publish anything for anyone who has the money to pay for it; they hire unseasoned staff at reduced wages so they can charge enticingly low "publishing package" rates; and they won't actively encourage their writers to improve the quality of their work.
 
A vanity publisher will take what they receive and publish it as is ... no matter what it looks like. Not only does this reflect poorly on the publisher, but it also reflects poorly on the writer. Books that are haphazardly produced in this manner simply cannot expect to compete in the marketplace against a professional trade publisher's finished product. There is a noticeable difference between the two.
 
Another issue with today’s vanity publishers is that the majority are either located in the United States or else they cater to the American marketplace (i.e. authors must pay for their publishing services in US dollars which ends up costing them more in the long run). But perhaps the biggest problem with publishing through an American-based publisher is that most of these companies assign American ISBN numbers/barcodes to all their books. This puts Canadians in “limbo” in the sense that their books are not properly recognized by Legal Deposit at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) as they should be.
 
Most vanity publishers advertise that authors who work with them will retain 100% copyright ownership of their own books; however, they neglect to mention that the print-ready files for those books will be kept “under lock and key” inaccessible to the authors. This means authors must always go through the vanity publisher to have their marketing materials and books printed; and, because most of these publishers utilize only POD printing technology, authors stand to lose money on the larger print runs that really should be completed on either a digital or offset press designed specifically for larger print runs.
 
The upside to this type of publishing is the timeline. Manuscripts are accepted immediately upon receipt of payment and can be published in as little as two months’ time.

 

SUPPORTED SELF-PUBLISHING
 
The supported self-publishing route combines the quality of traditional (trade) publishing with the flexibility and control of vanity publishing. Writers are considered both the author and the publisher of their own books, and the supportive self-publishing house merely assists them in self-publishing their books by supplying all the tools they will need and facilitating the entire process from start to finish.
 
A qualified supportive self-publishing house requires its writers to have their work copy edited and proofread in the very least. (Trade publishers usually take it a step further and require each and every manuscript to go through a substantive edit.)
 
Supportive self-publishing houses utilize experienced talent—graphic designers, ghostwriters, editors, proofreaders, indexers, et cetera—to ensure a professional final result. They also employ modern printing techniques (POD) and modern marketing services (online presence) in much the same way today's vanity publishers do.
 
When writers pay for professional support in self-publishing their books, they gladly maintain their copyright ownership and creative control. It is the writer/self-publisher who has final say on everything from design to production to marketing the final product. They are also assured a quality end result that is able to compete in the marketplace ... which can make a world of difference when it comes to selling their books and earning any kind of profit down the road.
 
Like vanity publishing, a major advantage to this type of publishing is the timeline. Most manuscripts are accepted immediately upon receipt of payment and can be published in as little as two months’ time.
 
There are four additional advantages to self-publishing through PPG in particular:
  

1. Canadian ISBN numbers: PPG will put the author/self-publisher’s primary contact information on each book’s Canadian ISBN application form to ensure the ISBN number is linked to the true copyright owner of the book—the author/self-publisher.
    

2. Canadian-tailored payment options: All transactions completed through the PPG Online Store are done in Canadian funds, thereby removing the hassles and extra fees associated with exchange rates. The total price authors see on their online store orders is the actual total they will pay, and nothing more.
    

3. Author-tailored printing options: When authors choose PPG to support them in self-publishing, not only will they retain the copyright ownership of their books, but PPG will also give the final print-ready files to the rightful owner ... the author/self-publisher. This means at any time authors decide to print larger runs (100+ physical copies) of their books to warehouse/distribute on their own, they can feel free to shop around for the best deal with all the printers in their areas. (For convenience, PPG offers a handy, ECO-friendly POD service for all small orders which allows authors to take advantage of PPG’s online distribution services.)
    

4. Modern ECO-friendly book publishing options: PPG operates in a paperless, virtual office environment. The company's publishing processes are completely electronic which boosts productivity and makes information sharing much easier from any location anywhere in the country with Internet access. PPG produces both eBooks and print-on-demand (POD) paperback books for Canadian authors—two more ways the company is helping to preserve the environment while helping aspiring authors realize the dream of publishing a book.

The introduction of supported self-publishing to Canada's book publishing landscape is definitely good news for writers. By combining the quality and expertise of trade publishing with the flexibility of vanity publishing, Canadian authors now have more control than ever before to produce a polished result they can be very proud of.

 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today.

        

This recipe for a bestselling novel has been generously donated to you from bestselling Canadian author Cheryl Kaye Tardif...
 

 
Wouldn't it be great if there was a recipe for making a bestselling novel and if all a writer had to do was gather the ingredients and mix them in, and voila!―a bestselling novel is created? The reality is there are combinations of ingredients that can either get your name on a bestseller's list or fall flatter than an airless cheese soufflé. However, there are some common ingredients that have helped authors achieve bestseller status.
 

Common Ingredients for a Bestseller:
 

• 1 cup of well written novel
• 1 cup of professional editing
• 1 cup of professional layout and interior design
• 2 cups of professional book cover, including gripping back cover text
• 1 cup of decent distribution via major online retailers
• 2 cups of book launch, tours and other events, plus advertising
• 3 cups of contests and giveaways by author, publisher or both
• Countless hours of organization and time
• Dash of excitement

Method:

Take the well written novel and beat in professional editing until light and readable. Add professional layout and interior design, then stir in professional cover art and back cover text until well combined. Sprinkle in decent distribution until coated and roll mixture out with book launch, tours and events. Top with contests and giveaways, and fold in countless hours of organization and time before adding the finishing touch―a huge dash of excitement. Share with everyone and enjoy!

Reality Check:

While the recipe above may seem kind of silly, these ingredients can lead to a bestselling novel. I know because I've used them all successfully. My three novels have made bestsellers lists multiple times on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. Whale Song made both lists in a single day. I've also sold over 5000 copies of Whale Song, which in Canada makes it a national bestseller.

 
So how did I do it? I created an exciting day-long event―a "Bestseller Day"―that had enough goodies to draw people in. It was held on my 44th birthday and I gave away 44 prizes.

There are three main ways to get prizes to offer:

1.) Pay for them (I don't recommend this.)

2.) Get others to donate them.

3.) Find someone to sponsor the event or the prizes. They pay for something you want to give away and get something in return, whether it's free advertising, a mention in your next book, or some other benefit.

Becoming a bestselling author takes persistence, creativity and good organization. Follow this recipe for success and you'll rise like a soufflé. Just don't forget that last ingredient―excitement!

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian author whose critically acclaimed, award-winning novels are being considered by film producers. She's appeared on television and radio and in newspapers and magazines. Cheryl has also presented at writers' conferences in Canada and the US, mainly on topics of marketing and promotion. She's helped many authors achieve success and does so as a book marketing coach, with Bestseller Days, Virtual Book/Blog Tours and Sponsorships her top 3 most requested topics.

http://www.shamelessbookpromoter.com
http://www.cherylktardif.com
  
 
   
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

 
 

 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

 
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

 
  
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Coming soon to PPG...



I am Indigo 
by Deanne Adams

Excerpt from Preface 

This book is not designed to debate whether or not this phenomenon of evolution from birth exists. I live as a functioning Indigo today; every day presents new opportunities to use the gifts I am born with to better understand myself and the people and world around me. Rather, this book is written to create a sense of understanding, to better unite our families, work, and school, through recognition of how these extraordinary gifts can help us evolve together as the human race. The humans who pursue goodness, emotional healing and understanding, and the betterment of mankind would likely agree that as a quickly evolving race we must move closer towards leaving apathetic chaos and dysfunction behind. We interact the most with our families, our friends at work or school, and the people in our lives who teach us. So this is where we must begin.

There are many inherent qualities of Indigo. We feel deeply and love quickly. We root for the underdog. We cannot understand it when people hurt each other. We are open and vulnerable. We abhor cruelty to people and animals. When treated with disrespect, abuse, or dysfunction, without guidance about who we are and why we are here, we cope by shutting off our genuine flow of communication to those closest to us. We love animals and nature. Many of us are extremely creative and share talents artistically and help the world to awaken joy and feel with passion. We often have talents at a very young age that get stifled in our assimilation into society. Many of us are empathetic by nature. This means we sense others’ emotions and often confusingly take them on as our own. The coping and defense strategies that are adopted early in life often prevent the full realization and clarity of purpose that comes with being able to be oneself without fitting into a “mold” or “system”.

Indigos are here to break away from and rebuild ways of treating each other that do not serve love and peace, and our rebellious natures are often interpreted as disrespect or harm. We mean no disrespect or harm. But if what is currently in place in our evolving society for “systems and methods” was working well, there would not be more than two thirds of a world impoverished, hundreds of animal species dying every day, water shortages, air, earth and water pollution, climate caused disasters, unknown corporate and government manipulations, rampant viruses and cancers, and dying children... Indigos are born with a sense of the need to fight against the broken, dysfunctional, and unacceptable.

Quite often Indigos are labeled as troublemakers, headstrong, attention deficit, or hyperactive. The cognitive, psyche, and emotional abilities Indigo have are for specific purpose. We are here to be teachers, teaching how to think for oneself and live authentically by knowing one's own mind and emotions and realizing that as a whole. As a race we can learn by example from Indigos to listen to intuition, listen to instinct, and follow higher purpose so that we all no longer suffer. Collectively, as we treat each other with respect and acceptance we can evolve to living in happier families, schools, and homes. As humans, we are all living miracles, because so little is understood about what our brains do, and how we fit in to the bigger picture of our universe. Whatever our human race's origin is, however we came to be on this planet, no matter what religion or faith we have, or what bounded piece of dirt we come from, we are here to learn acceptance of being. We all come from our mothers; we all come in to this world the same way through birth, we will all likely leave the same way through death, and this common origin and continuance (or end, depending on one's faith, or lack thereof) creates a unique common global bond between us as people of a unique race.

As Indigos, it is very frustrating for us when our “superiors” do not stop and actually listen to what we have to say, with love in their hearts, and the willingness to try and understand us in their minds. How many of us as humans do not feel truly fulfilled, feel disconnected, feel abused or mistreated, feel unsatisfied with what we do or hold as important in our lives? As Indigos, we are here to help aid in healing as individuals, and therefore, as a race, and to assist in identifying ways of thinking and behaving that simply do not bring happiness and fulfillment. As humans, we are all individual yet basically similar. Indigos are trying to get your attention. Without attention and then change, through understanding and growth, there is the risk of repeating painful cycles and histories... 
  
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Last week, one of PPG's online writing experts showed us how to start a blog. As promised, this week's entry will discuss one of the primary reasons why blogging is so important: SEO. SEO stands for "search engine optimization" which means to improve your standing in the organic search results on search engines such as Google and Yahoo.
 
Think, for a minute, about when you do a search for something on Google. Where is the first place you look when the search results come up? The top/centre of the page? And how many links are you willing to click through in order to find what you're looking for? Maybe ten at the most? Maybe your eye will scan down that first page for something interesting; or, if you have the time, maybe you'll dig a little deeper and look through the second or third page to see what comes up there. Statistically, most people will stay on the first page. This is why it's crucial to make sure you appear on that first page for whatever product/service/topic you are trying to promote. Writing regular blog entries and online articles can help you achieve this.
 
For example, Polished Publishing Group (PPG) is a Canadian book publisher that publishes all kinds of books for Canadians from fiction to poetry to non-fiction history books. We know our clientele often "Googles" phrases like "how to publish a book in Canada" and "business history books" in order to find our types of services, so we make sure to write blog entries and online articles with these key words in them and link them all to our website. Here are the results of doing so:

 
 
Of course, writing the blog entry or article is not enough. As we discussed last week, it is equally important to promote links to those blog entries and articles on social media sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn, to name a few. This can increase one's online traffic by up to 10X in one month which will help to improve one's SEO.
 
Whether you're an author promoting a book or a business promoting a product or service, blogging is an effective online marketing tool that can help your desired clientele find you—fast. And the more traffic you attract, the more sales you will make.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today.

        

Don't believe it's possible to increase your online traffic by TEN TIMES in one short month using social media, blogging, and online articles? Let's start with the visual proof first. Then we'll talk about how you can emulate the same results for your own website.
 
Remember the YouTube video I posted on this blog a few weeks back? At the same time I posted that video on PPG's YouTube Channel, the company that helped me to produce the video also posted it on their own YouTube Channel. I took it a step further by promoting my YouTube link on various social media sites, this blog, and a couple online articles. The other company didn't. Here are the results:
 
Webpage that was posted and promoted: 229 views in one month
 
 
Webpage that was posted but not promoted: 23 views in one month

 
That's the indisputable power of blogging, online article writing, and social media marketing at work.

Each and every time I post a new blog entry, video, or online article for my book business, the very next thing I do is share that link on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn (including various groups on LinkedIn), Reddit, Digg, StumbleUpon, Mixx, and Multiply (to name a few). The entire process takes about half an hour of my time. And the results? Well ... they speak for themselves.
 
In the coming weeks, I'll be posting more details about the importance of key words, back-linking, and various other online marketing tricks that authors can use to their advantage. In the mean time, if you start with these basics, you should still see a pretty amazing increase in your online traffic.

(P.S. The same technique that works for authors works just as well for businesses! And PPG has a group of strong, talented SEO writers who are ready and willing to write for you!)
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

In the recent weeks, a few authors have contacted PPG to ask how and why they should start their own blogs in order to promote themselves and their books. They've also asked how YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and Booktour ties into the success of their blogs ... which can ultimately increase their book sales. This article will address the "how" part of this very valid question first. In subsequent blog entries, we'll discuss various reasons why.

In order to answer this very important question, PPG sought out the expertise and guidance of one of our leading SEO (search engine optimization) writers, Rachaelle Lynn:
 
How to Start Your First Blog
 
Many people who know my writing and/or subscribe to one or more of my blogs have asked me how to start their own blog. I’m happy to help; googling “blogs” or “blogging” can make the process seem overwhelming. If you aren’t ready to start a freestanding blog, you might be interested in starting a blog or submitting articles on a website that has been developed for this purpose; I’ll cover some of those options in future articles. For now, here are some simple steps to starting a blog using blogger.com.
 
You need a Gmail account to start a blog on blogger.com, so if you don't have one, sign up for one here first. Then go to www.blogger.com/start and follow the steps indicated there.
  
You will need to think of a name for your blog. If you have a theme for your blog, such as quilting, saltwater fishing, or stamp collecting, incorporate the theme into the name. The name of your blog will eventually be its web address, i.e. www.marthasquiltingtips.com; you can check to see whether or not your preferred web address is available at godaddy.com.
 
If you want to use your blog to market your business, choose a name that helps brand you (creates an identity for you). For example, a personal trainer might select www.robspersonaltraining.com as the name of his blog; the blog itself will link back to his business website (more on that in a future article). Don’t include the name of the business itself in your blog; that way you can transfer the blog if you change companies or the name of the company or want to use the blog for a variety of marketing avenues.
  
Don’t worry about making your blog perfect at first. Once you have the bare bones of the blog created, write an article. Otherwise, you could get bogged down in the minutiae of blog creation and neglect to enter content. Your first job is to get your writing out on the web, and the blog is a vehicle for doing that. Your readers will forgive a simple blog structure if you have interesting content, and you can expand the blog as you go along.
 
Your first article should be a simple treatment of your chosen topic. If your blog isn’t going to have a particular theme (I use mine to showcase the diversity of my writing projects), use an existing piece, which many aspiring writers have lying around, or simply introduce yourself and the purpose of your blog. (For an example of this, visit: Welcome To My Blog! )
 
If you are using your blog to market your business, it is best to start with basic topics in your field. This will help you use keywords that are best for search engine optimization (ranking higher in search engine results) without having to do much analysis. For example, the first few articles for robspersonaltraining.com might be:
 
• Achieving Your Fitness Goals with One-on-One Personal Training
• Achieving Your Fitness Goals with Group Personal Training
• How to Become a Personal Trainer
• Preventing Injuries while Achieving Your Fitness Goals
 
Each article should be between 400 and 600 words. Try to write two or three articles per week (if you want to optimize your site for search engines, hire a ghostwriter; two to three articles per week is the minimum for this type of marketing).
 
Three items to consider before publishing each article are:
 
• proofreading
• keyword optimization (making sure you have the right keywords, in the right places, to optimize your search engine rankings)
• two or three relevant links
 
Articles on the latter two items are coming soon!
 
The second part of blogging is publicizing each article, and it is just as important as creating quality content. There will be more on this in a future article, but to get started, set up profiles for yourself at:
 
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Facebook 
 
Then send me [and PPG] a friend invite/invite to connect at each. This will allow you to piggyback off the SEO work I've done for myself and others and ensure that you don’t miss any of my blogging articles.
 
So that's your first blogging lesson! There is quite a bit more, but this will be a great start. The most important thing to do is to do it. People put it off because they don't see the value or due to simple procrastination, but once you get some momentum going, blogging will pay off in ways you can't imagine right now.

Rachaelle Lynn
PPG's SEO Writing Expert 
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

  

 

Follow PPG's Tweets on Twitter!

Consider Twitter the abridged version of Facebook. It is a great place to post brief comments or links to your online events and blog entries. (Each post you make is known as a "tweet" on Twitter.) This is all the rage in online marketing these days. Everyone is tweeting! You should be, too! Never before has it been easier to reach a global audience so quickly ... not to mention free of charge. Your only investment is your time. The idea is to get as many people following you as possible, and you do this by following others. Visit PPG's Twitter page for more ideas and inspiration!
 
I also highly recommend reading a blog entry by USA Today bestselling author Julie Ortolon titled What's The Point of Using Twitter? Julie is a strong advocate of Twitter, and this blog entry is filled with all kinds of great tips on how she makes it work for her.
 
  
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website  to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

 


Become a Fan of PPG on Facebook! 

Facebook is not only a great place for a company like PPG to promote itself. Writers can also create their very own author pages to promote themselves, their books, and their upcoming events. Creating a page is free of charge, but writers can also set up a Facebook pay-per-click ad campaign from their pages if they choose. Visit PPG's page for more ideas and inspiration! Become our fan on Facebook today! 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website  to learn how you can publish your book today.

        

Lebrary.com is a dedicated online e-book portal for ‘Aspiring Writers’ and was formed by David Nicholls who was frustrated at the traditional business model which treated new writers as second class citizens.  Realizing that most agents and traditional publishers were unprepared to take a chance on a new writer unless you were a celebrity chef or appeared in a soap! 

With the emergence of online publishing, the opportunity to enable authors to empower themselves and take charge of their own destiny was becoming a reality.

Understandably, people still opt for traditional books, plus authors have the mindset of write-agent-publish-book in shop. However, with the inevitability of e-books in the ascendency. It’s not so much a matter of ‘will’ e-books happen’ but ‘when’.

The growth of online publishing has been astonishing and the industry is learning as it goes along, so with these thoughts and a growing desire for writers passionate about wanting to get their work published, Nicholls came up with the idea of developing an online portal for aspiring writers, giving them the opportunity of publishing their work whilst earning money for the work and time they put in. Unique? Certainly not, what is unique these days, but learning from the sites that had already been developed, he set about bringing his ideas to fruition.

They say that naivety can be a good thing and in this case he would certainly go along with that sentiment. He considers himself an entrepreneur not a ‘Techi’ so with an idea he started to look for people that he knew who could share his vision. With a small team which included a web developer and a creative director, he put together Lebrary.com. Although they only launched in February 2010, they quickly attracted in excess of 30 authors with approaching 50 books to their name. They even have a US Ambassador who put his work on the site.

With some excellent promotional tools available for the author and the ability to choose between a free author’s package or a VIP Package with some excellent add-ons, Lebrary is quickly making a name for itself. They have recently been named in the top ten of online e-book sites and have already had three authors signed up by agents who are registered on their site. You may also want to take a look at a Facebook game they have just launched using authors book covers: http://apps.facebook.com/bookpileup/?ref=mf Plus the revolving book cover they can use on the authors own website, which can be seen in the Lebrary site.

Some people have said that online publishing is a flash in the pan, someone once said  that about the Internet!  So if you feel you want to be part of this exciting revolution – then have a look at lebrary.com – you’ll be more than welcome.

David Nicholls 
http://www.lebrary.com  
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today.

        

Click here to be redirected to the PPG Online Bookstore now.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 
 

        

You're doing all the right things to sell more copies of your latest book: you've set up a book launch party at a nearby restaurant; you've arranged a couple of book signings at local bookstores; you've reserved a table at a community craft sale; you've contacted your local media to make them aware of these events; you've contacted all your friends, family members, and business associates on Facebook and LinkedIn to invite them to attend; and you're posting regular entries on your author blog to increase your online exposure.
 

 
What else can you do to generate even more buzz around your latest release and drive additional traffic to your website and author engagements? Create an author account on BookTour.com where you can post links to your author blog and your book(s) on Amazon.com, plus you can advertise all your upcoming events to a targeted audience that is specifically looking for this type of information online!
 
  
According to the "About BookTour.com" portion of their website, they are the largest FREE online directory of author events throughout the world: "BookTour.com makes finding when a favorite author is coming to your town as easy as checking the weather. In just a few minutes any author can create a page showcasing their biography, books, and upcoming engagements. Listing new events is as easy as answering a few questions. Publishers, booksellers, events managers, and even just well-informed readers can add tour dates by simply filling in a few blanks."
 
I highly recommend this site to my fellow writers out there. Click on any of the above links to browse it and see for yourself. Much like YouTube, it is an effective form of marketing for today's authors—an absolute must for anyone who wants to succeed in selling more books.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

A few blog entries ago, I suggested an idea for my fellow writers: how about filming an alfresco reading to promote all the wonderful things about your book and your Canadian province at the same time? Then how about posting that reading on YouTube for others to enjoy?
 
 
 
Well, I decided to "practice what I preach" and create a video of me reading the introduction to my third book, titled 11:11, with Canmore's renown Three Sisters Mountain Range behind me. Mother Nature seemed to approve of the idea by gifting us with mild temperatures—it was a balmy +2 degrees Celsius on March 8, 2010, even up in Alberta's mountaintops!—which allowed me to be filmed without a coat, gloves, or even a hat on. (You can imagine how much easier it is to turn the pages of a book without gloves on!) I couldn't have asked for a nicer winter day.

In addition to agreeable winter weather conditions, I had the honour of working with two consummate professionals—David Joseph of David Joseph Photography and Patricia M. Gallagher of PMG Creative—who added their creative ideas to mine to help make this video come together. This is yet another testament to the fact that two or more brains are better than one. A combined mastermind can create wonderful results.
 
Here is a link to my YouTube video reading:
 
I sincerely hope you enjoy this alfresco video reading. I hope it stirs your personal inspiration to come up with a great video reading of your own. (Click here for more details on what you will need to post your own video on YouTube.)   
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

The following guest blog post is by Stuart Smith, CEO of The Entrepreneur's Advisor.

Writing and then having your book published can be very challenging unless you approach the task as an entrepreneur would. The key to success is breaking down the steps to success into their basic components.

The Entrepreneurial Author

An author must pick their subject, think through a plot, write the content, review for quality and format, and finally promote the book for sale. Viewing this as a business you see many similarities:

• Choose the business (selling books).
• Think through your idea: who will buy, why will they buy, how will they buy, where will they buy, when will they buy?
• Create a plan of action. This is the content portion of a business plan. Here you will also identify how you will market and sell your book.
• Have your business plan reviewed. This is the same as having a Canadian publishing company examine your work.
• Start your business. For Canadian authors this is all about marketing your work.

Authors are, by nature, creative individuals just as many scientists and visionaries are. It is unlikely that a new author is aware of all the intricacies of publishing a book in Canada or worldwide. It is ok to ask for help.
    

Choosing the Right Partner

When seeking assistance, be prepared and do your research. Can the Canadian book publishing company you are engaging:

• Guide you through the entire process from conception to publication?
• Employ truly experienced ghostwriters, editors, indexers, proofreaders, and graphic designers?
• Answer Copyright questions?
• Help you with paperback and ebook preparation?
• Do they make use of the latest digital (POD) technology?

Most importantly, you want to make sure the staff of the publishing company puts you at ease so you can have more time to focus on the book to avoid writer's block as well as other distractions. Contact us today to see how easy it is to publish a book in Canada. We will help you sell more books.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today.

        

Every Halloween for 10 years, Bess Houdini held a séance to call Harry back from death. Finally, after all that time, she reportedly said, “Ten years is long enough to wait for any man!” The séances stopped.

Popular culture has many individuals still waiting for comedian Andy Kaufman to return from his travels to the other side. Jim Carrey was a devoted fan and channelled Andy when he starred in the movie “Man On The Moon” in 1999.

I have discovered that ghostwriting is also a channelling of sorts. While the words I write are mine, they belong to someone else. In much the same way as an actor imbues the spirit of the character they are tasked to portray, so too must the writer capture the spirit and essence of the original story-teller.

It is a humbling task, one that must be handled with great care and tact. Most people have great stories to tell, but not everyone has the skills with which to tell them. Such is the gift of the ghostwriter.

Much is written about the writer’s “voice” and, unlike Houdini’s magic, it is not smoke and mirrors and slight of hand. It is the fundamental truth from which we all speak. It is as unique as the singing voice of Neil Young or Taylor Swift. You’d recognize it in a heartbeat. It is this heartbeat the ghostwriter must understand and connect with.

STORY ARC

Stories that resonate are those steeped in real human emotion, regardless of the genre or nature of the tale. Even a technical paper will have a central emotional hook at its core. A journal, autobiography or biography is more than the sum of its parts, more than an endless string of events connected only by the fact they actually happened. Perhaps these events have been rewritten by time, or in the space between then and now, reinvented in the author’s mind: separating fact from fiction, perception from reality, revisionist retelling from a total fabrication of truth. Regardless of the motivation, it is the task of the ghostwriter to channel that space and time, and not get lost in it. The story must flow from one memory or sequence to the next, with logic, clarity and purpose. Well-crafted books are not mere collections of singular events, thinly held together by chapter titles. A book must have a story arc that, like Houdini, intrigues and captivates us as we move from one act of magic to another until it culminates in a magnificent and breath-taking grand finale. “How did he do that?” we ask in wonder.

THE WRITERS TOOLKIT

There are many tools available in the writer’s kit, and it is important for authors to review them with their ghostwriters at the start of your journey together. Poetic license and freedom, chapter content and design, timelines, the use of creative devices such as foreshadowing, quotations, background and context information, chronology, historical reference; these are all concepts the ghostwriter may need to explain, particularly if the author is new to writing or written communication of any kind.

DETACHMENT

The greatest challenge in the ghostwriting process is detachment. Companion to detachment is trust. Writing is intensely personal, even if the end result is a sales proposal! Preparation is an essential and key component of any author/ghostwriter relationship. The author must accept the fact that they have hired a ghostwriter for the express purpose of making the material they provide into an enjoyable and infinitely readable document.

In return, the ghostwriter has a responsibility to channel the author in as true and honest a manner as possible.

And so, as it is with many of the creative arts, I am me, and I am not me. Dim the lights. May the séance begin.

 If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
 If you believe there's nothing up my sleeve, then nothing is cool.
 “Man On The Moon”
 R.E.M.

Patricia M. Gallagher is currently ghostwriting two books with an option for a third. She is a published writer, poet and musician. She can be reached through her website by clicking on her name above.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today.

        

What is an index, and why would you want one in your non-fiction book? A good index is a road map to information. It leads readers to all the information on a particular subject, and it also leads readers to related information that might interest them. A good index allows readers to find what they are looking for no matter where in the index they start.

 

You might wonder if a computer program could produce the index for your book. It can’t. It can produce a concordance, an alphabetical listing of most of the words in the text with their page numbers, but that is not an index.

 

The index in a non-fiction book has two audiences:
  

1. The first is people who are considering buying the book. Let’s say you’re in the bookstore browsing the sports section. You see a book about coaching soccer and wonder if it discusses sports psychology, particularly the mental imaging technique. You turn to the back of the book to check the index. No index. There is a chapter on sports psychology, but you don’t have time to skim the entire chapter to see if it covers mental imaging. Maybe the book next to it will have something. You turn to the back of this one, and it has an index. You find psychology right away, but you don’t see anything about mental imaging. You put the book back on the shelf. What you don’t realize is that the book does have lots of information about mental imaging, but the index only contains the words the author uses in the book. In this case, the author always uses the term “inner soccer” when he describes mental imaging. A good indexer would have entries under both terms or would use a see reference to direct the reader from mental imaging to inner soccer.
    
2. The other audience for an index is made up of people who have already read the book. Let’s say you remember reading about something in a book and want to find it again. Maybe you want to quote something, or use some bit of information in an argument you’re having with someone. Maybe you saw a recipe you want to try. You will probably try to use the language of the book to look it up, but you might not remember the exact term the author used. Again, a good indexer will think of other words the reader might use to look something up and provide entries for those words.
      

The whole point of an index is to guide people to the information in the book. If they can’t find that information, it might as well not be there. A good index will make most non-fiction books more usable to their readers and more likely to be purchased. A professionally written index is a worthwhile investment for any author who lacks the skills and training to write a good one. 

 

Tia Leschke

Professional Indexer

 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Since developmental editors work so closely with authors to help them create great books, it’s not unusual that some authors wonder how a developmental editor is different from a ghostwriter. Both are heavily involved with a book’s content, and in terms of the teamwork, coaching, and feedback that goes on between ghostwriter and author, or equally between developmental editor and author, it requires some clarification to distinguish between these two major ways of working with writing and editing professionals.

Let’s tackle the ghostwriter first. Basically with ghostwriting, if you are a person with an idea for a book, and you possess the expertise in your field but are not particularly good at writing—or don’t have time for writing (for example, you might be a busy corporate executive, a coach with a full coaching practice, or a speaker with a full roster of speaking gigs)—you might consider hiring a writer to turn your ideas and knowledge into words. You would give the writer as much information as possible, and then the writer would get to work creating a draft manuscript for you. So, the process of creating a book with a ghostwriter is that you supply the information; the writer does the writing, attempting as much as possible to create the content with the flavor of your voice. Sometimes ghostwriters will do recorded interviews with the author in order to get a sense of the author’s voice and style.

In contrast, developmental editors do not write the book for the author. Instead, a developmental editor works with the author to develop the book’s concept, and often coaches the author through the writing process, always with an eye to the book’s purpose, its audience, and it content map (structure). Working with a developmental editor from the very beginning concept stage often makes it easier for the author to do the writing with confidence and the comfort of knowing that there is always someone there to give feedback and helpful suggestions.

To use an old analogy often applied to human endeavors—the ghostwriter catches the fish for you (writes your book); the developmental editor teaches you how to fish for yourself (helps you write your book). 

Many times, however, the developmental editor gets involved after an author has created a first draft. In that situation, the developmental editor evaluates the manuscript and considers many of the same issues involved in early stage developmental editing—for example, what is the book’s purpose, who is the audience, how well does the narrative arc of the book move the content forward, etc. If the draft manuscript needs work in clarifying or emphasizing its purpose and its narrative power, the developmental editor helps the author make the structural and thematic changes to hone the book into a compelling written work.

What is best for you as an author desiring to have a book published—hiring a ghostwriter or hiring a developmental editor? If you want it done for you, then the ghostwriter would be your choice. If you want to have the experience of creating your own words, but need someone to guide you through the process, hold your hand, and keep you on track, then you would choose a developmental editor. If you want to do your own first draft writing, a good developmental editor can also help you speed up the process of writing your book, and give you good guidance not only about the content, but also about the publishing process itself.

Ghostwriters tend to be more expensive than developmental editors, because the process of writing a book from scratch is very labor-intensive. With developmental editing, since you as the author would be doing your own writing, your developmental editor will be checking in with you all along the way, and helping you with your content mapping. So it’s somewhat less labor intensive than ghostwriting, and therefore can be less expensive.

Either path is viable and valid. It all depends on your own inclinations (do you want to experience yourself as a writer or delegate the writing to someone else?), your budget, your timeline, and your goals for your book.

Working with a professional ghostwriter or with a professional developmental editor can be a very worthwhile and positive experience. Both paths involve collaboration and a sense of teamwork. The author-ghostwriter experience is a dynamic relationship, and so is the author-developmental editor relationship. The important thing is that you, as an author, are comfortable with your choice and feel good about the end result—your book.

Sharon Lindenburger
Professional Writer
Professional Developmental Editor
Consultant and Supplier of all forms of editing
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today.  

        

A book's interior is comprised of three basic elements: front matter, the body, and back matter. Each element may differ slightly depending on the type of book being published. For example, a non-fiction book will contain an index in its back matter where a fictional novel will not. This article will briefly touch on each component while focusing on the interior design of a fictional novel.

Front Matter

The front matter of a book contains some or all of the following components:

• Primary title page
   
  This is usually the very first page of the book in which the title appears on an otherwise blank right-hand page.
   
• Secondary title page
   
  The secondary title page repeats the book title along with the author and/or publisher's name on the next right-hand page.
   
• Copyright page
   
  The copyright page will contain the book's ISBN number(s), publication date, copyright owner's name, and a copyright notice such as: No portion of this book may be duplicated or used in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval), for any profit-driven enterprise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. If the author/publisher wishes to credit any of the book's contributors (such as photographers and designers), that can also be done on this page.
   
• Quote page
   
  Sometimes a quote will be placed in the front matter if it sums up the essence of the story quite well.
    
• Dedication page
   
  Oftentimes, authors will dedicate their books to their loved ones. That dedication is placed in the beginning of the book.
   
• Acknowledgments page
   
  An acknowledgments page allows an author to provide more detail when crediting the book's various contributors rather than just listing their names on the copyright page. Here, a heartfelt thank you can be expressed in a much more meaningful way.
   
• Foreword
   
  Usually, a foreword is written by someone other than the author. Its purpose is to provide a history leading up to the story being told or explain what inspired the publication of the book.
   
• Preface
   
  Where a foreword is an introduction to the book written by someone other than the author, a preface is an introduction written by the author for the same purpose. An author may also use a preface to explain what methods of research were used during the creation of the work.
   
• Contents
    
  A table of contents lists the various sections (chapters, articles, poems, etc) within the book and what page numbers they each begin at. 

Below is a group of visuals to show how the front matter might be arranged in a fictional novel. This is but one example of how it can be done:





The Body

The body of a book usually contains at least the following two components:

• Title Pages
   
  A title page is used at the beginning of each section within the body of a book. The purpose of the title page is simply to differentiate between the sections, to help organize the flow of the work.
   
• Sections
    
  Sections of a book's body can be divided up as chapters, poems, articles, etc. It all depends on the type of book being published.

Below are two visuals showing how the body of a novel might be formatted. The second visual contains recommended measurements for your book's margins. Again, this is but one example of how a book can be formatted and is meant as a guideline only:




Back Matter

The back matter of a book contains some or all of the following components:

• Appendix
   
  An appendix contains supplementary details that help to further clarify any legal, technical, and/or scientific information within the book.  
   
• Glossary
   
  A glossary of terms contains a list of specialized words that can be found throughout the book along with their definitions. 
   
• Index
   
  An alphabetized index is used to help readers pinpoint the exact page(s) where they can find an important name, place, and/or subject throughout the book. Most non-fiction books will have an index.
   
• Promotional Content
   
  A great way to sell your backlist titles is to promote them in the back matter of each new release. It is best if you can provide a graphic of each book's front cover along with the corresponding ISBN number.
   
• Author Biography
   
  An updated author biography helps personalize your book for readers by giving them a bit more information about the storyteller. It is also a great way to promote past titles thereby increasing the chance of more sales.

Below are two visuals showing how the back matter of a novel could appear:

It is a good idea to use this article as a guideline when deciding how to lay out your book's interior. Better yet, why not pay your local bookstore a visit and take a look at how some of your favourite titles are formatted? The more information (visuals) you can provide to your graphic designer ahead of time, the better. This will help the process run much more smoothly for both of you.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

No matter how engaging your story may be, the public is going to "judge your book by its cover" before they ever pick it up to read the contents. As such, the exterior should always receive the same professional care and consideration as the interior.

A complete paperback book cover is made up of the following components:

1. Back Cover
    
   As shown in the following visual aid, the back cover portion of your complete book cover begins on the left-hand side. The dimension of the back cover must match whatever trim size you've chosen your book to be (i.e. 5.5" width x 8.5" height) with a minimum 1/4" bleed around the outside edges for trimming. It will also contain:
    
   - an author photo (optional)
   - back cover copy (to summarize the contents of the book in a compelling way)
   - room for the book's barcode/ISBN number on the lower right-hand corner
   - room for PPG's logo on the lower left-hand corner
   - a short author biography (optional)
    
2. Spine
    
   The spine portion of your complete book cover sits in between your back and front cover. Its height will match your chosen trim size (in this case 8.5") while the width is determined by factors such as the final page count of your designed interior and chosen paper weight. (PPG will provide you with these specs once your interior has been designed by one of our professional graphic designers.) The spine also contains:
    
   - the book title at the top
   - author name (pseudonym) in the centre
   - room for PPG's logo to be placed at the bottom
    
3. Front Cover
    
   The front cover portion of your complete book cover sits on the right-hand side. The dimension of the front cover must match whatever trim size you've chosen your book to be (i.e. 5.5" width x 8.5" height) with a minimum 1/4" bleed around the outside edges for trimming. It will also contain:
    
   - the book title (and subtitle, if applicable)
   - author name (pseudonym)
    
4. Artwork
    
   Your cover artwork can wrap around the spine of your book and span the entire height/width of the complete cover (as shown in the first visual below), or it can appear on the front cover only (as shown in the second visual below). Both examples are correct. If going with the first example, make sure the artwork itself contains a minimum 1/4" bleed all around the edges so the outside edges of the picture aren't trimmed unnecessarily at the printer.

When deciding how you would like your book cover to appear, it is best to pay a visit to your local bookstore and view the many different examples there. What designs, colours, and fonts draw your attention the best? Write down the book title(s) and author name(s) so you can use this as a handy reference when it comes time to provide a description to your assigned graphic designer. This will help the process run much more smoothly for both of you.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Like many others, PPG will be signing off for the holiday season toward the end of this week. I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. For those who are traveling to visit with friends and family members, I hope you arrive and return safely.

Here's to a brilliant new year in 2010! I'm really looking forward to it. I hope you are, too.

Warm regards,
Kim S.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

There are several little odds and ends involved with the Canadian book publishing process—some obvious, others not so obvious. PPG has created the below checklist to help you keep track of what needs to be done:

	What PPG Will Do For You	What You Must Do For Yourself
Supplies you will require		In order to publish a book with PPG, you must have access to a computer, email, and the Internet. You must also have a working knowledge of and access to Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader (for viewing .PDF proofs of your books).
Writing your book	You can hire one of PPG's experienced ghostwriters to write your story in collaboration with you...	... or you can write it yourself. Either way, whether you write your story or have someone write it for you, it must be completed in Microsoft Word. Click here for details on how to properly format all your book files.
Protecting your copyright		It is up to you to protect your own copyright before you send your book to any publisher/printer. Please click here for straightforward instructions on how to do so.
Choosing your book publishing package		Review the list of PPG Self-Publishing Services and choose the publishing package and/or À la carte services that are best for you. From there, visit our Online Store to make your purchase and begin the publishing process.
ISBN numbers/barcodes and legal deposits	You only need an ISBN number/barcode if you plan to sell copies of your book. PPG will apply for all ISBN numbers and obtain barcodes on your behalf. You will be indicated as both the author and the publisher on the ISBN application so the book is linked to the true copyright owner rather than PPG.	As the publisher/copyright owner of the book, it is up to you to submit one or two hard copies of it to Legal Deposit at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) upon publication.
Filling out/managing Vendor Agreements, Publishing Agreements, and Production Questionnaires	PPG will manage all Vendor Agreements with work-for-hire vendors (such as graphic designers, editors, ghostwriters, copywriters, indexers, etc.) on your behalf. Our agreements are designed to ensure: you receive the high quality service you are paying for in a timely fashion; and you maintain creative control and copyright ownership of the book/artwork that is being designed for you.	It is up to you to read the PPG Publishing Agreement & Production Questionnaire in full so you understand the partnership you are entering into with PPG and our work-for-hire vendors.
Submitting Your Manuscript		Your manuscript must be written in Word.doc format and submitted to PPG via email. Please click here for more specific details.
Editing	PPG will arrange for one of our qualified editors to copy edit your raw manuscript before it is sent to a designer for typesetting. You will have the opportunity to view the edited version and give final approval before it moves onto the design stage.
Fact checking and indexing	Non-fiction readers expect to find an index in the back of your book. They also expect your information to be completely accurate. You can hire fact checkers and indexers through PPG to help you with this.
Interior design	PPG will arrange for a qualified graphic designer to typeset your book's interior based on the input we receive from you on the above-mentioned Production Questionnaire. (We begin by designing your book's interior because the spine size of your cover is determined by the final page count of your book.)	In addition to answering all the questions on the above-mentioned Production Questionnaire, you are required to send your interior files to us in the manner indicated on our File Prep and File Transfer webpages.
Cover design	PPG will arrange for a qualified graphic designer to create your book cover based on input we receive from you on the above-mentioned Production Questionnaire.	In addition to answering all the questions on the above-mentioned Production Questionnaire, you are required to send us any related graphics/files in the manner indicated on our File Prep and File Transfer webpages.
Copyright page	PPG will insert a pre-designed copyright page into your manuscript before it is typeset.	It is up to you to proofread this copyright page to ensure the ISBN number(s) and all other information is correct.
Proofreading	Once your book has been written, edited, and designed, a professional proofreader will review it one last time to ensure each of the book's components fit together properly.	All editors, designers, and proofreaders will do their part to help you polish and perfect your book along the way, but you are ultimately responsible to ensure it is completely correct before signing off on the final proof. It is recommended (and wise) for you to read everything over one more time before signing your final proof approval—not only your recent corrections, but everything—even after the professional proofread has been completed.
Printing hard copies of your published book	It is only possible to order hard copies of your book(s) through PPG if you are subscribed to receive our POD distribution service. Hard copies of your book(s) will only be printed if ordered through the PPG online store.	If you would like to receive hard copies of your published book, it is up to you to purchase them either through PPG (at your special author discount) or from the printer of your choice. We do not include hard copies in our publishing packages as that would drive the price up unnecessarily. It is best for you, in the long run, to obtain quotes from various printers and go with the best price you receive. (We can recommend a few great printers to help you out with this.)
Review copies		It is up to you to research the book reviewers in your area and send them each a complimentary copy of your book. (This is not mandatory. It's just a suggestion you may want to consider.)
Library copies		As a self-publisher, it is up to you to produce and submit a flyer or small catalogue of your book(s) to all the libraries you wish to appear in. The only way libraries learn about new titles is through the flyers/catalogues they receive from publishers.
Distribution	Your book(s) will be available for sale through LSI's distribution channels and our very own online bookstore for as long as you are subscribed to receive our POD distribution service. As an added bonus, we'll also submit your book files to Google Books at no extra cost to you!    Click here to see examples of how your book could appear on Google Books, Amazon.com, and the PPG Online Bookstore!	You are responsible for the distribution of any additional copies of your book that you purchase on your own.
Royalties	You will be paid royalties on all of your PPG books that are sold through the PPG bookstore and/or through PPG's POD distribution channels (as detailed in the PPG Publishing Agreement).	You won't receive royalties for any copies of your book that you purchase at an author discount through PPG for resale by yourself, nor will you receive royalties for any other copies of your book that you have printed elsewhere for resale by yourself.
Sales and Marketing	PPG will continually strive to drive more and more traffic to our website, online bookstore, forum, and blog; and we will also include a brief write-up about your book in the "Coming Soon to PPG!" category of this blog.	It is up to you to manage all other sales and marketing of your book, but we'll do our best to provide all kinds of ideas to help point you in the right direction.

 
   
 
 
 
 




















































































































 














 


 













 
 







 



   
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

If you're looking for a little light reading and inspiration to brighten up your day, look for these books by Kim S. at shop.polishedpublishinggroup.com!
 
 
NEW AGE FICTION FOR ADULTS 
  

Adobe E-Book ISBN: 978-0-9864869-1-3
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9864869-0-6
Copyright 2004, 2009 Kim S.
All Rights Reserved

To purchase a copy of this book in either paperback or e-book format, please visit PPG's Online Bookstore at: http://shop.polishedpublishinggroup.com/

25% of author royalties from this book will be donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association each year.

* * *

A Letter to My Son
“The Catharsis”

A few people have asked me, “Is this book an autobiography? It sure sounds like you.”

The answer to that question is: “Yes and no.”

A Letter to My Son is based on some of my life experiences; but, many of the characters inside are fictional, and some of the story ideas were sparked by nothing more than a telephone conversation.

In retrospect, this book is more a reflection of my mindset, at that time, than my whole reality. I saw myself as a victim in life, stemming from a family tragedy that occurred when I was a teenager; and, this is the vantage point from which I continued to view the world around me for many years to come.

The stories in A Letter to My Son are the snippets of my life experience that I chose to focus on back then. Evidently, the more I dwelled upon this notion that I was a casualty of unfair circumstance, the more I attracted people and situations that proved me right.

I believe we always prove ourselves right. We all receive what we expect to receive from life, and we attract the circumstances that match our personal vibrations at any given time. This is a natural, impartial law of our universe—just as gravity is—and I believe this book demonstrates it very clearly.

At the time I wrote A Letter to My Son, I had no idea why I was so compelled to purge these pessimistic thoughts from my system in such a public way. But, several years later, I know. It’s as though it was meant to be, all along, and my second and third books bring it all full circle. I was saying “good-bye” to that troubled phase in my life and opening myself up to something new. Two and a half years later, “something new” arrived—a more optimistic viewpoint that changed the path I was on and spawned the creation of my second book titled A Letter to My Daughter.
 
 

Adobe E-Book ISBN: 978-0-9864869-3-7
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9864869-2-0
Copyright 2007, 2009 Kim S.
All Rights Reserved

To purchase a copy of this book in either paperback or e-book format, please visit PPG's Online Bookstore at: http://shop.polishedpublishinggroup.com/

25% of author royalties from this book will be donated to the Canadian Centre for Diversity each year.
 
* * *

A Letter to My Daughter
“The Inspiration”

Where my first book, A Letter to My Son, took me ten years to complete (from initial conception to publication), this second book was written in only two months time. It seemed to flow out of my mind faster than my hands could type … a wonderful dilemma for a writer.

When I wrote A Letter to My Daughter, I was in a positive frame of mind, and I wanted to find the best way I could to express that. I also wanted to show how my mindset had evolved over the past three years—to really contrast this book with my first.

• So, where the first book dwells on dark topics like adversity and victimization, the second is focused on hope and personal accountability.

• Where the first book cover is a pale yellow and gray colour, the second is covered with all kinds of colours.

• My author picture on the first book is done in black and white, I appear sombre in it, and I’m standing alone with my back against a wall; my author picture on the second book is done in full colour, I appear cheerful in it, and I’m surrounded by people I love.

• Of course, the puzzle also symbolizes our interconnection regardless of our individual beliefs.

That was the purpose of this cover and book as a whole. It is me expressing a very joyful time in my life and sharing it with those I love. It is intended as an empowering message about being true to yourself while respecting other people’s choices. It’s about honouring all the different beliefs in our world and celebrating their similarities rather than belabouring their differences.
 
 
 
Adobe E-Book ISBN: 978-0-9864869-5-1
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9864869-4-4
Copyright 2009, Kim S.
All Rights Reserved

To purchase a copy of this book in either paperback or e-book format, please visit PPG's Online Bookstore at: http://shop.polishedpublishinggroup.com/

25% of author royalties from this book will be donated to the Canadian Centre for Diversity each year.
 
* * *

11:11
“The Revelation”

A friend of mine first introduced me to the natural Law of Attraction in early 2007, and I found myself caught up in this "New Age" sensation along with many others around me. Several of my coworkers had Buddha’s dictum “All that we are is the result of what we have thought” posted in their cubicles—each of them determined to improve their lives with the help of this daily reminder. I, too, was so inspired by this revelation that my second book came to me in record speed.

In 2007, I resolved to put this theory to the test—to determine, for myself, whether it is true that we attract what we focus on. I began meditating and making an honest effort to start every single morning with at least five grateful thoughts. After nearly three years of consciously and deliberately applying the principles of the Law of Attraction in my life, I present to you my third book titled 11:11.

For me, this is about so much more than taking responsibility for one’s own life. It’s about each of us somehow harmonizing ourselves with everyone else. I don’t think our goal, as individuals, is to follow the exact same course; rather, the key is to combine loyalty to one’s own beliefs with veneration for others’. That is the true path to harmony.

Ultimately, I think we’re all looking at the same thing. We’re just viewing it from different standpoints and using our own unique words to describe it. I hope the words I’ve chosen to describe my personal beliefs will warm your heart, and I hope you’re able to see some common ground between us. That is my intention.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

A media tour is a series of interviews with newspapers, magazines, and/or broadcast stations to promote you and your new book. Tying in a media tour with a signing or reading is a great way to increase traffic to the event. These types of interviews can also be used as leverage to convince various retail outlets to carry your books: "I'll mention your store during my interview if you'll agree to sell copies." 

You don't have to be J.K. Rowling to stir media interest. All you need is a good angle. For example, if you're from Alberta, you may want to promote yourself as an "up and coming Alberta author" to the media in that province. Or, as another example, if you've published an historical fiction or non-fiction work about a particular region, you can contact the media within that region for an interview.

Once you reach J.K. Rowling's level of renown, a press release with a one-liner such as "Announcing the latest release by..." is about all you'll need to generate buzz and arrange interviews for yourself. Until that day comes, placing a personal phone call to request an interview is much more effective than any press release, fax, or email alone. 

Who do you contact to book an interview? It varies depending on the media: you'll want to talk to the book review editor when contacting a newspaper; your best bet is the news editor at a radio station; and you should ask for either the producer of the morning show or a community events reporter at a television station.

Each time you complete an interview, it's a great idea to ask for a copy of it so you can continue promoting it even further. For example, you can scan a copy of a newspaper article to display on your blog; or you can ask for copies of your radio/television interviews in a YouTube-compatible file format and then post them to your YouTube channel like we did here:



There are many cost-effective ways to sell more of your books ... from readings, to signings, to craft sales, to speaking engagements. A timely media tour will complement all of these events to make them even more successful.

Can anyone else think of any other angles authors can use to get the media interested in them? If so, I know our blog readers will appreciate the extra marketing tips. (Thank you in advance.)
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Of course, I can't only promote my old hometown on this blog. My current home of almost 12 years—which is also home to the Polished Publishing Group (PPG)—is a truly amazing place to be: Calgary, Alberta. I feel very fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of Western Canada ... so close to the mountains ... surrounded daily by breathtaking, inspiring scenery. This is God's country, for sure.

Here's an idea for my fellow writers: how about filming an alfresco reading to promote all the wonderful things about your book and your province at the same time? Then how about posting that reading on YouTube for others to enjoy?
  
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Welcome to my inaugural "It's My Blog and I'll Post What I Want To" blog entry. I couldn't resist posting this one….

When a good friend of mine emailed me this YouTube video, it made me homesick for my home town of Saskatoon. Thought I'd share it with you: It's a Beautiful World ... Saskatoon! It's so nice to see such positive advertising coming out of Saskatchewan!

I hope this blog entry gives all my fellow authors an idea ... YouTube is a powerful alternative media you can use to promote yourself and your book(s). How about posting a short "teaser" video of you reading from your latest release? With a little luck, your friends will share it with others, and they'll share it with others, and they'll share it others, and so on, and so forth. Do you see the potential for increased exposure?
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Blogging is becoming increasingly important for self-published authors.  Developing and maintaining an online presence is an integral part of self-marketing; it offers a way to get noticed by showcasing your writing, a chance to get feedback on your work before you invest in self-publishing, and an opportunity to make contacts that can help you publish and market your book.
 

Blogging for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one way to get noticed; this is the process of increasing traffic to your blog by having it appear earlier in search engine results listings.  SEO is a slow process that requires consistent, regular effort, so don’t wait to start your blog until after you’ve published.  To blog for SEO, you’ll need to produce a minimum of two articles with a minimum of 500 words each per week.  Posting to your blog on a regular basis also helps maintain subscriber interest.  Most writers have no trouble coming up with potential topics, but if you’re having trouble finding the time to write and publish blogs, hiring a professional blogger can help.  This usually becomes a more attractive option as a blog increases in popularity, because maintaining the blog becomes proportionately more time-consuming and technical.  A professional blogger can also assist with link building, a necessary part of SEO.
             

Receiving feedback on their work is a frightening prospect for many authors because they are emotionally invested in their writing, but the opportunity to learn from constructive criticism prior to publishing is invaluable.  You can consider reader response to your grammar skills, concepts, and style when writing on any topic.  Even if you hire a professional blogger at some point, you can “guest-write” on your blog to test new ideas, themes, and techniques.  The expense of self-publishing makes blogging an excellent marketing value.
 

If well-managed, your blog will attract the attention not just of casual readers, but of other authors, editors, publishers, and reviewers.  No matter how well-managed it is, it will also attract a fair number of spammers and online hawkers of get-rich-quick schemes.  However, these tend to decrease proportionately over time; if you’re maintaining your own blog, you’ll also become adept at quickly recognizing and deleting them.  The value of the networking opportunities gained by blogging far outweighs this annoyance.  Online communities tend to be close-knit and people often form online friendships faster than they would face-to-face.  If you intend to self-publish, those who have traveled this path before you can offer advice and support.  You might also locate resources that are scarce or more expensive in your geographic area.  To connect with these individuals, you’ll need to subscribe to and comment on other blogs, participate in discussion groups, and post links to your blog in online groups.  Though this also requires an investment of time, it’s important for SEO as well as networking.
 

Starting a blog can be intimidating, but it’s a worthwhile effort for writers, especially those who intend to or have self-published.  Don’t wait; start your blog today! (Click here to see how PPG can help you with that!)  

 

Rachaelle Lynn
Organic SEO Campaign Manager, Content Writer, and Editor
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Where and Why Self-Publishers Should Send Review Copies of Their Books

If you’ve decided to self-publish your book, you must accept that you’ve also taken on the task of self-marketing it. Sending free review copies of your book is part of the marketing process. Without publicity, your book is unlikely to be seen by a larger audience, which translates into fewer sales.  Even if you don’t expect to make a fortune from your book, establishing your reputation as a professional author is critical to your long-term success.
 

Set aside time for making a list of who should receive review copies of your book. Consider the market for it carefully; depending on the genre and subject matter, you may want to submit it to reviewers in smaller, more specialized markets instead of to those at larger publications, where your book could get lost in the crowd. If you’ll be visiting particular areas for readings and book signings, locate reviewers in those markets so you’ll have advance publicity. If a newspaper or magazine refuses to review your book but you really need to market in that publication, ask if they will print a press release. Always keep the publisher’s deadline in mind; if you miss it, the timing of the review may not benefit you as much even if your book still gets reviewed.
   

It should go without saying that during this time, you will network with other self-published authors to find out where and when they sent review copies of their books. Which publications actually reviewed their book, and which ones just gave it to a secretary, who took the free copy home and gave it to a neighbour? Though the answer to this question shouldn’t be your sole determination of whether or not to send a book to that reviewer, it can help you narrow the choices.
             

You’ll also need to consider the cost of review copies of your book in your publishing budget. Finalize the list of recipients before you order any copies. If you make money, you can always order more. Knowing that you will be sending copies of the book to reviewers may also affect the manner in which you decide to publish the book; for example, you may decide to charge more for the book to cover the cost of sending the review copies. Since sending review copies is an additional investment in your work, you may also want to invest in professional design and proofreading. Include the cost of packaging and mailing the books. Unless you are lucky enough to have an unlimited budget, you’ll have to plan carefully so you can meet your expenses. 
 

Keep track of potential recipients of review copies of your book on a calendar, Excel spreadsheet, or both; a calendar will help you track deadlines, while a spreadsheet will help you track expenses. For budgeting purposes, you may want to assign each reviewer a value: a one means you absolutely must send a review copy, a three means you’ll only send one if you have extra copies, and a two is somewhere in the middle. This will help you prioritize your list and concentrate on getting reviews from the publications that are the most important.

 

Rachaelle Lynn
Organic SEO Campaign Manager, Content Writer, and Editor
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Coming soon to PPG...

THE 13th ROPE
By John Christensen
(As told to ghostwriter Patricia M Gallagher)

Book Summary

The autobiography of John Christensen is a story of adversity, pain and triumph. It is the tale of a man who grew up in Saskatchewan, poor, disabled and faced with immense challenges, but also a man with a zest for life and a spirit that could not be diminished.
 

Born of a devoted Métis mother with direct lineage to the famous Métis hero, Louis Riel, and a Danish immigrant father who struggled with alcoholism, early in life John took on substantial responsibilities for his family. He loved to hunt and became a family provider. He loved to run and play with his friends, brother and sisters. Struck at 14 by the polio epidemic sweeping the prairies, he learned to hunt and fish with crutches. In spite of his disability, John went on to get married, have children and learn to fly an airplane, something he loved to do, but also an achievement that handed John a catastrophic contest, the classic battle between the will to live and the relief of death.
 

On November 9th, 1969, John’s plane crashed during a cattle round-up in the Royal Community Pasture west of Leask, Saskatchewan. With John flying overhead and spotting, the three on-ground riders had managed to rope twelve wayward cows. The title of John’s book refers to the lucky 13th rope, carried by chance that fateful day, on the saddle horn of Albert Primeau and his horse, Snake.  It was this seemingly insignificant rope that Albert used to pull John out from the twisted and flaming plane. With third degree burns to over 50% of his body, John spent months and years in recovery.  His miraculous rehabilitation and determination enabled John to continue what was already a successful career in real estate and business.
 

However, sometimes success brings its own demons and for John, such was the case. Addicted to hallucinogenic sleeping pills, John was charged with manslaughter and spent 5 years in prison for taking the life of another man. By now, John’s mobility was limited to wheelchair use and that fact started John on a new and significant mission.
 

Always interested in Vietnam, his first trip overseas changed his life forever. While watching the Vietnamese war victims drag what remained of their bombed and damaged bodies, and the polio sufferers pull themselves along on makeshift moving boards, John had an idea. What about all those used wheelchairs back in Calgary? Could they be refurbished and reused here, in this country a world away from Canada? The short answer was yes and John founded the Global Disability Foundation, a not for profit charitable organization that has, to date, sent over 4,000 disability items to Third World countries.

THE 13th ROPE captures the essence of John’s life and encourages everyone to never give up, never lose hope, because for all of us, there is a unique plan designed by the hand of God.
 
Patricia M Gallagher
PMG Creative
Get it write!
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

To be a truly successful author, you have to treat book publishing, sales, and marketing as your own business. The same holds true whether you take today's supported self-publishing route or go with a traditional trade publisher. If you enter into this venture with the expectation that you won't have to invest much of your own time or money—or that your publisher is solely responsible for that investment on your behalf—you'll most likely be disappointed by how few books you sell. But if you go into this with an entrepreneurial spirit, you may just find your wings.

I'm baffled by the writers who staunchly defend the antiquated notion that no author should ever have to drop a dime to promote themselves because it is the responsibility of their publisher to take care of them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Trade publishers are business people, too. Like any smart business people, they will focus their efforts on the books that bring them the best return on investment—their frontlist and the few backlist titles that continue to sell over time. Having worked with one of these publishers in the past, I can tell you firsthand the only backlist inventory we moved were the titles being actively promoted by the authors themselves. (Why should any publisher invest in authors who are unwilling to invest in themselves?)

It is true there are some added perks to having your book picked up by a trade publisher: they produce and distribute catalogues to libraries and other distributors; they will submit copies of your book to reputable reviewers on your behalf; they represent their popular titles at industry trade shows and book fairs; and they produce frontlist press releases for the media each time they publish. This extra exposure is wonderful for sure, but let's not mistake "exposure" for "sales" for these are two very different things.

Just because a reviewer receives a copy of your book does not mean it will be reviewed. Just because a librarian receives a catalogue with your book in it doesn't mean it will be purchased. Just because your book is displayed on a table among other books at a trade show does not mean it will be noticed. Just because a television station receives a press release doesn't mean it will receive focused attention. Think about all the books and catalogues and press releases these people have to sift through on a daily basis. Think about your own mail box—all the flyers and offers you receive there on a daily basis. Do you read them all every day? Do you have the time?

You don't move books by hiding behind pieces of paper and email campaigns and websites. You move books by getting in front of your customers and talking to them; and you do this by setting up book signings, readings, craft sales, art shows, media tours, and speaking engagements whenever and wherever you can. You "pound the pavement" as we say in the sales world. You do the work that's necessary to make yourself stand out among all the rest.

For all kinds of helpful advice on book sales and marketing, I strongly recommend you revisit the PPG Publisher's Blog from time to time. It's free, it is updated regularly, and it was created with the entrepreneurial author in mind.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

When I worked for a small literary publisher several years ago, I used to help organize book launches and readings for our writers in celebration of our new releases. In cases where the author was established and had a fairly large following, we could justify a solo event knowing we'd recoup our costs in book sales. For the newer authors, we would often celebrate with a group event. This was not only a cost-saving measure for us; it also helped relieve fledgling performance anxiety by allowing them to share the spotlight with someone else.

As a self-publisher, you are charged with organizing your own celebrations just as a traditional publisher does for its authors. If you're confident you'll be able to sell enough books to cover the full cost of an event, then you're in an enviable position. If not, I recommend selling tickets to your reading and advertising it with as many display ads, community listings, bulletin boards, and websites as you possibly can in addition to inviting your friends and family members.

When you envision a book reading, do you see an early evening "wine and cheese" affair in a quaint little bistro? Can you imagine yourself relaxing with a drink in hand, going from table to table to greet each of your guests until it's time to take centre stage and read from the first chapter of your book? This is one common option that comes to mind for many artists. Depending on whether or not you choose a cash bar to fund all the drinks, it may be a fairly costly option.

How about a breakfast launch? Many restaurants have private dining areas that are ideal for events like this. Buffets are a great way to satisfy all your guests' tastes in an economical way. And once everyone is satisfied, relaxed, and enjoying their morning coffees after a fine meal; you can take your chair to the front of the room, sit down in front of your guests, and begin reading from your book. This type of setting is particularly suitable for authors of children's books who may have underage guests attending the launch party.

Next to the venue, your only investment for a book launch is: your books (which, presumably, you already purchased beforehand); your time (time to sell tickets and organize the event, plus three or four hours for the event itself); your presentation (anything from a simple table cloth to display stands to a cash box); and your cash float (so you have change available for paying customers). There is a fair amount of work involved in organizing an event like this, so you may want to enlist the help of volunteers to sell tickets and books on your behalf.

Can anyone think of another great setting for a book launch? Share it with others by commenting on this blog entry.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Not only is it possible to move a surprising amount of books at a signing, but it is also a great way for a new author to get used to being "on display" in public. There isn't the same pressure to perform and entertain as there is at a reading. It is a much more comfortable arena to learn how to talk about (sell) your book to readers.
 

 
Although each bookstore does things a little differently, the process for setting up a book signing is fairly standard. It's a matter of contacting the store's event coordinator to arrange a mutually available date (Saturday's are often best for retail traffic) and providing consignment copies of your book to them ahead of time. Sometimes, there is a basic fee involved to cover co-op advertising. In this instance, both the author and the bookstore each agree to pay 50% for any ads that are placed to promote the event. Other than that, the only investment is your books (which, presumably, you already purchased beforehand) and your time (signings generally last for two to three hours during an afternoon).

The bookstore will set up a display table for you ahead of time. From there, it is up to you to engage customers in conversation and convince them to buy your book. You sign it for them and then direct them to the bookstore's checkout to pay for it. When the event is over, the bookstore will send you payment for your portion of the profits (which is typically 60% of the retail price). They may choose to keep additional consignment copies of your book on hand if they feel there is a good chance they can sell them, or they may return any leftover copies to you.

To improve the success of your signing, it's a good idea to do your own self-promotion rather than relying solely on bookstore traffic. One way to generate buzz is to post event notices in community newspapers and on as many nearby bulletin boards as possible. Of course, there is no substitute for inviting your friends and family members to these events. (I can always count on my mother to buy up half the stock in one fell swoop!)
 
Who else can add to this entry about book signings? Any advice for new authors to help them make their own events more successful?
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

One relatively inexpensive way for a new author to sell books is by reserving a table at a community craft fair. Your only investment is: your books (which, presumably, you already purchased beforehand); your time (craft fairs generally run from around ten o'clock in the morning to three o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday); your table registration fee (which is usually somewhere between $35 to $50 depending on the venue and location); your presentation (anything from a simple table cloth to display stands to posters); and your cash float (so you have change available for paying customers). That's all there is to it.

The number of books you can sell at a craft sale is largely dependent on traffic flow. How well did the organizer promote the event on behalf of the vendors? How well did you promote your own attendance at the event? (It's not only up to the organizer to bring people to the sale!) It can be "hit or miss" at these fairs, but don't let that discourage you. If you were able to hand out a few flyers or business cards to people who wouldn't otherwise know you, that's still valuable exposure for a new artist. And if you sold more than enough books to pay for your table, consider the event a success.

How much of an entrepreneur are you? Rather than paying to attend someone else's craft fair, have you ever considered organizing one of your own? It's a lot more work, but it's a way to earn extra profit in addition to your book sales. First, you find an available venue and decide how many tables it will accommodate. Next, you figure out the total cost of that venue plus any other advertising you will use to promote the sale (such as display ads in community newspapers, street signs for the day of the event, and Facebook event invites ... to name a few). Finally, you divide up your cost per table (which should include an additional fee to cover your own time and effort as the organizer) and start selling the event to other vendors. In my experience, most people will jump on the opportunity to promote their products and services at such a reasonable rate. Once you get one or two people interested, the word spreads fast and the tables are all full before you know it.

Can anyone else add to this entry about community craft fairs? Do you have any advice new authors can use to help them make their own events more successful?
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

What is copyright?

Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (www.merriam-webster.com) describes copyright as: 

Noun
The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (as a literary, musical, or artistic work)

How do I obtain copyright ownership of my work?

In Canada, you own the copyright to your work as soon as you create it. There is no legal requirement to register it. 
 
How do I protect my copyright?

This is, perhaps, the real question writers are asking when they refer to the copyright of their books, and the answer is: by proving you are the true copyright owner of the work.

Protecting your copyright can be done in a very straightforward and cost-effective way. It's as simple as sealing a copy of your completed work in an envelope and mailing it to yourself via registered mail. When the date-stamped package is returned to you, keep it sealed and stored in a fireproof container. In the unlikely event that someone else ever tries to claim copyright ownership of your work after the fact, you will have the date-stamped proof of your ownership to fall back on.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

I once heard a greenhorn author say, "I don't need anyone else to edit my manuscript. It is self-edited. I've looked over it a thousand times." It made me cringe. The truth is, every manuscript can benefit from two or more sets of eyes. Even the best writers use professional editors to improve the quality of their books.

Why do some people resist having their work edited/proofread by a professional? I would venture to guess there are two primary, underlying reasons: one, the fear that their work may be stolen if they share it with a stranger prior to publication; and two, the fear that the context of their work may be changed during the editing process. Let's discuss these two concerns separately….

1. Fear of Copyright Infringement:
   
   First and foremost, the chances of anyone having their manuscript stolen and published by someone else is next to nil; however, writers can give themselves peace of mind by protecting their copyright ahead of time. 
   
   In Canada, writers own the copyright to their work as soon as they create it. There is no legal requirement to register it. That said, copyright can be protected in a very straightforward and cost-effective way. Writers can simply seal a copy of their completed work in an envelope and mail it to themselves via registered mail. When the date-stamped package is returned to them, they should keep it sealed and stored in a fireproof container. In the unlikely event that someone else ever tries to claim copyright ownership of their work after the fact, they will have the date-stamped proof of ownership to fall back on.
       
2. Fear of Changed Context (Loss of Personal Voice):
   
   It is important to understand that a copy editor's job is simply to enhance a writer's story as it is—to offer helpful suggestions that may have been overlooked or not considered at all.
   
   Simple copy improvements
   
   A second set of eyes will catch those unobvious errors—such as transposed words and letters, punctuation issues, or improper word usage—that an author is simply blind to after reading the same thing over and over again (and that electronic spell checks sometimes miss).
   
   Story development improvements
   
   Have you ever been trained for a new position by someone who knew the job so well they unconsciously went about many of the details and neglected to discuss them with you? They'd been doing it for so long, themselves, that they were unaware of everything they were doing. As a result, you received only part of the information which made it difficult to follow the entire process from start to finish.
   
   In much the same way, writers can sometimes see a scene so vividly in their own minds that, when they transfer it to paper, they unwittingly leave out important details the reader will need. A good editor will point this out and ask the question, "How exactly did we get from 'A' to 'B' here?" This type of commentary gives writers an opportunity to go back and fill in the blanks they didn't realize existed beforehand.

At PPG, authors always have the last say on the editing and design of their books. A good copy editor will work with a writer to enhance the story while keeping the original voice intact, and a smart writer will take that editor's advice.

As always, let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you. (And if you see any typos in this blog, please bring them to my attention. After all, two sets of eyes are always better than one!)
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

In addition to my book publishing background, I've also worked in the world of print advertising sales for many years. What these two industries have in common is that each business (whether it be a newspaper, magazine, phone directory, or publisher) creates artwork for its respective clients as part of its overall service offering. 

A company's artwork policy can vary: some believe that once you've paid for and published a creative, the copyright belongs to you, and you can reproduce it at your discretion as part of your own marketing campaign; others believe that any artwork they have created for you belongs to them and can only be reused with their permission at an additional charge. Having been on both sides of this coin—as the service provider and the paying client—it is my opinion that the copyright for a creative belongs to the paying client, and all the high-resolution artwork should be returned to that client upon receipt of payment. I won't delve into any examples related to print advertising here, but I will discuss my experience with supportive self-publishing….

Each time I write a new book, I tie it into the preceding book(s) by including graphics of my past book cover(s) at the end of the story along with an updated author bio. I reproduce this promotional copy on my author website and printed flyers, as well. This helps me to sell my backlist along with my frontlist at signings and various other events.

On one particular occasion, I wanted to create a large poster with all my book covers included on it. I intended to use this as an eye-catching display at a craft sale. Great idea, right? Unfortunately, one of the supportive self-publishing companies I had published through would not release a high-resolution copy of my book cover to me. "We own it," they said. "It belongs to us."

It seems to me, this is a "nobody wins" sort of scenario. This company was not keeping my artwork with the intention of ever using it themselves. They were simply keeping the files to prevent someone else from ever using them.

I founded PPG with the philosophy that self-publishers are not only entitled to 100% copyright ownership of their written words, but they are also entitled to 100% copyright ownership of their artwork. Rather than storing their print-ready cover and interior files ourselves, we return everything to our self-publishers (working files, finished files, everything). This enables our clients to print extra copies of their books wherever they choose, and it allows them to produce marketing materials at their discretion. To me, this is an "everybody wins" sort of scenario because each time they display their book covers with one of our logos on it, it helps to promote them and PPG. That's how it should be, wouldn't you agree?

Again, I'm open to hearing from my fellow writers and self-publishers on this one. What is your experience regarding artwork copyright? What's your opinion on this topic?
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

To quote the home page of PPG's book publishing website: "When most people think about having their book published, they envision the traditional method of searching for a publishing company, sending them a query letter along with one or two sample chapters, and then waiting several months for a response as to whether or not their manuscript will even be accepted. That's one way to publish a book, but it's not the only way…." In this article, we'll take a brief look at traditional book publishing versus modern supported self-publishing.

Traditional (Trade) Publishing	Modern Supported Self-Publishing
Traditional book publishers are organizations of highly-qualified people who have joined together to publish a specific selection of books each year.	Supportive self-publishing companies consist of highly-qualified people who will assist you in publishing your book by supplying you with the tools you will need.
Most trade publishers receive thousands of manuscript submissions every year from which they select fewer than one dozen new authors to work with—a discriminatingly low acceptance rate. One of the primary reasons for this low acceptance rate is that they have preset budgets and objectives for what they can publish each year. A common misconception is that traditional publishers always and only reject manuscripts that are poor in quality when, in fact, that is not the only factor involved. Budget and manpower play a huge role in which projects they can/cannot accept, particularly for the smaller presses. Unfortunately, this means many talented authors are overlooked every year.	Most supportive self-publishing companies will accept the majority of manuscripts submitted to them. The reason for this high acceptance rate is that the authors (self-publishers) are the ones who pay all the costs associated with publishing their books. The support company merely compiles all the publishing tools these authors need in a convenient “one stop shop” package so they don’t have to do it themselves.
When a traditional book publisher agrees to pay for the publication of your book, they are essentially buying the ownership of your book. They agree to pay for its publication because they believe they can make a profit from owning and selling it. (On the flip side, if the book doesn't sell, they are the ones who take the loss on their original investment.)	When you choose the supportive self-publishing route, you are choosing to pay all your own production and marketing costs in exchange for complete creative control over your work. You also keep all the rights to your work which may prove profitable if/when that book begins to sell well. (On the flip side, if your book doesn't sell, then you may not be able to recoup your original costs. That loss is yours as the self-publisher. That's the risk you take if you choose this route.)
Due to the volume of material they must consider, a trade publisher's manuscript review process can take anywhere from three to six months; and most will reject multiple submissions (a.k.a. simultaneous submissions), meaning they will automatically disregard manuscripts that have been sent to more than one publisher for consideration. If your book is accepted upon review, the production process can take up to another six months to complete.	Once you submit your electronic book cover/interior files and payment to a supportive self-publishing company, you're pretty much ready to go. It's that easy to get started. The production process, itself, can be completed in as few as eight weeks.
If/when your manuscript is accepted, the traditional publisher takes care of all the necessary legwork, such as: obtaining ISBN numbers; managing publishing contracts; designing your copyright page; finding/organizing editors and graphic artists; typesetting your book; dealing with printers and distributors; submitting your book to the Legal Deposit at Library and Archives Canada (LAC); et cetera.	Supportive self-publishing companies will manage most (if not all) of the following background details for you: obtaining ISBN numbers; managing publishing agreements; designing your copyright page; finding/organizing editors and graphic designers, etc, for you; typesetting your book; and dealing with POD printers/distributors. (Click here to access PPG's convenient checklist of the various tasks self-publishers must do for themselves.)
Trade publishers will pay you royalties on whatever books they and their distributors sell on your behalf. You can also buy author copies of your books from them at a significantly reduced price to sell on your own. (Think of them as your book manufacturer/wholesaler, and think of yourself as a retailer.)	Supportive self-publishing companies will pay you royalties on whatever books they and their POD distributors sell on your behalf. You can also buy copies of your books from them at a significantly reduced price to sell on your own. (Think of them as your book manufacturer/wholesaler, and think of yourself as a retailer.)
If/when your manuscript is accepted for publication, an experienced editor is assigned to work with you to polish and perfect your book. This is a mandatory part of the traditional book publishing process.	Some publishers (i.e. vanity publishers) do not require their authors to go through an editorial process ... and this is a serious issue, in my humble opinion. Everyone can benefit from copy editing and proofreading. The more sets of eyes you have to review your book, the better. (This is a notable viewpoint that sets supportive self-publishing apart from vanity publishing. It is described in more detail in the below-linked article.) I founded PPG because I strongly believe it is possible for authors to self-publish a professional product if they are willing to go through the same steps a traditional publisher goes through to polish and perfect a book. However, what sets PPG apart from other support companies is that we will refuse to publish anything that, in our judgment, has not been properly edited/proofread. It doesn't look good for us or the self-publisher unless it's done right.
Most trade publishers still use traditional printing methods, meaning they will print a large run of your books—usually from 500 to 2000 copies to begin with—on an offset press, and they'll try to sell those off before printing anymore. Because they print this way, their production cost per unit is quite low, so they can charge less for each book. (i.e. The same book may retail at $9.99 when printed the traditional way while it may retail at $12.99 when produced using modern digital "print-on-demand" methods.) The down side is that it costs a lot of money to warehouse all these books; and once you've printed that many, you're stuck with them. There's no changing them even if you find typos after the fact ... which happens more often than not, believe me!	Most supportive self-publishing companies use a modern digital printing method called "print-on-demand" (POD). An electronic copy of your book is stored with a special POD press that allows as little as one copy to be printed at a time. This is helpful because you can easily resubmit your book's e-file to the POD printer if you need to make any corrections or updates along the way. This new method of printing also eliminates expensive warehousing costs. That said, because the books are being printed only a few at a time, the production cost per unit is a bit higher, and this is reflected in the price of your book. (i.e. The same book may retail at $9.99 when printed the traditional way while it may retail at $12.99 when produced using modern "print-on-demand" methods.)
Traditional publishing companies actively market and sell their frontlist books on behalf of their authors. They are well-connected.	As a self-publisher, it is up to you to market and sell your own books. It is up to you to get well-connected. (Blogging is a great way of doing this!)
Because trade publishers produce new books once or twice per year (spring/autumn selections), the shelf-life of each book is typically six months to a year. After that, it moves from the frontlist to the backlist and becomes less of a priority than the new releases.	As a self-publisher, you are not confined by someone else's publishing schedule. You can publish a book at any time of the year, and you can be assured your book will always be given top priority because you are the one in charge of marketing it.

Click here to read another great article comparing traditional (trade) publishing, vanity publishing, and supported self-publishing.

There are obviously pros and cons to each form of book publishing, and there are many varying opinions out there as to which way is best. What are your thoughts on this longstanding debate? I would love to hear from you.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

When I published my first book, everything was quite new to me, and I had an expectation (possibly an unfair one) that my friends and family members should support me 100% and compliment me on my book no matter what they thought of it. Luckily, that did happen with my first book. Everyone around me was very supportive.

Unfortunately, when my second book came out, it was a different story. I received an unexpected criticism from someone dear to me that left me shocked, hurt, and unsure how to react. I'll be honest, it took me a couple years to come to a place where I was willing to put myself out there again. During that time, I had to rethink my expectations of those closest to me and find a way to remain confident in myself and my craft regardless of others’ opinions.  

In retrospect, I'm glad I experienced that criticism so early in my publishing career because it taught me a valuable lesson about how I should measure the true merit of my work. A few times, I’ve had to ask myself the question: what is the truth here? Is it the joy and enthusiasm I felt when I held a printed copy of the book in my hand for the very first time? Or is it the self-doubt I felt when someone criticized it later on? Which one of those two moments will I use to determine the value of my book?

 

A wise woman named Lisa Nichols once said, “Oftentimes, you give others the opportunity to create your happiness, and many times they fail to create it the way you want it. Why? Because only one person can be in charge of your joy … and that’s you. So even your parent, your child, your spouse—they do not have the control to create your happiness. They simply have the opportunity to share in your happiness. Your joy lies within you.” A beautiful sentiment, don't you think? I believe the same can be said for self-confidence and faith.

 

I went into my third book with a new set of expectations that took the pressure off both me and those around me. It’s always nice when people acknowledge a new book with a hearty “congratulations,” but I’ve decided that’s where their obligation ends. I no longer base a book’s worth on whether or not others read it, agree with it, enjoy it, or discuss it with me after the fact. The truth I try my best to hold onto is the joy I felt when I held that first printed copy in my hand. I hope you will do the same for you. I hope you will find a way to hold onto your enthusiasm even if you come up against any criticism along the way ... whether it's from friends, family members, reviewers, or anyone else.

Keep writing! Keep the faith!
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

Three books in, I'm beginning to recognize a familiar pattern concerning my emotional state during the book publishing process. I wonder if other authors experience something similar.

For me, there is a calm sense of accomplishment once I've completed that first draft and sent my book off to the editor. Believe it or not, that confidence and faith even survives the editing and graphic design processes despite those annoying little setbacks and frustrations that pop up from time to time. When I first hold the completed book in my hand, I can't help but feel excited and very proud of myself.

For whatever reason, a day or two later, my confidence in the project takes a nosedive. It suddenly hits me: "Oh, my God. Now I have to share this with people. They're going to read it." I feel vulnerable at the thought of it, as though I’ve just stripped down naked in front of 1,000 people and invited them all to take turns pointing out my flaws. A daunting prospect, to say the least!

 

That insecurity can last up to three or four weeks, until the next book starts to take shape inside my mind. Then the feeling subsides, and I’m fine again. This happens to me every time I publish a book—I’m not sure why—but I’ve come to accept it as a natural part of my creative process. (On the plus side, the confidence always returns, and another book idea always comes in.)

I would like to hear from other published authors about your experiences. Do you go through something similar? How long does it last? Is there anything you do to ease the emotions, or does the mood just pass with time?
 

 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

A common question I hear from people at book signings is, "How do you even begin to write a book? Do you set aside a little time every day, or do you just write when the mood hits you?"
 
Each of my books was a little bit different….
 
My first book, A Letter to My Son, took me around ten years to complete. In hindsight, the majority of that time was spent procrastinating rather than writing due to fear of the unknown. I didn't see that clear path ahead of me. I didn't know how to get published and wasn't all that sure it would ever happen, so I felt no strong sense of urgency to finish the book. Then, one year, I experienced a life-changing event that had me questioning myself and my life purpose. It was the catalyst that motivated me to finish my book once and for all … to find a way to publish it … to keep that promise to myself. Once I found that resolve, all the information and resources I needed to publish the book found me. And I did it! (Smiling.) What a proud moment!

 
Each book that followed came a little easier simply because I knew the process ahead of me. Isn't that the way life is? The first time you try anything is always the hardest. But, if you push through that initial fear and prove to yourself that it’s possible, it does get easier. Needless to say, my second book, A Letter to My Daughter, took me only two months to write. My third book, 11:11, took me around six months.
 
When I was younger, writing was more a pastime than a career aspiration, so I only wrote when the mood hit me. After my first book was published, and I became a little more serious about things, I found a structure that seems to work very well for me to this day….
 

I treat writing the same way I treat my regular job. I set aside a certain number of hours each week, and I make sure I'm seated at my desk on time. Sometimes, when I sit down to write, I have no idea what I'm going to say. It might take half an hour to get that first awkward sentence out of my mind and "unlock the floodgates" of creativity, but I'm always pleasantly surprised with how much I have at the end of the session. It appears the intention to create is the very thing that attracts the creation—every single time. Another thing I do is set deadlines for myself. In January, I might say, "I want the first draft of this book completed by the end of June." And then I stick to that schedule. I keep that promise to myself. That's what seems to work best for me.

I would like to hear from some of my fellow writers out there. What is your creative writing process? I'm interested in learning what works for you.
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our book publishing website to learn how you can publish your book today. 

        

  Hello! Welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy your visit.

As a Canadian author who released my third novel and founded the Polished Publishing Group (PPG) in 2009, I'm here to connect with aspiring writers who would like to break into this rewarding profession but aren't quite sure how to go about it. In addition to writing, I have firsthand experience working with a traditional literary book publisher (a.k.a. trade book publisher), a book printer, and a modern supportive self-publishing company. Each position has allowed me to view this industry from a different vantage point and, consequently, given me a well-rounded understanding of their respective pros and cons. This puts me in a unique position to provide others with valuable insight into the world of book publishing.

That said, we can all learn from each other. Everyone is welcome to post opinions, comments, and/or questions to the various entries on this blog, or start a brand new discussion of your own on the PPG Writers Forum. I also invite the advice of other seasoned writers who are willing to share your experiences and expertise with the rest of us. And if all this information inspires even one person to take that first step toward publishing a book at long last, then this blog has served its purpose.

Here's to setting goals, realizing dreams, and fulfilling self-promises!

Warm regards,

Kim S.


Author of:
A Letter to My Son, © 2004
A Letter to My Daughter, © 2007
11:11, © 2009


Publisher at:

PPG Book Publishing Website: http://www.polishedpublishinggroup.com/
PPG Publisher's Blog: http://blog.polishedpublishinggroup.com/
PPG Writers Forum: http://writersforum.polishedpublishinggroup.com/
 
 
 
PPG is a Canadian book publisher dedicated to serving Canadian authors. Visit our group of websites today.