EBook Publishing and Marketing Guide

[*Sandy Harper*]

Published writer or not yet, consider creating ebooks, the fastest growing sector in the publishing industry. Ebook sales are soaring and surpassing paper books. We will help you publish on various digital platforms. You will learn to convert a document into eBook format; prepare cover; and price your book. Your idea will turn into an eBook and you start collecting royalties in days not weeks.

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

Sandy, Sandy, Sandy...

I went and saw your book was on Smashwords and started to read the sample.  I have to ask, because since you are selling a book on how to self publish one would assume you knew how to self publish.  Why, in the name of all that is good and holy, do you reference a cheap, knock-off, scam site for people to get more info on Copyright instead of referencing the OFFICIAL U.S. Copyright Office?  You have to completely realize that is a scam site that charges $165 to do what you can do for $35 on the official government site?  Or did you just Google "Copyright" and click the first link that came up and use it without verifying what it was?

And you do the same thing with the website you refer people to for help on their book cover.  It is a cheap, knock off, SEA-grab site that just culls data from the internet to grab eyeballs.  It is not a legitimate resource.  it is one of those sites that tries to get you to turn over your email address and jump through hoops to get stuff for free, only to add you to a spam list.

Before you do too much damage to your credibility as an author, I strongly suggest you pull this book and go back and do your homework.  It if was just a matter of holding different opinions on self publishing, that would be one thing.  But you are actually putting your readers at risk of getting ripped off with the misinformation you are presenting.

[Ann in Arlington]

Welcome to KindleBoards, Sandy, and congratulations on your book! 

Please note that KindleBoards is a Readers and Kindle Fan forum.  Authors are always welcome to post anywhere but, as you browse the 'boards, please keep in mind that self-promotion, of any sort, is ONLY allowed here in the Book Bazaar.

A brief recap of our rules follows: (Note that this doesn't mean you've done anything wrong; we just want you to have a ready reference. )

--Please bookmark this thread (using your browser's bookmark/favorite function) so you can update it as we ask that authors have only one thread per book and add to it when there is more information.  You may start a separate thread for each book (or you may have one thread per series of books, or one thread for all of your books, it's your choice).

--We invite you to use your book cover as your avatar and have links to your book and website in your signature. Instructions are posted here

--While you may respond to member posts to your thread at any time, you may only bump your thread (back-to-back posts by you) once every seven days.  Once you've responded to a member, that resets the clock to zero and you must wait seven days to post, unless another member posts before then.

--We ask that Amazon reviews not be repeated here as they are easy to find at your book link.  Also, full reviews from other sites should not be posted here, but you may post a short blurb and a link to the full review instead.

--Although self-promotion is limited to the Book Bazaar, our most successful authors have found the best way to promote their books is to be as active throughout KindleBoards as time allows.  This is your target audience--book lovers with Kindles!  Please note that putting link information in the body of your posts constitutes self promotion; please leave your links for your profile signature that will automatically appear on each post.  For information on more ways to promote here on KindleBoards, be sure to check out this thread:
Authors: KindleBoards Tips & FAQ.

All this, and more, is included in our Forum Decorum.  Be sure to check it from time to time for the current guidelines and rules.

Thanks for being part of KindleBoards!  Feel free to send us a PM if you have any questions.

Betsy & Ann
Book Bazaar Moderators

[*Sandy Harper*]

Sandy, Sandy, Sandy...
I went and saw your book was on Smashwords and started to read the sample.  I have to ask, because since you are selling a book on how to self publish.....

Thanks Julie. I will look into those links. I have used copy right office.  All I am really doing is putting together the marketing and publishing ideas and success stories/tips of experienced authors that we have on these boards and elsewhere.

Free information is free information, we cannot panic about that and worry about spam. Spam filters work very well these days, IMHO.

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

Free information is free information,

But it isn't free in your case.  You are charging $2.99.  You have an obligation as a publisher to provide ACCURATE information, not just use a Google grab and throw stuff together. 

[*Sandy Harper*]

You have an obligation as a publisher to provide ACCURATE information, not just use a Google grab and throw stuff together. 

Julie...Julie...Julie... If 2 links are the only problem you have. It's great news. These are 2 of 100s of links that successful authors have used and even some publishers suggest them. Both are working and useful links. We check and recheck every link.  Just the links are worth $2.99 that is less than the price of a meal. But these are just extra bonus.

The main purpose of guide is to provide information on various digital platforms and the file formats that are invaluable to new and published authors. The marketing tips and personal accounts of many successful authors are practical and encouraging. These explain exactly how they became successful. Thanks for your input and have a nice day.

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

Julie...Julie...Julie... If 2 links are the only problem you have. It's great news. These are 2 of 100s of links that successful authors have used and even some publishers suggest them. Both are working and useful links. We check and recheck every link.  Just the links are worth $2.99 that is less than the price of a meal. But these are just extra bonus.

Yes, everyone should pay you $2.99 to direct them to a scam site that charges $165 to do what you can do for $35 on the official Copyright.gov website. 

My problem is there is no original content in the preview I saw.  Half of it is generic drivel culled from a Google search, some of which directs to scam sites, and the other half is nothing more than reposting what is already on the KDP site and whatnot. 

Who is this "we" anyway?  You know, I originally thought this product was the result of a well-meaning, overzealous author who maybe needed some direction.  But the more you talk, the more I wonder if this is some Private Label product that you are pushing.  Did you actually write this, or is it a private label PDF you got from someone else?

[*Sandy Harper*]

Julie... I thought your suggestions were sincere, but when I read between lines, I am sorry to say, you have found an easy way to put everything down by your favourite word scam. Every link, you're calling scam. If it's free link then the scam is because they will use your email. Even if it is true, anyone can filter that out.  I have not received any unsolicited email from those guys you suggest to collect email addresses. BTW, the other link is govt site.

FYI, I have spent lot of time to put the info together. Yes, I did take personal success stories of authors that worked for promoting their books. I sincerely think, I am doing a service to put everything together. All you're doing is judging without even reading the book because you didn't like the link. Then you keep bringing google search. What's wrong with that.  I will pay attention and appreciate, if you have any sincere suggestion. Have a nice day.