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Training: A Must When Building Your Author Platform

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Training has made a drastic difference for me in building my author platform. I have experienced great results in a short span of time, just by doing some essential author training.

Amazon Marketing Services

Within just a month, one of my books rose from an overall Amazon books rank of 1.8 million all the way down (or up depending on how you interpret it) to 34,000 on May 5, showing at #3 and #5 in two categories, and at #137 in a third category where I previously ranked at over #2,600. What made this difference was running sponsored ads through Amazon Marketing Services.

Amazon rankingBestseller rankings

Initially, I wasn’t using this marketing service because I didn’t know how to go about it, and was afraid of losing money.

Through a bit of training however, I set up my first campaign at the start of April, and was able to quickly move up the ranks and generated over a dozen book sales.

Email Marketing

Another area I was afraid to touch for years is email marketing. I thought it may be complicated and that I just couldn’t understand it well enough to do it. Now, after doing some training in recent weeks, I am pleased to now have a sign up form and my first email list. Finally, I have now started learning all the fancy things I never thought I would be able to do.

Ongoing Learning

Some of the actions I need to take as an author to grow my career, feels very hard, but with ongoing learning I will know how to do things in the right way.

Many of us spent years in university studying for degrees before we could pursue a suitable job and career. It is the same thing when pursuing a career as an author. The main difference is that author training does not have to be anywhere as expensive as a university education. There are affordable courses on Udemy. There are also courses on Lynda.com and through Author Marketing Club, all very affordable. Moreover, ongoing learning helps clarify the things that are difficult and unclear.

So, I would encourage any writer looking to build their author platform, to invest in valuable training. It will make the difference to your long term success.

Best regards

Karlene

Print Books are Still Very Much Alive

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Print books are by no means dead, they are very much alive. Yes kindle e-books are selling like hot bread but there is still a market for print books.

Libraries, Bookstores and Supermarkets

When I first wrote my books I never had libraries in mind for sure. Well to be honest, I didn’t think most things through and didn’t have any detailed marketing plan in mind. But it was very pleasing when the local library asked to purchase 7 copies each of my initial two books.

Prior to my publisher mentioning the supermarkets to me, I never thought of them as an outlet for my books, yet I have received good sales over the years through them with my inspirational fiction book, You Can Rise Up.

you can rise up at supermarket

Joe Dreamer at Book NookBookstores are a bit trickier, as they don’t accept books as easily, and even when they do, the books can sit on the shelves for more than a year without sales. My latest book, Meet the Imaginative Joe Dreamer, hit the shelves of Book Nook in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands less than two weeks ago, and I have so far made three sales. This is no massive achievement, but it’s still sales. Sales mean that those customers who bought the book had some interest in the book and its content to have made the purchase. Moreover, it didn’t take a year for me to make a sale, it took less than two weeks to sell three copies. This is with no active promotions. I did not do a local book signing and I have done no local advertising of the book thus far. No television talk shows, no radio talks, nothing. Just word of mouth and the bookstore’s flier on the door. That will change, I promise. Marketing is always a must and not just digitally, but also locally.

Print books versus E-books

I must admit that I do prefer publishing e-books over print books, but with good reason. Honestly, it is a very painful process going the print route. Figuring out what to put on the back cover, doing multiple rounds of editing, doing revisions and reprinting. Then ordering enough copies for local distribution and determining the best channels to market locally. It has been very challenging.

E-books are easier for me. I do just a front cover. If I need to make changes I easily do so and re-upload the document to kindle direct publishing. Easy peasy.

Despite the ease with going the e-books route though, it is a huge satisfaction when I see my books displayed on shelves of supermarkets and bookstores, and any author should take pride in that also.

Journey of Miracles

Well as you would guess, my next book release will hit the kindle stores first, before they hit bookshelves. Journey of Miracles through a Young Girl’s Eyes is currently on pre-order on Amazon. It will be released later in May. The print version will follow eventually, but it will not be too soon :-).
Best regards

Karlene

HAPPY ANIMALS

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Review of Happy Animals

I recently read a copy of Happy Animals, written by Gerald Hawksley. I was curious after seeing the title. Who were these happy animals and what were they so happy about?

Two Books in One

I found it interesting that the author has done the clever thing of merging two books into one. The first is a rhyming book showing the different activities of the animals, while the second book showcases different animals going off to sleep and the readers get to tell them good night.

Cute Read

I found the first book more enjoyable than the first, but overall it’s a cute read. Should be very enjoyable for smaller children. The text are mostly one liners and the illustrations are captivating, bright and animated, which are appropriate for the age group the author has catered to – ages 0 to 5. My three year old son loves it for a bedtime story.

A lot of readers are clearly happy with the book, as so far it has earned 117 positive reviews, with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5.

About the Author

The author, Gerald Hawksley, is certainly talented. He is both author and illustrator, and even an astronaut. Fancy that! His various book titles and his Amazon autobiography give us a glimpse into his love for animals and his witty sense of humor.

Conclusion

I recommend this book title for anyone with small children, especially if you are a parent who love reading to your little ones. It will also be a great read for preschoolers who are just learning to read, as the texts are few on each page. If you love reading bedtime stories to your children, then this two in one book will serve as a wonderful resource, especially since the second book shows the animals going to sleep, and allow your little ones to tell them good night. Grab your copy today.

 

Praise For Meet the Imaginative Joe Dreamer

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About Meet the Imaginative Joe Dreamer

In Meet the Imaginative Joe Dreamer, a young boy uses his creativity and imagination to solve his childhood problems. Joe Dreamer’s parents are entertained by his creativity and sense of humor, and similarly, the book serves to encourage young children to be creative and imaginative.

Positive and Happy

An Amazon customer has reviewed and described this book as happy. He says “the story’s overall message is therapeutic and happy.” He ends his review by saying “Power to the positive and to the imagination.” This pleases me and fulfills one of my intentions for the book. This cozy picture book is a great read for any family, as it brings together exciting ingredients of the Caribbean, imagination and viewing problem solving through a young child’s eyes.

Get a Preview of the Book

I would like to share a view of the book with you; just click on the preview tab in the image below. Feel free to share the message also.

First in a Series

Meet the Imaginative Joe Dreamer is the first in a series of children’s picture book. Later on, in just under two months, we will see the second book in this series, Joe Dreamer’s Easter Bunny. Watch this space for more on this in the coming weeks.

In this first edition, Joe faces the challenge of going to the beach on a day when it rains. How do you imagine a typical child would react to the outburst of rain just when he is enjoying his day on the beach? Well, the Amazon customer remembers “seeing a disgruntled child punching the rain by a beach. He was so unhappy because the weather had spoilt his day.” Our little Joe Dreamer takes a different approach, and I tell you all about it in this thrilling story. I look forward to hearing your feedback on this first series, while I get ready to share more with you about the next book in the series.

Best regards

Karlene

Journey of Miracles – Through a Young Girl’s Eyes

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A few weeks ago I spoke of my reverse and reset process where I would revise and rebrand some of my books. This process has led to my new book title  – Journey of Miracles, Through A Young Girl’s Eyes.

Journey of Miracles

Journey of Miracles, Through A Young Girl’s Eyes is the revised and rebranded version of Let My Soul Bare, A Young Girl’s Emotional Journey. Yes, it’s a different title, because the changes are quite significant. The Point of View has changed completely. As you can imagine from just the title and subtitle, Let My Soul Bare explored a young girl’s emotional journey; the kind of journey that one reader described as being an “emotional roller-coaster.” Journey of Miracles puts on a positive spin, and is from the point of view of miracles. What both book versions share in common is a story told through the eyes of a young girl. I won’t say too much at this stage, as we still have a few weeks to go before the launch. The manuscript is still in editing phase.

Lessons Learned

There is a famous quote that states “mistakes are meant for learning, not repeating!” I couldn’t agree more. As mentioned in my post about my writer journey, starting out I didn’t put enough effort into ensuring my book was properly edited and had the best design. But after the experience of having a poorly edited book be heavily marketed and earning royalties, this time I wanted to do things right. Journey of Miracles has already been through two rounds of editing and is now going through the process of developmental editing and proofreading.

Miracles

Why miracles? I like to look at the beauty in life, the tiny miracles. As I explain in the book, miracle is not limited to just turning water into wine or walking on water kind of events. In fact, some dictionaries use the words “extraordinary” and “unusual” to define the kind of events that make a miracle. These are the types of miracles that we see in Journey of Miracles, Through A Young Girl’s Eyes. I will share more with you in upcoming weeks.

Cheers to you on your own journey.

Best regards

Karlene

 

Outsourcing is Good, but Beware

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Outsourcing for independent publishers or Indie Authors can be a good thing, because you can’t always do everything on your own. You also want to save time and costs.

Get Clear on Your Goals

You need to get clear on what you want to achieve, when you are looking to outsource aspects of your work, such as the editing, design and formatting. If, for example, you are aiming for a bestseller book, your goals should align accordingly. So, if you are on a tight budget, it doesn’t tie in with your goals if you choose to outsource the book editing to someone who may not give you high quality, even if he/she charges significantly less. Although you want to save on costs, remember your goal is to have a bestselling book, so don’t sacrifice on quality.

Five Star Reviews

Going further on the point of quality, beware of who you choose to do business with. There are freelance services available, where various skilled people are competing with each other to offer the same services. 5 starsEach person is keen on getting positive reviews in order to keep ahead of the competition. Naturally, you want a bestselling book, so you choose the person with 300 five star reviews, over the person with two five star reviews, and over the person with 300 four star reviews. But everyone wants five star reviews.

 

It’s All About the Money

Now this is where things get tricky, because five star reviews equals higher demand and more money for that five star rated individualGraph Money dollar. Increase revenue. The company profits. A pill. Some persons can keep up with this higher demand and supply their customers with continued quality service and low costs. But what happens when they can’t or don’t.

A sample scenario is where you solicit a five star rated individual, who then delivers your work a day or two late, and communicated poorly throughout the process. You like the end product, but you take away points for the poor communication and late delivery. You give him a rating of 4.8 and you provide a nice written feedback. He writes you with surprise, expressing concern that you didn’t like his work and that he receives mostly five star reviews. From his point of view you have essentially put his income at risk.

Keep your goals in mind and do not compromise. If you are on a timeline to meet your goal, then he has now set you back by a day or two. Maybe you could forgive the timing, but due to the limited communication, you didn’t know what was happening. Independent publishers are usually keen on having control over the process, so good communication is important. Communication is also vital because if there are issues or questions, these can get addressed early. If you are dealing with tardiness in addition to poor communication, then you will be set back with your goals even further.

You do have good help available at affordable costs, but you want to be clear on your goals, and beware of what factors you are up against. Ensure that the service you receive matches with what you want.

Reverse and Reset – Revising and Rebranding My Books

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I have started a process of reverse and reset, to improve my author platform experience. While I have made good book sales, and many persons have told me they like my books, I didn’t do things perfectly when I first launched into the author world. At first, things seemed to work, but with increasing knowledge and awareness, I learned how things could be improved.

Write, Edit, Design, Publish

On my journey, l have learned that being an author means more than just writing a book. It means editing, book formatting and design, book cover design and choosing the right publisher or publishing option.

Print On Demand

Ten years ago, I wrote my first book, and when considering publishing options, I came across a company that offered “print-on-demand” publishing. It sounded great at the time; they sold the idea of printing copies of the book only when a buyer requested those copies, thereby avoiding excess copies printed and stored in a warehouse. They enticed me with huge marketing opportunities, at an affordable price. As a result, I overlooked that they would not assist with the editing. Big mistake. The outcome was a great story that people enjoyed, and which earned me book sales and royalties, but was poor on quality, in my estimation. Ten years later, I am doing a reverse and reset of that process, by rebranding that first book under a new title and new design. The new manuscript is currently being edited. I will give you more details about it in a future post.

Seven years ago, I had made the same mistake with my second book, You Can Rise Up.  I don’t believe I made any book sales or royalties at first. Not until I switched to a publisher that cared about the look of the book, and about the editing. I would like to share with you below, the three cover versions this book has gone through, since 2010 to now.

YouCanRiseUp

My choice with no designer or publisher advice

 

My title and sub-title choices, but with publisher and designer input

My title and sub-title choices, but with publisher and designer input

 

Final version after publisher and readers feedback

Final version after publisher and readers feedback

 

I expect you will agree that the final outcome was far better than the first. I have come a long way in 7 to 10 years.

Currently Unavailable – Reverse and Reset

A few of my titles are now showing up as “Currently Unavailable” due to the reverse and reset process I am undergoing. This is temporary, but unavoidable, as a changeover is happening. Some titles are going through one or more factors, including change of distributor, change of publisher, new formatting and design, new cover design. I do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The books will be available again very soon.

Best regards

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My Writer Journey…Shocking, But Satisfying

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Writer Journey

My writer journey has been quite the shocker. I went from having published articles in my home country’s local newspaper, to having my published books available internationally, including on the shelves in supermarkets and bookstores.

Just a Hobby

I must confess that when I started on this journey, I did not take my writing seriously, and that is my regret.

But how could I? There were teachers and family members saying, “writers don’t make much money. Do journalism instead.” So, I took their advice and I pursued my Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Communication, followed by my Masters degree in Communication for Social and Behaviour Change. But through it all, journalism just wasn’t the creative writing that I enjoy. Nonetheless, I figured my creative writing pursuits would just be a hobby.

Big Wide World of TV, Radio, Press and Book Fairs

When I wrote my first book, I thought, okay, I will bare my soul, and just get my bottled up inspiration out on paper. I thought, maybe the bookstores will take some copies, and friends will purchase as well. But things spiraled very quickly. First came my name and books splashed all over the Internet, on various book marketing websites, such as barnesandnoble.com, goodreads, scribd, and more. Then came radio, television and newspaper interviews. Then I was onto local book fairs and YouTube videos. Looking back, while my high school and university days of being featured in the local newspapers felt pretty cool, none of that gave me the expectancy of one day becoming recognized as an author in my new overseas home.

Dream Big

I have learnt many lessons along the way, after making many mistakes. It is for that reason, I have spent the last three plus years working on and constantly improving my latest project, Meet the Imaginative Joe Dreamer, which will soon be in people’s homes, and on their bookshelves.

3d

Now I know that possibilities are endless, so I no longer think small. Whatever wasn’t done properly in the beginning, I will go back and rebrand, and whatever I do going forward, will be done with great care and great expectation.

Now I learn all I can and try new things. One of my latest moves is joining Author Marketing Club as a member, which provides me with very useful author resources to help me on my writer path. I can’t change the past, but I can certainly move forward and improve my writer experience and success.

Feel free to leave me a comment below. Maybe share your own journey.

Cheers,

Karlene

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You Can Rise Up in 2017

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As you go about this new year, looking to overcome challenges or failures of the past year, just know that you can rise up past the old you and your old circumstances, to create the life that you want. It begins now.

What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

Is it weight loss? Maybe you gained 20 pounds in the past year that you would like to shed this year? Maybe you lost your job, and now you need to pick up the pieces and start fresh. Whatever it is, just trust that you can overcome, and that you are resilient enough to stand again.

In this intriguing new novel, You Can Rise Up, we follow Carla Henderson on her journey through struggle, tragedy and pain, to a place of hope and persistence. Watch this video below for a snapshot of what you can expect, how Carla’s life was changed, and how this book can change your life as well.

Rising from a Dark Place

Here’s an excerpt from You Can Rise Up:

I felt as if I should have been in my dad’s place. I should have been the one stabbed and killed that night. My dad was a good person and a good husband to my mom. They had been married thirty-two years, and two idiots had taken his life senselessly.

I wondered what purpose my life served, if any. I was experiencing low after low after low. My world was dark. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. My hair started to fall out from the stress. It was all too much.

A New Year, A New Book

Have you ever felt like this? Like you have been faced with one disappointment after another, one low blow after another? Can anyone come back from all that? Carla Henderson did. Find out how by getting your copy today from Amazon. If you reside in the Cayman Islands, pick up your copy from local bookstore Books and Books, or from Foster’s Supermarket, Airport Centre.

Don’t let the past hold you back, remember, you can rise up past your struggles.

Cheers to the best you in 2017! Feel free to leave me a comment below.

Best wishes

Karlene

 

Celebrate Family this Holiday Season with Mixbook

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Celebrate Family

“Think of your family today and everyday thereafter, don’t let the busy world of today keep you from showing how much you love and appreciate family.” – Josiah

While you are out getting Christmas decorations, out partying or just working hard, remember to celebrate family. As you are hustling and bustling about, being the busy bee, fixing up your Christmas tree, making loads of time only for “me”, just remember the people who care about you the most – family.  Mixbook has great, simple and affordable options that you can use this holiday season to show you care and provide a tangible reminder to your loved ones every day of the importance of family.

Photo Greeting Cards

Don your best outfit, craft up your winning smile; to create the scene for the most beautiful display of your love and family beauty. Below are just a few of the amazing, stunning photo greeting card options Mixbook can offer you, in celebration of your family this holiday season.

Mixbook’s Holiday Card Collection
And even if the card option is not for you, there are other ways you can celebrate your family with Mixbook too. Inviting friends and family over for the holidays? Well how about some splendid home décor? Go to Mixbook and see their fabulous prints choices right here at Mixbook’s Home Decor

As you think of family, I would like you to consider the definition in the words of the following quote:

“Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.” – Unknown

So celebrate your love of family this holiday season with your cherished friends, your church members, anyone you consider as family.

Cheers to a very merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Best wishes,

Karlene

You Still Have Time to Get that Perfect Gift

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Last Minute Gift Ideas

You may have handled quite a bit of your holiday shopping over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but inevitably there are a few people that have not been checked off your list. The days are not getting any longer, and you should be on the train as it pulls away from procrastination station. As always, Mixbook has you covered with some great last minute gift ideas!

Mixbook has introduced a new type of wall art – Metal, Acrylic and Poster Prints. The industrial and cool Metal Prints still have the same vibrant colors as all others but with an edge. Rugged enough for a man cave and sturdy enough to withstand kiddo-traffic heavy spaces. They come ready to hang and won’t shatter if they are dropped.

Mixbook’s Metal Prints

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, look no further. Mixbook’s curved Metal Prints are your answer. With a unique curved edge, this is eye catching piece will add finesse to any living or office space. Impress your hard-to-shop-for friend with this unique gift, customizable with any photo and exclusive to Mixbook’s home decor collection.

Acrylic Prints have a glass-like finish with brilliant clarity. They are a sleek and contemporary eye-catching gift idea. Missing something for the friend or family member who’s basement is filled with music posters from years past? Spice up their space with another customized poster to match their collection. Select your favorite image from an old road trip and you are ready to go!

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget about Mixbook’s Instagram books and photo prints. These quick to make books are bound to make a great gift, and you already have all the photo inspiration right on your Instagram account! Act fast to make sure that all your holiday shopping gets done in plenty of time so that your only remaining task is to relax and have some egg nog.

Affiliate Exclusive-Buy More Save More 40% Off, 50% Off $100+,

 

My new What If eBook now on Amazon

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Hello,

I would like to share great news with you. Today I have accomplished a goal that I have been looking forward to for the last three years. Three years ago I had the idea of writing a third book. Let My Soul Bare and You Can Rise Up being the first and second respectively. I mentioned an idea to a close friend about writing a blog that would eventually become my third book.

I pondered what would I write a book about that could also be the subject of a blog, so because at the time I found myself wondering “what if” quite a bit, i thought Ahh, that will be the subject of my blog, and ultimately, my new book.

bookimageSo I began a blog where I asked what if about various circumstances. Much of it was about matters in my own life, some of it inspirational. Then for the purpose of a book, I wanted fresh material, never before seen on my blog, so I delved into subject matters that were even controversial, raising questions such as “what if God did not exist?” Bearing in mind that every question raised is not to propose a certain theory, but rather, to explore my imagination as to what would be if it were so.

So I finally got the book completed and I am so pleased that it is finally published and available for sale on Amazon. It is offered at a highly affordable price, less than a dollar, only 99 cents. So if you are looking for an affordable read that’s fun and will pick your brain at the same time, then What If… All You Can Imagine is the right book for you.