Now that murder mystery Evil in the Mirror has been released into the wild, my life is starting to change in subtle ways. With a flurry of rave reviews on Facebook and Websites selling the book, my ego has been caressed and messaged. While working hard to write an exciting and worthy novel, I didn't think ego would play any part if the book were to have success. Who am I kidding? I love it! To be recognized as a good writer is like chocolate on vanilla ice cream.
Of course, I was informed by many people early on, that, "You can't make any money as a newbie fiction writer. You have to write and publish self-help e-Books" Well, guess what? I wrote and self-published two good e-Books and still didn't make any money!
Where does that leave me now? Ah, yes, EGO...that's why being applauded makes me happy. You can't take it to the bank, but it sure feels good. Maybe that's why I started a sequel in earnest. I have not a clue where this writing murder mystery thing will take me, but I am totally committed on going there and I plan to take my inflated ego with me....
Write on,
Mitt
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
A Most Unforgettable Woman
Next year, Nancy Bradley and I celebrate our 50Th high school reunion in Escondido, California. We were all part of our own special click. Nancy, Larry Corona, Bob Thompson and his girlfriend Rheta, my twin brother, Walt, and his many girlfriends, Bob Dutcher, who played in same rock & roll band called the Pharaohs as Bob, Walt and I did. Oh, hell, I can't remember the whole cast of friends that made up our world. I do remember it was a simple and gentle time.
We all headed our separate ways in 1961 with our hot rods, AM radios and diplomas. It wasn't until our 40Th class reunion in 2001 (my first since graduating) that we were reunited. Not all of us made it, but Nancy and her husband, along with Bob Thompson and his wife, and Larry Corona were there with me and my wife, Sandy.
This reunion started an e-mail relationship with Nancy that would have a huge impact on my professional life. After many, many years in construction, I yearned to do the one thing economics would never allow. I wanted to be an author! Of course, Nancy was already a published author and thus started the encouragement that would give me the confidence to follow my dream.
Nancy never failed to help when I would e-mail and ask how to do this, that, and the other. Her advice was phenomenal, as was the Love that always emanated from her heart. Her encouragement helped me write my first self-published works, The Smoking Guardian Angel and Why I Ride Harleys. What came next surprised even ME. I wrote my first murder mystery novel, Evil in the Mirror which has been published by Wheatmark. I am now writing the sequel to Evil in the Mirror called Day Stalker.
It's been nine years since I have seen Nancy, but excitement is building because I am fortunate enough to meet up with her while she is on tour in Los Angeles in August. I can't tell you what an honor it will be to see her once again.
I recommend Nancy's newest book called, Be A Ghost Buster. Why not meet Nancy and her very interesting group of investigator for yourself?
Write on,
Mitt
We all headed our separate ways in 1961 with our hot rods, AM radios and diplomas. It wasn't until our 40Th class reunion in 2001 (my first since graduating) that we were reunited. Not all of us made it, but Nancy and her husband, along with Bob Thompson and his wife, and Larry Corona were there with me and my wife, Sandy.
This reunion started an e-mail relationship with Nancy that would have a huge impact on my professional life. After many, many years in construction, I yearned to do the one thing economics would never allow. I wanted to be an author! Of course, Nancy was already a published author and thus started the encouragement that would give me the confidence to follow my dream.
Nancy never failed to help when I would e-mail and ask how to do this, that, and the other. Her advice was phenomenal, as was the Love that always emanated from her heart. Her encouragement helped me write my first self-published works, The Smoking Guardian Angel and Why I Ride Harleys. What came next surprised even ME. I wrote my first murder mystery novel, Evil in the Mirror which has been published by Wheatmark. I am now writing the sequel to Evil in the Mirror called Day Stalker.
It's been nine years since I have seen Nancy, but excitement is building because I am fortunate enough to meet up with her while she is on tour in Los Angeles in August. I can't tell you what an honor it will be to see her once again.
I recommend Nancy's newest book called, Be A Ghost Buster. Why not meet Nancy and her very interesting group of investigator for yourself?
Write on,
Mitt
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Book Publishing 101
Click on the title of this blog and scroll down to the seven things you need to do when trying to publish a book. Out of the seven things that are suggested on this site, only three are real.
Novel Publishing Tips:
Familiarize yourself with the market. (You must have a target audience.)
Research publishers in your genre.
Research agents.
Write a query letter.
Don't let rejection stand in your way. (You can't please everyone.)
Once accepted, sit down with a lawyer and review your contract.
Have your next project already rolling. (Get busy with the sequel.)
The captioned tips are important. The rest are ludicrous. Unless you are a zillionaire, even if you find a publisher and agent who would take your book, you can't afford them. If you are a zillionaire, you are cruising on your yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean and could care less.
I could care less if you have money and if you do, why are you reading my blog? Go get some caviar or something and let we plebeians carry on with trying to publish a book!
OK, where were we....if you really want to publish your book, the only sensible way is with Publish on Demand or POD publishers. After many months of researching, I found Wheatmark Publishing and have never looked back. No, I don't work for this company. I am constantly mentioning their name because of the wonderful experience I have had and continue to have working with the Wheatmark team.
Listen up, I have an abundant mentality. There is enough for all of us in publishing land and unless you have a scarcity mentality, you will understand that helping others succeed is the only way to obtain success for yourself. I learn by teaching! I don't care if only one person reads this blog....it's worth every minute writing.
Now, here is something that will help inform you about what happens after your book is published. I wanted to know why the cover of Evil in the Mirror wasn't published yet on my Amazon site when it was already on the Wheatmark Book Store site, and how do I know who is buying books?
Write on,
Mittster
The answers from Wheatmark:
You are right … selling books is the bottom line!
As for where … that is hard to say.
Think of a stream of water … we put the electronic data about your book into the stream at the headwaters, the wholesaler. Big online book sellers pick up the data pretty quickly, all things considered. Amazon, B&N … maybe Borders (although it is unclear what they are doing these days).
Farther downstream you have smaller booksellers, including independents such as Powells. Each individual book seller makes independent decisions about which books to “pick up out of the stream” and when. Some booksellers pick up nearly all books. After all, since they don’t buy copies until they get an order, it costs them nothing to list as many books as they want. Some only list books which appeal to their target market – a specific niche.
Some of the listings you see in Amazon’s marketplace (those listings for “new and used”) are from independent booksellers and small niche markets. That doesn’t mean they actually have copies … only that they can get one when it is ordered.
So, the good news is that with distribution through a wholesaler, like Ingram, your book is available to any book seller who may choose to carry it by listing it for sale on their site.
Between this electronic exchange of data about your book between book sellers and the wholesaler, and print on demand technology making it possible for a book seller to order a single copy of your book as necessary to fill orders as they arrive, the potential for interested readers to find your book is greatly enhanced.
One final thought – the wholesaler does not report to us who purchased copies of your book. They report the number of copies they sold but not who bought them. So we are unable to tell you if copies were sold by Amazon, B&N, Powells or a mystery specialty site, etc. With such a presence in the marketplace, one could presume that Amazon might be generating most of the sales. But there is just no way to tell.
We don’t have a lot of detailed information about how and when Amazon processes book information and builds book pages. From what we’ve observed, however, it is clear that Amazon’s systems use several different processes with the information they get from the wholesaler, Ingram. It seems that several steps are involved in building book pages, with the image processing being the last one.
I monitor this and have noted that it seems to take several weeks for the book page to be completed, including the image.
All book sellers use the same source for information about books they offer for sale, the electronic data from the wholesaler. Each of them processes this data according to their own business rules and timetables. For example, it looks like Barnes & Noble has processed the cover image, but hasn’t yet processed the book descriptive text.
The bottom line is that your book’s pages on various book seller sites will settle down as they finish processing the data.
I’ll continue to monitor your book’s Amazon page and let you know when the cover image is up.
Hope that helps answer your questions.
Novel Publishing Tips:
Familiarize yourself with the market. (You must have a target audience.)
Research publishers in your genre.
Research agents.
Write a query letter.
Don't let rejection stand in your way. (You can't please everyone.)
Once accepted, sit down with a lawyer and review your contract.
Have your next project already rolling. (Get busy with the sequel.)
The captioned tips are important. The rest are ludicrous. Unless you are a zillionaire, even if you find a publisher and agent who would take your book, you can't afford them. If you are a zillionaire, you are cruising on your yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean and could care less.
I could care less if you have money and if you do, why are you reading my blog? Go get some caviar or something and let we plebeians carry on with trying to publish a book!
OK, where were we....if you really want to publish your book, the only sensible way is with Publish on Demand or POD publishers. After many months of researching, I found Wheatmark Publishing and have never looked back. No, I don't work for this company. I am constantly mentioning their name because of the wonderful experience I have had and continue to have working with the Wheatmark team.
Listen up, I have an abundant mentality. There is enough for all of us in publishing land and unless you have a scarcity mentality, you will understand that helping others succeed is the only way to obtain success for yourself. I learn by teaching! I don't care if only one person reads this blog....it's worth every minute writing.
Now, here is something that will help inform you about what happens after your book is published. I wanted to know why the cover of Evil in the Mirror wasn't published yet on my Amazon site when it was already on the Wheatmark Book Store site, and how do I know who is buying books?
Write on,
Mittster
The answers from Wheatmark:
You are right … selling books is the bottom line!
As for where … that is hard to say.
Think of a stream of water … we put the electronic data about your book into the stream at the headwaters, the wholesaler. Big online book sellers pick up the data pretty quickly, all things considered. Amazon, B&N … maybe Borders (although it is unclear what they are doing these days).
Farther downstream you have smaller booksellers, including independents such as Powells. Each individual book seller makes independent decisions about which books to “pick up out of the stream” and when. Some booksellers pick up nearly all books. After all, since they don’t buy copies until they get an order, it costs them nothing to list as many books as they want. Some only list books which appeal to their target market – a specific niche.
Some of the listings you see in Amazon’s marketplace (those listings for “new and used”) are from independent booksellers and small niche markets. That doesn’t mean they actually have copies … only that they can get one when it is ordered.
So, the good news is that with distribution through a wholesaler, like Ingram, your book is available to any book seller who may choose to carry it by listing it for sale on their site.
Between this electronic exchange of data about your book between book sellers and the wholesaler, and print on demand technology making it possible for a book seller to order a single copy of your book as necessary to fill orders as they arrive, the potential for interested readers to find your book is greatly enhanced.
One final thought – the wholesaler does not report to us who purchased copies of your book. They report the number of copies they sold but not who bought them. So we are unable to tell you if copies were sold by Amazon, B&N, Powells or a mystery specialty site, etc. With such a presence in the marketplace, one could presume that Amazon might be generating most of the sales. But there is just no way to tell.
We don’t have a lot of detailed information about how and when Amazon processes book information and builds book pages. From what we’ve observed, however, it is clear that Amazon’s systems use several different processes with the information they get from the wholesaler, Ingram. It seems that several steps are involved in building book pages, with the image processing being the last one.
I monitor this and have noted that it seems to take several weeks for the book page to be completed, including the image.
All book sellers use the same source for information about books they offer for sale, the electronic data from the wholesaler. Each of them processes this data according to their own business rules and timetables. For example, it looks like Barnes & Noble has processed the cover image, but hasn’t yet processed the book descriptive text.
The bottom line is that your book’s pages on various book seller sites will settle down as they finish processing the data.
I’ll continue to monitor your book’s Amazon page and let you know when the cover image is up.
Hope that helps answer your questions.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Have you ever been to the Amazon?
OK, I know this is a sneaky way to get you to look at my murder mystery, Evil in the Mirror, but it's also a way to express my gratitude to Amazon.com.
Even though Amazon has yet to publish my book cover image like Wheatmark Book Stores, I am sure, eventually, it will get done. In the meanwhile, I am reading Sell Your Book on Amazon by Brent Sampson, and what Amazon has accomplished in a few short years is astounding.
I once had a brick and mortar book store owner refuse to stock my book because it was also on Amazon. To this person, Amazon was a dirty word. I now know why; Amazon sells books. Holy crap, what a concept! When I finished my first self-help book, I pictured myself signing copies at book store parties faster than I could get them out of the boxes. The boxes are still full and sitting in my garage. Want one? It's free if you come get it.
I only have three book signings planned for the whole year and they are at events where friends and friends of friends will be attending. I won't sell many books, but it will give me some exposure to murder mystery buffs. I suppose, if I have to go, I might as well bask in a little limelight and get an ego lift. Lord knows we can all use that occasionally....
Write on,
Mittster
Even though Amazon has yet to publish my book cover image like Wheatmark Book Stores, I am sure, eventually, it will get done. In the meanwhile, I am reading Sell Your Book on Amazon by Brent Sampson, and what Amazon has accomplished in a few short years is astounding.
I once had a brick and mortar book store owner refuse to stock my book because it was also on Amazon. To this person, Amazon was a dirty word. I now know why; Amazon sells books. Holy crap, what a concept! When I finished my first self-help book, I pictured myself signing copies at book store parties faster than I could get them out of the boxes. The boxes are still full and sitting in my garage. Want one? It's free if you come get it.
I only have three book signings planned for the whole year and they are at events where friends and friends of friends will be attending. I won't sell many books, but it will give me some exposure to murder mystery buffs. I suppose, if I have to go, I might as well bask in a little limelight and get an ego lift. Lord knows we can all use that occasionally....
Write on,
Mittster
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Open Letter to Smokers
Dear smoker,
One day after 20 years of smoking, I realized that spending a fortune to feel like crap had to stop. I was so tired of waking up with a nicotine hangover! I simply put them down, walked away and smoked no more forever. It was the toughest thing I ever did in my life and even though my marriage failed, my life did not! My ex has continued smoking to this day and her health is now failing even though she is not yet 50 years old.
All the literature say's that nicotine is just as addictive as opiates. No wonder it's so hard to quit! The tobacco companies hooked us and then left us alone to figure out how to quit. I had tried all the patches and pills, but to no avail.
Please do not be too hard on yourself if you fail. Failure is just the precursor to success! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with YOUR life. This is YOUR life, but it is not a dress rehearsal. You only go around once. What you do today will dictate what your life will be like tomorrow.
I can't stand the thought of anyone having to lug a heavy air tank around in a wheel chair because they can't breathe, or having to deal with cancer or both!! I have lost loved ones to cancer and it is just horrible.
You are intelligent and beautiful. You do not have to give up even one of these attributes later in life if you will just stand up and be what you are! We do not need nicotine, alcohol or drugs to demonstrate our true nature. You are a Spiritual Being having a human experience. You have all the tools to quit smoking or anything else that is hurting you. Take a close look at my profile. What do you see? I am the example. I say this with modesty and humility. What you see is what you get when you tune into your true nature and tune out all the crap that makes you hurt inside until you break down and cry! Life is so wonderful. Am I sitting in a rocker waiting to die? No! I am going out kicking and screaming just like when I arrived. It comes down to choices you make now. Please write if you need support.
You’re Smoking Guardian Angel,
Mittster ():>)
One day after 20 years of smoking, I realized that spending a fortune to feel like crap had to stop. I was so tired of waking up with a nicotine hangover! I simply put them down, walked away and smoked no more forever. It was the toughest thing I ever did in my life and even though my marriage failed, my life did not! My ex has continued smoking to this day and her health is now failing even though she is not yet 50 years old.
All the literature say's that nicotine is just as addictive as opiates. No wonder it's so hard to quit! The tobacco companies hooked us and then left us alone to figure out how to quit. I had tried all the patches and pills, but to no avail.
Please do not be too hard on yourself if you fail. Failure is just the precursor to success! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with YOUR life. This is YOUR life, but it is not a dress rehearsal. You only go around once. What you do today will dictate what your life will be like tomorrow.
I can't stand the thought of anyone having to lug a heavy air tank around in a wheel chair because they can't breathe, or having to deal with cancer or both!! I have lost loved ones to cancer and it is just horrible.
You are intelligent and beautiful. You do not have to give up even one of these attributes later in life if you will just stand up and be what you are! We do not need nicotine, alcohol or drugs to demonstrate our true nature. You are a Spiritual Being having a human experience. You have all the tools to quit smoking or anything else that is hurting you. Take a close look at my profile. What do you see? I am the example. I say this with modesty and humility. What you see is what you get when you tune into your true nature and tune out all the crap that makes you hurt inside until you break down and cry! Life is so wonderful. Am I sitting in a rocker waiting to die? No! I am going out kicking and screaming just like when I arrived. It comes down to choices you make now. Please write if you need support.
You’re Smoking Guardian Angel,
Mittster ():>)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Best Way To Learn Is To Teach
OK, you have written your first novel, but it has to be proofed and edited, and if you don't get it professionally done, you will be forever sorry. Now, what do you do with the finished manuscript? The devil is in the details....At this point in time all you have invested is time.
Now comes the day when you either run with the big dogs or stay at home. There is no doubt you have heard all the horror stories about failure trying to get books published. Do I look for a traditional publisher, Publish on demand publisher (POD), or do I publish it myself?
I first tried the latter with two small books. I still have a garage of book-filled boxes. Can you imagine trying to proof, edit, copyright, attain ISBN and other assorted numbers, publish, print, distribute, promote, and most important, continue to write new works simultaneously? Forget it, Charlie, it ain't going to happen!
Let me tell you something else that ain't going to happen. Sending a manuscript to a tradition publisher is a total waste of time unless you are very well connected, in which case you probably wouldn't need a publisher in the first place. If I had a nickle for every manuscript I sent to a traditional publisher....well, you know the story. Do yourself a favor and save the postal money for notification cards after you get your book published the only way that makes sense in today's world.
POD publishing is the way to go for the unknown writer. Does it cost money? YES, but so does every other business enterprise on earth. It takes money to make money is the absolute truth. You need a grubstake and if you don't have one, forget quitting your day job! If money doesn't matter to you, do not waste your time reading this blog. Bug off and let my passionate writing brothers and sisters learn something.
Before you pick a POD, do your own research and make up your own mind. Just make sure your research is indepth before you choose. I chose Wheatmark because of the free educational programs they provide and the cost effective way they approached my personal publishing needs. I am through the process, my book is finished and on the Web, and the rest is up to me. Promotion is the author's chore and no one else can or will do it.
Have a great day....I have promotions to do!
Write on,
Mittster
Now comes the day when you either run with the big dogs or stay at home. There is no doubt you have heard all the horror stories about failure trying to get books published. Do I look for a traditional publisher, Publish on demand publisher (POD), or do I publish it myself?
I first tried the latter with two small books. I still have a garage of book-filled boxes. Can you imagine trying to proof, edit, copyright, attain ISBN and other assorted numbers, publish, print, distribute, promote, and most important, continue to write new works simultaneously? Forget it, Charlie, it ain't going to happen!
Let me tell you something else that ain't going to happen. Sending a manuscript to a tradition publisher is a total waste of time unless you are very well connected, in which case you probably wouldn't need a publisher in the first place. If I had a nickle for every manuscript I sent to a traditional publisher....well, you know the story. Do yourself a favor and save the postal money for notification cards after you get your book published the only way that makes sense in today's world.
POD publishing is the way to go for the unknown writer. Does it cost money? YES, but so does every other business enterprise on earth. It takes money to make money is the absolute truth. You need a grubstake and if you don't have one, forget quitting your day job! If money doesn't matter to you, do not waste your time reading this blog. Bug off and let my passionate writing brothers and sisters learn something.
Before you pick a POD, do your own research and make up your own mind. Just make sure your research is indepth before you choose. I chose Wheatmark because of the free educational programs they provide and the cost effective way they approached my personal publishing needs. I am through the process, my book is finished and on the Web, and the rest is up to me. Promotion is the author's chore and no one else can or will do it.
Have a great day....I have promotions to do!
Write on,
Mittster
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Do You Remember Simple?
When I was a youngster growing up, the Coppertone ad was considered cute. Now? You could get arrested for having the picture on your computer.
Pinup girls were as risque as it got and even though, as early teens, we told each other how we would like to see a pinup girl totally naked. The truth was that we would have been scared to death if we had. It was the thought that counted.
Back in the day is a cliche that is used often, probably because it is important that we reflect on simpler times. It's food for the soul. Speaking of soul food....do you remember The Andy Griffith Show? How about The Cisco Kid or Howdy Doody? And, what about Walt Disney? Now, there are some simple times you can still experience at his theme parks!
Maybe we can learn something from Forrest Gump, because he was the epitome of simple is, as simple does. We should all spend one hour a day keeping it simple. Sorta like me and today's blog....My simple hour is up now and I am going back to selling my book!
I'm just saying,
Mittster
Pinup girls were as risque as it got and even though, as early teens, we told each other how we would like to see a pinup girl totally naked. The truth was that we would have been scared to death if we had. It was the thought that counted.
Back in the day is a cliche that is used often, probably because it is important that we reflect on simpler times. It's food for the soul. Speaking of soul food....do you remember The Andy Griffith Show? How about The Cisco Kid or Howdy Doody? And, what about Walt Disney? Now, there are some simple times you can still experience at his theme parks!
Maybe we can learn something from Forrest Gump, because he was the epitome of simple is, as simple does. We should all spend one hour a day keeping it simple. Sorta like me and today's blog....My simple hour is up now and I am going back to selling my book!
I'm just saying,
Mittster
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