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Welcome everyone to another episode of the Self-Publishing Roundtable, the weekly news and interview show for indie authors, by indie authors.
Have we really done 30 of these already? I can’t believe how much the show has adapted and grown since our first episode, over thirty weeks ago. Things are continuing to change and we have some really exciting content and guests coming up in the next few weeks. It’s going to be epic!
Speaking of guests…
The Self-Publishing Roundtable is excited to welcome Theresa Ragan to this show this week. Many of you may recognise Theresa’s lovely face from the Kindle Direct Publishing Newsletter. Yes, Theresa is the poster girl for KDP! (Okay, we aren’t sure if her picture is still on there but it was!)
Theresa self-published a pair of time travel romances in March of 2011. Two years later, in March of 2013 she clocked her one millionth sale. We are beyond excited to have her with us today, and look forward to picking her brain. We’ll be discussing everything from pricing to translations.
We’ll be monitoring the comments, so if you have a question please post it there. If it isn’t on our list, we will make sure to get to them all by the end of the interview.
As always, we will be discussing the big news stories of the week and hopefully Theresa will stay with us to add her opinion to that discussion.
There are quite a few stories, but we will probably only have time to feature the first four or five on the live show. I’ll include links of the rest for your own interest.
Here’s the news…
| Author Rant After Agent Fleecing | shared by Trish |
A blog post by an author that had a really bad time with, and got scammed out of $800 by an agent. While that it’s an interesting story, it should be a good topic to discuss where you can find a good agent, and how to evaluate starting that relationship.
| Publish America Joins Foreign Translations | shared by Trish |
It would appear that Publish America has changed their name to America Star Books. They also have a new gimmick, translations.
Like its spiritual cousin, SBPRA, America Star/PublishAmerica seems to have discovered that foreign authors are the new growth market in publishing. The company does have a poor reputation, so it will be interesting to see what comes of this, and those foreign authors who get involved.
| Chuck Wendig Says Indies Should Start Acting Professional | shared by Trish |
Now this was a controversial, but in my opinion, needed blog post by Chuck Wendig. It has certainly sparked a lot of heated debate across the Indieverse, including the Kindle Boards and the comments on his blog. He has also done a follow up post due to the reaction. There was a particularly lively discussion between Chuck and Hugh Howey in the comments. I personally agree with most of what Chuck had to say, and feel all indies should start acting like a professional business. That view isn’t shared by everyone. I think this hot topic will bring some more interesting discussion.
| Penguin Prints On Demand | shared by Trish |
Which isn’t actually the issue, the issue is that apparently the job they do on these POD books is really bad–so bad and involved agent blogged about it. Is this a strange move? I’m not sure what the end game is or the motivation behind it. Almost anyone can make a decent POD book with Createspace or Lightning Source these days.
That’s about all we are likely to cover live.
Other stories in the news:
| Authors: Publishers Do A Better Job At Publishing | shared by Crissy |
Take the results with a grain of salt, but an interesting article anyway.
| Sensory Fiction | shared by Trish |
The reader is hooked up to an apparatus which will cause the same sensations in the reader’s body that the character in the book is feeling. Does anyone else see the potential for a horror story here? I don’t think anything our good friend David W Wright writes should be allowed in the program. People would never be the same again.
| The NEW Self-Publishing | shared by Trish |
Taking a look at two authors who went straight into self-publishing without every trying the traditional route.
| Women Can’t Write Sci-FI? | shared by Crissy |
There has been an argument festering among a lot of the writers over at SFWA. It’s gotten some press. So has the Hugo awards. And while this mainly impacts trad writers, it does also bleed over into self pub ranks because of the stigma that “ladies can’t write scifi”.
Crissy found this Kickstarter interesting, and I bet there is some interesting news behind it to come. We may talk about this subject in the future in more details.
| Epilogue | shared by Carl |
I just wanted to post something this week… so there you go.
I hope the show has your interest peaked. We had a huge show last week with Brenna Aubrey. This is going to be huge too! You never know who may show up in the comments live, so be sure to join us for all the fun on the site.
If you want to be sure not to miss any of our uploaded videos, then you can subscribe to our YouTube channel here: Self-Publishing Roundtable.
Looking forward to seeing everyone, Thursday Night at 7 PM PST / 10 PM EST.
If you are a first time visitor to the site and show – this is where the fun happens.
Sign up for a commenting account and join us live for the stream here on Thursday night. We love to interact with the live viewers, see their comments and discussion and add them to the show. This show is for indies, by insies and we love to involve you any way we can.
Roll call!
Present! But about to go grab a bite to eat, so I’ll BRB.
SIR CAPTAIN WADE SIR!
Carl Sinclair If this is where the fun happens, where does the MAGIC happen?
We are about ready to start. Anyone new watching here – feel free to sign up and join in the commenting. We like to involve you in the show.
Good evening.
In my pants
Darren Wearmouth Welcome Darren
We are live!
It’s must-see TV on Thursday night!
Greetings, friends
melissadonovan We do go up against a talking dog show… so…
Budmeister !
BuddyGott Welcome Buddy.
Carl Sinclair melissadonovanNo contest there.
Carl Sinclair BuddyGott Wade, Carl…my boys!
BuddyGott Howdy!
Hey Melissa
melissadonovan BuddyGott Howdy, Melissa!
BuddyGott SUP DUDER. JUST CHILLAXIN U?
xgranville BuddyGott Xavier!
Carl Sinclair melissadonovanDogs can TALK?! What am I even DOING here?
If you have questions for Theresa leave them here.
Yeah guys speak up!
What an incredible story. Wow.
Carl Sinclair Star signs? Chinese Zodiac?
Which is more important: Control over your product with Self Publishing versus Sales Garnered by Traditional Publisher BUT the product has become something different from what you originally set out to write.
In short…MONEY OR POWER?!?!?!
I’m heeeeeeere!!!!
BrennaAubrey Breeeeenna!
BrennaAubrey Greetings, Brenna
BrennaAubrey Ahoy!
Hey Brenna!
Sorry I’m late. I was skyping with my buddy cuz I needed some advice 🙂 I’m going to back track and watch the beginning later. It’s almost as good as a DVR!
Howdy all
What an awesome show! Thanks for the heads up, BuddyGott . Loving it. I’m mesmerized. 😀
Howdy
David Anson Greetings and salutations!
MelissaLummis BuddyGott My pleasure. Love spreading the word about these great people.
MelissaLummis BuddyGott Welcome to the circus. Cotton candy?
xgranville MelissaLummis BuddyGott Does that go well with champagne? I’m celebrating tonight.
Melissa Lummis in the house!
MelissaLummis xgranville BuddyGott Cotton candy goes with everything. True story.
writerwade Hey, Wade! *waves* 😀
BuddyGott MelissaLummisxgranville His science holds up! Science, I tells you!
What’s your favorite Linkin Park song?
How does the Kindle Worlds program work? Does the author of the original book get royalties from the fan fiction?
BrennaAubrey I’ll come back to this question for you Brenna.
BrennaAubrey I believe so.
xgranville Bleed it Out!
BrennaAubrey I think they get a certain premium for opening the world, plus a certain percentage.
MelissaLummis xgranville That’s what I’m talking about.
Carl Sinclair BrennaAubrey no rush 🙂
BrennaAubrey When the third book is out, I’ll be opening the Dinosaur Noir universe. Have fun, Buddy haha.
xgranville BrennaAubrey I’m all over it, Xavier!
I need to put my daughter to work!
MelissaLummis Send her to school tomorrow and have her pass out flyers about your new book that was just released today!
MelissaLummis I wish. I can’t even get mine to do thier chores
BuddyGott MelissaLummis Yeah, that it’ll go over well. I’ll get a call from the cute assistant principle asking why I have my daughter peddling sex books at school. lmao! 😉
MelissaLummis BuddyGott Easy; For money Principal guy.
I feel loved.
xgranville Of course you are!
crissymoss xgranville Silly hats for the after party!?
xgranville We just need content – you asked…. na we love you.
Carl Sinclair MelissaLummis BuddyGott I like your style, Carl. 🙂
Carl Sinclair xgranville Tanks, Budday.
I can never understand readers getting angry with writers for switching up genres. People, read the book descriptions before you buy them. If you don’t like the genre, don’t buy the book. It’s that easy.
BuddyGott I was thinking the same thing.
BuddyGott Yeah but…reading something about something I’m going to read? Sounds like Inception to me.
BuddyGott I think people expect a certain type of book. When they don’t get it, they feel abandoned. Sometimes anyway.
Carl, just remember that Gott mean God in German. That’s all you need to know.
I so want to explore German translation. My English book sales there are pretty good! It seems intimidating!
BuddyGott Also, some fans don’t seem to mind. Stephen King has done well in several genres.
BrennaAubrey I’ll translate it for 2000
BuddyGott Xavier Granville translates to ‘New House Big City’. That’s what you get to know!
BuddyGott my married name was “god’s mountain” in german, so I know that much german.
Carl Sinclair BrennaAubrey wow such a deal!!!!!!!! Can you translate it into kiwi for me too? :p
melissadonovan BuddyGott Very true. Same with John Grisham. In fact, I often prefer his non-legal thrillers.
I’m here! Finally…
JayChastain Hi Jay
JayChastain Did SPP answer any of your questions? HAH
BuddyGott JayChastain HELLOOO
JayChastain HI Jay
I want to get my books translated into Klingon.
xgranville JayChastain LOL ALL OF THEM
Carl Sinclair BrennaAubrey :-p
David Anson JayChastain Chello
JayChastain xgranvilleI eventually just starting spamming.
xgranville JayChastain I think that’s our duty at some point
melissadonovan I can also do that. 5000. Seriously. KaPla!
Guys, who let the dogs out?
xgranville Who who who who
Carl Sinclair xgranville Cindy Loo?
JayChastain Carl Sinclairxgranville Who was no older than two!
Sperm donors can have their stuff transported to Germany. I’m not going to elaborate on how I know that.
How do you say “holy crap!” in German?
BrennaAubrey Holy shizah!
BuddyGott Oh but you want to…
xgranville JayChastain Carl Sinclair I just got tunnel vision.. though that could be the LSD
xgranville JayChastain Carl Sinclair Or DMT
I’m having deja vu right now.
BuddyGott Always with the too much information, my friend.
melissadonovan I’m having deja vu right now too…
Carl Sinclair melissadonovan I have a feeling you just said that already
Carl Sinclair melissadonovan I’m having deja vu right now too…
Any pants tonight?
Can anyone here translate Canadian? No editor of mine seems to know what I’m talking aboot.
writerwade Don’t be silly, Wade
Who reset the Matrix?
xgranville What you talking about eh?
xgranville just add “Sorry” and “you betcha” a lot
BrennaAubrey Carl SinclairmelissadonovanI’m having deja vu about you guys having deja vu.
xgranville Like the guy walks down the street, eh? And he’s a total hoser. So he goes into the Tim Horton’s…
BuddyGott writerwade I kind of want to write book called “Silly Wade”… maybe a Indian Erotica
BrennaAubrey xgranville Nailed it. Shall we start this translation business together?
xgranville Just add “a” to the end of every sentence
writerwade God no. Why would anyone wear pants?
melissadonovan writerwade Pants reference.
Carl Sinclair melissadonovanwriterwadeTake a shot, Carl.
melissadonovan Carl Sinclair writerwade I’m not wearing any….
melissadonovan Or Tolkien’s Elven
Carl Sinclair melissadonovanwriterwadeYou’re probably wearing shorts then.
BrennaAubrey xgranville I need to start using ‘hoser’ in my everyday vocabulary more often. Beauty, eh? What a day. Go for a rip bud? Get some burrs? Have a go about er?
melissadonovan Dun dun dun…
You’re my type of gal!
Those Indie Voice authors are SHARP! I love their ideas. I especially love THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT SELF PUBLISHING.
I can translate into Valley Girl. Perfect for that 80s vibe.
BrennaAubrey It’s mostly because of them, partly because of my featured body on the cover.
melissadonovan Like, totally?
xgranville melissadonovanFor sure.
OMG I want to go to BEA now!
melissadonovan Valley Girl reference. I think I just fell in love with Melissa.
melissadonovan xgranville Wicked
melissadonovan xgranville Dolphinetly.
Carl Sinclair melissadonovanxgranville For sharks.
Carl Sinclair melissadonovanxgranvilleThat’s not Valley Girl, silly!
The Indie Voice authors corrupted me. They are the ones who gave me the idea to pursue SP!
melissadonovan Carl Sinclairxgranville Give me a brark.
BuddyGott melissadonovan I love the 80s!
melissadonovan BuddyGott Best time EVER.
Wow, SPRT has really exploded. I knew you before you were famous.
What’s new pussycat?
xgranville Whoooooah, whooooah, whooooah…
Does Theresa have suggestions or advice for newbie SP authors?
Ooooooooo!!! Woman serial killer! Love it!
RemarkableReads Yeah. Lucky for you. Trollster is coming.
Isn’t that what sprt is?
Carl Sinclair RemarkableReads you better copyright that while you can.
RemarkableReads Carl Sinclair Already have done.
You can do it. Put your back into it.
Where’s Joe?
I have three books in my next series finished but have been holding them. Theresa, do you recommend publishing them all at once or space them out?
MelissaLummis smart!!!
MelissaLummis Great question
That is the signal to start a dance party!
melissadonovan I wouldn’t throw it out otherwise! Hit it!
melissadonovan We can all dance in the After Party
MelissaLummis my advice (take it or leave it) would be to release them every 4 weeks
BuddyGott melissadonovanYou can dance if you want to…
MelissaLummis You heard it – hit publish, right now!
melissadonovan BuddyGott But if your friends don’t dance…
melissadonovan BuddyGott you can leave your friends behind…
melissadonovan BuddyGott No friend is left behind at the After Party. All must dance.
Theresa, what about the 30 day cliff?
Carl Sinclair MelissaLummis people are binge buyers. Trish knows a woman that released 5 romantic suspense books at the same time and is killing it now
Carl Sinclair MelissaLummis Scatter! Upload em, bitches!
Cool! Three books coming out very very soon. That was my gut instinct. I’ve just been working my butt off getting the first series finished. Thank you.
MelissaLummis I’m doing the same thing. Releasing em at once.
I was referring to the advice about releasing all the books at once. and wouldn’t releasing 3 every 30 days prevent that?
Carl Sinclair MelissaLummis Theresa’s right. I’ve gotten so many different opinions on this, but my instincts are just pop ’em out all at once.
Carl Sinclair MelissaLummis I think for trilogies thats a great idea. For ongoing series like a Lee’ Child Jack Reacher kind of thing, I think it doesn’t matter as much once the third book cap has been met.
MelissaLummis Carl Sinclair You can do more to promo it with them all up at once, I feel. Based on what I’ve been seeing people recently.
If you want in – reply here:
Carl Sinclair you know I do.
Carl Sinclair Sure.
I’m in please
Carl Sinclair I’m around for hangs. And ups.
Carl Sinclair Me.
Carl Sinclair Melissa Lummis had to leave for a few minutes, but she asked for an invite
I can come for a bit!
Carl Sinclair whoops, is there still room. I don’t appear to follow directions.
Thank you all for tuning in. And thank you Theresa for being our guest!
BrennaAubrey invite sent Brenna
Carl Sinclair BrennaAubrey need invite to my gmail because I still don’t know how to find it in google plus! hah
BrennaAubrey Carl Sinclair I did
Carl Sinclair I got an invite but it’s full 🙁 I’ll try again in a little bit.
Look at what you are missing out on everyone!
writerwade Another great show!
BuddyGott melissadonovan I’m so 80’s. Bought my Motley Crue tickets yesterday. Their last tour ever! I’m feeling old.
BuddyGott MelissaLummis Like wise for you two and your awesome show!
Carl Sinclair Definitely next time guys! My kid wouldn’t sleep tonight
yeah yeah late to the show…again. Great show as always everyone.
There is now an audio mp3 download of this show. It is linked below the YouTube embed on this post.
There will be an RSS and iTunes version of the show in the near future.