About Us CassBeth Publishing

CassBeth Books

Writing

Most of us do not write for a living. Writing is easy if you do it for a living because you can focus and complete most of your inspirational thoughts in one siting. That is the key, the ability to complete your thoughts in one siting. If you have a life outside of writing like work and or family then you need an approach to manage this simple truth.

The approach I used was to keep a pen and small sticky notes in my pocket to capture my thoughts whenever and where ever they came. I would then write using these notes either early in the morning or late at night. It is not possible to remember all your ideas once you are ready to sit at the computer and start typing. However, when you pull out the yellow stickies with a few words and bullet items everything comes back and you can write out the wazo. The problem is you will have too much to write.

Sequential Thematic Organization of Publications - STOP (when prompted enter "systems" and "systems-01")
How to Achieve Coherence in Proposals and Reports JR Tracey, DE Rugh, WS Starkey 1965
Other STOP Info
The Beginnings of STOP
Snowflake Model

Publishing

You can try to find an agent, you can spend a few thousand dollars and do vanity press, or you can use publish on demand using LULU or CreateSpace. In all cases you will be stuck with the marketing because you are not famous. So if you are stuck with the marketing why not just do POD?

The advantage of using LULU is the up front cost is $0 and you can get an ISBN with world wide distribution. Yes you will need to do your cover, and layout your content, and find someone to fix the grammar and spelling BUT you will need to work hard even if you hire other people to do it for you. The reality is they will only press the buttons on the computer. If you can write a book then you should be able to learn to press the buttons on a computer.

Publish on Demand Companies

LULU
CreateSpace (now and amazon property - use for paperbacks but distribution is limited )
LightningSource (everything eventually feeds into this company)

There are other PODS. LULU does free distribution and offers fee based services for the entire process - layout, editing, cover design, marketing, etc. Other PODS have other business models.

Important Numbers

Library of Congress
ISBNs (must have in order to sell your book this is info)
Bowker (this is the US ISBN authority)
Bowkerlink (to manage your titles, with lulu distribution this is not needed)
Bowker - myidentifiers (more detailed title management, with lulu distribution this is not needed)

E-Books

Amazon Kindle
Amazon Publishing

Publish on Demand Technology

bookmachine (the technology that makes POD possible)

Example

This is my example. Buy my book and write a review...

Book Version

Lulu.com (has book preview)
Barnes and Noble
Amazon.com
Other Domestic and International Sellers

Electronic Version

Amazon Kindle

Marketing

Distribution

  1. If you want to sell your book you must get an ISBN
  2. Get the ISBN from bowker or your POD company like lulu
  3. You can get one for free and lulu will appear as the publisher
  4. You can buy one from bowker for $99 and your company can appear as the publisher
  5. Optionally get a library of congress number (LCN)
  6. Add ISBN and LCN changes to the copyright page
  7. Order a proof copy
  8. Press the distribution button
  9. Your book appears instantly on lulu
  10. After 4-6 weeks your book will appear on web sites across the planet, full distribution

This will complete the Non-Business part of the process.

Business

  1. Optionally wait until your book is in full distribution
  2. Just because your book is available everywhere online does not mean people will find it
  3. You will need to take action so people will find it
  4. Visit your page on amazon and get the picture in place if needed
  5. Tell everyone to buy from amazon and leave a review
  6. Print small cards on your computer and pass them out to everyone
  7. Look for local community events where you can setup a table for $25-$50
  8. Give a copy to your local library
  9. Use the lulu forums to get ideas

Final Words

  1. Keep your job but don't let it sit
  2. Give it 6 months of effort in the areas I mentioned
  3. If it doesn't work then oh well, you will at least have a book for your grad kids to read

When I started people asked me what I expected from the adventure. My comment was to pay for the cost of publishing, then perhaps make enough to got to dinner, then perhaps buy a used car. Here is what happened. I paid for the up front cost (you buy a proof copy at your cost) after the first week when I sold 2 books, then we were able to go to dinner. Then a funny thing happened. I am able to continue working after age 57 specifically because I wrote a book. I was hired after being canned at age 57 by an outfit that specifically said I stood out because I was hired. Needless to say we bought multiple cars because of this good unintended consequence. I was also invited to support universities because of my first book. This does not generate much cash but it allows me to maintain my dignity in ways I could not imagine, especially today.

Just do it!

My Bumpf

cassbeth.com/book
cassbeth.com/press

Sustainable-System-Engineering.blogspot.com
Linkedin.com

Plan of Attack

Grass Roots Friends, Associates, Alumni, Local Library
Advertising Very limited
Amazon.com Content and Kindle Link Search Inside
Press Releases pr.com
Web Sites You decide
Famous People Oprah.com, John Stewart, The View, Ellen, Jay Leno
Direct Emails NY Media, Congress Senate, National and New York NBC News Affiliates, Television Networks, Media Syndicates, Comprehensive U.S. Media Reporters (TV/Newspapers), United States Newspapers , New York Media (TV - Radio - Newspapers NYC & State), University Journalism Departments, US Radio Networks, NY Radio Stations, Canadian Papers & Television
Social Networks linkedin.com, facebook.com, myspace.com
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http://www.bigbadbookblog.com/2007/04/05/45-tips-from-the-nations-oldest-book-promoter
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com
http://www.pma-online.org

Reviewers

Allbookreviews.com

http://www.allbookreviews.com They charge for their reviews.

The Best Reviews

http://thebestreviews.com Romances, but also reviews children’s books, non-fiction, speculative fiction, biographies, and young adult books and ebooks. Reviews tend to be positive, they just won’t write reviews for books they don’t like and prefer to focus on the ones they do. Has an online query form to use to request reviews.

Bestseller World/Mysteries Galore

http://www.bestsellersworld.com decent review site that covers mainstream and small press books. Reviews tend to be summaries that briefly highlight good and bad points. Most of the reviews on the site tend to be positive but balanced overall, they just don’t post reviews for books the reviewers don’t like. Though it has a reader forum and a large catalog of reviews, the site doesn’t seem to have a lot of activity. Offers an express service is you need a review in a hurry.

Bibliofemme

http://www.bibliofemme.com Variety of mainstream and literary fiction and non-fiction works. Reviews are performed by existing members. Mailing address is in Ireland, so query before mailing overseas for a review. This is a book club site, and therefore reviews seem to be more detailed.

The Book Barn

http://www.thebarners.co.uk Focus is mostly mainstream fiction, with iterary fiction and non-fiction. An official website for a discussion group based in the UK, so query if you are outside the U.K. Reviewers are definitely writing for readers’ benefit, not authors’, as they have some pretty brutal (and often funny) bad reviews posted. They have a What’s Hot and What’s Not section for reviews.

Book Pleasures

http://www.bookpleasures.com/Lore2 The site focuses on mainstream, genre, literary fiction, non-fiction, and travel books. Reviews are only performed by staff. Reviews are detailed and extensive, touching on good and bad qualities of the book. Review more on criticism than summaries. Reviews may also be posted at Amazon and other review sites, extending their reach.

Book Review.com

http://www.bookreview.com Need to pay.

Building Rainbows

http://www.buildingrainbows.com Dedicated to children’s books and young adult titles. Anyone can post a review, and it seems like just about anyone does.

Celebrity Café

http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/books Mainstream fiction, non-fiction, self-help, children’s literature, biography, etc. Products submitted for review are donated to charities - send signed copies. Summary of the plot and touching on a few pros and cons, but embed Google ads into the reviews. This technology embeds a Google link into web text by targeting specific words. When you mouse over the word while reading, and ad pops up.

Club Reading

http://www.clubreading.com Has an online submission form to request a review. Reviews tend to be detailed and thoughtful. Reviews mass market books and indie presses and self-publishers.

Comstock Review

http://www.comstockreview.org/poetryreviews.html This is a bi-annual publication poet, which means if you are in a hurry for a review, you aren’t going to get one.

The Complete Review

http://www.complete-review.com/main/main.html Focused on mainstream and literary works. Though they are not actively soliciting books for review. Reviews are written by staff. Reviews are detailed and balanced, providing both literary criticism and general commentary of the book. They link other reviews available online to their own reviews, providing a one-stop shop for reviews on a book. Also includes author/publisher links and links to other related information.

Compulsive Reader

http://www.compulsivereader.com/html Mainstream and genre fiction, as well as mainstream non-fiction. Accepts reviews by non-staff. Reviews sometimes read like book reports, and are rather lengthy and detailed. POD friendly, so long as the book possesses an ISBN and is widely available (Amazon, etc).

Curled Up With a Good Book

http://www.curledup.com/index.htm Fiction, speculative lit, non-fiction, audiobooks, children’s literature, and graphic novels. Reviews done by staff, but sometimes accept reviews from visitors. Reviews are roughly 4-6 paragraphs, and provide a good summary with commentary. Conducts author interviews and does book giveaways. Also has a monthly newsletter.

Creativity for Life

http://www.creativityforlife.com Review books that focus on the creative process: from self-help books to business management. To query regarding a request for a book review, send an e-mail.

Destroyers Online

http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/bookreviews Discussion of these ships. They review both fiction titles that feature destroyers, as well as historical books and non-fiction.

Flamingnet.com

http://flamingnet.com/bookreviews/authorservices.cfm This site is designed by and run by teens.

Four Star Rating

http://fourstarrating.zxq.net/index.html Specializes in romance and erotica. Ebook/independent publisher friendly.

Front Street Reviews

www.frontstreetreviews.com Focus on small press and POD. Subject list runs the gamut from literary fiction to science fiction to poetry. Reviews are written by staff or volunteers, and they welcome POD and self-published titles.

Gaming Report

http://gamingreport.com One of the “go to” sites for the gaming community. Be warned, if they don’t like a product, you will definitely get a bad review.

Gotta Write Network

http://www.gottawritenetwork.com Romance and erotica, mystery, speculative fiction, children’s literature, contemporary fiction.

Green Man Review

http://www.greenmanreview.com Literary fiction, non-fiction, with a focus of works with a mythical bent. Traditionally frowns upon reviewing POD titles. Professionally written, honest, lengthy, critical reviews. Often include links to related articles and books, and author pages.

The Harrow

http://www.theharrow.com/journal Monthly ezine focused on speculative fiction, which a primary interest in horror. The ezine is archived with a host of libraries.

Heartland Reviews

http://www.heartlandreviews.com/Index.html Mainstream, genre, and literary fiction, children’s books, non-fiction. No longer offers free reviews.

Horrorwatch

http://www.horrorwatch.com Reviews are written by forum members, however member needs a certain number of posts before they can post reviews.

Looking Glass Review

http://www.lookingglassreview.com Children’s literature and young adult titles. The site will only post reviews for books that they enjoy in order to highlight titles for parents.

Lulu Book Review

http://lulubookreview.com/

By Lulu publishers for Lulu publishers. This is not an official part of lulu.com, but run independently by authors that use Lulu for cross-promotion. Encourages PDF submissions over print books. A peculiar point: after filing out the “pick me” form online, the site may either request a PDF or just go buy it from Lulu to help support self-publishers.

Midwest Book Review

http://www.midwestbookreview.com Mainstream, genre, and literary fiction, and non-fiction. POD and self-publisher friendly, openly encourages submissions of such books. Reviews are conducted by staff only.

Modern English Tanka

http://ModernEnglishTanka.com Academic ezine dedicated to English Tanka and similar poetic forms. They will consider reviews of PDFs as well.

Mostly Fiction

http://mostlyfiction.com Fiction, both mainstream and literary. Reviews conducted by staff. Reviews are lengthy and detailed, pointed out pros and cons of the book. Instead of using their own rating scale, each review includes the Amazon rating of the book. At the end of the reviews are often links to additional books and information on the author and/or topic. Books must be available for sale on Amazon.

Myshelf.com

www.myshelf.com Mainstream and genre fiction. Reviews self-published books, but on a limited basis.

Mystery Reader

http://www.themysteryreader.com Mystery books. Reviews provide solid plot summaries and touch on both good and bad aspects of the work.

Northeast Book Reviews

http://www.northeastbookreviews.com Children’s fiction, mysteries, other genre fiction literary fiction, current events non fiction, biographies. Says that they give priority consideration to small presses.

Novel Critic

http://www.novelcritic.com Blog dedicated to reviewing POD and self-published titles.

Paper Dragon Ink

http://www.paperdragonink.com Free monthly PDF publication that focuses on the roleplaying game industry. Very friendly toward indie presses, and they will consider PDF products for review.

Poetry Reviews.ca

http://www.poetryreviews.ca Poetry by Canadian Poets. Only Canadian authors should submit queries.

Rambles

http://www.rambles.net Folklore, speculative fiction, and folk art. Reviews sometimes wax philosophically, with the reviewer providing insight into how a particular book impacted his life.