Mill City Press

"There is Only You Beholding You" written up in the Midwest Book Review

2008-07-28T10:43:00.004-05:00

Mill City is pleased to announce that Thomas A. Leenerts and Berta Stella Canton, authors of "There is Only You Beholding You," received a review by the Midwest Book Review.

" 'There is Only You Beholding You' is a guide for readers to find themselves, with help from or in spite of religious or societal standards. The sense of peace that many yearn for is independent of all that, and can only be attained through one's own mind. Author and man of the world Thomas A. Leenerts imparts the wisdom of how to do this to his readers in 'There is Only You Beholding You.' Highly recommended."

To learn more, or to purchase a copy, please visit the book's website, http://www.youbeholdingyou.com/.

Celebrate Father's Day with A Mill City Press Author

2008-06-10T10:45:00.003-05:00

Join Mill City Press author Dr. Bill Emener as he discusses his book, Mom and Dad's Pearls of Wisdom, with John Sipos. He celebrates Father's Day by remembering his own father, and sharing some of the "pearls of wisdom" and life lessons that he gained over the years.

If you live in the Tampa Bay area, the interview will air on Sunday morning, 7-8am, Smooth Jazz WSJT 94.1FM and Q105 (104.7FM). If you are not in the Tampa Bay area, but would like to tune in, you can access the program, hOURTampabay, by going to the WSJT Website and listening to it live from there. And by Sunday afternoon, you can go to John's Website and listen to it from there as well: http://johnsipos.com/

Mill City Press Author Gets Written Up in Village Voice

2008-03-12T16:58:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Simone Corday whose book 9½ Years Behind the Green Door: A Mitchell Brothers Stripper Remembers Her Lover Artie Mitchell, Hunter S. Thompson, and the Killing That Rocked San Francisco (greendoorbook.com) was featured in The Village Voice.

Another Mill City Press Author Appears on NPR

2007-12-27T14:13:00.000-06:00

Heidi Haagenson, Mill City Press author of The Tenney Quilt, will appear on a National Public Radio (NPR) station based in Fargo, ND.

Heidi will appear on on "Hear it Now," a regional talk show. The interview will take place on January 2nd from 3:00-4:00pm CST, and will be rebroadcast the same day at 7:00 pm CST. The show can also be heard on the following stations:

Grand Forks: KUND 89.3 FM
Jamestown: KPRJ 91.5 FM
Bismarck: KCND 90.5 FM
Minot: KMPR 88.9 FM
Williston: KPPR 89.5 FM
Dickinson: KDPR 89.9 FM
Thief River Falls, MN: 88.3 FM
Winnipeg: 107.9 FM

You may also listen to the show live on the internet, or later through their archives.

Go to www.prairiepublic.org and click on RADIO, then RADIO HOME. Then either click on LISTEN LIVE or on "Hear it Now" to listen to it after it airs the first time.

To learn more about Heidi's book or to purchase it go to www.tenneyquilt.com

If You're Thinking About Getting an SEO Website for your book...it's never too early.

2007-10-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

If you've spent any time on our site, you already know how important we believe a search engine optimized website (SEO) is for your overall book marketing strategy. That is especially true, if you plan on doing any online marketing.

When a new website is set up, Google puts them in a holding area before rankings can begin in the indexes of Google. It's called the "Sandbox Effect" and it can take five months to a year for Google to index your site. That is why, it's a smart idea to begin the process as early in the book publishing process as possible.

What we like to do is build at least the homepage for our SEO author websites, put a link to them on the Mill City Press website and let them start aging. So, when the book comes out about 3-4 months later, the site is well on it's way getting out of the Sandbox.

For a site to be indexed by Google, it must first be 1) proven, or deemed by Google as appropriate for ranking; 2) legitimate; and 3) have some action taking place. The first two are accomplished just by building it properly. The last is achieved by getting traffic to your site. Of course Google loves it when that traffic comes through it's Adwords program (those small ads you see on the side of Google pages). Our Online Advertising Programs and Website Exposure Program will help you get the "action" Google demands for your site to be indexed.

The Book Printing Revolution is Finally Here

2007-10-08T10:24:00.000-05:00

If after reading this blog entry, you still are printing books with your current publisher, you will be who P.T. Barnum described when he said, "There's a sucker born ever minute." With the exception Mill City Press every other self-publishing company in the world marks up book printing. Some mark it up a tiny bit (15-20%) and then there are the real plums of the publishing society, like Xlbris, who mark it up 150% or more.

If you haven't figured it out by now, our whole philosophy at Mill City is to make sure that authors don't get ripped off and have a publishing program that acts as a launching pad not a burial ground. That's why we've created Book Printing Revolution. Think of this like the Costco or Sam's Club of book printing. We've negotiated with several great printing companies who have agreed to provide our authors printing at prices previously only available to publishers.

You pay a membership fee of $297 which gives you the ability to print your book for as low as $.011 per page and $.85 per cover (for a black and white interior / paperback cover). If you're already a Mill City author, you get a $100 discount.

As long as you have the press ready copies of your book, you can use the services of Book Printing Revolution.

Take for example even the typical Mill City author who's paying $.015 per page and $.90 per cover. For a 200 page book, the cost to print one copy is $3.90. If you join BookPrintingRevolution.com , that cost per book falls to $3.05 per book. Print 100 books and you've made back your membership fee. Print another 100 books and you've actually made $85.

The printer guarantees that you'll love the proof copy. If it's defective in any way and can't be corrected, all the money you paid to join BookPrintingRevolution.com is refunded.

Whether or not your a Mill City author, you can stop the tyranny of book printing rip-offs today and increase your profit margins on your book. Sound good?

The Football Gods Timed the Release of "My Least Favorite Team"

2007-10-06T11:03:00.000-05:00

A lot of success in book publishing comes from luck. For Keith Richotte, the fact that the Minnesota Vikings suck again this year makes the timing of his new book My Least Favorite Team is My Favorite Team perfect. A long suffering Minnesota Viking fan, Keith writes about how the Vikes caused him to hate every team in the NFL.

Last week, Keith launched the website for his book, http://www.myleastfavoriteteam.com/ , which has tons of fun memories for Vikings fan. My personal favorite is the separated at birth photos of former Vikings owner, Red McCombs and the "rich Texan" character from the Simpsons.

If you live in or around Minnesota, you'll probably be hearing Keith on the radio in the next month or so. Chelsea Brennan, our new book publicist is coordinating a complete media campaign. Again, since as of the date of this blog entry, the Minnesota Vikings are 1-3, Chelsea's job is going to be pretty easy.

One of Author Gets Offer to Purchase Foreign Rights

2007-10-01T10:03:00.000-05:00

Today we learned that a publishing company in Turkey is interested in buying the Turkish rights to J Nealson's great book, Baghdad Believer. Congratulations to Nick.

Nick proves that by getting your book out there, opportunities will find you.

Website Exposure Program

2007-09-12T11:24:00.000-05:00

Mill City Press is now offering a service designed to increase visitor traffic to your website.

Traffic to your website is increased in three different ways:

The first feature of the Website Exposure Program is submission of your website's domain name to at least 70 major search engines and directories. What you may not realize is that though something may exist online, its existence does not guarantee that it will be generated in search engine results. Most search engines have "spiders" that "crawl" the internet for information, newest or most-often-viewed information ranking the highest in results. Some search engines require submission of a domain name before it will be found and crawled. Why don't we simply submit the domain name to the major search engines? The reason for this is that many of the major search engines use the smaller ones to do the crawling for them. Further, the more search engines and web directories that know about your website, the greater the chance it has of being found by a user.

The second feature of this program is at least 10,000 unique visitors directed to your website. How can we guarantee such a number, and how can they all be unique? Because high traffic volume factors into a website's rankings, many online companies have begun offering traffic that you can pay for. We have partnered with a company to offer you this new facet of online marketing. Based on general categories that would be relevant to your book and website, internet users are funneled through different search engines and expired domain names to your website. We can know if the users are repeat visitors based on an internet location code--those visitors are not counted in the final talley. (Feel free to email us--we know this can sound confusing!)

The third feature is also an interesting development in online marketing. Another aspect affecting search result rank is where you have links offered to and from your website. If the sites your site is linked to are high traffic, visible websites, then it will not only increase the number of people coming to your site through those other sites, but it will increase the rank your website receives in search engine results--just from being connected to these other popular sites. We find prominent bloggers willing to feature your website and book on their blog, and you get some great promotion for you and your book.

To find out more about this service, click on the link above or visit http://www.millcitypress.net/.

America's Survival Guide: How to Stop America's Impending Suicide by Reclaiming Our First Principles and History

2007-09-05T13:06:00.000-05:00

America is slowly committing suicide.

Contrary to popular wisdom, the most serious threat to America does not spring from overseas adversaries. Because the threat is from within, it is much more subtle and ignored. Our self-evident truths have become neither. Our history and First Principles have been cast aside and denigrated by the public, educators, mainstream media, legal profession, and politicians. This state of affairs imperils our very survival; and these are self-inflicted wounds – the very definition of suicide. Let there be no mistake – we may be fighting a hot war against militant Islamic terrorists today, but there is also a cold war raging, right here and right now for the hearts and minds of our citizens – and we are losing. The terrorists have reminded us that some things are worth dying for. The rule of law, equality, a republican form of government, unalienable rights, and limited government are such things. The terrorists, and all enemies of freedom, will win if we simply forget, or reject, what we are and the principles for which we stand. Political amnesia will be our death knell.
America’s Survival Guide, How to Stop America’s Impending Suicide by Reclaiming Our First Principles is a “one stop, full-service” primer to raise the alarm about the impending suicide of America and to help stop it. Part I documents the challenge we face by surveying the overwhelming evidence of our ignorance and disdain of American history and First Principles. This crisis faces our K-12 system, higher education, the general public, media, and political class. Drawing heavily on the Founding Fathers, including Paine, Dickinson, John and Sam Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Wilson, Madison, Jay, and Hamilton (as well as Locke, Hobbes, and Montesquieu), Part II clearly and concisely reviews America’s First Principles, and how the First Principles were the underlying cause of the American Revolution and became the foundation for our Federal Constitution. The work also reviews how those First Principles formed the basis of the struggle for racial and gender equality, and probes deeply into Lincoln, Stanton, Anthony, King, and others. Part III offers specific recommendations to combat the threat, including education, legal, media, holiday, nonprofit, and political reform. These innovative approaches include adopting an American Freedom Curriculum, reforming teacher preparation institutions, revising the bar exam, reorientating the media, and changing the political discourse. Each Part has its own independent value, and in some sense, stands completely alone. Together, they provide what we need to stop us from drinking our collective hemlock.

Read more about America's Survival Guide and author Michael Warren by clicking on the link above.

Tip No. 7

2007-08-30T15:40:00.000-05:00

The Press Kit

If you have saved money by self-publishing your book, you will want to spend a bit of money on a press kit. A press kit is a promotional tool distributed to media to entice them to review your book, interview you, or feature your work in a publication. Think of a press kit as your own personal public relations representative.

Some key elements of a press kit you would want to include are an personal bio, a synopsis of your book, a press release, and a sell sheet. All should be presented both concisely and attractively. The press kit is the author's multi-page resume or portfolio meant to display you and your work's most shining accolades.

Mill City Press offer its authors an attractive press kit, packed with professional resources for you to hand out to your local newspaper or book reviewer. You will receive 10 copies each of a formatted one-page author bio, press release, synopsis, sell sheet all enclosed in a Mill City Press heavy stock folder for distribution.

If you would like to find out how Mill City Press can create a press kit for you, click on the link above.

Check Out Our Philosophy!

2007-08-23T17:09:00.000-05:00

Mill City Press is centered around three basic tenets of self-publishing:

1. The printing costs authors pay should not be inflated by the publisher. Mill City Press authors pay the exact wholesale print costs that we do.

2. The goal of most authors is to profit from the sale of their books. Mill City Press believes authors should keep 100% of the revenue from their book sales.

3. In this age, the author should embrace the internet as a means to getting the largest audience in the most cost-effective and targeted way.

Click on the link above to read more about our publishing philosophy and how we compare to other publishers.

World Champion Material

2007-08-21T17:38:00.000-05:00

Prologue

A low hum filled the barn as rain pelted against the tin roof on a cool spring night. The only other sounds that could be heard were the occasional neigh and the ticking of a silver vintage alarm clock. The night was calm. Everyone was fast asleep, or so it appeared.
Young Tim Evans, considered an up-and-coming trainer to a majority of those in the American Saddlebred industry, anxiously paced a straight line following the tiles of the floor, back and forth across the barn office. His black leather riding boots clicked with each step. Arms crossed, he stopped and glanced at the clock—12:30 a.m. He sighed as he walked out into the dark barn aisle and down to the third stall. He had been waiting five hours already for his favorite mare, Molly, to birth her colt. Tim was especially excited for this colt to arrive, as it would be the very first colt that he could train from the start, and the first colt from Molly, known in her show ring days as Miss Molly B.

Tim looked into the stall as he had several times that night. Just as before, the dark chestnut mare stood facing the back corner of her stall, dozing in and out of sleep. He sighed again and traipsed back to the barn office. As soon as he entered the room, he heard his cell phone’s annoying, high-pitched ring from where it sat on his desk that was piled high with papers.
"Hello?" he answered with a yawn.
Tim’s wife said, "Hey, it’s Alice. How is Molly?"
"She’s fine, but there’s no sign of anything yet."
They said a few more quick words to each other and then hung up. Tim shooed away a gray barn cat and lay down on the black leather couch against the wall that was, like all the walls in his office, lined with ribbons and pictures, to take a short nap before checking on Molly again.
Several hours later
Tim woke up sensing he forgot something important. He had an empty feeling. He looked at the clock—5:30 a.m. Molly!
He ran down the barn aisle as fast as his legs could carry him. His heart beat so fast, he thought it would burst through his chest as he neared the mare’s stall. He caught his breath as he looked in to see Molly standing proudly looking over her sleeping newborn colt.
Tim gasped and hurried back to the office to call Alice. He snatched his phone from the desk and swiftly dialed his house number.
He nearly shouted into the phone, "Alice! Come down to the barn!"
"Huh? What?" She was still half asleep.
"Molly had her colt last night!"
She snapped out of her drowsiness. "Oh, Tim! I’m coming! What does he look like?"
He ran back to the stall and his eyes widened when he
looked at the colt. He smiled and said, "Looks like he’s liver chestnut—just like his mare! And I don’t see any markings."
"Just like his sire!" Alice added jubilantly. At that moment, nothing could overpower Tim’s excitement, pride and happiness.
Later that day, Tim helped the little colt to his feet and watched him as he poked his curious nose around the stall. The foal was a bundle of energy; every baby step was more like a rambunctious prance. His fuzzy nose nuzzled against Alice’s hand, and he nibbled at her fingers.
"Hey, stop that! Just because you’re cute doesn’t mean you can get away with everything," she told him, stifling a giggle.
That evening, Tim and Alice watched Molly and her colt. The sunshine through the window of the stall cast a square of light onto the floor. The little colt walked cautiously toward a patch of sunlight and looked at his own shadow across the sun patch. Tim and Alice laughed as the colt jumped back toward his mother in surprise.
"Shadow," Tim said aloud.
"What?" Alice asked.
"Shadow. That’s what I am going to name him," he said proudly.
That little colt will be a great horse someday, Tim declared to himself.

This was a portion of the prologue from one of Mill City Press' authors, Sarah Hinds.

Sarah Hinds was born in 1992 in St. Louis, Missouri. Since she was four years old, Sarah has ridden, shown, and loved American Saddlebred horses. She shows her Pinto Saddlebred gelding, All Riled Up (also known as "Riley") under the direction of Mark and Kelly Hulse. She also owns a 25-year-old Saddlebred gelding, Reedann's First Award (affectionately known as "Mickey") who was her first horse and best friend. Sarah writes a monthly column for Saddle and Bridle Magazine, and has written articles for the American Saddlebred Magazine, Missouri Horse Show Association's newletter, and ASHA's Junior Junction.

Her book will be available for purchase soon--look for it on Amazon.com! To publish your book with Mill City Press, click on the link above.

Twenty "No-Brainers" for Reforming Education in America

2007-08-16T10:28:00.000-05:00

The topic of educational reform does not have to be dull or boring. Written in a thought-provoking, straight-forward, and uncamouflaged vernacular, this book stuns the topic of educational reform in novel, provocative, radical, and at times politically-incorrect ways. The no-nonsense approach advocated here lays bare the resounding truth about what must be done now to salvage the American educational system. Themes such as "How can schools regain the public's trust?", "Why high-stakes testing, as now configured, must be abolished", "Why Schools should return to their historic purposes", "A different view of compulsory education", and "The need for education to be cherished as a gift and a privilege, not merely a right" are but a few of the "no-brainers" put forward as essential for educational reform in the 21st century. This book is a must read for anyone interested in rejuvenating American education and society. Teachers, administrators, parents, legislators, school board members, and concerned citizens from every corner of American society will be both incited and enlightened by confronting the frank, candid, no-holds-barred ideas contained within these pages. The reader may not always agree, but is guaranteed never to be bored.

Here are Dr. Tower's first five "No-Brainers":

"No-Brainer #1":
The Need to Return to the
Historic Purposes of Schooling

"No-Brainer #2":
The Need for Special Education to
Prosper and Grow

"No-Brainer #3":
The Need for Greater Emphasis on Teaching
an Appreciation for Life-Long Learning

"No-Brainer #4":
The Need for Smaller Class Sizes
and Smaller Schools

"No-Brainer #5":
Teachers Need to be Better Paid

To read more, find his book on Amazon.com by clicking on the link above.

Find out more about self-publishing with Mill City Press by visiting http://www.millcitypress.net/.

Cosmic Drama

2007-08-09T15:15:00.000-05:00

FOREWARD to Cosmic Drama

This book is the culmination of thirty years of insights,
dreams, and research on the nature of consciousness. When
I began, I did not envision the premise of this book, which
states that consciousness is organized by ideals, principles,
and universal rules. That premise evolved over many years,
triggered by a series of revelations that have transformed
my original beliefs and forced me to look beyond accepted
subject experts for validation.

My initial insights began with a weekend retreat focused
on creative dreaming, offered in either Napa or Sonoma
County, California. The teacher, whose name I no longer
remember, had been hired by a private citizen to research
the use of dreams to reveal information. His employer had
fallen asleep while reading the newspaper and in a dream
saw the winner of a horse race. He bet accordingly and won.
Intrigued with his success, he hired the teacher, his friend, to
recreate his success. He ended up instead developing some
revolutionary theories about dreaming and the organization
of consciousness.

It was in the late seventies when I took his class. By then,
this teacher was already experimenting with dreams and
remote viewing, using dreams to determine the contents of a
sealed envelope in another state. Two observations from this
dream workshop contributed to this text. The first was that
consciousness is whole and yet it is compartmentalized into
parts with specific functions. This is common knowledge; it
is the organization of consciousness along functional lines
regarding content that is unique. The second observation
was that dreaming acts to normalize tensions of polarized
content. In other words, dreams tend to create option
“C” from the tension between options “A” and “B”. In this
analogy, option “C” is normalized, In other words, option
“C” represents the synthesis between options “A” and “B”.

The course was part theory and part exercise. The exercise
part was designed to show that any question can be answered
using dreams. The key to discovering the answer was to
clearly articulate the question and ask for an answer.

For this exercise, we were asked to put the written
question under the pillow. I discovered later that this step
is unnecessary, especially if there was some emotional
intensity attached to the question. Once we had chosen a
question, we agreed to remember the dream. Years later, I
would realize the importance of this statement of intent. My
most important dreams seemed at first to be insignificant and
were almost dismissed as such. This phenomenon became
the basis for my second observation on normalization.
Although we were specifically instructed to ask a single
question, I deliberately asked several interrelated ones. The
next morning, after breakfast, we shared our dreams. First,
we stated the question then related our dream or dreams.
The results were astounding. In every instance, the dreams
revealed a wealth of information specific to the question
asked. Of all the answers, mine were the most dramatic. Not
only did the dream-process manage multiple questions, it
also provided a meaningful answer that kept each question
in perspective. I came away from the class with a greater
appreciation of my dreams and personal consciousness.

Now I use dreams as a guide for insights and as a means
of evaluating reference materials. Without the validation
of my dreaming “self,” it is unlikely that I would have used
some of the sources included in this text such as the Seth
books. Seth is an entity that dictated books to Jane Roberts
about the nature of consciousness and creation. Jane acted
as a medium for this entity while in a trance. Notes of the
sessions were taken by her husband, Robert Butts. In short,
this book is based primarily on a series of dreams. These
dreams emphasized to me the simplicity of the whole that
is the focus of intuition. The primary ideal of wholeness
is truth. Truth is also, according to my dreams, the ideal
from which all other ideals emerge. To this end, I have
included references that fit into this simple intuitive model
of Intelligent Context.

*Jonas Thompson is one of Mill City's self-published authors. Click on the link to his website to read more of his book online!

To find out how to publish your book with Mill City Press, visit http://www.millcitypress.net/

Setting the Retail Price of Your Book

2007-08-08T15:36:00.000-05:00

You are finally on your way to getting your book out there and into the hands of eager readers. First, however, you will need to consider how much those readers are going to pay for your book.

When deciding how to set your retail price, as a self-published author, you will of course consider what you personally spent to print your book. However, this should not be the only factor in your decision; sometimes you may not consider it at all. A very influential factor in setting the retail price is the genre to which your book belongs. You must price your book competitively based on the other books it will share the market with. Do some research: Go to Amazon's website. Search for books in the same category or subject as your book. See what other books Amazon customers bought based on your search, and compare some prices. Walk into your nearest bookstore and do some additional pricing, but don't just consult the big retail chains. Be sure to go to your local bookstores as well to see what is moving off the shelves and how much those books cost.

For books that required extensive research and include statistics, end notes, charts, graphs, and color images, it is reasonable to set a slightly higher retail price. When determining the pricing for fiction books, the page count is the biggest influence, in addition to trim size. Most trade paperbacks fall between $13.95 to $17.95 in price.

If you want to begin the process of publishing your book, visit our website by clicking on the link above.

Author Tip No. 6

2007-08-07T12:44:00.000-05:00

The Sell Sheet

A sell sheet is a powerful little document you can use to promote your book to anyone--it's like a book industry business card containing every possible bit of information about your book all in one location, in one page.

There are several elements you will want to make sure to include in your sell sheet to ensure its effectivity when it reaches the hands of book sellers and other industry executives:

Title: You can list this in several prominent places to help secure its place in the person's mind.
Author: Again, list your name in at least 2 different places on the page. You may want to include a brief biographical statement as well, if its relevance enhances your credentials.
Genre/Category: Give the subject, genre, or category of your book to make clear your intended audience.
ISBN: Offer your International Standard Book Number.
Binding: Specify how your book is bound, Paperback, Hardbound, etc.
Publication Date: List the date your book was made available to the public.
Pages: List the total number of pages of your book.
Price: Give the retail price of your book.
Trim Size: Give the dimensions (width x height).
Available from: Offer information on how to buy your book from wholesalers and retailers.
Synopsis of Your Book: Definitely include your book's synopsis as the main feature of your sell sheet, along with a good image of your cover design.
Reviews: Offer several cogent praises from readers and others in the industry who have reviewed your book.

Lastly, use quality paper and printing. Your sell sheet is what is going to act as your ambassador in your physical absence. Use slightly heavier card stock, quality ink, and a high resolution image. If you don't have these resources available to you in your home, get it printed at a Fedex/Kinkos or other such professional printing companies.

To see an example and get more information about sell sheets, click on the link above!

Autumn Sister

2007-08-03T15:44:00.000-05:00

Written by Doug Dobransky, Autumn Sister is a touching memoir devoted to his sister's struggle with cancer. What follows is Autumn Sister's introduction:

EVERYONE PRESENTLY LIVING IS DYING. Some of us sooner than others, and few of us know when. Having been a free-spirited, hedonistic, chronic womanizer all of my adult life, then suddenly becoming a caretaking warrior in the battle against level 3 breast cancer would have never prepared me for the year of hell, walking hand in hand with the sister I loved, through high-dose radiation, chemotherapy, profound radical surgery, and days and days of Bed Bath and Beyond.

My sister, Cheryl Ann, pointed out to me that my shower curtain, dish rack, bath tub, bed clothing, kitchen floor, and countless other bachelor maladies desperately needed revision and supervision. I had no idea. And why would I? Domestic makeover was invading my space like a flesh-eating virus and all I was trying to do was save her life.

By far, the most difficult thing I’ve ever done was to stop my life
of pleasure and adventure and try helping a courageous, young forty-four-year-old Director of Human Resources save her life. Life as she
knew it stopped in February 2001 when word came to her that the
lump she found was the enemy and needed killing. The chances for
such a case were normally fair to good, but as her luck went during the
entire ordeal, the scan reader that day was not at the top of her game…
must have had a late night. By June, four months later, the cancer was
racing and a desperate new plan was needed. Misdiagnosis sucks.
Leaving home suddenly to move out of state with just a suitcase
to fight cancer is not an easy thing. Not even a good in-flight movie
could distract anyone from that. Cheryl Ann flew to Los Angeles from
Youngstown, Ohio, to move in with me to begin one last chance in
Level B of the 200 Building at the UCLA Medical Center. They were
kind enough to take her case after my meetings and pleas. Our thanks
went out to them at UCLA, and the war began.

Over the months, we lived as two people might. Treatment every
day. Sickness and fear most of the time. Talks and more talks. Living
difficulties…money, rationalizing, traffic, pain, tears, and bewilderment
under it all. Above facing all those things came one larger revelation:
a human love was born. She and I laughed at cancer in the face. Our
daily chronicle kept laughs and tears flowing and from it came family
resolution, divine purpose, respect, and fulfillment. Facing death did
not take us over. Love took us over. Family love and brotherly love. I
was lucky to be my sister’s hero. She always told me that, and trying
so hard to be the brother she always thought I was took me to the
very limits of my being. I nearly cracked numerous times. But month
after month, something happened. What eventually emerged was one
final feeling of purpose in life. I finally figured it out. I was kept alive
in Vietnam long ago to maybe do this one thing. Give myself away to
another person in time of need. I have not had a more meaningful assignment,
nor have I had a more fulfilling conclusion. It was my gift,
and as unlikely a guy as I was to become a caretaker, I am the one who
was rewarded. I had real purpose. That is a gift.

Laughter saved us. I loved to make her laugh and in the depths of
despair, we kicked inflammatory breast cancer in the teeth, if only to
laugh for a few minutes at a time. Autumn Sister records the weeks and
months during the days of Cheryl Ann Dobransky Kraynik and tells
the true story of a brother and sister, a husband, a son, and a family,
who made a courageous attempt at exhibiting dignity, humor, strength,
and love as so many millions of families must do in the drama that is
cancer. It was my great honor to watch a gracious young sister “walk
point” during the long months of torture, and it is her beautiful soul
that remains in me always. During the months, I saw thousands of
people brave illness and I now love the human sprit more than ever.
There must be a great waiting room for all of them somewhere up
high. I am now fearless to find out. I thank them all for that.

My intention is to open up our lives in hopes of easing and helping
others who find themselves in this fight. By our daily living and
constant attempt to disrespect cancer, Cheryl and I stole nights and
hours from the rudeness that is life interrupted. We laughed and cried
and learned that there are still ways to stand taller when life is pushing
down. There are ways to still smile at beauty and love right in the middle
of third-degree radiation burns. There is enormous healing gained
by putting old family pain aside and seeing loved ones for whom they
are. In Autumn Sister, it was my hope to save my own sanity during
the hundreds of days by writing of the comedy in hospital OR’s family
invasions, or my bachelor ways and corresponding with those back
home. It was my need to let her read a daily chronicle each night at my
computer in hopes that I would hear hysterical laughter coming out
of her. For just those few moments, you see, she was not sick, and that
was something I could actually do against cancer. I cured cancer in her
for moments at a time, and that was my something.

“Remember,” I told her, “the first three letters in funeral are
F-U-N, so that is what we are going to do.” The hell with death and
dying. “You’re not dead yet, so today we laugh.” And that we did.

Doug Dobransky has been a Hollywood photographer for the past 28 years, working within the industries of entertainment, motion pictures, advertising, politics, sports, and music. His extensive list of clients includes Marlon Brando, Mickey Rooney, James Coburn, Juliette Lewis, Dennis Haysbert, Muhammad Ali, Mel Allen, Ted Danson, Shia LeBeouf, Stanley Clarke, Bradd Pitt, Dee Wallace, Quincy Jones, Lindsay Wagner, David Hassellhoff, and countless others. He is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, and a former AVP in Los Angeles banking system. Doug is a native of Butler, Pennsylvania and Youngstown, Ohio, moving to Los Angeles in 1969.

Autumn Sister is one of the newest books published by Mill City Press. It will be available for purchase soon! Find it at http://www.autumnsister.com. To find out how you can have your book published by Mill City Press, click on the link above.

A Show of Pride and Prejudice by Major Publishing Houses

2007-08-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

There is still a trail out there to be blazed on behalf of the self-publishing industry, as evidenced by an expose put forth by the Daily Mail, a London-based publication found online at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/.

The article, written by David Lassman, appeared online last month and describes Mr. Lassman's (attempted) venture into the world of internationally renowned publishing houses. He begins the article by commenting that the results speak to how many people purport to have read the great classics of literature and may just be feigning the perceived status of being "well read," but his story also underlines the persisting near-hostility toward self-publishing and self-published authors.

Lassman submitted the first few chapters of three Jane Austen novels, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion, changing titles and characters' names. He left clues pointing to the original works such as signing the manuscripts as "Alison Laydee," a reference to Austen's pseudonym "A Lady." He also entitled his version of Pride and Prejudice as First Impressions, the novel's original title. The return address he listed as the that of the Jane Austen Center, location of the Jane Austen Festival, Bath, England.

Submitted to 18 publishing houses, the work garnered responses varying from "not confident of placing this material with a publisher" to "seems like a really original and interesting read" (Penguin, the current publisher of Pride and Prejudice). Only one house, Jonathan Cape publishers, returned the manuscript with the comment

"I suggest you reach for your copy of Pride and Prejudice, which I'd guess
lives in close proximity to your typewriter and make sure that your opening
pages don't too closely mimic the book's opening. After all, there is such a
thing as plagiarism."

Lassman reports that he first came up with his experiment whilst trying to have his own novel published.

It may be true that the period-specific language and situation of Austen's novels, though timeless in story and theme, may not demand the type of attention from the monolithic publishing houses of today, but good writing is good writing. That somewhat intangible ability of a book to move and affect a reader should yet be considered by the publisher, not solely the ability to move itself off bookstore shelves.

Visit the original article in the Daily Mail (July 18, 2007) by clicking on the link above.

*If you are interested in finding out how self-publishing may be for you, visit the Mill City Press website at http://www.millcitypress.net/.

Smokey, Rosie, and You!

2007-07-30T14:12:00.000-05:00

Smokey Bear and Rosie the Riveter? Many Americans remember these two famous icons from their childhood, while younger folks may only recognize Smokey and Rosie from gifts in museum shops. Yet, behind these two very familiar faces are great stories about how and why they were created and their lasting impact on Americans. This book is filled with great stories like those of Smokey and Rosie. Take a fascinating journey through history including a colorful cast of brilliant, eclectic marketing strategists--such as John Adams, Teddy Roosevelt, George Creel, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and FDR. They show how massive public marketing campaigns have successfully shifted public opinion and behavior by linking social issues to patriotism and democratic ideals. In addition, contemporary case studies filled with practical lessons and key trends that will impact the marketing of public programs today and tomorrow are presented. Put these all together--along with the TRACK marketing framework--and you will have the inspiration and the ingredients for your next public marketing campaign!

*This is another book published by Mill City Press. To find out more about how to self-publish your book, click on the link above. To buy this book, visit http://www.amazon.com/Smokey-Rosie-You-David-Ehrlich/dp/1934248339/

Vanity or Verity?

2007-07-26T12:09:00.001-05:00

If you have written something meaningful to you and think it might be worth getting out there for others' benefit, consider self-publishing.

You will probably have heard the term "vanity press," a derogative term sometimes used synonymously with self-publishers. Vanity presses generally do give more freedom to authors seeking to publish their work but with more risk involved, taken on by the authors themselves. Often vanity presses do not require that work be edited and will flagrantly mark-up the costs at the expense of the author. As a result, the books turned out by some vanity presses are of very low quality, wield little respect, and rarely gain a reputation good enough for bookstore and library distribution at all. Decades ago, vanity presses were an affordable option for people who simply could not pay to go with a traditional publishing house (Walt Whitman and Mark Twain, for example).

Mill City Press is not a vanity press, it is a self-publishing company. The differences are clear. You as the author do not pay extra for printing costs. We offer a publishing package and other services that will get your book mainstream exposure in many of the same avenues of the book trade as traditional publishers. All this while offering you complete control, 100% of all royalties, and ownership of the digital files of the layout and cover design.

The founder of Mill City Press, Mark Levine, wrote a book called The Fine Print of Self-Publishing that serves as a comprehensive guide to the publishing industry, borne out of his own experience in it. Read about it at http://www.book-publishers-compared.com/.

For more information about how to get your book out of your computer and into the hands of readers, visit the Mill City Press online by clicking on the link above.

Sincerely, Jesus

2007-07-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

Can you imagine thumbing through your daily mail and finding a letter from Jesus Christ? Not a prank, not a hoax, but the genuine article - a letter from heaven, from the risen Lord, written personally to you and your church. If hearing from God sounds intriguing, then this little book is for you. Several decades after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus revealed Himself, in a vision from heaven, to the apostle John. Jesus directed John to write as He dictated seven letters to seven communities of faith scattered around Asia Minor. These personal notes are found in Revelation chapters two and three. In Sincerely, Jesus we will look at the amazing relevance each letter holds for life in the twenty-first century. All Jesus asks of us is to read with a listening heart and a willingness to make the adjustments, both in our personal lives, and in our churches, that the Holy Spirit prescribes.

Sincerely, Jesus is one of the most recent books published by Mill City Press.

Find out more about Edward Goble or read an excerpt from his book at his website; click on the link above to be taken there.

And to find out how to become one of Mill City Press' self-published authors, visit http://www.millcitypress.net/.

Moonlight Over the Canal

2007-07-23T12:10:00.000-05:00

Moonlight Over the Canal is a memoir by Ruth Shults, another Mill City Press self-published author.

Ruth Wilma Reif was born in a difficult year--1930--in Northern New Jersey. Her father was a successful builder and her parents enjoyed a comfortable life living in the homes that he built. But the Great Depression changed the destiny of this family of three and in 1935, at age 4, little Ruth began a crucial 19-year period during which the rich history of the places she lived became integral to her upbringing.

Moonlight Over the Canal is an engaging, fast-paced, vivid memoiric history that tells the tales of two houses--one in Montville, one in Boonton, both in Morris County. In doing so, it lays bare the heart of a little girl and young woman and, through her fascinations, opened windows on events and people in national and regional history from the American Revolution through World War II.

The setting is perfect for such storytelling because of Morris County's unique and abundant historical significance, due in no small measure to its location between Philadelphia and Manhattan. A region settled in the early eighteenth century because of its rich iron ore supply, it was the stage on which a major drama of American history was played out during the American Revolution.

In 1779, it took three days for General George Washington's troops to pass in front of one of the homes Ruth spotlights on their way to Yorktown, Virginia. Later, in the nineteenth century, Morris County homes were important links in the chain of the Underground Railroad that delivered slaves to the free north.

Because of the region's proximity to New York City, it became home to the famous Morris Canal, an important water route for the transport of goods and people before the age of the railroad. The canal ran behind the first house Ruth lived in and became a source of her adventures in both summer and winter.

The houses in which Ruth lived had seen all these major occurrences and more, and the formative years she spent in them taught her about what passes from one generation to another. They also taught her why it is importance for each of us to understand that we are the temporary custodians of a vital life force that deserves contemplation, respect, and preservation.

Moonlight Over the Canal is different from most local history books in that it is told in first person and so weaves the fabric of history with a personal, spiritual thread. The book chronicles Ruth's maturation from a child of four to a young lady of twenty-three.

To read more and to buy the book, click on the link above.
To publish your memoir, visit http://www.millcitypress.net/.

The American Truth by Nick Shelton

2007-07-18T09:42:00.000-05:00

The American Truth is a book that addresses the 9/11 Truth issues through an engaging story and a series of nonfiction articles.

Nathan Alexander, a media liaison at the Pentagon, survives the September 11th attack but tragically losses his wife in the event. Years after the tragedy, Nathan’s suspicion leads him to discover that his wife had inside information of a major conspiracy within the U.S. government.
While investigating into the conspiracy, Nathan comes across a computer hacker, Daniel Lewin, who is also interested in uncovering the truth about 9/11. Together, they use their computer skills and Pentagon access to discover information the U.S. government wants to keep a secret.
Eventually Nathan's cover is blown, and the two must run for their lives. Though all hope seems to be lost, their determination for the truth will not let these men give up their desire to uncover one of the greatest secrets in history.
(--from the website about the book. To read more, click on the link above.)

See what readers have said about the book:

"Powerful book that needs to be read," July 14, 2007
By Stan from Perry, GA - "This book presents significant issues in a powerful way. Every one should take some time to read this book, or at least book's ideas on its website. The book uses an exciting story to convey a message that should be one of America's concerns. I think this book will be a great means in creating awareness and inspiring people to do make an impact for America or the world."

"A book that is worth your time," July 15, 2007
By JC from Warner Robins, GA - This book is one that everyone needs to read. Shelton has a great writing style that keeps you interested all the way through. Shelton has found a great way to present many important issues. I personally do not agree with all the facts, but I have to admit that there's a bunch of unanswered questions. Shelton does a great job in raising these questions and creating a gripping mystery that keeps you plugged into the story for the entire 200 pages.

"A Great Book," July 14, 2007
By John P from Perry, GA - The American Truth is one of the books that you got to read. It's a topic that nobody in America wants to talk about, but it's one that needs to be addressed. And the author does a great job in how he presents the issues throughout the novel. I recommend this book to everyone - but I'll warn you, be prepared to be shocked by the evidence.

Nick Shelton is another Mill City Press self-published author.

Reminder: Book Reading at Micawbers

2007-07-17T16:18:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the reading for Lit Kids: Mama Bird and Electric Rabbit (published by Mill City Press, 2007). Contributing students will be reading selections from their book at Micawbers Books in St. Paul. For directions, click on the link above to the Micawbers homepage, and click on the tab labeled "Contact Us."

What: Reading--Lit Kids: Mama Bird and Electric Rabbit
Where: Micawbers Books 2238 Carter Ave., St. Paul
When: July 18th, 7:00 p.m.

Author Tip No. Five

2007-07-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

The Back Story

As an author interested in getting your thoughts and ideas out there to the public (selling your book), an important portion of the process is devoted to the back cover copy and sales handle. In terms of elements influential to your readers, next to the cover design (or rather, behind), the back cover copy and sales handle are key. These three components are most often the items found in reviews, online retailer pages, and bookstore databases.

For the back cover, you don't want copy that dryly recreates the content of your book. For fiction, a succinct description of the characters, setting, and plot, leading up to the point of resolution is typical. There should be a tone of suspense that engages the reader enough to make a commitment to find out what happens to the characters, and what kind of life lesson (if any) can be learned. Often a comparison can be made to a similar author (e.g., "If you like Graham Greene, you´ll not be disappointed with this book").

For non fiction, the description needs to prove why this particular book on this subject (which, no doubt, has been written about numerous times over and over) is different or outstanding in some way. What makes yet another book on Italian cooking interesting? Perhaps the recipes include only fresh ingredients, traditions from one region, etc. These are the selling points that need to pop out in the copy.

The sales handle is your chance in one sentence to grab the reader's attention, a very brief description that covers what your book is, and why it´s important to your audience. The handle is usually found near the top of the back cover or directly above the main description.

See how the examples below spark your imagination and compel you to find out the rest of the story:

A tightly woven tale of psychological suspense and a literary tour de force from Booker Prize winner Penelope Lively.

Two mathematicians join forces to stop a serial killer in this spellbinding international bestseller.

Profound lessons for spiritual growth aren´t found exclusively in Tibet and India; they´re found within you in everyday events. This book will show you how to tap into them.

For information on how to get an effective back cover copy and sales handle from the professionals at Mill City Press, follow the link above or go to http://www.millcitypress.net.

The Gambit

2007-07-12T15:16:00.001-05:00

Terrorism for profit.

In The Gambit,terrorist events are "engineered" to spike global oil markets for personal profit and political and strategic goals.
The audacious manipulation of events soon spirals oil prices out of control, undermining economies and the reelection prospects of a U.S. president, co-opted by the actions of the conspiracy underway. A conspiracy led by a wealthy Saudi prince who has the goods on the occupant of the White House; a conspiracy operating under the cover of shadowy militant groups, seducing a Houston oilman to subjecting his own company to terrorist assault.
Tipped off by a mysterious Lebanese banker, the U.S. mounts a furious effort to thwart the operation. But, it becomes eerily apparent that the President's first priority is to terminate the banker at all costs. Hastings, the top American intelligence official, acting against orders, desperately attempts to keep the banker alive long enough to understand the full dimensions of the treachery underway, culminating in the truth about the Prince and President dumped upon an unsuspecting electorate in the closing days of the election.
The Gambit's wild ride through scheming oil traders, unstable markets, political blackmail, desperation and greed produces an uncomfortable premise: to what extent has the conspiracy already occurred?

Book Themes

American Presidential Election Campaign
Corruption in the White House
Director, National Intelligence and the CIA
Enron Debacle/Syriana
Hezbollah
Houston and Oil
Iran and Oil
Lebanon
Media Manipulations
Middle Eastern Terrorism
Oil Markets and Terrorism
Oil Price Conspiracy and Manipulation
Oil Trading
Saudi Arabia and Oil
Saudi Royal Family
U.S. Energy Policy

About Gary Nunnally
Gary Nunnally spent nearly thirty years in the global petroleum business, including many years as an oil trader. Experiences and encounters in the oil trading wars inspired The Gambit. He and his family presently live in Houston.

To visit the website, click on the link above to be redirected.
Gary's website was made by the designers at the Mill City Press. To find out more about how to get your own author website, view our publishing package at http://www.millcitypress.net/Book-Publishing-Services.cfm.

The Fourteenth Year

2007-07-11T08:47:00.001-05:00

The Fourteenth Year is a memoir narrated by a young girl whose unrelenting strength somehow carries her through the throes of an extinguished childhood. Her story begins as she attempts to reclaim control of her life from the steamy grip of her biological father. As she describes the exhausting legal process, the
details of the past fourteen years unfold into the culminating showdown between a dad and a daughter.

For Kelly, life is dictated by a sexually and emotionally abusive father whose selfproclaimed deification demands subservience by all. No protection is offered by the emotionally detached mother, who does nothing to stop him. Their daughter must find a way to remain psychologically intact as the abuse worsens, to where
eventually leaving the house or even watching television had a sexual price tag. While looking for safety, she discovers the plague of immorality and mental illness that motivates the behavior of the people in her environment .

She survives the moments that need surviving, with glimmering pieces of hope, humor and memories that bring joy and a sense of direction to her troubled soul.
She must now take that control and make the life for herself she knows is possible.

About Kelly
Kelly Watt lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan with her husband and children. She works as a Registered Nurse and speaks at conferences and fund raising events on the topic of child abuse whenever possible. She is actively engaged in
raising awareness of the sensitive issue of child abuse.

To find out more about Kelly Watt, read some chapters online, or to buy her book, click on the link above. For more information about joining the ranks of authors published by Mill City Press, visit http://www.millcitypress.net/.

Wake of the Raven

2007-07-06T15:47:00.000-05:00

Wake of the Raven is a story of the world's corruption, of forbidden desire and its awful consequences.

In 1951, Stuart seeks to repair his broken marriage, and heads back to England in pursuit of his faithless wife. He must first cross the South China Sea to Singapore, a minor step in the voyage. But when an accident burdens him with the care of a precocious girl, the journey becomes a nightmarish odyssey through storm, desire and death.

The mere hundred miles or so of sea is now an impassable barrier, confining him and his bitter thoughts to a narrow strip of sand and jungle, and he is reduced to an animal struggle for survival, with nothing but the girl and thoughts of the dead to help him.

Like all people, evil wars in him with good, fear with ambition, desire with conscience. But when the girl's greater problems arouse his sympathy, it seems that good will triumph, for he unselfishly promises his help.
The result is a disaster that strides towards him fully armed, with disgrace, murder and suicide clenched in its fists.

About Graham Worthington, the author of Wake of the Raven
Worthington wrote his first story when he was eleven in England. Then real life intervened, and for years he travelled the world, collecting true stories that were stranger than fiction. He now lives in London and Toronto.

Published by Mill City Press, Inc. January 10, 2007.
To buy this book, click on "Wake of the Raven" above to be redirected or visit http://www.amazon.com/.

Author Tip No. Four

2007-06-29T15:51:00.000-05:00

Have your book professionally edited.

The drafting of the manuscript (even its final version) is really only a fraction of the writing and publishing process, but do not fret--you can obtain editing services at a reasonable fee. The care and effort you have put into writing your book is worth this crucial step in the publishing process.

There are a number of different levels of editing that you may choose from to hone your raw materials into a well executed, effective body of work.

Typically there are four types of editors providing your work four different editing services:

An acquistion editor is somewhat like a public relations representative for a publishing company, finding authors to sign with his/her publishing company. This editor may also work with you to develop the themes of your book.
The content or developmental editor looks at your manuscript as a whole and comments on the overall consistency of expression, the overarching ideas put forth and the momentum of your work.
The production editor is like the foreman of the process, taking care of needs such as preparing your manuscript for the type-setting stage and finding a printer.
The copyeditor or line editor gets very intimate with the nitty gritties of your text, line by line. It is at this stage of writing and editing that will hearken you back to your own literature classes: diction, style, tone, punctuation, parallel structures, voice--do these sound familiar? No need to worry if they are but a glimmer in your mind. Copy editors specialize in such precision, while keeping the big picture of your work in sight.

If you do not have the funding to enlist all four types of editors to work on your book, consider hiring a content editor and a copyeditor. Your book is not ready to be published without them. If you can only afford one type of editor, it is imperative to have your book edited by a copyeditor. As the author of the work, whatever the genre, it is impossible for you to catch all of the technical/grammatical errors and content holes that may pose as pitfalls to your readers. You want your characters and ideas to express themselves instead of being overshadowed by potentially confusing (and preventable) errors. And also noteworthy is the fact that having your book edited by more than one type of editor will propel your book not only into higher levels of quality, but also into higher retail brackets. Some book retailers won't sell your book unless your has undergone a certain amount of editing. Check out our editing services by clicking on the link above!

Also, feel free to browse the bios of some of the editors employed by Mill City Press at http://www.affordable-book-editing.com/book_editors.asp.

Perpich Arts High School Students featured in the Star Tribune

2007-06-27T15:33:00.000-05:00

Lit Kids: Mama Bird and the Electric Rabbit, a book recently published by Mill City Press, was featured Monday 25 June, 2007 in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Lit Kids is a collection of original work written by 31 senior and junior high school students from the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, MN. The students received a grant from the Perpich Foundation and raised the rest of the publishing costs through bake sales and readings at the Walker Art Center.

Micawbers Books (2238 Carter Ave., St. Paul) will host a reading July 18th at 7:00 p.m. Lit Kids books are available for purchase at Magers and Quinn (3038 Hennepin Ave. S, Minneapolis).

To read the full article from the Star Tribune, click on the link above. Please visit http://www.millcitypress.net/ for more information on how to publish your book!

An Open Offer from The Book Snob

2007-06-23T20:16:00.000-05:00

Hello! The whole point of writing books is to get them off the shelves and into the hands of readers, a sometimes daunting task for the self-published writer. Commercial publishers sometimes can count on newspapers, magazines and online publications to offer reviews, but these are avenues rarely open to the self publisher, no matter the quality of the book. The Book Snob will provide profiles, news and reviews from the world of self publishing, hoping to correct that inequity. But before I can launch my site, I need something to review.

That's where you come in. I believe you or someone you know are self published authors who would like the benefit of being reviewed or profiled. Here are the rules:

Self-published items must be at least novella length, more than 20,000 words.
Books and novellas may be fiction or non-fiction. I will not review poetry or erotica.
Review items must have been published within the past year.
Books will be reviewed fairly but honestly. If you can't handle the criticism, don't send the book. Sending your book to me is your agreement that you will accept the publication of the verdict.

When submitting your book, please, include the following: your name, address, phone number, email address, book length and genre. If you have a great story to tell about your publishing experience, send that along, too. I likely will not be able to review every book I receive, but I will try my best.

Mail submissions to: The Book Snob P.O. Box 369 Brownsburg, IN 46112 The Book Snob is a professional reviewer and self-published author with more than 20 years' experience major metropolitan newspapers and national publications.

Websites to Boost Your Books Sales

2007-06-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

Blogs and social networks are an extremely effective way to market your books and make connections. Consider another option: a personal website.

There are some simple steps to owning your own website, and the rewards are plenty. There are available sites that will host your website for free, but most charge a few dollars for a year's ownership (the average charge is $10-$15 a year). You will then have to do a domain name search to be sure that the name you would like to claim for your website is not already in use by someone else. Most websites offering domain registration also offer domain name search engines. If the name you prefer is not available using dot com (.com) you may also try .org, .biz, .info, etc. but prices may vary from one designation to the next. Many of these hosting sites offer packages that include email services and a wide range of attractive templates you may use to build your website.

A website gives you the opportunity to offer a wide range of information in more than one medium to your readers and anyone else who is looking around the internet. You could choose to offer excerpts of your book or whole chapters, post pictures, or offer a bit of background information on the book's conception or your writing experience, topics that may interest your readership. Perhaps the most important feature on your site will be the opportunity to sell your books directly to the customer without having to go through another retailer, preventing any loss of profit. It is easy to set up an account using PayPal or other ecommerce sites.

Mill City Press offers book fulfillment services that can fulfill orders you receive through your website. We also employ skilled web designers that will tailor your website to your specifications, and create your website to reflect your book.

Take a look at some of the websites already online. Take a tour of each one, following the links to the features that author has chosen to include.
http://www.21st-centurypirate.com/
http://www.meanestwinter.com/
http://www.wakeoftheraven.com/
http://thegambitsite.com/
http://emenerbooks.com/
http://www.raindancebook.com/
http://www.saturn-return.com/

If you have published with us, check out the Mill City Press website to find out how to create your own website.

Social Network Marketing

2007-06-20T15:32:00.000-05:00

It seems that social network marketing is finally starting to catch on in the world of books. Even major publishing companies are jumping on board. The problem is that these companies are approaching things wrong. They are hiring 30-somethings that are fabulous in their respective field of marketing but lack the "young" factor. I started out on MySpace as a personal user and after mastering the different ways to exchange and communicate via the site I saw a real potential for promotion.

After quite a bit of success marketing bands and music on MySpace I wrote a book detailing the process of social network marketing. It was shortly after that that I was hired by Mill City Press to develop and run social networking sites for their authors. At first, I wasn't certain how the transition would work. Would people REALLY want to buy books from people they met on MySpace? I actually found that people were more than enthusiastic to have writers contact them. There was such a saturation of music that books were almost refreshing change.

Later I started playing with different networks such as Friendster, Xanga, Face book, Gather, Yahoo 360 and Live Journal. I came to find that each network had a unique stength and target audience. For example Friendster tends to interest our older audience while Facebook is dominated by the college network. Since Facebook opened its network there have been age and demographic shifts but it still remains a super power for targeting the college aged user.

I have read several books and articles on social network marketing(a good marketer knows what they are up against) and I have found the information to be rather generalized and some of it outdated. To make a long story short if you have any questions regarding social networking, you are in the right place.

Author Tip No. Three: The ISBN

2007-06-20T12:50:00.000-05:00

The intials ISBN stand for International Standard Book Number, a unique 10- or 13-digit number assigned to published books. Take a look at any book on your shelf. The ISBN is found near the barcode on the back cover. The numbers within the ISBN are grouped and separated by hyphens or spaces. These groups indicate the country of publishing, the publisher, and an item number specific to the title and edition of the book. ISBNs are an optional investment (in most countries) and even if purchased, do not have to be displayed on the cover. However, those numeric identifiers are useful in the book trade and essentially imperative if you want to sell your book to the public. Books without an ISBN and a listing in Books in Print (the official, comprehensive listing of books, publishers, and ISBNs) are far more difficult to order, distribute, and market. A book without an ISBN is equivalent to inexistence within the industry.

For further information about ISBNs, how to get one, and Books in Print, visit bowker.com or click on the link above. Another excellent resource can be found at http://www.isbn-international.org/index.html.

So, You’ve Written a Children’s Book?

2007-06-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

Everyday I get an inquiry from a well-meaning person who has written a “children’s book.” Usually the topic is about some fundamental aspect of learning about the physical world or figuring out some lesson about what it means to be a decent or loving person. All well and good. There is nothing wrong with these author’s intentions, and I applaud them for wanting to share positive ideas with kids, and for taking the steps to learn about self-publishing. Yet each time I find myself having the same conversation which ends up with me giving an unintentional lecture. Most authors—and yes, most do have big hopes of making it into the traditional marketplace—simply are not prepared to deal with what is possibly the most competitive and saturated market in publishing next to fiction. While it’s important for me to help every author who is sincerely trying to figure out how to publish, the practical Norwegian genes (thanks, Dad) surface and tend to deflate some big dreams. Find one person on your street or in your workplace who doesn't have some hidden aspiration to become an author of either a novel or a children’s book. If you ask around, you’ll find yourself surrounded by them.

If you frequent well-stocked, reasonably successful bookstores, all you need to do is look at the space devoted to the children’s area to figure out that young readers are arguably the mainstay of the publishing business. It’s an honest and noble dream to reach out to kids through books, but let’s look at the facts.

When browsing a decent children’s section, you will see a representation of books from many big publishers for all of the age groups (which define the categories within children’s books, and and you should know what they are if you plan to enter this market). If you’re a bookseller and you’re worth your salt, you will not be without Beverly Cleary, H. A. Rey, Dr. Seuss, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Roald Dahl, Ian Falconer, The Magic Tree House Series, Kate DiCamillo, Marc Brown, and countless other award-winners who have long slaved over their craft and have earned the precious shelf spaces they occupy. Customers come in and they want Olivia and Curious George Rides a Bike. They want board books on Spot and Pat the Bunny. They don’t come in for a book you've written—no matter how charming or kid-worthy it is—unless you’ve created some serious demand for it. Even then, don’t forget that you are competing with the likes of Shel Silverstein and Rosemary Wells. Their books may be faced out (covers displayed instead of spines) while yours will be within the depths of the wholesaler database, relegated to pixels and ones.

So how do you create serious demand for your book? First of all, make sure your book is a good one. A poorly produced book with weak characters and amateurish illustrations is not going to impress anyone but your immediate family members (if that). Is the book edited? It may only have less than 1,000 words but even kid’s books need to be carefully written in language that is appropriate for the audience. Often there is much complex thought and planning behind what seems to be very simple. Make sure your publisher uses a reliable printer who knows how to handle color reproduction. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, make sure your publisher can direct you and provide services to market your book to targeted audiences through all available channels such as online marketing and customized websites—and not just bookstores.

The first step toward realizing your dream of becoming a successful children’s book author is first to test the waters and do your research, even before you pick up a brush or type on the keyboard. Spend some time online and in bookstores, and see what’s out there. I’m not saying you must invent a new idea. The same topics can be explored over and over again, but this only works if the approach is unique and the material itself is of a certain quality that will stand out.

No one can claim to have the magic bullet for success, but I do know of a path that steers clear from the expensive and heartbreaking pitfalls many self-publishers find themselves in. Do your research, be realistic, and find a good self-publishing company that can guide you through what can be a very daunting process if you go it alone.

Coming soon: All About Color

Self-Publishing Might Be for You If...

2007-06-19T14:56:00.000-05:00

Did you know that some traditional publishing houses deduct money from their authors if their books don't sell? Self-publishing might be for you if want to avoid the risk of losing money on unsold books.

Publishing houses often offer retail bookstores a 100% refund on unsold books. Say you have published with a publishing house, and it has placed 150 of your books in a bookstore; if after some months there are a few books left on their shelves, they can return the books to the publisher for a full refund. Not only do they refund the bookstore the total monies paid for those books, they also deduct that total from your account. Also factor in that due to the full refund policy, the bookstore will have little or no incentive to push the sale your book!

Unique to many self-publishing companies, there is no loss of money for you the author because you have some options. As a self-published author you may sell your book through an online retailer which does not have to worry about unsold books sitting a shelf because it does not actually hold or distribute any books. In addition, you may choose to sell and distribute the books personally using website or blog and a tool like PayPal (used on eBay). Both of these options bypass the risk of having unsold books returned to you and/or losing the money you paid to have those books printed and sold.

At Mill City Press, we offer book distribution through Mill City Press or individual distribution, as well as availability through online retailers as part of a personal marketing plan. If you choose to have us fulfill your book orders, you simply pay to have a certain number of books printed, and we keep the books here until they are sold--no return of books to you and no money deducted from your account. Visit our website by clicking on the link above.

Author Tip No. Two: Google Books

2007-06-15T15:58:00.000-05:00

Get yourself listed on Google Book Search!

Google, one of the largest, most reputable, and most frequently used search engines on the internet, offers a search engine exclusively for books.

Google Book Search offers listings of books searchable by author and any topical keyword or phrase, just like any internet search. Submitting your book for entry into the Google Book Search database offers tons of online exposure to new readers.

In Book Search, you may choose to offer all or only portions of your book online for users to read. You may also include links to where readers can purchase your book. Photos and About the Author sections enhance your listing. Plus, having your book in Book Search heightens the chance of being found in a normal search in Google.com.

Try it. Go to http://www.books.google.com/ and enter in the words "fear of feeling loved." That search results in 1910 results (as of 6/15/2007). If you scroll down the page, you will find a book called Fear of Feeling Loved by Dr. Bill Emener. Clicking on the image directs you to a beautiful full-color representation of the book's cover, a synopsis, chapters available online, links to buy the book, even the ability to search inside the book itself using keywords that will generate specific pages containing those words.

If you would like your book to be listed in Google Book Search, click on the link above or visit http://www.millcitypress.net/.

Author Tip No. One: Copyright Protection

2007-06-14T11:25:00.001-05:00

As an author, important thing for you to consider is why, how, and, when to protect your work.

WHY: Obviously, if you have labored over an entirely original work, an expression of yourself, a statement, you wouldn't want someone else to get away with claiming that work for him/herself, possibly even profiting from that work, right?

HOW: Literary and other forms of written text are protected by copyright protection. Actually, a work is effectively protected by copyright the moment it is written down by the author. However, it may be extremely difficult to legally prove ownership of that work without some official documentation or registration. This is where the government steps in. The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. offers official registration and public record of copyright for various types of work. If submitted, your work will be catalogued and archived in their records, and you will receive a certificate of registration stating that you have claim over the work you created. If your work is not registered with the Library of Congress, you may not sue for copyright infringement.

WHEN: The best time to register your work for copyright protection is up to you. If you are concerned about the security of your intellectual property, you may certainly register your work prior to its being published. However, be sure that your book is in its final form, with its final revisions. If significant changes are made to your work, you will have to re-register with the Library of Congress.

If you wish to find out more information about copyright protection or if you wish to have your work protected, visit http://www.clickandcopyright.com/ now.

BookExpo America and the Digital Age

2007-06-13T11:41:00.000-05:00

It seems that the dawning of the digital age has authors and book publishers looking at a new way to store, send, and exhibit their work.

The BookExpo America is an annual four-day convention for the publishing industry. This year around 35,000 publishers, booksellers, authors, agents and librarians perused vendors and attended parties and luncheons at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Among the topics of discussion were literary blogs and the digitization of books for online proliferation.

Many in the businesses of writing and publishing are reconciling their views on the stalwart Gutenberg tradition of printing and selling books as technology moves with ever-increasing speed and begins to dominate as the source for news and information.

The availability of books on the internet stirs up many questions: Will digitization enhance or replace the book retail business (think of the giant Amazon.com)? Will book sales increase because of its availability or decrease due to pirating (a la Napster and the music sharing fiasco)? Will online reading eventually replace printed material altogether?

The big publishing houses interviewed in the article expressed a mixture of wariness and slight indignation at the threat of technological advancement on the internet. It is the view of Mill City Press that authors are afforded an advantage in this technology, a free, far-reaching means of selling and offering their books online at little cost or not cost while maximizing personal profit in book sales. To learn more about smart online book marketing, please visit http://www.millcitypress.net or click on the title of this entry to be taken directly to the Mill City Press website.

Taken from the article "Waxing Philosophical, Booksellers Face the Digital" published in the New York Times June, 4 2007 by Motoko Rich.
To view the article go to http://www.nytimes.com.

Mill City Press on Kare 11

2007-06-07T12:18:00.001-05:00

What follows is Kare 11's coverage of Google's $60 million project to digitize the University of MN's entire library. Read the transcription below or watch the video. This clip aired on the 5 o'clock news June 6, 2007.

All images and sound property of Kare 11 News.

Google to digitize libraries of U of M, other Big Ten schools

Jesse Miller knows books.

"[I'm] just trying to read as much as I can in the next few weeks," he said in the University of Minnesota library on Wednesday.

And like most students at the University, the pre-med student also knows books and technology are becoming one.

"I can vouch for myself and a lot of kids that go to school, it makes it way easier to have things available on a computer."

Now Jesse will have even more available on-line.

Big Ten Conference schools will digitize select collections in each of the university's libraries -- up to 10 million volumes -- as part of Google Inc.'s book-scanning project.

The partnership will speed up a digitization process that might have taken hundreds of years, school officials said in announcing the agreement Wednesday. It will result in a shared digital repository that faculty, students and the public can access quickly.

"It enforces and reinforces our position as a world class university," said University of Minnesota Provost Thomas Sullivan.

The agreement covers Google and the 12 schools on the Committee on Institutional Cooperation -- the academic arm of the Big Ten Conference.

Besides the University of Minnesota, schools on the committee include the 10 other Big Ten schools affiliated through athletics -- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin -- plus the University of Chicago.

Under the six-year agreement, with option to renew, Google will fund the digitization and each CIC institution will cover the costs of preparing the books for digitization. The CIC said libraries have estimated the costs of digitization at about $60 per volume meaning the project's value to Minnesota -- which will provide up to 1 million volumes for scanning -- could reach $60 million.

"There is a tremendous value to the University of Minnesota," Sullivan said.

Costs to the university, about $150,000 each year, will involve current employees retrieving and preparing the books for shipping, spokeswoman Patty Mattern said.

Books chosen for scanning will be from each university's strong and distinct collection areas. Contributions from the University of Minnesota, for instance, could include Scandinavian history, literature and culture, forestry, beekeeping and medicine. The universities will offer suggestions and Google will make sure there's no duplication, Mattern said.

"This partnership allows for library digitization at a scale and scope that would not be possible within the limited means available to the individual universities," said Wendy Pradt Lougee, University of Minnesota librarian.

The committee said Google will scan and make searchable materials "in a manner consistent with copyright law." Google generally makes available the full text of books that are a part of the public domain and limited portions of copyrighted books.

The consortium will also create what they said was a first-of-its-kind online repository to collectively archive and manage the full content of public domain works scanned by Google within the schools' libraries.

Wisconsin and Michigan already have similar agreements with Google as part of group of university libraries worldwide that also includes Harvard, Stanford and Oxford universities. The consortium's agreement does not supersede the individual school agreements, school officials said.

By Genaro C. Armas, Associated Press Writer
AP writer Karren Mills contributed to this report from Minneapolis.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Saturn Return

2007-06-06T16:27:00.000-05:00

This book, The Saturn Return was published by Mill City Press and is featured on the video sharing site www.youtube.com.

Mark Levine has also written The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: The Contracts & Services of 48 Major Self-Publishing Companies – Analyzed, Ranked & Exposed (http://www.book-publishers-compared.com/) and I Will Faithfully Execute, a political thriller (listen to podcast at http://writingshow.com/?p=231), also published by Mill City Press.

To find out more about getting your book published, please visit www.millcitypress.net.

Great Book Cover Design

2007-06-05T14:16:00.000-05:00

An eye-catching book cover can be crucial to the sale of your book. Think of how many times you have stood before two different items and weighed the factors influencing your purchase. At some point in your consumer-life, you have made a purchase at least partially affected by how a certain product looks. Now picture yourself browsing online and combatting the myriad pop-up advertisements and links to websites competing for your attention. Every once in a while you are actually tempted to follow the link to a page based on an attractive or intriguing image. A well-designed cover for your book will have the same compelling effect when a user is browsing on Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble's website. The image of your book cover may arouse curiosity and cause the reader to find out more about the book.

Mill City Press has skilled and versatile graphic designers who will provide your work with a cover design or book jacket that will complement and draw readers into the text inside.

Here are a few stunning examples of book covers done by designers for Mill City Press:

If you are looking to publish your book, take advantage of Mill City Press' publishing package which gives you the author full rights and ownership over the book cover design and layout, including the digital files. Visit www.millcitypress.net or click on the link above to take you directly to our page describing that portion of our services.

Social Networking on the Internet

2007-05-31T15:06:00.000-05:00

MySpace, Friendster, Gather.com, Facebook, Xanga.

Chances are you have heard of at least one of these or other online networking sites. Their growing popularity is really testament to their user-friendly qualities and the proven benefits of being engaged with others over the internet.

These sites allow for a unique, multimedia way to interact with readers and fellow writers. Many of these networks, among several other amenities, provide the user space for a personal profile which you can make as specific as you wish, or even create pseudonymously.

The way the online networks are set up, users (sometimes even non-network members) may browse the members' pages with the option of actions such as commenting on a photo or entry, emailing that member, seeing who else visits that page, and creating links from that page to other members' pages.

There are many online social networks to choose from with varying drawing points to each. Let me offer a very brief survey of the biggest social networks. MySpace attracts a variety of ages, but appeals strongly to a younger audience. MySpace offers plenty of space to upload material in a varitey of ways including video clips and sound files. Friendster also seems to have a user base similar to the MySpace population (generally ages 18-35) but has a slightly more refined search engine allowing members to search the pages for interesting contacts. Xanga (xanga.com) is unique in that it offers web-rings within a site through which people can sign up by invitation to read your work. Live Journal has a large number of members who write and an even larger number of those who read. In Live Journal, you can add a "tag" to your page that aids in directing to your site users searching for your topic. Gather.com is a community of people who generally fall into the 30-60 age range with a very strong writing focus. Gather offers space for posting your writing and gaining critiques from other writers.

Social networking sites generally have members who are very active on the internet, posting in web forums and blogs often. This means heightened exposure for you. The more people visit your site, the more connections you make, which translates ultimately into others stopping at your site to look around, read an excerpt, and buy your book.

To get your help with your personal online marketing plan visit www.millcitypress.net or click on the title of this entry.

A Glossary of Helpful Terms in Marketing Online

2007-05-29T16:17:00.000-05:00

7Search -- Advertising program that generates quality website traffic on behalf of thousands of advertisers through its pay-per-click (PPC) search engine.

Average Cost-Per-click (CPC) -- Average amount paid by advertiser each time a user clicks on his/her ad. Average CPC is determined by totaling the cost of all clicks and dividing it by the number of clicks.

Conversion -- Occurs when a click on an ad leads directly to valuable user behavior such as a purchase, sign-up, page view, or lead.

Conversion Rate -- Percentage of total people who buy your book divided by the number of people who click on an ad for your website.

Cost -- Total dollars spent on advertising.

Cost per Conversion -- Amount spent on advertising for each book sale.

Daily Budget -- Amount allotted per day for an advertising campaign.

Google Analytics -- Free service offered by Google (the largest online search engine that indexes websites) that generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website. *Information provided by Google Analytics can be used to optimize an ad campaign (information such as how long visitors stay on the website and their geographic location).

Impressions -- Amount of people who see a webpage with your ad displayed on it.

Keywords -- Words chosen for a given Ad Group for the purpose of targeting your ad to potential customers.

Landing Page -- Active webpage where customers "land" after clicking on your ad. The web address for this page is also referred to as a "destination URL" or a "click through URL."

Lead -- Potential customer interested in buying, reading, or learning more about your book.

Natural Search Results -- List of websites generated from a search engine when a user searches keywords/phrases.

Optimized Website -- A website that ranks high (near the number one search result) in search engines for the chosen keywords.

PPC -- Pricing structure used by some online channels to charge an advertiser each time a user clicks on an advertiser's ad. Also called cost-per-click (CPC).

Social Networking -- Benefit of a virtual community offered by some webhosts (such as Myspace, Friendster, Gather.com). People engaged in this community are drawn by a less or more specific set of interests.

For additional terms, please visit http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=29

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

2007-05-24T14:28:00.000-05:00

In developing your marketing plan, you will want to take advantage of pay-per-click advertising (PPC). PPC ads are the text ads found on the top and sides of some of the major search engine pages such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN. You do not pay for the ads to appear on the page, but instead pay when the user clicks on the ad and is taken to your page. Fees for PPC ads are either set by the search engine or bid upon. Some search engines allow you to set a cap on how much you are willing to spend on each PPC ad per month, after which point the ads will stop running.

There are some free online services to help you decide what the best keywords/phrases are for you and your budget. In thinking about which keywords will appear in your ad, a good place to start is to think about how you would begin a search about the topic of your book in two different roles: the layperson and the industry insider. Both perspectives have the potential to yield fruitful results in a search engine depending on the user. Keep in mind also that you want to ensure that if a user clicks on your ad, he/she will be directed to a page that contains relevant information. Furthermore, the keywords you choose and find successful in your PPC monitoring are helpful in creating a highly optimized website.

There are many factors to weigh when thinking about running PPC ads. When considering your budget, you will have to weigh the costs for various key words (note that an ad will sometimes have higher prices depending on its position on the page), and prices do vary among different search engines. Do some research into what kinds of customer support and monitoring systems the search engines offer. You will also need to think about how much time you are willing to devote to monitoring the success of the keywords/phrases you have chosen in order to see which ones are worth spending more money on or getting rid of.

The risk can sound overwhelming; in fact, because the process can appear full of industry intricacies and requires some amount of devotion, it is most advised that you do seek some third-party assistance in the process of developing and monitoring your ads. However, with careful keyword and search engine selection, PPC ads be a really useful tool in creating a strong online presence and ultimately in selling your book.

The New Community: The Blog

2007-05-21T17:04:00.000-05:00

Creating a personal blog to promote your book online is one of the best ways to market yourself and your work. Not only are most blog hosting sites free, they offer so much more than just space for information on the internet.

If you create a blog, you are automatically entered into an online community, a network of people all over the globe who will see your posts, photos, and whatever else you can imagine to enhance your blog space. With a variety of blogging hosts to choose from, you could enter a community of people of all ages and interests, or you can find one that is slightly more focused in what brings its users to the network. Being connected to others offers a wealth of advantages: think job opportunities, links on their blogs to yours, international interest, perhaps even helpful pointers from people who have been where you are in the book selling or publishing process.

For blog visitors, you have many options on how to entice them and keep them coming back for more. People who have really been captivated by a book usually want to find out more about the author, the book itself, or about other writings the author has done. A blog can keep organized and archive all of this and whatever other categories of information you wish to make available to your readers. Also, blogs that are updated frequently are more likely to be found by major search engines; it is fortunate that it is easy to compose and edit your posts, so that you may contribute as often as you like. As in many well-regarded journals and magazines, you could feature excerpts from your book serially to keep yourself posting regularly and to keep readers wanting more.

Other helpful features are things like visitor counters to monitor how much traffic your blog has received; the capacity to send and receive comments about a particular post; you can also set up a PayPal account to sell books personally through your blog rather than having a chunk of your profit taken through selling with an online retailer.

Blogs are a simple and very effective way to gain exposure to a wide audience.

If you have published through us, visit www.millcitypress.net to find out how we can help you set up a blog.

Self-publish, Then Self-Promote!

2007-05-17T09:27:00.000-05:00

If you've published your book, you are aware of all the costs involved that ultimately cut into the profit you make, and that's only one end of the process. The other is creating exposure-- getting your book out there for people to read. It is recommended that you sell through one of the big online retailers to establish consumer credibility, but often they will take upwards of 50% off the top from each sale. Many online retailers require trade discounts as well; based on a range that you the author set with the retailer, a percentage of these trade discounts are offered online as bargains for the consumer. (But be warned, not all publishers allow you to set your own trade discounts, and some retailers will not push your book less fervently the lower you have set them.)

For legitimacy, sell through an established online bookseller; for profit, sell your books through your own website. Though you will have an added cost of advertising online in order to entice people to your website, you will still fare better since many methods of setting up a personal page on the internet are free. A blog like this one is a great example of a way to sell your books. Blogs have come into their own as more credible sources of news and culture, while being user-friendly for both the one running the blog and the reader. Most blogs are easy to update, archive past posts well, and have enough storage to upload your work in text, audio, even video clips. Perhaps you want to post excerpts or serially post chapters of your book online to captivate the reader; you may want to take advantage of the platform given you to speak to the research you did and the experience of writing your book. The content is up to you, and most blog hosts give you plenty of freedom in determining the look and feel of your site. Blogs offer a great way to connect with your readers in a personal way, faster and farther, around the clock.

A Book Publishing Glossary Worth A Second Look

2007-03-15T22:41:00.000-05:00

Each industry has specific terms that take awhile to become accustomed to and publishing is no exception to the rule. Even after nearly a decade in the publishing business, I often find myself looking up terms that I forgot, or trying to figure out a new term I haven't heard before. Just the process of printing and binding the book involves words you don't hear every day, "offset, underrun, galley, saddle stitching, and web press", to name a few

As a new author, it can leave your head spinning. I'm always on the search for a bigger and better publishing glossary and resources I can share with our authors. Tonight, I came across one in the strangest of places, on the BookJobs.com website. Hop on over to their "About Publishing: Commonly Used Terms" page and you might just learn a thing or two.

Getting the most out of your book cover...

2007-03-12T17:41:00.000-05:00

A book cover is one of the most important marketing tools for an author. Especially when self-publishing your book, you want to ensure that your book cover is professional and eye-catching. What you choose as your book cover will speak volumes about the book before anyone reads it. Thus, there are a few important things to remember during the book cover process:

Always fill out your questionaire honestly and completely. This is crucial for our designers to create the perfect book cover for you. The more detailed your answers are, the better your ideas will come across to your designer.
Don't have a clue about what your cover should look like? Do your research. Amazon is a great resource for gathering ideas. Look at other books similar in subject matter, noting which ones catch your eye and interest first. You don't want to copy anyone else's cover directly, but you may find details that inspire you.
When choosing your initial concept, make sure you take time to review it carefully. Ask family and friends what they think. If you want an honest opinion about which cover you should choose, ask a 5 year old.
When making changes to your cover concept, be open to comments and suggestions from the designer and Mill City Press. We hire design professionals for a reason, they are able help you figure out what will and what won't work for your cover. In the end, the cover is ultimately yours, but we're here to guide you.
Before you give the final sign off on your book cover, make sure you reviewed the cover carefully. Are all your requested changes made? Did you want the price on the cover? If so, is it on there? Are there any typos or mistakes in the text? Making sure that everything is exactly how you want it before signing off on it will help you avoid costly re-submission fees in the future.

Have a Plan

2007-03-11T15:59:00.000-05:00

As an author you spend months pouring over the computer screen perfecting every word. Every thought must be concise and directly related to the destination you want your reader to arrive at. You get ideas at the most inopportune of times and quickly jot down the contents of your mind on a cocktail napkin before rushing off to the comfort of your laptop. Nothing is calm until your thoughts are entirely spilled into the word processor! You fantasize about book sales and the distinguished "best selling author" title on your book. You are determined to create the perfect work of art.

Let me ask you this though, what good is that perfect accumulation of words and thoughts if nobody ever reads them? You need a plan.

Once your book is completed, who is going to read it? The more important question is, how are these people going to know your book even exists? The truth is that you will have to find them. You must make a name for your book and get the book "buzzed". There are several ways that you can do this simply from your own home and they include: blogs, social networking, internet advertising, and optimized websites. You can also look into submission into different online databases. The only limits are your creativity.

So you are thinking, okay, they all sound like good ideas but I am not internet savy. Maybe you have never posted a blog or have no idea how a social networking site could possibly increase your sales. I personally have no idea how to replace the spark-plugs in my car or how to perform my own knee surgery. I could certainly guess but what are the chances that I would do a good job? I choose to stick with the professionals. You could guess about how to promote your book but are you willing to live with the consequences?

I suggest consulting with a professional in the marketing industry. At the very least they can help you develop a plan to approach the sales and promotion of your book. The next task is to put this plan into action. If you choose to do this yourself or to enlist the help of a professional you will get exactly what you put into it. Time or money will be required to sell your book. The whole point is that first you need to have a plan. Then maybe you can continue your "best selling author" daydreams...

If you are interested in finding more information about where to find marketing plans or consultations please contact me at: karina@clickindustries.com or 612-455-2290 ext 204.

From Where I Sit: An Honest Look at Publishing As a Business

2007-03-09T11:56:00.000-06:00

If you're looking for a well-written, frequently updated blog on the business of publishing, sign up for Michael Hyatt's blog, From Where I Sit. Hyatt is the President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. He offers an-depth look at what it takes to run one of the world's largest publishing companies. Michael also writes about leadership and staying focused on your goals, not the daily "put-out-the-fire" activities thrown in your way.

Creative URLs for Your Book

2007-03-07T13:50:00.000-06:00

When choosing a url for your book, the obvious is choice is the title and/or your name. Another good idea is a descriptive set of keywords that describes your book. A .com extension should always be your first choice at least for your primary domain name. If you are planning on advertising your book on Google, Yahoo, MSN, or other pay-per-click search engines, you should consider purchasing other domain names that either describe the contents of your book or contain keyword phrases potential readers of your book might be searching under.

Why?

You only get about 25 characters (including spaces) for an ad headline and 70 characters (including spaces) for the body of the ad on Google (the others are similar). That's not a lot of room to get your message across. By using a creative domain name in the URL portion of the ad, you basically get another line of text in which to advertise your book. Remember, you can have as many domain names as you want redirect to any other domain name you want. You don't need a programmer to set this up for you.

So, let's take my book, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing. It ranks and analyzes the publishing contracts of major self-publishing companies. The main URL is www.Book-Publishers-Compared.com . Domains with hyphens are good for two reasons: (1) search engines can easily read the words when indexing your site and (2) when it appears in front of an internet surfer, it can be read quickly and easily. But, if you do this, you also want to get the same domain without hyphens (if possible). I also have www.BookPublishersCompared.com so that if I discuss my book in an interview or with someone over the phone, I don't have to say "Book hyphen Publishers....".

I also have a second domain name, www.AvoidBadPublishers.com that I use just for advertising on Google, Yahoo, etc. It redirects to the homepage of www.Book-Publishers-Compared.com . So, I have two ads running that are identical except for the URL that is displayed. I then see which one performs better. Notice how both URLs are very descriptive?

Any author who wants to talk URL strategies, feel free to contact me at mark@clickindustries.com or 612-455-2290 ext. 201.

Book Marketing to Websites

2007-03-07T12:19:00.000-06:00

What a perfect post for authors and those involved in the marketing and selling of books! Hop on over to "The Publicity Hound's Blog" to read about online book sales through niche sites. She writes a compelling post about using your expertise as a writer to reach people in closely-targeted publications - both on and off line.

Check out the full post here.

The Economist Style Guide

2007-02-28T22:34:00.000-06:00

For a more expanded version of a style guide based on George Orwell's 6 rules of writing (outlined below and based on an expanded essay), see The Economist Style Guide. If you are serious about writing, you should be serious about reading and following this guide.

Writing Rules to Live By

2007-02-28T22:26:00.000-06:00

Here is a great set of rules, handed down by George Orwell, in a quite wordy essay on the abuse of the English language.

Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Thanks for Guy Kawaski for posting the full essay, "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell.

Five Chapters: Home of the Most Exciting Original Fiction on the Web

2007-01-28T13:53:00.000-06:00

If you've published a new fiction novel, or have even the first five chapters ready to go, you may want to hop on over to Five Chapters. Run by David Daley, and advertised on some of the Internet's largest publishing sites, such as Media Bistro, it is good exposure for your work. If you're interested in submitting a story, contact David at editor@fivechapters.com.

A Contest for a Publishing Contract?

2007-01-15T21:09:00.000-06:00

We are a self-publishing company and believe it is possible to make money and yes, even become a bestselling author by self-publishing your work. Just look at Richard Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad. He started out by self-publishing and has been on the bestseller lists for 5 years running!

But, if your main aim of self-publishing is to attract a top literary agent, and in turn, a traditional publisher for your work, there is a site you should become familiar with. Gather, best described as a MySpace for grown-ups, is growing fast and declares to its users, "It's a place where you can contribute thought, art, commentary, or inspiration." Don't visit Gather expecting blasting music and girls in bikinis (although you may find some).

Gather is looking for you. Specifically, they are looking for you to write content, content that generates discussion. Based on the interest discussion, they will even share a small portion of their ad revenue in the form of GatherPointsTM. Could it get any better?

Yes, well, it can. The Gather First Chapters Writing Competition has just been announced. For novelists looking for their big break, winners receive the following:

a publishing contract with Touchstone/Simon & Schuster

a $5,000 cash prize from Gather.com

promotion and distribution by Borders

Visit firstchapters.gather.com for more information on the contest, rules, and deadlines.

The Big Bad Book Blog

2006-12-12T14:33:00.000-06:00

Another site worth mentioning is the Big Bad Book Blog, hosted and run by greenleaf book group. Broken down by subject and full of great tidbits, into an easy-to-read format (like most of the Internet), the Big Bad Book Blog also has an email subscription for weekly updates.

Terry Whalin and "The Writing Life"

2006-12-12T14:21:00.000-06:00

If you are a writer (or even just a humble publishing employee), and chances are, if you are reading this, you fit the bill. You should know about Terry Whalin. A writer and editor by trade he knows both sides of the publishing equation: those who write and those who publish. His blog feed is full of informative, useful information for authors. As an editor reading hundreds of book proposals a year, he also has a good look at what it takes to get noticed above the rest. Easy, it's not, you'll find, for a writer with a good book to have editors take a second look.

Terry doesn't sugar coat it, but makes it apparent what hard work selling a book is in every post. Writing it might be the easiest thing you do. Promoting it (and any future books you may write) is a life-long activity.

Some newsletters I sign up for and rarely read. But Terry's The Writing Life blog and Right Writing website are like a course at NYU. Always worth the time and when used properly, a lot of hard work. But if you are looking for a good, general overview of all things author related, his sites are a must-read.

Mill City Press - A new era in self-publishing.

2006-08-29T10:43:00.000-05:00

We invite you to discover a new way of self-publishing with Mill City Press. What makes us different and why should you publish with us?
1. In-depth publishing and self-publishing industry experience
2. Ecommerce experts that get your book noticed online
3. 100% Royalties - you keep all profits
4. Original book covers - no templates and you own all artwork and layouts.
5. Wholesale printing costs - you pay what we pay and we show you the bill.
6. Opportunities for bookstore distribution

Check out our new beta site at www.millcitypress.net.