Presentation of the Check!

Here I am presenting the first check for $300.00 to Ed Crammer, Chairperson of the Veterans Independence Project.

Great feeling to be able to donate $300.00 to the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project yesterday at the Veterans Advisory's November Mtg. Hopefully, it's the first of many. The VAC is a group of dedicated - amazing people dedicated to help veterans in Carroll County.

First Donation!

On Tuesday November 21 st, I will make my first donation to Carroll Counties Veterans Independence Project or VIP. This project is working to renovate an old army reserve building into a shelter and training facility for veterans.

My wife and I are excited to be part of this great project and look forward to make many more donations from the sale of mu book "Da Nang Damned!". A special thanks to all you have supported me by purchasing the book, writing reviews and spreading the word. Last week was a busy week with two book signings. In the coming months we plan to do more promotions and signings. The book is currently trending on Amazon @ 4.7 Stars! If you have purchased and eBook or paperback from Amazon, PLEASE remember to write a review!

Scheduled Events: Book Signings

So now that I've gotten the final revisions done on "Da Nang Damned!" It's time to sell some books! Depending on Amazon to sell your books is crazy! unles you're a well known author ie: Stephen King for example ecpecting people to go to Amazon, find and buy your book is a little like looking for that old needle in a haystack. If your a first time author and Indie publishef the cold hard facts are you have to get off your butt and get out there with your book.

This mean finding ways to self promote. I wrote about press releases before, so I won't spend time with them, except to say that anytime you are doing something, ie: speaking, signing books, etc a press release announcing the event should be sent to every media outlet in your area.

However, for this post lets concentrate on book signings & speaking engagements. The best way to get these are to ask if you can hold a book signing and/or speak before a group about your book. Here are some ideas:

Local Libraries

Civic Groups

Book Clubs

All these groups are always looking for interesting speaker.

This month I have three such events:

Nov 13th Lions Club

Nov 17th Senior Center

Nov 21st Veterans Group

I would like to do at least two a month.

Final Revison, I hope of Da Nang Damned!

Well I just finished the final revision of "Da Nang Damned!" One advantage of publishing on Amazon is that you can make revisions . After going over the manuscript countless times and having it edited there were still typos! Which Amazon displays as a question mark inside a little box. It was driving me nuts!

Finally I figured out what 99% of these marks meant. Most were spacing errors at end of sentences or paragraphs where instead of a single space I had a double space. I had to go page by page and correct the spacing and other errors. I can't blame the people who did the editing originally, the spacing doesn't show up until you down load onto Amazon's format. Or hit the click on the paragraph icon in word. Anyway I'm learning and hopefully the next book in the series will be better.

Press Releases Work!

A few days ago I sent out a press release about my newest book, "Da Nang Damned!" The release was sent to local media, newspapers & radio stations. One a free paper put my release on the front paper!

Now getting published in a small local free paper, certainly isn't the same as the NY Sunday Times, but that's not the point. The point is that press releases work! Especially for an Indie Writer with limited dollars to spend.

Press releases are free! Years ago you had to assembly a press kit. Print it & mail it. No More! Every newspaper, radio, TV station has a web page w/contact info. You put together a press release & zap off it goes.

Press Release are a fast way to publicize your book. Again with emails and blogs getting the word out has never been easier.

Press Releases are a great way to keep your public informed. Win an award, schedule a book sale, get a good review? Send out a press release.

Press Releases can help you develop a relationship with a paper, radio or TV station/personality. The truth is you'll be lucky if you get one or two papers to run your release. But the ones that do need to be cultivated. Send a thank you email. Offer to do an interview. Mail them a book to review,staying in touch with them will pay dividends.

Selling Your Writing.

If you're serious about being a professional writer, ie. you want to earn money by writing. Then you have to become a salesperson. The chances of someone discovering you and selling/promoting you are slim and none.

Remember the old saying: "If you build a better mouse trap, the world will beat a path to your door"?
What the author should of said was: "If you build a better mouse trap and market the hell out of it the world will beat a path to your door."!

Before I retired, I spent more than 40 years in sales & marketing from going door to door  to vice president of sales & marketing for several companies. Now as a writer selling and marketing should be a piece of cake. But the reality is that it's a lot harder to sell yourself than somebody's product or services. Putting yourself out there is scary! But, putting yourself out there is exactly what you must do!

The reason most artist and writers are starving is because they refuse/can't/won't sell themselves! Again they hope they'll be discovered. Good luck with that!

Of course the main reason people don't sell themselves is the fear of rejection. Well get over it! Realize you will face rejection and criticism and lots of Nos. But you must push on. Take the constructive criticisms to heart. Improve, refine, revise, but keep moving forward.

Consider this, most people lack the courage to do what you do. If you have passion, talent and a willingness to take go over, through or around any wall then you will be successful.