Self Publishing.

I have much admiration for you Mimosa and I wish you every success. (the illustrations are lovely).

I searched "advice from writers about marketing digital books" and quite a few results came up. Some of them may be useful to you (I would tend to avoid any that look like they're businesses trying to get your custom).

other some others

Some 'history' is about right Jane, it's just a shame that other, who you might have thought to be more kindly, have chosen to follow the BBB line!

I'm simply saying Jane that soon's posting style, and the fact that she has never alluded to being an author surprises me - just as regulars on here would be surprised if I suddenly claimed to be one.

No, you're not being naive, Jane10.

Surely that's a bit uncalled for riverwalk? There seems to be some history going on between some posters against soontobe. Probably I'm being naive but this was an interesting thread until people started complaining about her.

I may have one more in me.

How many books have you written soon?

I have to say, reading your many posts over the months I'd never have guessed that you were an author.

I think somebody might have been channelling her inner Enid Blyton! (Maybe getting into character for thebook )

Really, Iam64? Perhaps not in the 19th century...

absent I meant that there must be a lot of people out there who have self published and are looking at how to publicise their book.

If there were only 10 authors in the world and the same number amount of readers, then the standard of their books would not have to be anywhere near as high

That is where we have to agree to differ. It is not a case of designing a better mousetrap, if a book is bad no shortage of reading material is going to render it "better". I would rather read the side of the cereal packet than a rubbish book.

The plethora of books on self publishing suggests someone has had a brilliant money making wheeze though, like those books from the 50's and 60's on How to be a Millionnaire -just write a book like this for the suckers out there!

I don't want to de-rail this thread, or to make it all about one individual but I notice that soontobe used the word "gosh" in her post at 8.05 this morning. I was a bit taken aback as it isn't a word most Christians would use.

I am not sure what you mean by a big market Jane10 – perhaps the business of publicising your self-published book. Brits do not buy a lot of books – it's an astonishingly small market.

Yes it certainly is a tall order. I've discovered lots of self published books on how to publicise your book! Its obviously a big market.

Well said, Anya. I really must get on with that book I've been talking about for years. I talk a good talk.

Perhaps this underpins my scepticism, there is more to publishing a book than just wanting to write one.

Gosh, yes.
I am not sure if there are more writers than there ever were? Quite likely anyway given that the world population is increasing, but wander into any larger bookshop, and it is amazing how many books there are. Not to mention all those languishing in second hand bookshops.
It is a bit the size of the industry though, because to put it in its simplest terms, if there were only 10 authors in the world, and the same amount of readers, then the standard of their books would not have to be anywhere near as high.

It sounds like self publishing marketing is a tall order.

precious need to spellcheck my writing.

I do so agree that a budding author needs a professional team to edit, check spelling grammar and generally prepare a book for publication.

You are absolutely right Absent how preciuos some writers can be about their work. When a friend asked me to read her manuscript it had many glaring mistakes, but when I tried to give her constructive feedback she didn't want to know. I found that sad as there was basically a good story there, but it was submerged in errors and inconsistencies.

Also if you want to hit the big time you need a literary agent who will know the best publishers to present your work to.

My DS joined the Society of Authors which really helped and guided him in the early days.

If an author is lucky enough to have their book commissioned by a publisher then the hard work really begins because if book one is a success they then set a deadline for finishing book two and so on.

If I am brutally honest it is all about sales. Publishers, from my experience, are interested in making money and authors have to meet the expectations of the publisher to survive.

Good luck to all aspiring writers. Don't let anyone put you off getting your thoughts down on paper whether or not you ever manage to get them published.

There is something intrinsically therapeutic about writing.

Yes, there is some excellent advice from Absent and others who quite clearly have considerable experience to draw on, but there are those who would simple trample on your dreams for reasons only they know.

I am not trying to belittle Mimosa's book and will have a look in my Kindle store where I see it is described as "an exciting and magical story, beautifully illustrated by the author", I wonder if Mimosa would tell us more about how she hit on her plot and characters , how long it took to write and to illustrate and who her target audience are?
I am sure it was not easy and I would be very interested to hear more about the creative process.

Absent does indeed know exactly what she is talking about and it is not the "size of the industry" soontobe that requires aspiring authors to use the experience of editors or proofreaders. Writing is a talent which can be honed and requires a facility with language and a clarity of expression, but it is also a craft which needs to be learned. How many successful, even best -selling authors had their first, second maybe even third attempts rejected I wonder?
Perhaps this underpins my scepticism, there is more to publishing a book than just wanting to write one.

But it is more than that.
The op, going by her link, seems to have written a great book. With even greater illustrations. And she has managed to launch the book.
But still she is finding things difficult, re marketing. Re the actual selling of books in significant quantities.

Absent's final sentence makes a great deal of sense.
I'm sure there are many out there who have an idea which they genuinely believe will make a book, but they also need the appropriate level of writing skills, clarity of thought and expression, the ability to involve and inform readers. If an aspiring author does not have these gifts, then even the most experienced proofreader/editor/publisher can't produce a successful volume. Silk purses and sows' ears?

Nelliemoser