Creating Your eBooks

Building Your Author’s Platform

2011-08-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

You thought the hard work was done? For the most part you are correct, you have poured hours, weeks or even months into creating your latest master piece. You have self published your wonderful book, but it seems outside of a few sales no one is buying your work.

What can you do to get people to notice this fabulous piece of literature which you have written?

Are you advertising your new book on your author’s website? Do you have an impressive followers list for your book(s)? Do you have a blog site where you are promoting your book? Is your book(s) displayed in your local bookstores? How big is your mailing list? Do you have a huge pod casting audience? Do you have a speaking platform? Do you have hundreds following you on Twitter, My Space, or Facebook? Are you using web 2.0 technology? Have you created a book trailer for your book?

You need to create an Author’s Platform…

If you answered no to any of these questions, then you are not reaching your full potential for marketing your book. Do not be alarmed. This might sound over whelming, but I will give you the information you need to create your Author’s Platform, step by step, with little or no cost to you.

Author’s Official Website

Even the most popular authors have their own websites. Take a look at a few I have named: James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon. This is a place their fans come to for updated information about their favorite books and new book releases as well as to become a member of the author’s site. Be creative when designing your website. There are several great sites on the Internet! You can create a website for little or no money. I have found with most self publishing author’s their funds are limited, so to help those who need a free site here is the direct link to a really wonderful place that offers free websites. You can always upgrade to a paid membership status at any time, but for now just use the free version to create your Official Author’s Website. Another point of interest regarding this site below, they offer fabulous specials for upgrading your membership helping to save you money.

www.webs.com

In my next article I will share with you how to build your followers using Twitter, My Space and Facebook.

Book Trailers

2011-06-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Several people have stated that it must be hard to create a book trailer. I would have to say, "It depends on the software program you are attempting to use."

When I first decided to make a book trailer I went to one of my favorite resource... www.youtube.com, you can find tutorials on almost any subject you want...

I researched several different software programs, finding most of them extremely complicated to work with. I decided when all else fails... "Keep it simple, dummy!", rule of thumb works the best. Microsoft Windows Movie Maker works the best for me. It is a free software program that comes on almost every computer. If your computer does not have it go to Microsoft's website and download it. Like I said it is free... Super easy to use... making the end product have a professional look and quality.

For those who do not know me or my life mate, Michael, let me introduce myself. My name is Marie and I create all of the book trailers for Michael, who writes under the pen name(s) The Quail and A J Morgan. I create the layouts for his books and his book covers to make his wonderful stories the best they can be. The hardest part for any writer is getting someone, anyone to notice their work. I do everything I can to help with this by making the covers something everyone wants to pick up and look at. Once you have the potential customer (book buyer) holding the book in their hand you the author are one step closer to making a sale. Like with any form of advertising a book trailer works, if it did not authors like, Stephen King, Christine Feehan, James Patterson would not be invest thousands of dollars using book trailers.

That's right, folks! These outstanding authors use book trailers. Professional companies charge hundreds of dollars to make these trailers. Needless to say, we did not have hundreds of dollars to invest in hiring the pro's to make Michael's book trailers so, I taught myself how to make them using every resource I could find to learn everything I could about making a trailer.

Let's take a minute and talk about music, I start with this topic because the music can make or break your trailer. Before you start to make your own trailer look at the ones that are out their online. Note the music, how it makes you feel, does it match what you are seeing, does it make you want to see more. Now turn the sound off... watch the trailer again without the sound... Did you notice that the music helps sale the story? Now get on your computer and play around with windows movie maker. Remember the copyright laws, get permission or obtain a license to use images, music, etc. No one wants all his or her hard work removed due to infringement rights. Do your research, there are free images and free music you can use as well as, sites that offer these things for a small fee.

Take a look at the two different book trailers I have created for two of Michael's books... Let me hear from you on what you think. All input is welcomed to help me improve the quality of the book trailers I am creating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVzrJU0WVXw&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/user/MysticalChangeling1#p/a/u/0/6en_bzgfR1A

A J Morgan - Shape Shifter - Book Trialer

2011-05-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

This is the latest book trailer I have created, per the specification of the author. Please leave me your comments and let me know what you think. Your feedback will help me improve my creations for future authors.
If anyone has any tips they would like to share feel free to leave those comments as well. Thank you all for your support.

2011-05-23T01:25:00.001-07:00

Harmonic Vibrations for the Soul http://ping.fm/btLzl

2011-05-20T18:14:00.001-07:00

Hot Off The Press-my Latest Book Releases! http://ping.fm/A4xyg

2011-01-14T11:00:00.001-08:00

The Bermuda Triangle | Scienceray http://ping.fm/7nVgY

2011-01-14T10:59:00.001-08:00

Treating Menopause-(Revised) | Healthmad http://ping.fm/ZIYcr

2011-01-14T10:58:00.001-08:00

Tsunami | Scienceray http://ping.fm/qOmUj

2011-01-14T10:56:00.003-08:00

The Gift of Butterfly | Socyberty http://ping.fm/wwcTl

2011-01-14T10:56:00.001-08:00

Soldier’s Letter Home | Authspot http://ping.fm/VaufI

2011-01-14T10:49:00.001-08:00

Identity Theft! – (Has This Ever Happened to You?) | Socyberty http://ping.fm/mNtor

2011-01-14T10:47:00.001-08:00

Alternative Medicine-herbs & Plants-(did You Know?) | Healthmad http://ping.fm/964BK

2011-01-14T10:45:00.001-08:00

The Quail’s List-(did You Know?) | Authspot http://ping.fm/YyqEW

Medicinal Herbs & Plants-wild Chokecherries-(did You Know?) | Healthmad

2010-12-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

Medicinal Herbs & Plants-wild Chokecherries-(did You Know?) | Healthmad

Elite Writers Club

2010-02-06T12:38:00.000-08:00

For All Authors

This elite writers club has been created so authors can get the word out to the public regarding their written work. It does not matter if you self-publish or print-on-demand (POD) publishing. List your work on our site. Send your links for published work, store fronts, website via email. We will post your information and add you to our growing mailing list.

The link below will that you to the site with useful information as well as the link to the site we will add you link to. Make sure you tell us what name you want to appear with you link.

http://thequail1957.blogspot.com/

Book Review

2010-02-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

Please stop in and give this author a review on his book Soon to be Selling @ Amazon.com
Click on the link below to leave a review:
https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1065112

View the Ebook store
https://www.createspace.com/3427391

The above link is the link to the storefront selling the book:
White Wolf (Children of the Crystal)
this is the first book in the White Wolf Series.

Second book Review:

Vibration of the Soul click link to leave author a review:
https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1065385

excerpt from book: Vibrations of the Soul....

I Hear Your Voice on the Wind

Love is eternal

When I walk outside,
In the cool night air,
When I am missing you,
And my mind,
I wish to clear,
I walk beside the waterfalls,
I begin to remember when,
Two hearts would beat as one,
A true love,
Never to be undone,
I listen and I hear,
The wind whispering,
Through the trees,
I feel your warm breath,
As it slowly washes over me,
I feel your gentle touch,
Warm upon my skin,
I hear your voice,
Calling to me,
A message on the wind,
And as our essence,
Slowly in twines,
I give thanks to spirit,
Just one more time,
Your image burns,
Like an eternal flame,
The memories,
Remain always the same,
I give thanks,
To him the most high,
In his great love and wisdom,
He has placed you,
Upon the wind,
Forever by my side,
Each time I breathe,
Your essence in,
I hear your voice upon the wind.

Creating Your eBook

2009-08-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

Many of our friends know I convert Michael’s stories and other writings into eBooks and have asked me how it is done. To save myself time as well as others I have decided to post the information for all to see.

The first step to creating an eBook is to insure you have the program to convert your written work into a pdf. (PDf) Portable Document Format is a file format created by Adobe Systems in 1993 for document exchange. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF_(Adobe)

Before I give you the link to free PDF creating software I would like to say one thing.

EDIT, this cannot be stressed enough. It will not matter how much hard work you put into your story, poem, etc. if you do not edit your work. Get a trusted friend to help with this as fresh eyes pair of eyes will see things that you (as the author knowing what it should say) might miss.

Now, what you have been waiting for the software information. CutePDF is the program I use to create our PDF which is how I create Michaels eBooks.

Important Information there is a convertor you will need to download as well.

http://www.cutepdf.com/
http://www.cutepdf.com/products/cutepdf/Writer.asp

The above link will take you to the site, look for CutePDF Writer, click free download. There is a professional version, as will all pro versions there is a cost. The site offers helpful hints and information to using the CutePDF Writer (freeware).

Once you have this freeware loaded onto your computer and have your writings proofread and edited then it is time to create an eBook.

Go to the file where you writing is, by it: Microsoft Office or Word, etc. then click print. Tell it to print in cutepdf and save it to your desktop. That is all there is to creating a PDF!

Now you will need to decide if how you wish to self publish. Remember if you want to send your work to a publishing company the company you choice to send it to will have their own guidelines of what they will take. Make sure you investigate what a publishing company is looking for and what they will accept.

I hope this helps everyone who has been asking about creating eBooks. I wish you great success in your adventure and look forward to seeing your eBooks published in the near future.