Jen’s Comments (group member since Mar 16, 2012)

Jen’s comments from the Q&A with Jen Talty AND Bob Mayer group.

Yes! Use a timer! Sometimes it is good to take the time to get involved in those discussion, but pick them wisely and use your time wisely. In about 20 I will be shutting down the internet so I can focus on some things. The conversations will still be there when I get back.

We look at our blog as the "hub" of operations. We provide information to both readers and writers, so we use it as such. We do encourage participation at blog and we interact with our readers. The key for us is participating on other blogs of interest and joining the conversation in other communities.

As far as time goes, I would say you can do it all in about an hour or so a day. Break it up. I'm on twitter all the time, but I see that as a push/pull of information and I find great articles about publishing there. I do Facebook maybe 2x a day--always trying to participate in a conversation when possible. It isn't so much about time, but using time effectively.

One of Bob's favorite topics: How can we use social media effectively? We see a lot of authors spinning their wheels. We've found that each platform serves a different role and function for us. We've also seen it work different ways for other people. Go ahead, ask us questions about social media.

One of the things we discuss in the book is goal setting. If you don't know where you are going you are likely to get lost. So one topic we can discuss is what are our publishing goals? What do we want to achieve? What will define our success.

We sold 347 eBooks in January of 2011. In just six months, by July 2011, we were selling 65,000 eBooks a month. From that modest beginning, by 2011’s end, we had sold over 400,000 eBooks. This book will give you the details on how we did that and built a seven-figure indie publishing house in just two years.

Whether you have been published by a New York publisher, an independent press, an ePublisher, self-published or considering all of your options, this book contains all the information you need to make an informed decision about your career as an author in today’s fast moving digital world.

We start out with content and theory, giving you a feel for where the industry has been and where it is going. We cover the various types of publishing, goal setting and help you find where you fit in the 3 P’s (Product, Platform and Promotion). From there we go into the digital process and the nuts and bolts of covers, editing and uploading.

Finally we cover pre and post publication strategies. Everything from creating your own unique branding plan, social media and marketing, pricing, understanding the market, metadata and discoverability. All of which is your roadmap to being a successful author regardless of your path to publication.

Its a great time to be an author. Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!