tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169582422024-02-02T13:11:27.944-05:00A MindStir Media Blog | How to Publish BooksMindStir Media owned blog for bestselling author and book publisher J.J. Hebert, who teaches how to publish books, market and sell books.J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-78985604782361169552021-10-08T17:02:00.003-04:002021-10-08T17:04:40.190-04:00Hollywood star Tom Arnold praises MindStir Media<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">A new viral video posted on </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mindstirmedia" rel="external nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #005691; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">MindStir Media's official YouTube channel</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> shows Tom Arnold, Hollywood star and comedian, recommending that authors check out MindStir Media for self-publishing.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“A lot of great people are using it. It’s a quality company. They’ve won awards, I’m not even kidding. And they can expertly produce an eye-catching, high-quality book and market it …” Tom Arnold stated in the selfie style video. “MindStir Media, these are quality people. You get a good-looking book …" He held up a copy of his own published book. "It will change your life, I can promise you that. Check out MindStir Media.” As a self-proclaimed "huge fan of self-publishing," Tom Arnold is a big believer in using MindStir Media for self-publishing a book.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Tom Arnold’s career spans decades. He has been in major films and television shows like Austin Powers, True Lies, Nine Months, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Trailer Park Boys, Sons of Anarchy and much more.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">CEO of MindStir Media, J.J. Hebert raved about the endorsement: “Tom Arnold is one of the most recognizable names in Hollywood and in comedy. To have Tom recommend MindStir Media as an option for self-publishing authors is incredibly exciting. I’ve always enjoyed his acting performances, and his book of course, so it’s a dream come true to get his stamp of approval.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">MindStir Media is an award-winning self-publishing company partnered with Mariel Hemingway and Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington. MindStir helps authors at every stage of book self-publishing, from book design to editing to book printing and marketing. J.J. Hebert founded the company in 2009 to self-publish his own book, Unconventional, which went on to sell over 100,000 copies in multiple formats. Hebert has since helped thousands of authors through MindStir Media, and he has appeared as a self-publishing and business expert in major publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance, to name a few.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://mindstirmedia.com/mindstir-media-reviews/" target="_blank">MindStir Media</a> has also received video endorsements from Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington and actress and bestselling author Mariel Hemingway, the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GkG-X1WPEqg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-45333677165500831092020-06-12T17:30:00.001-04:002020-07-21T18:17:55.516-04:00MindStir Media featured on USA Today: Shark Tank judge Kevin Harrington hails MindStir Media as the self-publishing company authors can trust<a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/2020/05/04/shark-tank-cast-member-kevin-harrington-reviews-mindstir-media/" target="_blank">MindStir Media was recently seen on USA Today</a> with regards to Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington praising our company as the self-publisher authors can trust.<br />
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J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-32211715801157895192020-04-13T17:44:00.004-04:002020-04-13T17:45:47.032-04:00Kevin Harrington, original Shark from Shark Tank, recommends Mindstir Media for your self-publishing needsLast month, Kevin Harrington endorsed <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com">Mindstir Media</a>. Mr. Harrington is an original Shark from ABC's hit TV show Shark Tank. Here's the full video:
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ZJM4Sj_GVo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-36177446996597736512019-08-05T13:39:00.002-04:002019-08-05T13:42:15.222-04:00Mindstir Media News - July 2019Mindstir Media was quite busy in July 2019. Mindstir received its 16th book award in 10 years; one of Mindstir's authors won an author of the year award locally; and one of Mindstir's books became a #1 Amazon bestseller. Check out the news stories below to read more.<br />
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-<a href="https://www.oneworldherald.com/2019/08/02/top-book-publisher-mindstir-media-garners-positive-reviews-receives-its-16th-book-award-in-10-years/"><b>Top book publisher Mindstir Media</b></a> garners positive reviews & receives its 16th book award in 10 years: Source: One World Herald<br />
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-<b><a href="https://www.bigtimedaily.com/mindstir-media-author-wins-author-of-the-year-award-garners-rave-reviews/">Mindstir Media author</a> </b>wins author of the year award, garners rave reviews: Source: Big Time Daily
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-"Naschash's Narrative" by Volker Fremuth (from <a href="https://www.bigtimedaily.com/nachashs-narrative-by-volker-fremuth-from-mindstir-media-becomes-1-amazon-best-seller-and-1-hot-new-release/"><b>Mindstir Media</b></a>) becomes #1 Amazon Best Seller and #1 Hot New Release: Source: Big Time DailyJ.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-68649607746742122282019-07-16T17:04:00.001-04:002019-07-16T17:04:36.369-04:00MindStir Media Self-Publishing Review - #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Volker G. FremuthVolker G. Fremuth recently became a #1 Amazon bestselling author. Below is a video in which he shares his experience with MindStir Media.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fpyg0YGxEAk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-89810879768366145152019-07-11T19:20:00.004-04:002019-07-11T19:20:47.169-04:00MindStir Media Self-Publishing Review - Danielle DiPietro HawkinsDanielle DiPietro Hawkins is seen here describing her self-publishing process and experience with MindStir Media.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KK8rjUgEVWM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-12070429643368528342019-06-25T16:44:00.002-04:002019-07-09T17:07:39.051-04:00Top 5 Book Awards for Self-Published Authors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.manhattanbookgroup.com/manhattan-book-awards/" target="new" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Manhattan Book Awards" border="0" data-original-height="83" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0D8lrjC25KwI6C7ZGObEmqtLnwwpjGuwKKTr-Hg3NSUiUqA-SaKlLZQHgOob_CFYwbXAhW7ZMgFnlIjncnGCFgWkDnM6_CmTz0fpRc0uTfHloeJaCrBYCMNsVLFfOMxdohbsaw/s1600/MBA-ad-blog.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: none; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: none; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a self-published author, it can be difficult finding reputable book award competitions to enter. Many of the most prestigious book awards have rigorous entry rules and requirements not suitable for self-published books. To help aid in your search, and for your convenience, I've compiled a list of what I believe to be the top 5 book awards for self-published authors. I'm the award-winning author of three #1 Amazon Best Sellers (and publisher of over 500 books) -- and my recommendations below are based on my own research and experience.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">1.) <a href="https://www.manhattanbookgroup.com/manhattan-book-awards/" target="_blank">Manhattan Book Awards:</a> </span><span style="color: #252422;"> </span><span style="color: #252422;">The </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #252422; font-weight: 700;">Manhattan Book Awards</span><span style="color: #252422;"> competition is open to USA and international authors with books tied to 50+ categories. The award strives to honor and showcase the best books that the world of publishing has to offer. Open to both self-published and traditionally published books. No publication date restrictions. Entry Fee: $125 per title or $99 per title (early bird price). <b>Learn more and <a href="https://www.manhattanbookgroup.com/manhattan-book-awards/" target="_blank">enter here</a>.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB437xMhC4BLpn6ahmvS4lmsn562GhSKp61y1RpwcXw1WtZ_ufVOos-ffAoNzQz_YiVuRIISTNzXQsu2nTXuYfKyvarBJYNbEb14__Mib1k_sqFqQ2pYFppEtSyYLFdgRYZYc3Q/s1600/benjamin-franklin-book-award.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB437xMhC4BLpn6ahmvS4lmsn562GhSKp61y1RpwcXw1WtZ_ufVOos-ffAoNzQz_YiVuRIISTNzXQsu2nTXuYfKyvarBJYNbEb14__Mib1k_sqFqQ2pYFppEtSyYLFdgRYZYc3Q/s1600/benjamin-franklin-book-award.png" /></span></span></a><span style="background-color: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">2.) </span><a href="https://ibpabenjaminfranklinawards.com/" style="color: #333333;" target="_blank">IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">: The <b>Benjamin Franklin Awards </b>is part of the Independent Book Publishers Association, the largest not-for-profit trade association of independent publishers. They accept books published by all methods including self-publishing. Over 50 categories from which to choose. $225 entry fee for first title, which includes one-year of membership to IBPA. IBPA member: $95 per title. <b>Learn more and <a href="https://ibpabenjaminfranklinawards.com/entry-form/" target="_blank">enter here</a>.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbmVLjGyhW7mHaUJ59f2cetWpz8rZmzukpTCY2q-iYaepj7tJx_QKo8s_pKMiiGfszbFgtso1AL3pXvSamb97Z3BaauOp-QkiXzvs0sKNlkjm-Kkt_vr74rJj2m4JETut-ua2ZA/s1600/national-indie-excellence-awards.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbmVLjGyhW7mHaUJ59f2cetWpz8rZmzukpTCY2q-iYaepj7tJx_QKo8s_pKMiiGfszbFgtso1AL3pXvSamb97Z3BaauOp-QkiXzvs0sKNlkjm-Kkt_vr74rJj2m4JETut-ua2ZA/s200/national-indie-excellence-awards.jpeg" width="200" /></span></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3.) <a href="https://www.indieexcellence.com/" target="_blank">National Indie Excellence Awards</a>: The <b>National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA)</b> is open to all English language printed books available for sale, including self-published authors."NIEA is proud to be a champion of self-publishing and small independent presses going the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect." $75 entry fee multiplied by the number of categories entered. <b>Learn more and <a href="https://www.indieexcellence.com/entry-form" target="_blank">enter here.</a></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfsuiQgqHeXgtpqE_LuAHsTiYZqlw78DkSu_OeDTavmde-8Ql1eB6HMlNWlYX1o9dFYKuIdG3qYhzWNMCgZUKY2JCHXX2ok5Glac34wl8-qlkZqvtjyJ6TscGeURHYbO_LJ_rgQ/s1600/TNext-Generation-Indie-Book-Awards.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfsuiQgqHeXgtpqE_LuAHsTiYZqlw78DkSu_OeDTavmde-8Ql1eB6HMlNWlYX1o9dFYKuIdG3qYhzWNMCgZUKY2JCHXX2ok5Glac34wl8-qlkZqvtjyJ6TscGeURHYbO_LJ_rgQ/s1600/TNext-Generation-Indie-Book-Awards.jpeg" /></span></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: none; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4.) <a href="https://www.indiebookawards.com/" target="_blank">Next Generation Indie Book Awards</a>: The <b>Next Generation Indie Book Awards</b> is proud to be the largest international awards program for independent publishers and authors. Over 70 categories available. $75 entry fee for the first category, plus $60 for each additional category. <b>Learn more and <a href="https://www.indiebookawards.com/enter/howto" target="_blank">enter here.</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzTsDp74ujt9ZADEmxcetNzdUval5RzjoJfJ_tomShuVv8DJaKuV7o46_dZfoJDPE8jUsi7WfuSzikIm0Y1fVxg8Cv6E4EOFlicfvmjpBuTuunPcvUz7pZxeynJPoYXAj_1esjw/s1600/Axiom-Book-Awards.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzTsDp74ujt9ZADEmxcetNzdUval5RzjoJfJ_tomShuVv8DJaKuV7o46_dZfoJDPE8jUsi7WfuSzikIm0Y1fVxg8Cv6E4EOFlicfvmjpBuTuunPcvUz7pZxeynJPoYXAj_1esjw/s200/Axiom-Book-Awards.png" width="200" /></span></span></a><span style="background-color: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #333333;">5.) <a href="http://www.axiomawards.com/index.php" target="_blank">AXIOM Business Book Awards:</a> The </span><b style="color: #333333;">Axiom Business Book Awards</b><span style="color: #333333;"> is the largest and most respected critical guidepost for business books in today's new world of publishing. Over 20 business categories to pick from. $75 entry fee per category. </span><b style="color: #333333;">Learn more and <a href="http://www.axiomawards.com/66/how-to-enter" target="_blank">enter here</a>.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.</i></span></span></span>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-71192962742024656172017-11-22T22:22:00.000-05:002017-11-22T22:22:00.471-05:00Seacoast Press review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPqSnAt5hCrUThoSR9UwNLDAfYCdbOLiyfR6i3Nlt9aw8BVVJU8bg0gdjFeMyLQH49Evv-orC7l8XWXv-qT3dNI8cDN3-cAsg0P4oWYiyKr7bEilpdXvfxEUZ6s1Rg0sMn8U_yg/s1600/Photo+by+Gail+El+Camino+Presentation+Hancock+Library++03+02+2017+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1112" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPqSnAt5hCrUThoSR9UwNLDAfYCdbOLiyfR6i3Nlt9aw8BVVJU8bg0gdjFeMyLQH49Evv-orC7l8XWXv-qT3dNI8cDN3-cAsg0P4oWYiyKr7bEilpdXvfxEUZ6s1Rg0sMn8U_yg/s320/Photo+by+Gail+El+Camino+Presentation+Hancock+Library++03+02+2017+%25282%2529.JPG" width="222" /></a></div>
<h2>
Author Christy Day reviews Seacoast Press</h2>
"I am so glad I chose <a href="http://www.seacoastpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>Seacoast Press</b></a> to publish my book. I have been professionally, courteously, and kindly treated from the first communication to the present moment. Their <a href="http://www.seacoastpress.com/book-publishing-services/" target="_blank"><b>publishing services</b></a> are top notch, their design team excellent, and they are quick to respond to questions as they arise. I was thrilled when my cover design arrived – it exceeded all my expectations. I appreciate their clarity about costs and individualized service and they deliver in a timely manner. Their charges are certainly more than competitive and they offer a full range of services so that you can find just the package that suits your needs. I recommend them heartily and without reservation!" <i><b>--Christy Day, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Here-There-Finding-Camino/dp/0997861282/" target="_blank">Walking from Here to There: Finding My Way on El Camino</a></b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>About the book: </b>This book is equal parts reflection, factual account of the challenges and joys of the Pilgrimage, and practical advice for preparing for it and making it the best experience possible. Read it if you are planning to walk El Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Read it if you know you never will and want to know what it is like. If you like first-person accounts full of facts and reflection, you will like <i>Walking from Here to There.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Featured Amazon Reviews:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>5 stars: </b>"Suitable for readers who are and are not considering making the Pilgrimage of Saint James. Ms. Day provides a blend of first hand experience, historical context and cultural considerations. If you are thinking of walking El Camino, the insight Ms. Day provides from (at times, painful!) lessons learned is a gift of practical advice and resource suggestions." </li>
<li><b>5 Stars:</b> "What an AMAZING trip! We have added El Camino to our bucket list. It looks like you found your way on El Camino. I LOVE the chapter on Muni Manners (and Madness). This is a must read for anyone considering Pilgrimage."</li>
</ul>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-41663925126192140032017-11-22T21:45:00.001-05:002017-11-22T22:02:36.524-05:00How to Become a Bestselling AuthorI'm the <b><a href="http://www.jjhebertonline.com/biography/" target="_blank">#1 Amazon bestselling author</a></b> of three books and publisher of nearly 500 books, so I possess extensive knowledge on the topic of becoming a bestselling author. Here are the top steps to becoming a bestseller, based on my experience...<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>First and foremost, take your time to write a quality manuscript. Do not rush and publish a first draft. Make sure to go through several rounds of revisions to "trim the fat" i.e. get rid of redundancies, passive voice, and unnecessary wordiness. </li>
<li>Hire a professional editor to edit your manuscript. A pro book editor should fix grammar, spelling, punctuation, word usage and sentence structure/flow. </li>
<li>Work with a professional book designer. At this point, you have a solid edited manuscript, but the first thing consumers see is the book cover, so make sure to only use a top-notch cover design. Any seasoned book designer will also handle the essentials for the interior such as table of contents (TOC), page numbering, headers, footers, justification, hyphenation, <b><a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Basic_Book_Design/Widows_And_Orphans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">orphans, widows</a></b>, and much more.</li>
<li>Select an established book publisher such as <b><a href="http://www.seacoastpress.com/" target="_blank">Seacoast Press</a></b> to publish your book. I own the company, which offers professional editing and book design as recommended above, but also printing, ebook conversion, distribution, publicity and marketing. Working with Seacoast Press allows you to receive all of the above services from one provider, instead of having to hire multiple contractors. Of course, if you'd rather go it alone, there are self-publishing platforms that you can utilize. Just keep in mind that you'll probably face a steep learning curve without the help of a professional publisher. </li>
<li><b><a href="http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-ins-and-outs-of-creating-launch.html" target="_blank">Form a book launch team</a></b>. Enlist a group of readers to join your launch team and to read your book prior to release, post Amazon reviews, and help with promotion heading into and during book launch day. <i>Tip: Create a Facebook group to form and manage your launch team and offer incentives for team members. </i></li>
<li>Choose the right book categories. If you publish with Seacoast Press, I'll help you determine the correct categories for your book. A rule of thumb is to try to choose categories without a tremendous amount of competition. For instance, you shouldn't choose the general "Action Adventure" category, as that is too broad and the competition will be fierce. You should instead segment it down to a sub-category with less competition.</li>
<li>Make sure you use competitive pricing for all your book formats. Look at comparable titles in your genre with a similar page count to determine a proper price point for the paperback and ebook. As with the categories, I can help you determine a correct price point via Seacoast Press.</li>
<li>Set a book launch date on your own or with the help of your publisher. Choose a weekend date if possible. You want to drive as many sales as possible on Amazon during your launch day. Amazon updates their rankings hourly, so the more sales in a particular day the better. Make sure your launch team is aware of your launch date and encourage them to leave their reviews in time for that launch date and promote the date along with you.</li>
<li>Run a <b><a href="http://www.seacoastpress.com/book-publishing-services/" target="_blank">Best Seller Campaign</a></b> for your launch date by leveraging social media, sending out press releases, taking out ads on ebook blogs and purchasing spots on e-newsletters. As part of the Seacoast Press <b><a href="http://www.seacoastpress.com/book-publishing-services/" target="_blank">Best Seller service</a></b> package, I actually handle this process for you. I handle all the ad buying for your book and focus on driving sales during your launch day. You can do this yourself, but I've done this successfully numerous times for myself and others and I can save you a lot of time and energy.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Obviously, this isn't an exhaustive list but in my opinion the above outline represents the basic framework for achieving Amazon bestseller status as an author. </div>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-82007444363626220132017-04-20T13:40:00.001-04:002017-04-20T13:40:40.314-04:00Becoming a Published Author!<a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" target="_blank">MindStir Media</a> put together this funny video depicting a celebratory new author. I think the video is somewhat self-explanatory. <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/selfpublishingpackages/" title="Publishing a book" target="new">Publishing a book</a> is a big deal. Why not celebrate? <br />
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<br />
<div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o_NsOKLkOgc?rel=0&showinfo=0?ecver=2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;left:0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-62883164715422582472017-04-20T13:35:00.002-04:002017-04-20T13:35:59.024-04:00Hiring A Children's Book IllustratorFor a children's book author, part of publishing a book also includes finding and <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/2012/03/08/childrens-book-illustrations/" target="_blank">hiring a children's book illustrator.</a> At MindStir Media, we've been illustrating/publishing children's books since 2010, and many of our illustrators have been illustrating much longer than that on their own. Some of our illustrators are even award-winning illustrators. They've illustrated in nearly every illustration style imaginable and have worked on hundreds of picture books.<br />
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Recently, I had one of my illustrators at MindStir Media create a mascot for our children's book division. Check it out below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxoiyEVWmdjPG6xZyvqIt24wZSWLvP5p8HFP_UiIVd2QTt7eTEB3wwnAeXtAGxQRjvuuG47vquZwdLssT60Pf4gbVrnR4ddz43EuvVEg1hO1MBG5F9HvDxRxfGnRoQgN9VYFd_g/s1600/Mindstir+Facebook+Ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxoiyEVWmdjPG6xZyvqIt24wZSWLvP5p8HFP_UiIVd2QTt7eTEB3wwnAeXtAGxQRjvuuG47vquZwdLssT60Pf4gbVrnR4ddz43EuvVEg1hO1MBG5F9HvDxRxfGnRoQgN9VYFd_g/s1600/Mindstir+Facebook+Ad.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/2012/03/08/childrens-book-illustrations/" target="_blank">Click here</a> if you want to learn more about getting your children's book illustrated. We follow a simple 3-step illustration process and our rates are affordable considering the quality. We even include free revisions as part of the process and fees.J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-28947976881303635382017-04-05T13:56:00.000-04:002017-04-05T13:59:34.962-04:00Interview with Author Christy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvW5Ef6SWSqr99QaNpy6UQzANshpLtO4g2SRFbvDoClzH75ca0p6jQo_mhm63rjTZgyv93KNxbkR_2uQE-4USifB9eBf-RV29VtG3f0JctYolLDbGMQJBQj_OElMJ9z4N1l9huA/s1600/Photo+by+Gail+El+Camino+Presentation+Hancock+Library++03+02+2017+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvW5Ef6SWSqr99QaNpy6UQzANshpLtO4g2SRFbvDoClzH75ca0p6jQo_mhm63rjTZgyv93KNxbkR_2uQE-4USifB9eBf-RV29VtG3f0JctYolLDbGMQJBQj_OElMJ9z4N1l9huA/s320/Photo+by+Gail+El+Camino+Presentation+Hancock+Library++03+02+2017+%25282%2529.JPG" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Christy Day</b> is a New
Hampshire author born on a Wyoming ranch in the USA. Apart from
writing, she is also a passionate traveler, sailor, and she even holds a
private pilot’s license. In this interview, she talks about her debut book, <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/walking-from-here-to-there-christy-day/1124491036?ean=9780997861280" target="_blank">Walking from Here to There: Finding My Way on El Camino</a>, p</i>ublished by <a href="http://www.seacoastpress.com/" target="_blank">Seacoast Press</a>, a Division of <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" target="_blank">Mindstir Media, LLC</a>.</span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<span style="background: white;">1.<b>How would you define yourself? </b>I am curious, I love life, and am passionate about doing
good in the world. It goes without saying that my daughters are the most
important part of my life. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">2. <b>At what age did you start to show interest in the outdoors?</b>
Growing up on a ranch in Wyoming, I was introduced immediately to the outdoors.
Some of my earliest memories are of being put up on the back of a great big,
gentle horse. I also remember following my father’s tracks in the deep snow.
Rivers, lakes, and oceans, mountains, deserts, and plains – I feel at home in
Nature and I respect its power and beauty. I enjoy writing about Nature and
photographing it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">3. <b>What drove you to become interested in El Camino,
Spain?</b> I watched the movie, “The Way,” starring Martin Sheen and written by his
son, Emilio Estevez. I found it intriguing and moving. Then a Pilgrim who had
walked El Camino de Santiago de Compostela (that’s the full name of the
pilgrimage) spoke at my local library in Amherst, NH, and I realized it was
something I could do. Once I realized that, I knew I had to do it!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">4. <b>Why a Pilgrimage?</b> “Why a Pilgrimage” is a
question I have asked myself since I decided to do it. I am not deeply
religious. Like everyone, though, I search for meaning. In the beginning, I did
it partly because of the challenge of doing it. As I moved along El Camino de
Santiago de Compostela, I became more involved with everyone else’s challenges
and searches for meaning. It is quite amazing to meet so many people of so many
religious persuasions and engage meaningfully in conversation and shared
struggle. If anything, the mystery of Pilgrimage deepens as you walk
along. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">5. <b>What were the logistics involved in walking 500 miles?</b> It took me 39 days of walking
which was an average of 12.4 miles per day. In addition to that, I also took
two days of rest. This Pilgrimage has been in existence for over 1100 years,
and Pilgrims have always been well-support. A great guidebook shows you what to
expect for walking conditions and where the inns (called albergues),
restaurants (called bars) and other support services are. Thios makes logistics
along The Way easy. It is also made easy because of the amazing Spanish
hospitality. The logistics are most important in the planning stage. Every
decision you make about equipment is critical. You must have just the right
shoes and socks that suit you and your feet. Your backpack has to fit just
write. Beyond that, common sense and
trusting your judgment come into play. What to take and what not to take is
complicated. It took me a year to choose
the right equipment, to pack and repack dozens of times, and to decide what to
leave out of my backpack to make it as light as possible. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">6. <b>What was the most challenging part of the
Pilgrimage?</b> Oh, there were lots of challenging parts. Being disciplined about
the rigors of walking 500 miles was one of the most challenging – always using
sunscreen, always paying attention to problems with feet as they developed,
always tending to blisters and infections. The most challenging part of the
Pilgrimage for me was having the courage to say “Yes, I can do this.” The fear,
joy, and angst of saying goodbye to my younger daughter at the sign in
Roncesvalles and taking that first step of 500 miles is something that will
stay with me forever. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">7. <b>What was the most rewarding aspect of your experience?</b> My
younger daughter told me that when I arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago de
Compostela, she wanted me to fully prostrate myself and thank the powers of the
universe for all the good that got me there. Your feeling when you arrive at
the Cathedral Plaza makes you want to jump for joy. You can’t believe that you
have actually arrived. Instead of jumping for joy, I fully prostrated myself.
When I did, the World went silent for me. It was as if I felt all the powers of the universe
right there with me. I had a profound sense of gratitude. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">8. <b>Do you have any plans for the future?</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> I want to spend as much time as possible with
my daughters. I plan to write a novel. I want to keep traveling – lots of
places to see. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-61794616616670582602017-02-12T15:45:00.000-05:002017-02-13T09:28:24.711-05:00Is A Wikipedia Page Worth Having as an Author or Business?<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“How do I create a Wikipedia page about myself?”</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“How do I get my business listed on Wikipedia?”</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
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As an author and business owner myself, I’ve heard many different
versions of the above questions from fellow authors and entrepreneurs, but I feel
like they’re not asking the right questions. My company, Mindstir Media, was listed
on Wikipedia for a few months in 2016 (more about that later), and during that
time, I learned some valuable lessons I want to share with authors and business
owners alike. Surprise, having a business Wikipedia page isn’t all it’s cracked
up to be. Yes, it can be a nice ego boost to stumble upon your name on
Wikipedia, and it can add credibility to you and your company, but there are
some major downsides to having a Wikipedia page that you should consider as
well…</div>
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<ul>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Many pages
include inaccurate information. </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Anyone with an active Wikipedia account can
create a page or edit one, so Wikipedia is notorious for providing inaccurate
information and not always being the most reliable source. Yes, the site has
some amazing, hard-working volunteer editors, but they’re imperfect people
nevertheless, and they lack knowledge on certain topics.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You’re not
supposed to promote or advertise on Wikipedia. </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">As part of Wikipedia’s long
list of editorial guidelines, a page/article is supposed to be devoid of
advertising or promotional copy. It needs to read as an unbiased encyclopedia
entry and include reliable and independent references. So, basically, the copy
needs to be dry and unwelcoming. It’s not the place to write a fun and exciting
bio about yourself or your company. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In
fact, you’re not allowed to write about yourself at all! Don’t expect a
Wikipedia page to “promote” your company.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You need to
constantly monitor your Wikipedia page. </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I noted above that many articles
have inaccuracies and you are not allowed to write about yourself. Well, you’ll
also need to keep a close eye on your Wikipedia entry for any sudden changes so
that you can take action if needed. In most cases, inaccuracies are just honest
mistakes. In few other cases, changes to your page are meant to harm you or
your company.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Making lasting
changes to your Wikipedia page is difficult to do. </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Since you can’t edit
your own page, you’ll need to enlist a trusted Wikipedia editor to make
necessary changes if you detect anything erroneous or questionable mentioned on
your page. And then hope and pray that the changes stick and aren’t reversed by
another editor/admin. Keep in mind that Wikipedia frowns upon “paid editing,” and
it will be incredibly difficult to locate a volunteer editor to help you with
your article.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Your page can be
deleted at any time. </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">There is a long list of editorial guidelines on
Wikipedia. Again, the editors and admins are imperfect, so mistakes are made
often. Articles are deleted every day for various “reasons.” That’s what
happened to the Mindstir Media Wikipedia page a few months back. One day it was
there in all its glory and the next day it disappeared because the editors
decided suddenly, after several months, that the references in the Wikipedia
Mindstir Media article weren’t independent or large enough sources. Of course,
there are other companies far less notable on Wikipedia. This was a tough pill to
swallow initially, but ultimately, I saw it as a blessing in disguise for
Mindstir Media.</span></li>
</ul>
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Due to all the reasons above (and
more), I’ve concluded (for now) that Mindstir Media is actually better off
without a Wikipedia page. In my opinion, you’re probably better off staying
away from Wikipedia, too. Your time and resources are much too valuable to
spend on a website that you can’t update yourself; isn’t in any way
promotional; needs constant monitoring; and can be altered or deleted at any
time without your consent. </div>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-50595564448270091352016-10-21T10:06:00.002-04:002016-10-21T10:06:49.934-04:00MindStir Media Award Winning Authors: How to Become an Award WinnerThroughout the years, <a href="http://mindstirmedia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">MindStir Media</a> has seen its fair share of <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/mindstir-media-awards/" target="_blank" title="Mindstir Media awards">literary award winners.</a> I constantly preach to my Mindstir authors about the importance of winning awards... It adds instant credibility to your author brand and can also help you land speaking engagements/gigs for which you would otherwise not qualify. Not to mention, winning an award could positively impact book sales...<br />
<br />
But you have to enter awards competitions if you want to win. I know that's common sense for most but you'd surprised by how many authors say they want to win an award and then never enter their books!<br />
<br />
The first step, obviously, is to locate the right awards competition for your book genre. That's as easy as googling "list of literary awards for self published authors" or some variation of that. You'll be amazed by the options!<br />
<br />
Pick several competitions suitable for your book and closely follow the submission guidelines. If they require a Word document, send them a Word document. If they want a PDF, send them a PDF. And if they want a print version of your book -- yes, you guessed it, send them a print version. Don't do anything to disqualify yourself from the competition.<br />
<br />
Once you've submitted your book it's important to practice patience. These competitions generally all have winner announcement deadlines, so if you're a winner, you'll be contacted by the posted deadline. Do not contact them to see if they received your book. Most of them will want a print version of your book, so simply ship the book via a trackable shipment method. This will ensure safe delivery and you'll also be able to see that it was received. For those that want a digital version, I'm sure 99.9% of those sites will send you some sort of email confirmation.<br />
<br />
Again, sit back and be patient.<br />
<br />
If you win, great. Go out and publicize the heck out of your new award. Write and distribute press releases, add your award-winning status to your website and all marketing materials... If you don't win, just keep on keeping on. You can still be wildly successful without winning an award.<br />
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Good luck!J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-64106276030599220712016-03-28T15:12:00.000-04:002016-05-09T20:04:42.770-04:00Teenage MindStir Media author is now a bestselling author<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX0EDiNpXt0EOHa8roIh8aRlrUVdPt4o2T9asRnz9JMi9qmiz08jkREsQzTBUjQdsv7W1E45Ph5aQqI7t9aFLTRcbMY_8K81mn7F5SInb8tJzau50xqup_ioKE_u9AkWtCsqhww/s1600/Oparanozie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX0EDiNpXt0EOHa8roIh8aRlrUVdPt4o2T9asRnz9JMi9qmiz08jkREsQzTBUjQdsv7W1E45Ph5aQqI7t9aFLTRcbMY_8K81mn7F5SInb8tJzau50xqup_ioKE_u9AkWtCsqhww/s320/Oparanozie.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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In February 2016 we published <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reptiles-vs-Amphibians-Chelcie-Oparanozie/dp/0997033460" target="_blank">Reptiles vs. Amphibians</a> by thirteen-year-old Chelcie Oparanozie. The young adult (YA) novel has since become an Amazon bestseller, making Chelcie the youngest MindStir Media author to land on a bestseller list. For more information on Chelcie, go to her official website at http://www.chelcie4books.com/. <a href="http://www.abnewswire.com/pressreleases/thirteenyearold-chelcie-oparanozie-becomes-a-bestselling-author_55082.html" target="_blank"><b>Click here</b></a> to read an official MindStir Media press release distributed earlier in March.J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-9810089511610626142015-10-08T00:43:00.001-04:002015-10-08T00:44:41.533-04:00MindStir Media’s Gregory P. Brown MD Becomes a #1 Amazon Bestselling AuthorIf you've followed this MindStir Media blog, you'll have noticed that I don't often post press releases here. Most of my posts relate to MindStir Media publishing in some way, but I usually use this space for self-publishing, book marketing and writing tips. But I'm going to make an exception: I'm really proud of Gregory Brown, MD for his diet and health book, <i>New Mind, New Body</i>, which became a bestseller a couple months ago. Below is the press release that we sent out:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">New Mind, New
Body: The Inner Makeover for a New You, </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">written by </span><a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">MindStir Media</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> author Gregory P. Brown MD,
launched last month and achieved a #1 spot on two Amazon.com bestseller lists.
The paperback version of his book recently enjoyed the #1 position on the
Hypnosis for Diets category, while the Kindle ebook resided at the top of the
Hypnosis Psychology & Counseling category. The Kindle ebook also landed in
the #4 spot for the Mind-Body Connection category.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">New
Mind, New Body: The Inner Makeover for a New You</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">
has already received praise from readers. One reader raved: “Finally, a
comprehensive guide for anyone who wants creative authority for both inner
well-being and the transformation of the physical body!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Medical professionals have also weighed in, including Alison
Netski, MD, the Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Nevada
School of Medicine: “Dr. Brown invites us to take a new approach in the journey
of weight loss. This book acts as a guide through a very real
self-inventory in addition to providing practical strategies with the goal<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>providing long term
success.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">From the back cover: <i>So you want to lose weight, too?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Transform your mind, body, and life with this comprehensive toolkit and
easy to use step by step guide, which takes you through a personal self-assessment
process unique to you;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>offers you a
clear, concise, and complete system for positive self-development; and helps
you change your relationship with food<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>by
starting from within. Psychiatrists can struggle with life problems, just like
you. After years of going through different diets, Dr. Greg Brown recognized
that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to really change his body, he needed to change his mindset.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>He succeeded in making
fundamental and permanent changes in his own life without sacrificing anything
of the lifestyle he wanted to enjoy. He shared his program,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The EATT Plan, with friends and family and
now offers it to you.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Dr.
Greg's insights and experiences from his personal journey to health are paired
with a fun and engaging set of tools that support any chosen diet plan.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/new-mind-new-body-the-inner-makeover-for-a-new-you-by-gregory-p-brown-md/"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">New Mind, New Body: The Inner Makeover for a New You</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> i<span style="background: white;">s available at Amazon.com,
Barnesandnoble.com and other fine retailers worldwide. Wholesale orders can be
placed through Ingram. The paperback book retails for $14.99. The ebook is
priced at $6.99. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">About Gregory P. Brown MD:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">A board certified practicing psychiatrist with a
subspecialty in forensic psychiatry, his sustaining interest is in people's
amazing capacity for personal growth and change. He received his M.D. from the
University of Arkansas, did his psychiatry residency at Albert Einstein
Philadelphia and his fellowship at the University of Rochester. He presently
holds positions with the University of Nevada School of Medicine as both an
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Residency Training in
addition to his own medico-legal private practice. For more information, visit
his official website at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">http://www.newmindnewbody.com/</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">About the book publisher,
MindStir Media:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/selfpublishingpackages/" target="_blank">MindStir Media LLC offers comprehensive self-publishing services</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> such as custom cover design; interior layout; ISBN
assignment; printing; ebook conversion; distribution; and marketing assistance.
MindStir Media also provides one-on-one coaching from bestselling author J.J.
Hebert, making its book publishing services completely unique and
“Mind-Stirringly Easy,” as the company puts it. To learn more about publishing a
book with MindStir Media, visit </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">http://www.mindstirmedia.com</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> or call
800-767-0531. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-71231574950345118702015-07-28T15:15:00.002-04:002015-07-28T15:15:20.080-04:00MindStir Media gives a list of 5 self-publishing mistakes to avoidI wrote an article for the <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" target="_blank">MindStir Media</a> blog entitled "5 Rarely Discussed Self-Publishing Mistakes: What NOT To Do". The post has become very popular, having been shared/liked on Facebook over 1,500 times and re-tweeted nearly 200 times. The post covers topics such as book pricing; brick-and-mortar book sales; online marketing; editing and more...<br />
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Not to toot my own horn, but I really believe the post is a must-read for anyone who plans to enter the <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/selfpublishingpackages/" target="_blank">world of self-publishing</a>. For most, the post will be refreshing and offer new info not seen before. For some others, especially those who have been around self-publishing for a while, the points in the article might not be new but can simply act as reinforcement. Hey, everyone needs a reminder every now and again, right?<br />
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Without further adieu, <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/2015/02/18/self-publishing-mistakes/" target="_blank">click here</a> to see the full article.J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-44370081389427437842015-07-11T19:35:00.001-04:002015-07-11T19:35:47.578-04:00MindStir Media presents a helpful self-publishing checklistI recently wrote a really helpful self-publishing checklist and published it on the <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" target="_blank">MindStir Media</a> blog site. The checklist offers twenty important items you'll need when self-publishing your book. Some of those twenty checklist items include:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Information on how to handle editing</li>
<li>Info and helpful advice for book cover design</li>
<li>Copyright registration guidance</li>
<li>A link to a very valuable book marketing guide that supplies authors with 75 marketing strategies and tips</li>
</ul>
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To read and study the entire self-publishing checklist that I published via MindStir Media, please go to: http://www.mindstirmedia.com/2015/06/14/self-publishing-checklist/</div>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-7594230879872210622015-02-13T03:07:00.002-05:002015-02-13T03:07:53.068-05:00MindStir Media Provides 75 Book Marketing Tips & StrategiesI wrote a really helpful blog post entitled "<a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/75-book-marketing-tips-for-authors/" target="_blank"><b>75 Book Marketing Tips for Authors</b></a>". The post is highly actionable and contains a TON of info. I cover social media, email marketing, SEO and more in the post and hope that authors (and aspiring authors) find it useful.J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-82070734684705935212015-02-11T18:32:00.002-05:002015-02-11T18:33:51.464-05:00MindStir Media Offers 50+ Writing Resources & 10 Self-Publishing Tips<a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" target="_blank">MindStir Media</a>, the publishing company I own, is currently offering some valuable resources: 50+ writing resources and 10 self-publishing tips. You can get free access to those resources and tips by <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/50-writing-resources-and-10-self-publishing-tips/" target="_blank"><b>clicking here</b></a>. I personally created the self-publishing tips and also curated the writing resources, organizing and updating them.<br />
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The 50+ writing resources include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Articles on writing</li>
<li>Videos from famous authors</li>
<li>Inspirational quotes</li>
<li>Books</li>
<li>And more</li>
</ul>
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The self-publishing tips focus on:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The definition of success in self-publishing</li>
<li>The importance of editing</li>
<li>Cover design</li>
<li>And more</li>
</ul>
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Again, <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/50-writing-resources-and-10-self-publishing-tips/" target="_blank"><b>click here to get free access to the resources and tips</b></a>! Good luck!<br />
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</div>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-25699928299830587192014-10-27T17:56:00.003-04:002016-01-27T15:33:14.538-05:00MindStir Media BooksToday a prospective client asked where he could find some of the books <a href="http://www.manta.com/c/mtc75qh/mindstir-media?utm_expid=82789632-22.eYf9hTVNRIKveVn3HVNGsw.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F" target="_blank">MindStir Media</a> has published. This reminded me that perhaps it's time to publish a post on this subject... We've published many, many books in numerous genres and, if you're interested, you can see some of those books at Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. Now, those sites won't show all of our published books because we do help some authors and other companies publish under their own names, but a simple search at Amazon for "Mindstir Media" will return plenty of results. To make it easy, I'm adding a couple links below:<br />
<br />
--<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_relevancerank?keywords=mindstir+media&qid=1396062587&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Amindstir+media&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank" title="Mindstir Media">MindStir Media</a> books at Amazon</b><br />
--<b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Mindstir+Media%22?Ns=P_Publication_Date%7C1&Ntk=Publisher&Ntx=mode+matchall" target="_blank" title="Mindstir Media">MindStir Media</a> books at B&N</b>J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-5126286092373231632014-08-20T01:56:00.000-04:002015-01-18T18:31:19.600-05:00What To Look For In Self-Publishing PackagesThere are many <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" target="_blank" title="Self Publishing Companies">self-publishing companies</a> out there and most of them include <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/selfpublishingpackages/" target="_blank" title="Self Publishing Packages">self-publishing packages</a> of some sort. Unfortunately, some packages are really low-quality. Authors think they're getting a great deal with those cheap packages but those packages will actually harm a book's chance at success in the long run because they're using cheap template-based cover and interior designs, making the book look amateurish. If you don't have at least $1000 to $1500, you probably shouldn't be self-publishing in the first place. I know that might sound radical but the truth is this: It takes money to produce a high-quality book.<br />
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So here's what you should look for in self-publishing packages -- the packages that could actually help you produce a high-quality book that people want to buy:<br />
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<ul>
<li>The best self-publishing package will most definitely include a <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/book-cover-design-services/" title="Custom Book Cover Design">custom book cover design</a>. This means no templates are used in the design. The design is unique and eye-catching. </li>
<li>A great package will also include a custom interior layout. Basically, the interior will be hand-formatted, focusing on hyphenation, chapter headers, scene breaks, etc. The interior's font should also match the font(s) used on the cover design. </li>
<li>Editing is an essential too! I've never seen a manuscript that doesn't require some level of editing. Even the most seasoned writers (e.g. J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, Stephen King) rely on professional editors to polish their manuscripts. The public should <i>never </i>see a first draft!</li>
<li>Your book publishing package must have distribution as well, and not just availability on Amazon.com. Sure, Amazon is the #1 online retailer in the world, but there are thousands of other retailers and booksellers in the world. Purchase a self-publishing package that offers worldwide distribution, preferably through a legit wholesale distributor such as Ingram.</li>
<li>Ongoing support needs to be provided. You should be able to pick up the phone and get through to an actual living, breathing person. And that person should understand publishing and be able to answer your questions throughout the publishing process. Make sure you don't end up working with a self-publishing company that only works through email. There aren't many things more frustrating than working with a company that hides behind generic email messages when you're simply trying to get clear answers to your questions.</li>
<li>Marketing assistance ought to be included. The best self-publishing companies will at least market your book through social media and their own bookstore. </li>
<li>Fair and affordable book printing prices are key. Do your research before buying a package. Try your best to understand how much you'll be paying for each copy of your book when you buy direct from the publisher.</li>
</ul>
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<br />J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-14414825157938349652014-08-08T22:58:00.004-04:002014-08-08T23:05:13.300-04:00Your Author Website Needs Proper SEO If you want your author website to be a book-selling machine, you have a couple options. You can pay for website traffic via pay-per-click methods (expensive) such as Adwords, BingAds, Facebook Ads, etc or you can optimize your website so that it attracts organic traffic (less expensive). Or you can utilize both paid and organic traffic options. Here's what you don't want to do, though: sit back and wait for people to find your website. That just doesn't happen. You need to be proactive. Here are five very basic search engine optimization tips for your author website, sponsored by PAGE SEO COMPANY, a premier <a href="http://www.pageseocompany.com/" target="_blank" title="NH SEO Company">NH SEO company</a>:<br />
<ol>
<li>Perform keyword research. Find keywords that relate to your book(s). For instance, maybe your book is Christian Fiction. You would want to add the term "Christian Fiction" in your website's homepage <a href="http://moz.com/learn/seo/title-tag" target="_blank"><b>title tag</b></a>. It would read "Your Name - Christian Fiction Author". The title of your website is probably the single most important onsite SEO factor. Search engines see the title of your website and use that info to help determine the topic of your website.</li>
<li>Once you've decided on your keywords and sprinkled them in the website's title, it's time to update the <a href="http://moz.com/learn/seo/meta-description" target="_blank"><b>meta description</b></a>. This too should include your keywords. Also update your meta keywords. </li>
<li>Next, you should include content -- text and images -- on your website that contain your keywords. It's important that you use your keywords in the text sparingly. Don't go overboard and "stuff" as many keywords in your text as possible. "Keyword stuffing" isn't appreciated by Google and your site could get penalized.... How in the world do you add keywords to an image? Easy. You add <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_img_alt.asp" target="_blank"><b>alt tags</b></a>. </li>
<li>Each page on your website will have its own URL. A URL is basically the address of a page. So you might create a URL for your about page as follows: www.yourauthorwebsite.com/about. That isn't a very search engine friendly <a href="http://moz.com/learn/seo/url" target="_blank"><b>URL</b></a>. Instead, consider creating URLs that contain the keywords and possibly match the title. For example, www.yourauthorwebsite.com/about-christian-fiction-author. </li>
<li>You should also focus on quality <a href="http://www.pageseocompany.com/off-page-seo-services/" target="_blank"><b>link building</b></a>. Google counts backlinks as votes of popularity, so quantity matters but quality is much more important these days. You should only pursue <a href="http://www.pageseocompany.com/offsite-seo-lesson-pursue-high-quality-backlinks/" target="_blank"><b>high-quality backlinks</b></a>. With enough high-quality backlinks your website should start appearing in Google search engine results pages for your keywords. </li>
</ol>
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Obviously, this is an incredibly basic primer on SEO. There are actually around <a href="http://backlinko.com/google-ranking-factors" target="_blank"><b>200 Google ranking factors</b></a> to keep in mind for your author website. Search engine optimization is an extremely effective method of promoting your website, but it can also be annoyingly complicated and time-consuming. If you'd rather spend more time on writing than doing SEO, I highly recommend you hire a professional SEO services company. As the <a href="http://www.pageseocompany.com/" target="_blank" title="NH SEO Agency">#1 NH SEO agency</a>, Page SEO Company can handle all of the onsite and offsite SEO for you, so you can get back to writing.</div>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-27456816483954986642014-06-12T00:00:00.000-04:002014-06-12T00:06:17.409-04:00How to Get Reviews for Your BookAs the president and owner of self-publishing company <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" title="Mindstir Media">MindStir Media</a>, book reviews is a topic that comes up often when speaking with my authors. To get MindStir Media books reviewed I usually recommend the following options to my clients (this is a partial yet powerful list):
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<ul>
<li><b>NetGalley: </b>This site puts a digital version of your book in front of 145,000+ reviewers, who can download the PDF. Whenever a reviewer downloads your book, he/she MUST review the book before downloading any other books from the website. MindStir Media authors have the option to get reviewed via this service.</li>
<li><b>GoodReads:</b> Use this website to give away copies of your book in exchange for honest reviews. MindStir authors are encouraged to signup for a Goodreads account and then use the Author Program to participate in the giveaway program. Here's a link that I usually give out to MindStir Media authors: <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/GoodreadsPresentations/your-guide-to-giveaways-on-goodreads-15194819"><b>http://www.slideshare.net/GoodreadsPresentations/your-guide-to-giveaways-on-goodreads-15194819</b></a></li>
<li><b>LibraryThing:</b> This site is a lot like Goodreads in that you can give away print copies of your book. On LibraryThing, though, <a href="http://thefutureofink.com/librarything-ebook-giveaway/" target="_blank"><b>you can give away copies of your ebook in exchange for reviews</b></a> as well. MindStir Media authors have found this very beneficial. </li>
<li><b>Contact reviewers directly:</b> Sites like <a href="http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/" target="_blank"><b>The Indie View</b></a> show lists of book reviewers. Look through the list of reviewers and follow their submission guidelines, etc. Also perform a search on any of the major search engines for something along the lines of "book blog reviewer list" or "book blog directory" and you'll find a wide array of book reviewers for you to contact.</li>
<li><b>Turn fan mail into reviews: </b>You might receive fan mail from time to time. Instead of sending back a dull response, why not send a genuine "thank you" and then ask them if they'd kindly post a book review on Amazon.com? Tell the fan that you appreciate their kind note and would really appreciate their continued support by posting an honest review. You'll be surprised by the response!</li>
<li><b>Run a "Free Book Promo" for your Kindle book: </b>As part of their Select program,<b> </b>Amazon allows authors and publishers to offer their Kindle books for free for up to 5 days during each 90-day period. Readers worldwide will download your ebook for free during that period and many of them will review the book on Amazon. MindStir Media authors have seen great success with this book review tactic. </li>
</ul>
J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16958242.post-33565175901784679372014-06-06T19:08:00.002-04:002014-06-06T19:09:33.010-04:00Self Publish A Book: The Best WayMindStir Media is a full-service self publishing company, and I'm the owner of MindStir Media, so keep that in mind while reading... There are numerous articles out there that discuss how to <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/" title="Self Publish A Book" target="new">self publish a book</a> but many of them talk about self publishing as if you have to "go it alone." The truth is simple: You do not have to handle self publishing alone, and some -- including myself -- would argue that you should not handle it alone...<br />
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There are exceptions, of course, but the best way to tackle self publishing is to hire a team of professionals around you. This means hiring a book designer, an editor, printer, <a href="http://www.mindstirmedia.com/selfpublishingpackages/" title="Self Publishing" target="new">self-publishing coach</a>, publicist, etc. You can try to assemble this team yourself, as some self publishing authors do, but that will take a lot of time and patience on your part. The easiest and most convenient way to self publish, in my opinion, is to simply team up with a self publishing company like MindStir Media. MindStir has everything in place for you to self publish a book, including professional editors and book designers, coaching, etc.<br />
<br />
Regardless of how you decide to self publish, here's a partial list of things you should look for in your team and/or preliminary questions you should ask:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Book designer: A professional book designer should have a portfolio available for you to view. For instance, at MindStir Media we have an entire online bookstore filled with books we've designed. Authors can quickly see the work done and decide whether or not MindStir's designers are a good fit. </li>
<li>Editor: What books has she/he edited? Are they published? How did they do in the marketplace? What kind of background does she/he have? </li>
<li>Printer: You should always inquire about pricing. How much will it cost to print your book? Is the printer equipped to handle large volume? The printer MindStir Media uses is actually the largest print-on-demand printer in the world, printing millions of books for publishers worldwide. </li>
<li>Coach: There are many self publishing coaches out there but many of them are not qualified to be giving advice. A good self publishing coach has experienced strong book sales and understands the ins and outs of self publishing, including marketing. </li>
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You'll also need to look into book distribution and order fulfillment. Ingram is the leader in wholesale book distribution and there are many book fulfillment companies throughout the world but, again, the easiest way to handle these items is to partner with a self publishing company like MindStir Media...</div>
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J.J. Heberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03472442789896772433noreply@blogger.com0