Best Self Publishing Companies

Today I was asked a rather complicated question: "What are the best self publishing companies?" Now, of course I'm the owner of self publishing company MindStir Media, so my advice on this matter is definitely biased. She knew that and I didn't want to just come out and say, "Hey, MindStir is the best, of course!" Instead I answered with: "Let's instead discuss the traits of a top self-publishing company in my opinion. There are many self publishing companies on the Internet, but not all of them are created equal..." I then explained the traits she should look for in a self publishing company and also explained that it'll ultimately be up to her to determine which company is the best based on that information. She thanked me for the valuable information and we scheduled another call for the future.

My point with all of this is that "best" is subjective. You must first have a clear set of criteria in place in order to eventually be able to ascertain who is the "best" (my compare self-publishing companies chart kind of does a nice job of this). I think it's important for people to first be educated about the self-publishing industry and then make up their own minds about all the companies out there... What's that old adage? Knowledge is power? I'd have to agree!

Children Book Publishers

It's been my experience that reputable children book publishers all provide these three crucial children's book publishing offerings:

1. Illustration services via professional childrens book illustrators. I've blogged before on the importance of high quality children's book illustrations and my opinion hasn't changed: Your children's book must have professional high quality illustrations if you want to have any chance in the highly competitive children's book market.

2. Reputable childrens book publishers also offer different book format options. Essentially you should be able to choose hardcover, softcover and/or ebook formats. My internal sales figures show that print is still dominant in the children's book market, so make sure not to skip print. My advice is usually to publish childrens books in multiple book formats if possible.

3. If you're looking to publish a childrens book you should also be sure to align yourself with a children's book publisher that prints in full-color. Believe it or not, I've seen publishers only offer black and white printing (for the interior). That sort of publisher would obviously not be a good fit for your children's book containing beautiful, colorful illustrations.

Self-Publishing: A Brief Overview

One of the biggest aspects of self publishing that sets it apart from traditional book publishing is the fact that with self-publishing you remain in control. The best self publishing companies -- like MindStir Media, for instance -- allow you to have creative control over your final product. This means you call the shots with respect to your book cover design as well as your interior book design. It also means that the content of your book, the actual text, will remain intact and unchanged. Many traditionally published authors will tell you that they dislike how traditional publishers, particularly the editors, ultimately decide which text will stay and which text will go. As an author myself I can tell you that I would never want to be overruled by an editor. It's one thing to receive professional suggestions from an editor; it's another thing entirely to be controlled by an editor. With professional editing via self publishing services the author will usually see track changes and get to approve or reject the editor's changes. The control is still with you the author!

Another huge difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing is the speed to market. Even if you land a deal with a traditional publisher you'll probably have to wait 1-2 years for your book to be released. Self-publishing, on the other hand, can be done in as quickly as a few weeks -- or if you're really serious and want to take advantage of professional self-publishing services you're looking at about 30-90 days to the launch.

One more fact that originally attracted me to self-publishing is that you get to keep your publishing rights. With a traditional contract, you essentially give away your publishing rights by signing an exclusive contract with the publisher. For the duration of your contract you won't be in control and you won't be able to publish anywhere else. If the book doesn't do well in the market you'll basically need to wait for the contract to expire before you're able to seek publishing alternatives.

The final example of self-publishing superiority is in the profits. You might see 10% royalties from a traditional book publisher, while self-publishing, depending on the scheme you choose, could put 100% royalties in your pocket.

So that's self-publishing in a nutshell -- not everything there is to know about self-publishing but instead a brief overview that should prove helpful.

Best Christian Book Publishers

The best Christian book publishers in the USA all have several things in common:

• Top Christian book publishers focus on being God-centered and ethical in their business practices. 
• The best Christian book publishing companies also specialize in publishing Christian books that glorify God and grow the Kingdom of God.
• Leading Christian book publishers in the USA also ensure that their Christian books are readily available through popular retail outlets such as Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. 

If you're a Christian author searching for a Christian book publisher, I encourage you to keep the aforementioned info in mind during your search!

Ebook Formatting Services

Photo by Maria Elena, Flickr

On a daily basis I hear from authors who want to publish ebooks. Like most people, those authors realize that ebooks are growing more and more popular. And even though we still live in a predominantly print world (in terms of books), the ebook format should still receive a lot of attention from authors trying to find success. But as an author you should be diligent in choosing the right ebook formatting services company...

There are plenty of ebook publishing services out there that will throw your ebook together using automated software, kind of like putting your book through a meat grinder, but is that really the type of attention your book deserves? Of course the answer is no! Each book is different and professional ebook conversion services do not use automated software. Ebook formatting, just like print book formatting, needs plenty of actual human attention and intervention. Particularly professional human attention.

Do not skimp on your ebook design. Readers will notice and put your book down. Invest in professional ebook formatting services to ensure that you leave a strong first impression with readers!

Compare Self-Publishing Companies

A couple days ago I focused on the different traits to look for in a self-publishing company. The MindStir Media website now includes a chart that helps compare self-publishing companies with MindStir. The chart reveals that MindStir is the clear winner when comparing MindStir's self-publishing packages against the packages of other self-publishing companies. Not only is MindStir's most popular package less expensive than the competition, but the MindStir Gold package also includes something that all the other self-publishing companies do not: ongoing mentoring from a bestselling author. This clearly separates MindStir from all the rest and makes MindStir a top self-publishing company!

Traits of a Top Self-Publishing Company

I'm biased, of course, because I own self-publishing company MindStir Media -- but, nevertheless, I believe there are several important traits to look for when selecting a top self-publishing company to work on your book...

• Custom book design: Your cover design is crucial to the success of your book. Books are judged by their covers, so don't skimp on the design of your book. Make sure you choose a self-publishing company that can commit to creating a professional custom cover design for your book. 
• Control: Only work with a self-publishing company that allows you to call the shots. This means the company should take your book design vision into account and ensure that you're happy with the final product. Some self-publishing companies, like MindStir Media, even allow unlimited book design revisions. Control is also supremely important with respect to the editing of your book. It's ideal to receive feedback from a professional editor, but you as the author should be able to overrule the editor. It's your book after all. A self-publishing company shouldn't be allowed to change even one word of your manuscript without your being able to accept or reject each change.
• Keep all rights: A top self-publishing company will allow you to retain all publishing rights and copyright. 
• Worldwide book distribution: Some of the cheap, less reputable self-publishing companies either offer no distribution at all or very little distribution. It's important to have your book widely available to the public. Online retail outlets should include Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Booksamillion.com at the very least. At MindStir Media, we distribute books to around 30,000 wholesalers, retailers and booksellers in over 100 countries.

Top 5 Most Influential Authors on Social Media 2014

Photo by Jason A. Howie, Flickr

In my humble opinion, these authors rank as the top 5 most influential authors on social media. Other authors should model their social media efforts after the folks on this list. They all have incredibly popular blogs as well as impressive presences on the top social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Most importantly, all of them have also successfully leveraged social media to sell thousands (or millions) of copies of their books, making them bestsellers. Without further ado, here they are!

1. Guy Kawasaki - Twitter: 1.4 million | Facebook: 237k | Google+: 5.7 million 

Guy's impressive following on Twitter and Google+, along with other social media sites, is comprised of over 7 million people. He's probably one of the biggest social media influencers on the planet. He's written twelve books, with his latest three -- Ape, Enchantment, and What the Plus! -- all enjoying great success due to strong social media campaigns.

2. Gary Vaynerchuk - Twitter: 1 million | Facebook: 153k | Google+: 1.9 million

Gary has arguably more experience in social media than any other author on this list. He started his video podcast, Wine Library TV, back in 2006. Crush It!, The Thank You Economy, and Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook all focus on the power of social media in business, and Gary used social media to catapult those titles on to numerous bestseller lists. He's also the owner of the highly successful social media brand consulting agency, VaynerMedia.

3. Tim Ferriss - Twitter: 475k | Facebook: 210k | Blog: 25,000+ subscribers

The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, and The 4-Hour Chef have sold millions of copies worldwide. He aggressively uses his blog and other social media sites to sell copies of his books as well as garner reviews. Not only are his book marketing techniques quite intriguing and helpful, but his work less and live more lifestyle has transformed many lives.

4. Seth Godin - Twitter: 352k | Facebook: 239k | Google+: 123k

Seth has authored fifteen books, twelve of which are bestsellers. His blog is highly trafficked and his loyal followers connect with him there on the blog as well as other major social media sites.

5. Michael Hyatt - Twitter: 213k | Facebook: 35k | Blog: 381k subscribers

Michael's blog "helps leaders leverage influence" and with over 381,000 subscribers, it's one of the most renowned blogs in the world. His most successful book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, is a step-by-step guide to building a successful online platform through the power of social media. The book spawned his Platform University where he uses specialized classes, tutorials and actionable lessons to teach members how to grow their platform. Michael also runs a highly popular weekly podcast, This Is Your Life.

This list has been compiled by J.J. Hebert, bestselling author & president of Mindstir Media book publishing and is accurate as of 2-16-2014. None of the above authors are affiliated with MindStir Media book publishing company or author J.J. Hebert.

Self-Publishing Shouldn't Mean Cheap Publishing

There are a lot of self-publishing providers out there nowadays. Many of those companies offer "low-cost" or "cheap" publishing services. As an author myself, I know how tempting it can be to choose a cheap service instead of a premium service. I struggled with this early on when I was putting together my own book, Unconventional (this was before I started offering services through MindStir Media). One company said it could publish my book for $1000 (including the cover design) and someone else offered to design the book cover for the $1000. $1000 for only a book cover is a little steep, but this professional's work was far superior to the cover design samples from the other company. I decided to go with the premium book cover design. It set me back $1000 but I wanted quality and I was willing to pay for it. I wasn't writing or publishing as a hobby; I wanted to make a living from it. I honestly believe the book cover for Unconventional has helped attract sales. I've sold over 100,000 copies of Unconventional to date, so I'm very pleased with the outcome...

If you're serious about your writing career and you want others to take you seriously, you absolutely need to focus on quality. Premium self-publishing services usually command premium prices but the money is well worth it in the long-run. If you use a cheap book designer, for instance (or a cheap printer, etc. etc.), and aren't willing to invest in your book, why would anyone be willing to invest the $10 to $15 it takes to purchase your book? Your cheap-looking book will scare away potential customers and you'll be very disappointed with the outcome. The old adage stands true for self-publishing: You have to spend money to make money.

MindStir Media Reviews Directory

It's been an amazing 2013. I worked with many great authors this year and recently I decided to create a somewhat non-exhaustive list of MindStir Media Reviews to share the experiences MindStir authors have had with my book publishing company. You might want to check them out: http://mindstirmedia.blogspot.com/2013/12/mindstir-media-reviews-directory.html

Here's to an amazing 2014!

Top 5 Reasons to Publish Ebooks

Photo courtesy of goXunuReviews, Flickr

1. Format growth — According to the Association of American Publishers (AAP), ebook sales continue to grow. This means consumers are hungry for ebooks!

2. Low price point attracts readers — Since ebook publishing is completely digital and does not require printing of any sort, authors can comfortably sell e-books for less than a paperback or hardcover book. Readers appreciate lower prices and are generally more willing to take a risk on a debut or unknown author if the price is low (especially in this economy).

3. Portability — Ebook fans love the portability of the ebook format. Readers are no longer forced to carry around heavy print books.

4. Buying Convenience — Readers can buy and download ebooks instantly. They don’t have to visit a physical bookstore or purchase a print book online that could take several days to arrive via mail.

5. Eco-friendly — Ebook publishing supports a healthy environment. Less book printing = more trees.

How I Got a Literary Agent...and then Decided to Self-Publish (Thanks, Michael Hyatt)

It must have been sometime in 2007/2008 when I first bumped into Michael Hyatt on the Internet. Back then, he was CEO of Thomas Nelson (the world's largest Christian publisher) and he was somewhat new to blogging (I believe). Even though he wasn't the blogging powerhouse back then that he is now, he was still very visible. I stumbled upon a list on his blog, Literary Agents Who Represent Christian Authors (which has since been updated), and I'm pretty sure I felt like I had just found the Holy Grail of literary agent lists (it really is an amazing list!). I might have even queried every single one of those agents. In my "previous life in book publishing," I was an eager "aspiring author" trying to land a literary agent who could then help me sell my manuscript to a major traditional publisher. I didn't really know of any other way at that point. Maybe I had heard of self-publishing, but in '07/'08 there was definitely still a stigma attached to self-publishing... So, eventually I received a positive response from one of those agents on Michael's list. I sent my full manuscript to the agent and the agent ultimately decided to represent me. I also emailed Michael later on to discuss this agent and I'm still amazed to this day that I received a personal response from Michael Hyatt himself. It is so incredibly rare for the CEO of a major publishing company to respond directly to an outside author. It absolutely blew me away and made me a lifelong supporter of him!

Most of you know that traditional publishing didn't end up being the route that I chose -- or the route that chose me ... My (former) agent struggled with his health and we ended our business relationship amicably because he simply could not give my novel, Unconventional, the attention it deserved. I was kind of devastated by this, but by early 2009 the self-publishing stigma started to lessen. During this time, because of my dealings with the agent -- and because some of my author friends encouraged me to self-publish -- I decided self-publishing might be for me. I performed hundreds, maybe even thousands of hours of research and opened my own publishing company, MindStir Media, and self-published Unconventional. Thankfully, Unconventional became a huge hit, first as a serialized podiobook (i.e. podcast audiobook) and later as an ebook and paperback. The book has sold over 100,000 units as a self-published book and I'm proud of that. Since then I've helped thousands of other writers through publishing consultations and self-publishing services that I offer via MindStir Media.

I've been a loyal reader of Michael Hyatt's blog throughout the years. I've never met him in person and maybe I never will, but I'll always be thankful to him for his list and personal email response. Without either of those, I probably would have been lost. It's funny how sometimes the person who affects us the most is the person we've never even met, the person who simply took a few moments out of his/her hectic day to respond to our questions. It's people like Michael Hyatt who remind me that every little act of kindness matters. In honor of the approaching Thanksgiving holiday, I just want to share my thankfulness and at the same time share my little success story. And hey, if you're reading this, Michael (and I have a sneaky suspicion that you will via Google Alerts) -- thank you!

In case any of you are interested, Michael just self-published a new ebook under his very own publishing imprint, Fleming House Publishers (website coming soon at www.fleminghousepublishers.com). The ebook, entitled The Virtual Assistant Solution, explains how to be less stressed and more productive by delegating work to a virtual assistant. I use a whole team of virtual assistants myself and delegating to them has helped me immensely, so as always I'm on board with Michael's advice. A virtual assistant can be incredibly helpful for authors and book publishers alike.

Interview: Children's Book Author Toni Tuso Faber

I interviewed children's book author Toni Tuso Faber earlier this week. She's the author and creator of The Poodle Tales children's book series and brand. An excerpt below:

Toni Tuso Faber approached MindStir Media in 2012 about her children's book series, The Poodle Tales. Since then, nearly a dozen books in the series have been produced. Toni also launched a fantastic interactive website at www.thepoodletales.com; built up an amazing poodle-loving community of over 12,000 people on Facebook; and has attracted hundreds of Poodle Club members (sign up to get free stuff!). She even created other fun stuff like the Catch A Poodle game and anonline coloring & activity book, among other things. I'm so honored to be a part of The Poodle Talesand I'm looking forward to continuing to help Toni with children's book publishing and children's book illustrations and more. Without further ado, here's an interview I recently conducted with Toni Tuso Faber:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Writing a book is like creating a sculpture, when you feel an urge, you pursue it. In my case, I never actually realized I wanted to be a writer. One day I was just inspired! 

How long does it take you to write a book? There are no time limits as far as writing a book, as writing a book is a very personal endeavor. The questions are many. Is it a novel, is it poetry, is it simple children's verse, or perhaps a complex review of one’s life issues? Hmm, difficult to answer; however, I believe the answer is, whatever it takes to make it great! It could take a month, a year, or even a lifetime … as long as it is good! 

Read the rest of the interview...

Top 50 Quotes on Writing

Photo courtesy of Alex France, Flickr

As a writer, I've always been interested in quotes about writing. They help to remind me that I'm not alone in writing. The writing journey is, for the most part, a solitary trek, so many of these quotes have really offered me comfort and some laughs throughout the years. I've even shared some of these quotes with my authors at MindStir Media book publishers. Here are the top 50 quotes on writing (in my opinion). While they are technically in "no particular order," I believe they all belong somewhere on this list. Enjoy!

1. “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typwriter and bleed.” –Ernest Hemingway
2. “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” –Maya Angelou
3. “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” –Madeleine L’Engle
4. “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” –Stephen King
5. “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” –Stephen King
6. “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” –Toni Morrison
7. “Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It’s a way of understanding it.” –Lloyd Alexander
8. “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” –Robert Frost
9. “If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” –Isaac Asimov
10. “Being a writer is a very peculiar sort of a job: it’s always you versus a blank sheet of paper (or a blank screen) and quite often the blank piece of paper wins.” –Neil Gaiman
11. “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” –John Steinbeck
12. “Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald
13. “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” –Jack London
14. “All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world.” –E.B. White
15. “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” –Thomas Jefferson
16. “Perhaps I write for no one. Perhaps for the same person children are writing for when they scrawl their names in the snow.” –Margaret Atwood
17. “Grand. There’s a word I really hate. It’s a phony. I could puke every time I hear it.” –J.D. Salinger
18. “You can fix anything but a blank page.” –Nora Roberts
19. “When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth.” –Kurt Vonnegut
20. “I never exactly made a book. It’s rather like taking dictation. I was given things to say. ” –C.S. Lewis
21. “Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.” --Graham Greene, Ways Of Escape
22. “Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.” --Ann Patchett, Truth and Beauty
23. “There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.” --Ernest Hemingway
24. “You cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.” --Stephen King
25. “Write only if you cannot live without writing. Write only what you alone can write.” --Elie Wiesel
26. “Writing is the only thing that when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else.” --Gloria Steinem
27. “I am irritated by my own writing. I am like a violinist whose ear is true, but whose fingers refuse to reproduce precisely the sound he hears within.” --Gustave Flaubert
28. “The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.” --Robert Cormier
29. “Always mystify, torture, mislead, and surprise the audience as much as possible.” --Don Roff
30. “Writing fiction is the act of weaving a series of lies to arrive at a greater truth.” --Khaled Hosseini
31. “Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything good.” --William Faulkner
32. “The desire to write grows with writing.” --Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus
33. “Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every noon.” --Raymond Chandler
34. “If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it.” --H.G. Wells
35. “There is no such thing as an "aspiring writer". You are a writer. Period.” --Matthew Reilly, Area 7
36. “If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!” --Jackie Collins
37. “Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one.” --Salman Rushdie
38. “In the end, fiction is the craft of telling truth through lies.” --Lauren Groff
39. “You either have to write or you shouldn't be writing. That's all.” --Joss Whedon
40. “Writing is a delicious agony.” --Gwendolyn Brooks
41. “One should use common words to say uncommon things.” --Arthur Schopenhauer
42. “If you can quit, then quit. If you can't quit, you're a writer.” --R.A. Salvatore
43. “Write,' she said, 'as if you'll never be read. That way you'll be sure to tell the truth.” --Lori Lansens, The Girls
44. “Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing.” --E.L. Doctorow
45. “But the truth is, it's not the idea, it's never the idea, it's always what you do with it." --Neil Gaiman
46. “Writing is really a way of thinking--not just feeling but thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic or just sweet.” -- Toni Morrison
47. “It's a wonderful thing to be able to create your own world whenever you want to.” --Woody Allen
48. “As a writer, I am just an actor in a play, telling a story that needs to be told.” --Rita Webb
49. “I write with all my heart.” --Ursula K. Le Guin
50. “I love revisions…We can’t go back and revise our lives, but being allowed to go back and revise what we have written comes closest.” --Katherine Paterson

Why Self-Publish?

I created this nifty infographic for MindStir Media self-publishing. The graphic consists of 5 reasons why it makes sense to self-publish. Feel free to share!

The Importance of Book Distribution when Publishing a Book

When an author decides to publish a book, oftentimes book distribution is an afterthought (or ignored altogether). I've seen independent authors go out and find an offset book printer only to realize later that they have to then sell every single copy on their own. This usually means the author gets hundreds or thousands of copies printed upfront and then has to store them and ultimately -- if copies are sold -- get the copies delivered to the end customers in some way. This process is extremely time-consuming and unnecessary for an author. Can you seriously imagine handling all of this on your own?

At MindStir Media, we offer book distribution. Not only do we provide book distribution through Ingram, the largest wholesale distributor of books in the world, but all our books are also listed at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, BooksAMillion.com, Powells.com and thousands of other retailers and booksellers worldwide. All the order fulfillment is also handled for you as the author. For instance, when a copy of your MindStir book is ordered through Amazon.com, a copy is printed on-demand and then shipped to the end customer on your behalf. This saves you countess hours so you can continue focusing on writing instead of tracking every order, packing and shipping, etc.

On top of saving you a lot of time, distribution also gives potential readers more buying options. More buying options can sometimes mean more sales. It's important to have your published book available in as many online bookstores as possible. Amazon.com is a must, along with Barnesandnoble.com, BooksAMillion.com, and Powells.com. Generally speaking those are the websites where most copies will be sold.

Ignoring book distribution is like a car ignoring tires. The car will never reach its full potential and neither will your book...

MindStir Media Teams Up With #1 Christian Writers Website "FaithWriters.com" to Publish Compilation Book

I'm happy to announce that MindStir Media, the sponsor for the FaithWriters.com Christian "Testimony" Writing Contest, will be publishing the winning submissions as a 6x9" paperback. For those of you who don't know, FaithWriters.com is the #1 site for Christian writers on the web, with over 63,000 members across the globe. It has been helping Christian writers and spreading the Gospel for around 10 years. It's known as an "encouraging community of Christian writers ... A great place to learn and grow in a safe, caring environment..."

I'm more than thrilled to be partnering with FaithWriters to produce this wonderful book. There were many submissions for the Testimony contest (in several categories), but we only had room for 40 winners -- recently announced right here. The book is tentatively scheduled to be released in early 2014. The authors included will benefit from an ongoing portion of royalties. Christian book publishing is one of MindStir's specialties, and I'm really happy to be a part of this Christian book publication. Stay tuned!

Update 3/25/14: The book is now available. Check out the MindStir Media press release.

Should You Use a Local Book Publisher?

I come across a few authors here and there who want to work with a local book publisher. While MindStir Media does work with many authors throughout the nation, the company also attracts authors looking for a book publisher in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. MindStir is located in NH and it borders ME and MA. It probably surprises authors when I tell them that, in my opinion, there's no real reason in 2013 and beyond to select a book publisher based on its location. Years ago, authors felt they had to be published by a NY book publisher in order to be successful. The Internet has changed everything. Email has knocked down the barriers. As a NH publishing company, I can easily communicate with an author located in CA and publish their book successfully. I've done it many times. Location is honestly becoming more and more irrelevant. There really aren't any limitations in working with a book publisher located outside your state. If you're an author, you're better off focusing on a book publishing company's reputation and success stories rather than its location.

MindStir Media President to Writers: Book Publishing Doesn't Have To Be Difficult

Today, during one of my book publishing consultations, a thought crossed my mind that I knew I wanted to cover on this blog: book publishing doesn't have to be difficult. I've found that many new writers tend to over-complicate publishing. Is that you? Authors get in their own way by allowing the "mysteries" and "myths" of book publishing to overpower the truths of publishing. Usually this happens because the author is trying to do everything on his/her own without much prior knowledge. And then, of course, publishing seems very difficult indeed....

For a rookie writer, especially one who has never published anything, the whole process can seem mysterious. These mysteries sometimes morph into fear. You know, fear of the unknown. Sound familiar? But there's really no reason to fear book publishing. There are book publishing professionals (like me) out there who can help you find the answers and simplify the publishing process for you. I do this for authors on a daily basis and it helps make publishing easy. Then there's all these publishing myths -- for example, your manuscript needs to be a certain number of pages to be acceptable, etc. You don't need to be preoccupied with these mysteries and myths. They're a waste of your time and they only add difficulty to publishing.

First and foremost, your focus should be on writing the best manuscript possible. Then, once you've done that, it's time to reach out to a book publisher that specializes in working with new authors, i.e. MindStir Media. A reputable publisher can help you sift through the mysteries and myths of publishing and move you toward the end goal without difficulty: publishing your book.

MindStir Media Author Shares "Writing Lessons from Downton Abbey"

Bestselling author Paula Wiseman guest blogged at the MindStir Media blog earlier today, sharing with authors "Writing Lessons from Downton Abbey". The writing lessons focus on creating strong characters, memorable dialogue, and more... I don't know of any book publishers that wouldn't agree with Paula's advice. Enjoy!