Publishing Newsletter for Independent Authors


February, 2015 - Vol 5, Issue 1
In This Issue
Is Editing Necessary?
New Books
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Classes
Author New and Awards
Social Media
Join Our Mailing List!
Contact Information
Happy New Year 2014
Winter in Maine as seen through the eyes of Shelby.

  

 

Winter has finally hit here in Maine and Massachusetts--at least according to the last week of storms we have been hit with. Even the animals are spending as little time as possible outdoors in the frigid temperatures and deep snow.

 

 

Introduction to Marketing for Authors Workshop

As independent publishers, it is important to us that the authors understand how to market their books for the best results. We are offering a 2-1/2 hour mini workshop entitled, "Introduction to Marketing for Authors."

This class will include ideas on how to market your book, useful links, take home material as well as a chance to learn from and share ideas with other authors. Refreshments will be served. There is no charge to members of the Maine and Boston cooperatives or Indie Author Warehouse. Cost for non-members is $20. Registration is required prior to the event. Classes must have a minimum of 4 to 6 students and space is limited.

Below is our winter/spring 2015 schedule. Please register by emailing Cheryl McKeary at  coop@maineauthorspublishing.com. We will reserve a spot for you and mail a worksheet for you to fill out and return prior to the class.

 

The following classes will be held at Maine Authors Publishing, 558 Main St. Rockland, ME

 

Tuesday

Feb 10, 2015

3:00 pm-5:30 pm

Wednesday

Feb 11, 2015

6:00 pm-8:30 pm

Saturday

Feb 21, 2015

11:00 am-1:30 pm

Tuesday

Mar 3, 2015

3:00 pm-5:30 pm

Friday

Mar 6, 2015

6:00 pm-8:30 pm

Saturday

Mar 28,2015

11:00 am-1:30 pm

Tuesday

Apr 14, 2015

3:00 pm-5:30 pm

Wednesday

Apr 15, 2015

6:00 pm-8:30 pm

Saturday

May 9, 2015

11:00 am-1:30 pm



The following classes will be held at Boston Writers Publishing, 14 Spring Street, Waltham, MA.

 

Friday

Feb 27, 2015

6:00 pm-8:30 pm

Saturday

Feb 28, 2015

10:30 am-1:00 pm

Friday

Apr 17, 2015

6:00 pm-8:30 pm

Saturday

Apr 18, 2015

10:30 am-1:00 pm

 

Is Editing Really Necessary or Is it Just Another Expense?

 

Why do I need to have my book edited?

As a reader, don't you find it very disconcerting to start reading a book only to find typos, missing words, homophones, characters' names changing in the book and other problems that should have been caught prior to publishing? The self-publishing industry has long had a bad reputation for putting out books that have had little or no editing. Yet, editing can be the first thing authors cut out to save time and money and get their book published quicker.
 

Comments we hear from authors include: "I don't need editing because...

  • my neighbor (son, friend) proofread my book and it doesn't need any further work."
  • I don't want to pay any extra money to have it edited. It's good enough."
  • I have a specific voice in my writing and the editor will take out so much it won't be in my style anymore."
  • I'm a teacher so I know my book is in good shape."

There are different types of editing:

  • Developmental editors work with you right from the beginning. They help plan the overall structure, develop an outline, and coach authors in their writing on a chapter-by-chapter basis. They don't do the actual writing but help you with the entire process.
  • Substantive editors help you find your voice. They may make suggestions on deleting a character or developing a character further, check your facts for accuracy, and deal with the overall content, structure, and organization of the manuscript.
  • Copyeditors check and correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and consistency and look at word choice and sentence structure to improve readability and/or clarify meaning.
  • Proofreaders see the manuscript after the design is completed. They check for placement of photos, captions, and headings and make sure corrections suggested by the copyeditor have been included.

So why do you need editing?

As an author, you are too close to your work to find all the problems. Have you seen some of the brain teasers that have you read words and show how you are missing things? For example, "A bird in the the bush" or "Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg." Naturally you can pick up on these problems quickly, but if you wrote the words, would you be able to find them? (See http://bit.ly/1BzOgE8 for more brain teasers.)

 

For an independently published book, authors should have the final say in the changes they want to make. The editor's corrections are merely suggestions and the author can override these suggestions. For this reason, if an editor uses "track changes" in Microsoft Word you can review the changes and accept or reject them line by line.

 

Getting a professional's opinion on what works and doesn't work in your manuscript will help you in getting a more readable (aka sellable) book. An editor can make recommendations on areas that should be rewritten or point out inconsistencies in the plot.

 

For book editing, most editors at a minimum should use the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed. Other reference materials may include Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., Garner's Modern American Usage, 3rd ed., or Webster's Guide to English Usage.

 

Having your book edited can often dramatically raise the quality--and ultimately the marketability--of your work. You may even be surprised yourself at what you missed. An editor provides a crucial service from a separate perspective, which is important for understanding how readers will react. Editing is a vital part of the process of publishing your book and ensuring that it becomes the best book that you can write.

 

If you need editorial services or have additional questions about the editorial process, please contact Dan Karker at dan@maineauthorspublishing.com.

 

 

Save the Date - May 31, 2015 Author Marketing Conference
On Sunday, May 31, we will be holding our annual Author Marketing Conference from 9:00-4:30. This will be held at the lovely seaside Sebasco Resort, Sebasco Estates, Maine. It will be open to our authors as well as to the public ($25 for members, $75 for non-members) on a first come, first serve basis. You will have a chance to attend workshops with publicists and marketing experts and share ideas with fellow authors. For those traveling from a distance, we have set aside rooms that you can reserve until April 1st.

For further information, contact Cheryl McKeary, cheryl@maineauthorspublishing.com.

 

New Book Arrivals by Authors in our  MAP Cooperative Plan
All books in the cooperative plan are available for purchase on our website or from your local bookstore.


 


 

The Amethyst Stone, Lloyd Ferriss. A bittersweet coming of age novel based in Long Island, New York about an eleven-year-old who feels death is the way to escape until two people intervene. Author of Harry Stump, Maine's Psychic Sculptor.

 

 

New Book Arrivals by Authors in Indie Author Warehouse Plan

 

Available on Amazon or on Indie Author Warehouse website.

 

 

Baby Bear Goes to Gymnastics - Riece Martel & Martha Couture, children's. A story about a Baby Bear who was told he was too little to go to gymnastics.

 

1994; Same as it Ever Was -David Jewett, political cartoons of right and left wing ideologues.

 

From Beer to Beards - Carl Johnson. Nonfiction. Boston Baseballs' 2011 to 2013 Roller Coaster Ride. Game-by-game chronology through three seasons of the Boston Red Sox.

 

Seasons in the Wind by Frank J. Chamberlin IV. Nonfiction. True outdoor adventures, dog training, tips, poems and recipes.

 

 

Upcoming Events
  • February 6, Peter Pfeiffer, Hard Chance, author event, Sheepscot General Store, Whitefield, 6:30 pm.

  • February 7, Christopher Morin, A Tale of Life and War and The Besieged, Letterpress Books, Northgate Plaza, Portland, 2:00-3:30 pm.

  • February 9, Carol Manchester, Joseph K. Manchester, Northern South in the South, 1861-1863, author discussion, Historical Society, Gorham, 7 pm. 

  • March 9-13, Week-long workshop by Kathleen Ellis "Breaking Loose: Revving Up your Poetry Toolbox. Contact Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland 596-6457 to register.

  • March 1, Lloyd Ferriss, The Amethyst Stone, author event, Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, 2-4 pm.

 

Upcoming Classes

Independent Publishing for Maine Writers Adult Ed classes by Jane Karker being offered for the Winter-Spring seasons of 2015 include:

  • February 12, 6:00-8:15 - Camden High School
  • February 26, 6:00-8:15 - Bangor High School
  • March 5, 6:00-8:15 - Freeport High School
  • March 12, 6:00-8:15 - SAD 40 Medomak Valley  High School, Waldoboro
  • March 19, 6:00-8:15 - Bucksport
  • March 26, 6:00-8:15 - Belfast
  • April 4, 6:00-8:15 - Mount Desert
  • April 16, 6:00-7:30 - Rockland Public Library

To sign up for classes, contact the individual schools or library.

 

Author News and Awards

 

Jean Ann Pollard, The New Maine Cooking was quoted in a Press Herald article titled, "Doctor, author, chefs see less meat on Maine's table." 

 

David Estey's Whoop and Drive 'er was reviewed by Kathryn Olmstead in the January-March 2015 issue of Echoes Magazine. (www.echoesofmaine.com).

 

A story by Laura Lee Perkins, "White Owl" was chosen from over 6,000 submissions for the next Chicken Soup for the Soul Miracles Happen. Coming out Feb. 10.


 

 

Five Books Receive New England Book Festival Award Recognition

 


Five books from Maine Authors Publishing were recently recognized by the 2014 New England Book Festival for achievements in publishing.

The books receiving awards include: Tales of the Cemetery Trees by John R. Cobb of Brewer, Compilations/Anthologies Winner; A Tale of Life & War by Christopher Morin of Portland, General Fiction Honorable Mention; Maggie Goes to Maine by Betsey Anderson of Weld, Children's Books Honorable Mention; Everything Special, Living Joy by Roberta S. Kuriloff of Orland, Spiritual Honorable Mention; and Tapestry II: Entwined by the Beast by Cady Elizabeth Arnold of New Hampshire, Young Adult Honorable Mention.

***

 

Three Maine Authors Publishing were recently recognized by the 2014 Animals, Animals, Animals Book Festival for achievements in publishing.

 


 

Edgar Allan's Murder: Insights into a Crow's World by Alice W. Ingraham of Yarmouth was the winner in the Birds category. Maggie Goes to Maine by Betsey Anderson, and The Tennis Ball Trees by Christopher Lockwood of Hallowell were both honorable mentions in the Dogs category.


 

***
 

Betsey Anderson, Maggie Goes to Maine is among four finalists in the children's category of the 2014 Writing Competition sponsored by the Dog Writers Association of America. www.dwaa.org  This national competition is affiliated with the Westminster Kennel Club. Winners will be anounced on February 15, 2015.

 

Social Media - Instagram

 

 

We are now on Instagram and would love to have you follow us. Go to www.instagram.com/maineauthorspub.

 

 

For MAP/BWP Members Only 

AUTHOR FORUM and PRIVATE FACEBOOK PAGE

 

For MAP and BWP Authors that are currently in the Cooperative or Indie Author Warehouse plans, we offer two private author forums. We have recently set up a new PRIVATE Facebook page available by invitation only. The other author forum is also a private forum but is for authors who may or may not use Facebook. It includes information on upcoming awards you can apply for and book sales for the previous month along with questions you can ask other authors.

 

If you haven't joined the forum or the private Facebook page, email Nikki at  nikki@maineauthorspublishing.com for information on how to join.     

 

Maine Authors Publishing, located in Rockland, ME produces and markets books for independent authors. Maine Authors Cooperative is a program within the company that offers catalog and fulfillment services to get independently published books into Maine bookstores.  

 

Boston Writers Publishing, located in Waltham, MA offers the same services as Maine Authors Publishing for authors and bookstores in Massachusetts. 


Please contact me today if you'd like to learn more about independently publishing your own book.

  
Jane Karker, owner
Maine Authors Publishing
Boston Writers Publishing