Tag Archives: reading

Insert YOUR Name Here

Posted on March 23, 2011 | Comments Off

That’s right. I’m looking for the next round of guest bloggers for Life as a Publisher. If this is about my life, why am I bringing all these other people here? Simple. Everything in the world is part of my life and also because it’s my Blog and I can.

Here is what I would like to see on the blog:

Monday: Trash Talk (This is where we can all say exactly how we feel. If you’ve got a rant, tell us about it. Books, writing, mean people in bookstore lines, whatever, get it off your chest.)
Tuesday: Library Spotlights (I would love to have people (authors, readers, patrons) send posts on their favorite libraries. Librarians, this is yoru chance to get your library in the limelight!)
Wednesday: Topics for Writers (this would include anything that would interest writers or authors from craft to marketing)
Thursday: Bookstore Spotlights (This is where I would like to have posts on your favorite bookstores. If possible, please send pictures. Booksellers, feel free to spotlight your OWN store.)
Friday: New Book Releases (if you have a new book out, this is the day to announce it here.)
Saturday: Karen’s Kwips (I’ll post on these days.)
Sunday: Karen’s Kwips (I’ll post on these days.)

Signing up to be a guest blogger here is easy. A few simple steps.

Check the schedule in the sidebar to make sure your date is not already taken.
Send an email (echelonpress@gmail.com) that includes your Name, e-mail address, and the date you want to appear. Please make sure your topic works with the scheduled topic. Please place “GUEST BLOGGER REQUEST” in the subject line).
Send me your articles/posts. These should be 250-300 words. I like to keep things short. Please try and get them to me at last 10 days in advance. I am slow enough on my own.

When you send your post, they should be as attachments. The email should include:

The post.
A photo of you and/or your book cover or something relating to what you are talking about. If you don’t include your choice of photos, you are bound to accept my choice of images.
A list of any links you want included. Also include your social networking urls (please visit tinurl.com before inserting those 457 character urls.)

See, how easy is that? Now tell all your friends. Bring it on!

Emails should go to echelonpress@gmail.com

Comments Off on Insert YOUR Name Here

Posted in Blatherings, Guest Bloggers, Just for Fun

Tagged authors, books, bookstores, Echelon Press, karen syed, librarians, libraries, Marketing, publishing, readers, reading, trends

Reviews? Really?

Posted on March 17, 2011 | 6 comments

Okay, another hot button for readers. I keep hearing how important reviews are when deciding what books to buy. How true is this?

As an author, I can tell you readers how difficult it is to get anyone to review a book or short story unless you have been published by one of the big 6 publishers in NY or have made it onto a best seller list.

How is a new author supposed to get the ball rolling when they hear the same thing every time they ask for a review. “We don’t review every book that is submitted.” What that really means is, “We have never heard of you so we aren’t going to waste our time.”

As a publisher, I have submitted hundreds of books to reviewers that have gone ignored. This is a HUGE expense to us as a business. I have queried so many Bloggers and reviewers and most of the time I get rejected. I have even offered FREE downloads to anyone who would read them, those have also been rejected.

So, whose reviews are most valuable? Whose opinion is the right one? What makes a good reviewer? Why don’t more readers post reveiws if they find them so important in their selection process?

I’ve got a new novella out and would love to get some reviews. Anyone want to review it? You can get more info at OmniLit.com

6 Comments

Posted in Blatherings, Just for Fun, New Book Releases

Tagged ebooks, Echelon Press, karen syed, publishing, readers, reading, romance novella, sales, Too Fast for Love

Stop Saying that, Damn it! (Rant)

Posted on March 16, 2011 | 2 comments

Okay, I have held back long enough on this topic and now I am just going to speak my mind and get it off my chest.

Dear Librarians:

PLEASE STOP making generalized comments about publishers. I get that you are really mad at HarperCollins and MacMillan and whoever else is trying to screw you over with eBooks. There are MANY publishers of all sizes who are more than willing to work with you on selling you eBooks on fair terms.

For weeks now, there has been constant complaining and blogging about those FEW publishers who want to cheat you. How does this make sense? As you continue to spotlight them in your Blogs and tweets and so forth you continue to promote them and lead people who otherwise might not have sought them out right into their greedy little hands.

Why not focus your attention and energies on the publishers who are BEGGING to work with you? Why not work with your Boards to make it possible to order from organizations other than the Big publishers.

I BEG of you, please take all the negative energy you are expelling on the bad guys and get to know the rest of us. Some of us actually have great books, print and eBooks and we would LOVE to sell them to you so you can loan them to your patrons.

I’m just sayin’!