OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
It's been nearly six years since I wrote my first book, How To Enjoy Your Job, now rewritten and republished as Career Change.
But being so deeply involved for so long means that it's now hard to remember what was difficult at the beginning!
But in the last month, I have helped my Dad, Arthur J. Penn, publish his first book, Nada, a historical thriller with a romantic edge. Think Captain Corelli's Mandolin set in Sardinia.
It helped me to revisit the process of publishing from scratch, so here's the checklist I worked through that might be helpful if you're just starting out.
I'm assuming you have finished the first draft and then gone through the major editing and beta-reader process, so you have a finished manuscript ready to go.
(1) Finalize the manuscript
Once the final draft is finished, you need to add the extra material like the copyright page, the dedication and anything else, like the Author's Note and acknowledgements. Remember to include a call to action at the end of the book for people to sign up for your email newsletter, as well as including your social media links, or at least your website.
Don't forget your back blurb/sales description which also needs to be done before you publish.
My recommendation is to also use a proof-reader for the manuscript, so someone new who reads the book just before you publish and notices the last typos and punctuation issues. This is the final cleanup of the manuscript. For Nada, Wendy Janes did a fantastic job!
This needs to be done in advance as many designers are booked up, so email early and book your slot. Jane Dixon Smith was amazing for Nada, producing an ebook and print book cover. Arthur had his own ideas about the cover, wanting to emphasize the sinister mask of the Marmuthones, which feature in the opening murder. Jane took that and added depth, the heroine Eleanor in the background walking to her future. Click here for more book cover designers.
(3) Get URL and website sorted
As Arthur is a new author, I decided to go with a basic, free WordPress.com site that is easy to build, set up and maintain. I did buy ArthurJPenn.com as a domain and redirect it to the wordpress site, which gives it a more professional look and is easier to include on business cards and the back of the book. Dad is getting used to wordpress, checking out the different themes right now, so the site may be in-flux if you visit 🙂
Another reason to use self-hosting is to be able to embed a signup form to an external list service like Aweber (affiliate). But you can get around this by hosting the form on the service itself and providing a re-direct. Not perfect, but functional for a new author just starting out.
(4) Publish on Amazon for Kindle
Now this is a marketing decision, but because Arthur doesn't have an existing platform, I decided that it was worth going with KDP Select for the initial 90 days to get some traction with giveaways.
After the 90 days is up, we will likely publish on Kobo and Smashwords for the other platforms. I'm generally not a fan of exclusivity but for the short-term initial period, it's worth it for traction.
When you first set up your profile, you have to fill in the tax information. Non-US citizens will have 30% with-holding tax applied unless you sort out your tax numbers. It's not too hard, check out this great post from Karen Inglis.
You should also fill out your Amazon Author Central profiles – for the .com and then the other stores as well. You can claim your books and get them linked together.
(5) Publish on Createspace for print
There are many reasons to print your book, but when it's your first book, the main reason is to hold it in your hand and say ‘I made this!‘. It's a time to celebrate! Again, Jane Dixon Smith did the book design, and we used Createspace for the publishing, using print on demand.
Here's a short video of the unboxing (with some squealing from my behind the camera!)
(6) Decide on marketing options
We all know that writing and publishing are only part of the journey, but getting the book to readers is a whole other story. I gave Dad a copy of ‘How To Market A Book‘ but I realize it is quite a learning curve for new authors.
My initial suggestions are:
a) Use some kind of promo pricing, or KDP Select free period in order to get some kind of data into the algorithms
b) Set up your author profile and then add your book in multiple formats onto Goodreads. Once that's all done, you can set up a print giveaway. This is at least a way to get some profile on the site and hopefully some reviews.
c) Get business cards with the book cover on one side and your details on the other. Give these out to all and sundry, using the old physical word of mouth technique. I use Moo.com but there are lots of options.
d) Pick something you like doing, e.g. photos on Pinterest and just do one thing a week or even a day.
(7) Start writing the next book
… Arthur has already started the sequel, so watch this space for a Penn dynasty!
Do you have anything to add to a new author checklist? Or any suggestions for marketing ideas that don't involve too much internet time? Please do add your comments below.
If you like historical fiction, you might like to check out Nada.
A young woman’s struggle to free herself from the manacles of fascism and the bigotry of faith.
Sardinia, 1934. On her eighteenth birthday Eleanor Cardinale is relishing the warm embrace of local festivals, red wine, and her first lover. Her passion is set against the backdrop of the island’s crystal seas, mountain crags and ancient magical legends.
But her joy is fleeting, for dark forces gather as she openly challenges her suffocating religion and Mussolini’s twisted vision of a new fascist Italy. The Duce is at the height of his popularity and Eleanor finds herself dangerously alone in her dissent.
Eleanor’s simple Sardinian life is shattered by a series of hideous crimes against her loved ones; savage rape, atrocity and finally murder by masked dancers in the fire and shadows of a demonic festival.
Is Eleanor willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom and independence?
NADA is a story of love, murder and revenge set in a time of Italian fascist expansion and ending in the early days of the Spanish Civil war. A historical novel, for fans of Robert Harris and Louis de Bernieres Corelli’s Mandolin.
Sample or buy Nada in ebook or print formats at Amazon.
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1 2 3 Next »Hi Joanna, and congratulations Arthur! The cover is great, the blurb sounds awesome and you have Joanna on your team. You're on ot a winner! Great checklist. I wish I'd tried the KDP select programme first. I may have to do that with the next book. I still have to sort my non-US tax out too, *groan. All the best :) X
Thanks Shah - and yes, tax is a groan, but you sure appreciate that 30% extra when the books take off :) I think KDP Select is great for new authors especially, so we'll see how it goes. I'll report back on Nada's sales in a few months ...
Hi Joanna, and congrats to a great daughter-father partnership :-)
Nice first-time-author overview. My big takeaway is:
1. For your first book, keep it simple, do the obvious and collect data. You can get more complicated/sophisticated from there; and
2. For heaven's sake, don't forget to start the next one!
Exactly Michael, there's enough to do in just the basics. Dad kept saying how fast I did everything, and it has become second nature to me now, but it's a steep learning curve for newbies to the game.
Congrats to you and your father, Joanna. What better way to spend time together than publishing a book!
Thank you for sharing this succinct list--it's definitely one to be bookmarked.
Like father like daughter, and I can only imagine how proud of you your dad must be Joanna—not to mention how proud you must be of him for getting his book to market!
I really appreciated these tips. With one title published now, I know there's still loads to learn and refine—especially as I prepare for publishing my next two titles. I especially noted [(4) Publish on Amazon for Kindle]. That's what I've been considering doing for my next 2 titles:
1. Release each initially only through KDP Select (as a soft-launch)
2. Simultaneously release a print edition through Createspace (or if not same day, then as soon as possible), distribute print edition everywhere, and do promos such as GoodReads Giveaways
3. Leverage KDP Select time to do free days and promos, and build exposure (and hopefully reviews)
4. Also use this time to garner more attention and reviews through reviewers, etc.
5. After KDP Select period ends, make e-book available everywhere
I think that's sensible Anthony - using KDP Select for that initial period and then going wider. The problem comes when you build an audience on the other platforms, like I have on Kobo, and you know people are waiting there for the latest book! But that's a quality problem to have :)
My thoughts exactly! I haven't done anything with KDP Select yet, so for my next title I want to give it a go. If it has a role beyond that, cool, and if not, then that's for the right reasons too.
I'm so excited for your dad, Joanna! What a wonderful feeling to hold your own book in your hands! He's adorable and made smile with his excitement. It must have been do rewarding for you to help him bring his book to market. What a great team you two make.
Thanks for this checklist. I've read so much information over the past few years that it gets all jumbled together. A checklist is exactly what I need. Along with your book marketing book, of course. I've picked up your dads book and look forward to reading it.
Thanks Marcia - and it is very satisfying to help people with their books. Many people say they want to write a book, and especially with family members, it is hard to be positive and encouraging, but also understanding that most people never get there. I'm so pleased Dad made his goal, and the book-writing bug has bitten :)
How exciting for your dad!! You must be super proud of him! Please pass on my congratulations!
This was a wonderful post Joanna! Thank you :) And congratulations to both you and your father! I'm happy to say that I've just purchased Nada, and will be reading all weekend.
Also, I just wanted to say that this post has gotten me motivated again. I've had a lot on my plate lately with starting an online literary magazine, an author platform, as well as trying round 3 of editing my novel. This post gave me a little surge of 'it will be worth it' - so thank you :)
- Helen
Thanks Helen, and it is definitely worth it :)
Congratulations to your dad from a Sardinian (me).
I'll read it for sure ;)
Carla
Thanks Carla - he will be thrilled :) He loves Sardinia and goes there most years on holiday. The book resonates with his love of the land!
Congratulations to your dad! I bet he is very proud of his work, and you're proud of him too. Wish him all the success with his new writing career.
Thanks for this post. I especially like the tip about using KDP Select for the first 90 days. It makes sense. And the business cards with the book cover on it! Why didn't I think of that before?
Thanks again Joanna!