Problems that have arisen due to self publishing.

This is not a review. I have noticed a few things lately in some of the books I have been reading that I feel the need to discuss. Feel free to add any issues I may not have noticed, or tell me that I am being too picky. I also want to preface this by saying that these statements do not reflect any of the books or authors I have reviewed, they reflect the books and authors that I have read and Not reviewed, for various reasons.

One of the greatest things about self publishing is also the worst thing about it, anyone can do it. This means that many authors that maybe would not have been found by traditional publishing companies have been able to enrich our lives with their wonderful stories. But it also means that many less than wonderful books are also being published.

Self publishing does not mean that you can take something that you wrote in a high school English class and put it, untouched, up on the web and try to sell it, or even give it away. Or rather, you can do this, but you shouldn't. Please make sure that the pieces you are subjecting to us are real, legitimate works, not what you find scratched on an old, yellow piece of loose leaf paper. You should be proud of your work, and not proud in the same way that you would hang it on your fridge for a month then put it in a filing cabinet for the rest of your life. But really, truly proud that you produced such a wonderful piece of work. That is what we want you to share with us.

Possibly the most important And most overlooked aspect with self publishing is the editing process. This is two fold and neither can be ignored. First, after a piece is written it needs to be self edited. If you think this is too difficult, or can't be bothered to edit your own work, then don't publish it, because if it isn't worth your time, it isn't worth ours. And once you think you are done editing your work, put it away for a day, a week or a month, then go back to it and edit it again. Secondly, is professional editing. I understand that self publishing is expensive, and you have to pay for things like editors out of pocket, but if you aren't willing or able to shell out the money for an editor, I promise you it will be reflected in your work, and you can't expect people to spend their money on your work if it is sub-par. Nothing ruins a story quicker than bad editing, misspellings and typos. The latter two are particularly unacceptable. It is also a good idea to have quite a few beta readers (especially ones anal about things like typos, like me) to notice these things before you publish.

Cover art is another cost you will have to shell out if you self publish, but it is worth doing well. Trust me, people Do judge a book by its cover, and an ebook is no exception. Many people make a split second decision about buying/downloading your book by the way it is first presented to them, i.e., the cover. Sometimes simple is better than too complicated, but it still needs to be captivating, so hire a cover artist who has produced some works you like and the money will be worth it.

What is also important to people on the fence about buying/downloading your book is the book description. It's not an easy thing to sum up a whole novel or story in just a few sentences, but it's an important part of making sales. Keep it short, most people won't read more than a paragraph, and careful on the spoilers!

Finally, once someone has read and hopefully enjoyed your book make sure that your readers can find your website or contact info. Having an interactive website or blog is helpful, as is having a newsletter that fans can subscribe to. But keep in mind that without fans, you would not sell any books, so if they contact you, try to be affable and don't ignore them, because then you have lost a potential fan for life.

Shear Desperation:The Chronicles of Shame by Tim Elliott

Type: Novel
Genre: Fiction
Price: $2.99 (on smashwords)
Grade: A


Shear Desperation is a roller coaster of a story, it will have you laughing one minute, and the next you will feel pity, then shame, and possibly a bit of shock now and then. It is a character driven story written in a diary or confessional type style. Bryan, who is a loser by every sense of the term, but also the most endearing character you will ever meet, goes through a myriad of trials when he just wanted to get through his life from day to day. He works in a profession where everyone mistakes him for being gay, has to hear horrific stories from his clients day in and day out, and deal with the most tormenting affliction known to man: unrequited love.  A few small things start to fall into place for Bryan and he thinks that there may be a few rays of hope left in his sad, lonely life, but things always look brightest before the storm, and soon it all comes crashing down around him.

Bryan is the type of guy every girl wants as a best friend, and he is both loveable, and repulsive and completely non-sexual, at least to everyone who Isn’t Bryan. He is a colorful character, who has many hidden depths, and is so true to life that you can picture him being the guy next door. He is backed up by a bevy of colorful characters that only add to the story’s dynamic.  This story is dark and a bit disturbing, but is punctuated by bits of hilarity, like a gay bachelor party complete with the Thriller dance, and a catfish named Steve Buscemi.
Buy this book at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/horkeytim

Vanessa, the Foul Mouthed Dream Catcher, and Fed Up, by Tim Elliott

Type: Short Stories
Genre: Fiction
Price: Free (on smashwords)
Grade: A+


Vanessa, The Foul-Mouthed Dream Catcher

Whatever you think this story is going to be, it isn’t. A delightful, dark, and witty story from new author Tim Elliott. What starts out as a simple, straightforward story, quickly becomes one that makes you pause, contemplate, re-read, and then contemplate some more. The ideas are interesting, and quite possibly true enough that you will be sure to think about them hours, days, or weeks later. I highly recommend everyone check out this story, and keep an eye out for this author in the future.


Fed Up

This story offers a more light-hearted comedy with a unique and intriguing style, and a fascinating look at humanity from some very different perspectives. As the story goes, it gets more whimsical and it seems like there is no guessing which direction it will go in next. Not only will it entertain and release a few chuckles, but it may have you wondering, just a little bit, about a few strange perspectives yourself.

Get both stories for free at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/horkeytim

First, a note about e-readers vs paper books

Let me start off by saying that I am a book purist. I revere books so much that even in college I refused to highlight, underline, or otherwise mark up a book; even a textbook I was paying out the nose for. It seemed sacrilegious to me to deface a book in any way. I also love old books, the way they smell, the feel of their papers, everything. I notice when a book uses a different type or quality of paper and often comment on type settings. Needless to say, when e-readers first came out, I knew I would never like one, would never want one, and hated the thought that paper books would get fazed out to be replaced by gadgets and electronics.

Then, I got a Kindle keyboard for my birthday 6 months ago. It was my wonderful husband's idea and my mother gladly helped, both being avid readers themselves. The most exciting part, was that it was the first time ever that I had a new gadget before those around me did. I felt special. And I've been hooked ever since.

The first thing I noticed was the screen itself, I couldn't believe how much like a printed page it looked. Reading electronically on a back lit screen is nearly impossible for me, but this was as easy on my sensitive eyes as reading a book! I also liked the weight, by the end of the day holding up a book, especially a large trade paperback or hardcover was very daunting, and tremors in my tired hands would make it seem like I was reading in an earthquake, but I had none of those issues with the kindle (though I do occasionally hit myself in the face when reading while lying down. I never claimed to be graceful). And thirdly, what really sealed the deal for me was the vast library of books Amazon has for the Kindle, and they were all at my disposal. Books I had been searching for in book stores for months I could find in seconds. And even more impressive is the amount of free books that are available on the Kindle. Many books I enjoy are public domain, but what I did not expect was how many new, contemporary books were available for free.
In the 6 months I have had the Kindle I have read quite a lot of these free novels and short stories, focusing mainly on newer fiction and I have been so impressed (mostly in a good way, but not always) by the quality of these works, that I have decided to start this blog, something I have never had any inclination to do before. I do still read mainstream books, both electronically and in paper copies (I could never give up my paper books) I will not be reviewing them for the most part, they have enough people talking about their works, they do not need another. I'd rather give props to the independent writers to whom every single reader's opinion counts.

I plan to list a few stats about every book; if it is a novel, short story or collection of short stories, how much I paid for it (many free books are only free temporarily, and often I will purchase others in a series if the first book is free and I enjoy it) if there are obvious typos (I find it Very distracting when reading if there are obvious typos; however, small things like missing a space is often not the authors fault and I will not mention these), genre, and an overall rating based on a school grading system (A for best, F for worst, etc.) to help encourage others to read something, or not waste their time. I encourage any questions, comments or suggestions.