Goldfinch DIY
For authors who don’t need a paid service, have the expertise they need, and are ready to publish themselves (again, congratulations!), I’m offering information I’ve learned along my own path to independent publishing, and resources that may help you on your path. All free.
As I go along, I’ll have how-to guides on everything from setting up your word processing file to self-publish your e-book, to reading your Google Analytics pages, to design tips for covers, and more. (I’m building this content as I go, so if you don’t see something you’re interested in, let me know and I’ll see what I can find!)
This stuff works! (No, I’m not selling vitamins, I swear)
Part of Goldfinch’s mission is to help folks with their own self-publishing or audiobook production through free resources and personal Q&As at Goldfinch DIY. So every week I get a few emails asking for pointers on selling books, or finding the right audio gear, or how to work with ACX/Audible/Amazon. But …
10,000 Copies of My Book Sold in One Year. How the Heck Did That Happen?
A year ago, I published my first science fiction novel, Where the Hell is Tesla? I had the high hopes of selling a thousand copies, though I secretly wondered if I’d ever get past a few hundred. And today, I stand at 10,000 copies sold in the first year. Depending on your measure, that’s …
8 Ways to Make Your Writing Funnier (My Guest Post on Cat Rambo’s Site)
Recently, Cat Rambo (President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America – SFWA – and World Fantasy and Nebula nominated speculative fiction writer) offered my a guest spot on her blog. Naturally, I jumped on the opportunity, and decided to offer something just about any writer could get a few …
My Garageband Settings for Audiobooks (ACX/Audible)
Hi folks! A while ago I posted about recording an audiobook for my novel Where the Hell is Tesla? (I used Garageband for recording and exporting to ACX/Audible.com). The post got a lot of positive response, and just the other day I got a request from Mark Clason for the actual settings I used …
How I sold 1,000 copies of my book in three months (and maybe you can too).
If you’re like me, a relatively new author without a strong “platform,” no real fan base yet, and no influential connections so far to help promote your book, trying to put together a plan for selling it can be daunting. And if you manage to put something into action, how many copies …
Tim Grahl presents “Book Marketing – The Definitive Checklist”
At any given time, there seem to be 1,000 different ways to market your book. It’s not only hard to know what you should be doing. It’s also hard to keep up with all the options that are available. After years of helping authors build their platforms, and then use those …
Yes, You Can Record Your Own Audiobook. Here’s How.
If you’re an indie author, or work with a small publisher, it might seem daunting to narrate and produce your own audiobook. But it’s NOT! Sure, it’s time-consuming, and requires prep and care. But it’s fun, not too hard, and provides you with more exposure and another way to make money for your book.
Fear can keep you from writing and publishing. Conquer it.
It’s very common for writers to fear sharing their work. Taking your extremely personal, fragile thoughts, and exposing them to the big, bad world for judgement? Who wouldn’t be afraid? But there are ways to tackle that fear – to accept its role in your life, but minimize its hold over your work. This week, I …
Tim Grahl’s ‘How to launch your book with at least 25+ Amazon reviews’
For the past year or so, I’ve been reading and following Tim Grahl, a consultant who helps authors build their platforms and launch books. He’s also the author of Your First 1000 Copies, a tremendously helpful book on marketing your own books. And he gives away tons of great information …