PayPal and Me

Heather, my website mistress, exclaimed “PayPal is the best thing since sliced bread.  I love it!”  She said this early in the morning as we set up a PayPal account to link to my website to sell Suitcase, through my new business, Pomegranate Productions which is listed along with authorcloud, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Sony Reader and Ibook.

         

By early afternoon Heather’s love of PayPal hadn’t wavered but her patience had.  Trying to make sense of the ordering business meant finding the right ordering button (check out cart, buy now, order now) and writing a definitive direction for each link.  Pomegranate Productions my company, will sell and ship only (in the U.S. only, personally signed or not) the book version of Suitcase.  The publisher, authorcloud will sell ebooks and ship books to anyplace in the world.  While the other afore mentioned will (at this point) sell only ebooks.

How to arrange all this information on a graphically pleasing, and comprehensible website page had both me and Heather hunch-backed, blurry eyed and brain dead by early afternoon.  TMI, and too many different directions, instructions, obstacles and dead ends.  We could not link to ibooks because neither of us own ipads.  Ironic.   I told my friends Suitcase was available through the afore mentioned, and my friends with ipads relayed they had purchased Suitcase.  When I went on line to see how this worked I could not access iBooks, because I do not own an iBook which you must own to have an iBook account in order to purchase Suitcase though iBooks.

I still write thank you cards by hand and mail them through the postal service.  I have a vast library of books because I only buy books. All of my three published books were first written in sloppy cursive on errant pieces of paper and in spiral notebooks.  So, this ebook, ibook stuff has me buggered.

After Heather had gone home to feed the chickens and I went on a long walk, with my short dog, I returned to my office, opened an email from Shelly Hitz, a self-publishing coach, which included this factoid:

“Amazon sold 22 million Kindles in the first half of 2010 with Kindle book sales outpaced hardcover books sales.  And the numbers continue to increase for ebook sales.”

It’s a fact of my literary life in need of an upgrade.  And I still haven’t got a handle on PayPal.

Humbling

When I was a really young (i.e. not even old enough to legally purchase alcohol) journalism student in a community college, my journalism instructor wrote a book. It was self-published under his own imprint.  After the book was printed and he began distribution, he would advise his students, “When you write your first book promote it first locally".

Beyond the five W’s - who what where when and why - all rolled into a 21 word lead, and the bit about self promotion, I’ve forgotten whatever else he taught me about journalism.

I regret the name of the publisher imprinted on the spine of the first two books I had published by Shameless Hussy Press.  Despite the rather unsettling name, Shameless Hussy did publish my books and arranged for book jacket blurbs, reviews book signings and interviews.   Now, with Suitcase Filled with Nails, published also by a not-so traditional publisher, but with a name I don’t mind having imprinted on the spine of the book; the work of getting it out there is in my hands and I find it a humbling experience, this shameless quest of self-promotion.

I began promoting Suitcase in my own backyard, as did my long-forgotten journalism teacher with his book.  Before I even started this humbling task, I was offered two opportunities by just mentioning I finished writing a book.  One is in the foyer of the local bead-shop/art gallery and scheduled on the monthly gallery walk night.  The other is in the high school gymnasium at the annual holiday crafts fair.  Neither venues are high-profile, but each are heavily trafficked and will put me and my book before the public eye and I am appreciative of the invitations. 

Then I approached my first bookstore, browsing the shelves and even asking if a certain title was in stock (it wasn't) before asking if I could do a reading/signing there.

           

“No,” we haven’t done author signings for three years.  Maybe only two or three people would show up.  It was time consuming doing all the publicity and embarrassing for the author,” said the owner of the shop who was,  "retiring soon.”

The regional library was very supportive and set me up with a 4-5:30 pm. signing. I would do all the publicity.  Buoyed by their generosity I approached my local library.  I was told the woman in charge was gone that day but would call me back the next day.  She did not.  Days went by and I called again.  She was not in.  I left a message.  Days went by.  I called again.  She was in.  Maybe in March I could schedule a reading.  Call back in February.  Same with the local book store.  They were booked through March.  Call back in five months.

Elliot Bay Bookstore in Seattle and Eagle Harbor Books on Bainbridge were more receptive.  As soon as I provide them with a copy of Suitcase they would get back to me about scheduling a reading/signing. These two inquiries were conducted over the phone.  I stood up while talking to project and air of professionalism.

Two days before Halloween I approach another out of town bookstore.  Like the first bookstore, I peruse the shelves.  After a bit I approach the woman at the check out counter, first making sure no customers were expected, and ask, a bit nervously “Who is in charge of scheduling book readings and signings?"   That would be the owner and she was not in.  The checkout woman handed me a terms of author book sales agreement and the owner’s business card. 

Everyone of the four book stores so far contacted said they would not order books from Amazon.com and would, if they decided to stock Suitcase, take books on consignment from me at the industry standard of 40% bookstore 60% author.

By Halloween night  hard copies of Suitcase are still at the printers, but it had been uploaded to iBooks and Amazon.  Priced at $4.99, I know already two copies have been sold because of postings (positive) on Facebook.  This is encouraging.  I only have 998,000 more copies to go before reaching my goal.

Why I Don't Need a Publicist

I was lamenting to a friend over my frustrations with mucking around in the social networking swamp and trying to network with the right sites in order to get Suitcase Filled with Nails, reviewed.  “I really need a publicist to do all this for me,” I moaned.

“No,” she said adamantly, “You don’t need a publicist to help you with social networking.  You need a 15 year-old to help you.

Why I Need a Publicist

 At some point along the evolutionary line - at the B.C. point - (Before Computers), I worked as a publicist.  Back in the dark ages when press releases were typed on your manual Olivetti and handed or air mailed to an editor who had the piece typeset, printed and pasted onto dummies sent to the printers.  Maybe the piece made it to print or was picked up by radio and television. 

Along evolutionary line of technology, I chose as much as possible to stay in the dark, preferring to paint, draw, and read real books, rather than to engage in these endeavors on a computer.  As a result, I get pretty stuck in the technological web surrounding the promotion of Suitcase Filled with Nails.

I still find email amazing.  Although I’m on it, through the help of a 15 year-old boy who’s on Facebook 24/7, I still don’t understand Facebook. Yet all the cutting edge agents (who ignored my book) swear every author needs to be on Facebook and Twitter at least, along with owning a website and blogging,  Whew!   Talk about screen time. 

I already had a website, yvonnepepinwakefield.com.  I signed into the social media swamp where I spend lost hours trying to muck myself out of failed uploads, down loads, reloads,  information access crucial to marketing Suitcase Filled with Nails.  This is why I need a publicist, someone with techno savvy, someone who knows how to wade through and around the swamp.

The mother of the 15 year-old, did though help me set up my blog, suitcasefilledwithnailsauthorcloud which lead me to read other blogs, like the one I found on a Linkedin update and read because it was posted by Nina Amir, an editor of Suitcase.

Nina is a professional editor, proposal consultant and writing, blogging and book coach as well as the author of the forthcoming book, How to Blog a Book, How to Write, Publish and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time (Writer's Digest Books April 2012), (http://www.writenonfictionnow.com)  Through Nina’s blog I stumbled upon How to Get Your Book Reviewed,  a site promoting a  book by Dana Lynn Smith addressing ways to gain publicity in today’s techno market.  The book is available in PDF, Kindle, Nook and paperback. 

I went on-line (these days I’m rarely off-line).  I tried to order the paperback because I’ve developed a chronic case of screenitist, and one more dose of a screen would do me in.  Only the same credit card I’ve used on Amazon before wouldn’t take and after twenty minutes of trying to get it to take, I took the dog for walk instead. 

I spend more time getting lost in the muck and meeting dead ends on the computer than I do goals.  The dog is well walked.

Just Who Will Your Book PO?

You Know Your Book is Ready to Publish when You Know it’s going to P0 friends, family and anyone with differing opinions.  I’d heard this said by an author a few months ago, before I was ready to publish Suitcase Filled with Nails.   At that time I was afraid my book could offend friends (whom I disguised in the book), and of course anyone with a hyper reactive streak, when it comes to even mentioning religion, even a positive light (Suitcase does in a minor, light-hearted way).  But, I never considered my book might P O my family.  Really.  Because, beside my husband, my family consists of relatives in the Midwest, some of them very, very, very Catholic relatives.

One of these relatives responded to the Facebook or the Linkedin posting, I posted a few days ago, announcing the forthcoming publication of Suitcase Filled with Nails. My cousin said he would suggest it to his book group, I thought at first Swell.  Then I thought of his mother who is my aunt and if you even whisper God, even in a light-hearted flippant way, around her, she will wash your mouth out with soap.  And since I allude to my position in the Catholic Church in colorful ways, I’m starting to feel like Suitcase, could, along with other religious extremists enjoying the warmth of the Middle East, also PO this aunt in the cold Mid-west.  I do so much more prefer the minty taste of Crest than Bon Ami on a toothbrush.

Social Networking Pays Off in Strange Ways

Social Networking pays off in strange ways.  I’m a Luddite when it comes to computers but managed to finally upload a forthcoming publication announcement for Suitcase Filled with Nails,  on Facebook and Linkedin.  Within minutes I received responses from around the world from friends who WANT TO BUY A SIGNED COPY of Suitcase Filled with Nails.  I think it will be cheaper for my friends in the UK, Dubai, Egypt, Kuwait, and beyond to buy the ebook version at $4.95, than to ship a signed copy over seas.

Yet, one unexpected reference to Suitcase Filled with Nails, is in the email below which I am sharing as requested by Paul D Kennedy, author of The Lid is Lifted.

Dear Yvonne

The Lid is Lifted

I was one of the Westerners trapped in the centre of Kuwait city when the Iraqi army invaded on the 2nd August 1990. I witnessed first-hand the appalling human rights abuses that took place (indeed I was a victim in one brutal case), as well as looting on an industrial scale and the contradictory reactions of scared and desperate men.
Written as narrative non-fiction, The Lid is Lifted uses terse language to describe the feelings of extreme fear and almost uncontrollable anger we all experienced at that time.
You can find out more about this exciting story (with short samples from the book) at: www.kuwait1990.com or you can have a free read of the first few chapters at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O302T2.
The Lid is Lifted also details how a few expatriates betrayed friendships in order to ensure their own safety and several embarrassing facts about the behaviour of the foreign embassies in Kuwait during the few times we interacted with them.
Have you ever wondered what REALLY caused Saddam to invade? I had excellent connections at the highest levels in Kuwait who kept me well informed of what was happening and why, so you can find out in this book
The Lid is Lifted is the true story of what happened in Kuwait during August 1990. Though every word is true, I have written it in the style of a novel so you too can experience what it was like during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
You can find out more about The Lid is Lifted at: www.kuwait1990.com.
Or you can buy this exciting 250-page book directly from Amazon for less than US$5 at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O302T2.
Please pass this email on: Even if you are not interested in what happened in Kuwait in August 1990, over 20 years ago, perhaps you have friends who would like to read The Lid is Lifted. I would appreciate it very much if you would pass this email on … and your friends may be grateful to you.
Thank you for reading this email and I hope you enjoy my book.
Yours sincerely

PAUL D KENNEDY

The Jacket Blurbs: Suitcase Filled with Nails

“An eye-opening look under the veil of young Muslim
women that allows readers to see how similar they are
to young women everywhere… a realistic, and
sometimes frightening, view of what one can expect if
you live and work in the Middle East.” Nina Amir,
author of How to Blog a Book: Write, Publish and
Promote Your Work One Post at a Time

“This ‘innocent abroad,’ tells her story with vivid language, living
metaphor, and above all, great story-telling skill.” Judith Roche,
author of First Fish, First People and Wisdom of the Body