Hi everyone. Welcome to my blog. I decided to start fresh and switch my past blogs over to my website. You may have read some previous blogs but not much has changed.
Being self-published is hard and I can understand why authors hire someone to represent their books and business. I have been published for three years and I haven't made it big yet and I realize things take time in this industry. I decided almost a year ago to hire a publishing company to represent me and market my books. Everything was going fine for a while. They made promises to get me on 45,000 platforms, get my books in stores like Target and Walmart. They claimed they were marketing me and I paid them a lot of money to do what they should to get my books to sell. After many emails and phone calls, they never responded unless I kept calling. One of my books on KDP was errored by them and after going with IngramSpark, everything got messed up. For 6 months there was no activity and my books were still not fixed. We talked on the phone for over an hour and all he could say was things take time and we were going around in circles. I asked him to show me what platforms I was on and where am I being marketed. No answer. I wasn't happy and it would have been a good thing to work it out but after I asked for my money back, they threatened to sue me. I called my bank and they said I had the right to file a dispute and have my money returned to me if I wasn't seeing results. They got aggressive and stopped communicating with me. To my surprise after my credit card went far to help me out, they returned my money. I talked to an attorney and he said a lot of authors are suing companies who claim to help publish their books since the pandemic. Many writers thought being published would give them a better career and these publishing companies take advantage of these authors who are struggling in their businesses. It's sad but they come off as opportunists and some authors never get their money back. So, I'm going to try it on my own and just be myself. I have a creative strength that no one can touch and I know in time, I can see my books enjoyed by many readers who don't need to be in shock and awe when they read a good story.
Some books have a bit of an ick factor that turns some reader off. I hope to be the author that delivers what they are looking for. If anyone out there thinks they cannot be a writer, try to rethink that thought. Think about your life experiences or what is in your imagination? Play that in your mind like a movie you would love to see or find out what your big dream is. Growing up in an abusive home, I used my imagination to create characters who wanted a better life or who have a goal. This is what kept me looking forward and positive vibes are hard to come by when you are stuck in a dark place. Self-publishing gives you the opportunity to reinvent yourself and you are the one in control. I get my book covers from iStock. They are affordable and easy to download. KDP has excellent customer service and they are more than happy to help teach you how to get started. My husband is my beta reader, someone who reads your manuscript and gives their opinion. He also edits my books. It does cost money to start your business but not as much as the publishing companies. Marketing is easy too. Mistakes are normal to make but no worries, you will find a way to make it work for you. As I said before, I like to use colorful book covers to display what the story is about. The Other Side of Brook had a cover with a lake and a woman hiking with her dog. Now, the story does talk about hiking and her dog but many people thought this book was only about hiking. It was misleading and so I changed the book cover to a more intimate photo. Many readers love it and can see a connection between the characters. It was a good choice. The Tree at Lindley Park is my most talked about cover. Many readers love this cover because it shows a mystery about the tree and this woman. It is one of my most popular books and well liked. I love it too.
I just imagine sitting at a table with readers who want to share what they love about reading. Some say it's a lost past time but I disagree. With audio books and eBooks, it is easy to choose what works for you and what helps you relax. Many readers tell me that over sexualized content is disturbing. These authors have the right to do what they want. I am looking for readers who want to read a book and then take a breath when you get to the good part or feel emotions flow when you feel the pain of the heroine. It's amazing how authors get a deal from a reputable company and they become a big hit in just months. Those of us who are still waiting for our big break continue to thrive in our endeavors to be successful. For now, I just want a chance to give the public something that makes them feel good when picking up a book. That is my big why and my most favorite goal.
I am getting prepared to put out a new audio book, The Last Memory. This is a great story and my fan's favorite. It has everything to keep you turning that page. One of my readers said she only reads a few pages at night but this one was hard to put down. Check it out and see for yourself. Happy reading and remember, no dream is put of reach. Unleash your potential and see what you can accomplish!
Annette
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