Blurb

The shoes didn't fit. It was an omen.













Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Indie Life: Lopsided Butt Cheeks

IndieLife7sm

Today is the second Wednesday of the month where e the Indie Life Blog Hop happens. For info GO HERE.

Do you ever worry that other people are looking at your backend? And worried about what they’re thinking, “My God, look at those lopsided butt cheeks on that chick!”

Its not that I think my butt cheeks are uneven, crooked, or lopsided really. Most times I feel like I have the biggest butt in the world. But this post really has nothing to do with  butts. Its about how I’m feeling right now. LIKE A TOTAL MORON!

Why? Well…

Right before I published my book Secondhand Shoes, my friend Mike Saxton, author of the Scorpion 7 series, sent me several books to read to get me ready for the process. Well, I read them and thought I understood all the steps. NOT!

One book in particular was full of information filled with lots of fluff and stuff---won’t mention this Indie’s book and will never recommend it either.  The cotton candy parts made my eyes glaze over and bored me to tears. The fluff got in the way of me actually understanding what I needed to do. Shelly brains likes things simple like grocery lists and recipes. Go to step A,  then to step B type instructions are for me.

Okay. So I get my ISBN number through Create Space. Do all the necessary yada-yada things. Download it to Kindle, but use the same ISBN number. Ut-oh! Yes. Shelly is inclined to many MORON MOMENTS. It’s a special gift of mine, you know. I really should have a blog post just for these times in my life.

Anyway, I’m thinking life is great and all until I get this wonderful book I purchased from Amazon, by L. Diane Wolfe, How to Publish and Promote your Book Now, in the mail.

how to

CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

I’m at about chapter twenty now and its easy-peasy to read. There’s no added fluff. Its full of easy to understand instructions of what you need to do if you’re publishing the traditional route or the Indie one. I highly recommend it.

Okay. Onto the next lopsided butt cheek issue. Yes. There is one more. But I didn’t do it. Promise.

There seems to be a lot of talk about the FREE promotions Amazon lets us do. Looks like they’ll be cutting into future royalties guys.  CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CHANGES

So yeah, I’m feeling a little lopsided right about now.

Anyone feeling the same?

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

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39 comments:

  1. Yvonne StephensonMarch 13, 2013 at 6:33 AM

    It looks like you have some good recommendations. E-publishing requires a lot of work. I am feeling kind of lazy right now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lorelei BellMarch 13, 2013 at 6:41 AM

    It's probably good that a human can only have 2 butt cheeks a piece or we'd all be in trouble!

    Thanks for this, Shelly. Chocolate hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 13, 2013 at 7:50 AM

      Definitely...Hugs and chocolate back to you.

      Delete
  3. Shah WhartonMarch 13, 2013 at 6:49 AM

    I am always feeling lopsided - at leased you didn't publish a book with chapters swapped around! :D We learn from our moron moments - remember that! You will never mess up the ISBN again, and I will be weary of Scrivener from now on. Best of luck! :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cynthia MarcanoMarch 13, 2013 at 7:22 AM

    You are so brave "exposing" your crooked butt cheeks to the world. Thanks for the suggested reading. I will be sure to check it out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 13, 2013 at 7:49 AM

      One should never be ashamed of admitting their mistakes. They could help someone else.

      Delete
  5. NormaMarch 13, 2013 at 7:32 AM

    I came to the conclusion that Select only works up to a point--so from now on, I'm releasing my books through KDP Select for the first 90 days so I can do one free book promo at Amazon, then I'm expanding to Smashwords, which supplies ebooks to Apple, Sony, B&N, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 13, 2013 at 7:48 AM

      Norma:

      I'm going to do the same this summer. I just ordered 200 postcards reflecting Amazon.

      Shelly

      Delete
  6. M.J. FifieldMarch 13, 2013 at 8:06 AM

    I've downloaded that book onto my Kindle and I look forward to reading it as I get (maybe) ever closer to putting my first book out there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 13, 2013 at 10:41 AM

      It's a definite read. Its way more helpful than the other book I read.

      Delete
  7. Intangible HeartsMarch 13, 2013 at 11:03 AM

    Having trouble with the whole Linky thing but glad I came to visit!

    ReplyDelete
  8. E. ArroyoMarch 13, 2013 at 12:09 PM

    I love easy. Thanks for the info.

    ReplyDelete
  9. J.L. CampbellMarch 13, 2013 at 2:06 PM

    Hi, Shelly,
    Nice to meet you. I like easy too in terms of how-to's. Hope the process continues to be relatively simple.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 13, 2013 at 2:47 PM

      And you, too. Sometimes you have to experience things firsthand before you understand them. Mistakes and all.

      Delete
  10. Nick WilfordMarch 13, 2013 at 4:13 PM

    Yeah, I like my info straightforward too, just tell me what I need to do. Whether that's publishing a book or unblocking a sink.

    ReplyDelete
  11. William KendallMarch 13, 2013 at 4:39 PM

    Ah, more details to take care of.... yikes!

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousMarch 13, 2013 at 4:57 PM

    Hi Shelly, I found your link from the other Shelli's blog. I couldn't help but laugh when I read your profile. Sir Poops-A-Lot is what I used to call my son when he was a baby.

    ReplyDelete
  13. heidigarrettMarch 13, 2013 at 9:45 PM

    Thanks for the recommend:) There's so much to remember and learn … it's made me more accepting of my own mistakes!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 14, 2013 at 3:32 AM

      Yup. And understanding of others. And you're welcome.

      Delete
  14. Michelle WallaceMarch 14, 2013 at 12:49 AM

    Shelly, I'm not afraid of hard work! What worries me is the understanding of all these thinggies like ISBN numbers and formatting and tax implications and other obscurities!
    Details, details, details!!
    Can't a person just hire somebody to do all this? Is it very expensive?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 14, 2013 at 3:31 AM

      Make sure you have at least 2 thousand dollars saved.

      Delete
    2. Michelle WallaceMarch 15, 2013 at 5:54 AM

      Holy schmoly guacamole!!
      I'll have to start a 3rd job...

      Delete
    3. shellyMarch 15, 2013 at 6:46 AM

      Michelle:

      You can also barter some things. With my original editor, we did that. I cut her hair for free and supplied her with free hair products. Although, I still paid her it kept the editing cost down.

      Also, I'm sure there are peeps out in the blogosphere who would be willing to barter with you. Beta reads for editing. The editing is the most costly.

      Delete
  15. Sean McLachlanMarch 14, 2013 at 2:02 AM

    Keep plugging away!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 14, 2013 at 3:30 AM

      That is exactly what I'm doing. Working on two other books and have three short stories to publish.

      Delete
  16. nutschellMarch 15, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    OOh! I've been meaning to get a copy of Diane's book! But I promised myself i wouldn't buy anything until i was finished reading the ones I currently have. sigh. wish I could read at super speed!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. mshatchMarch 15, 2013 at 2:49 PM

    Haha, I can so relate to your moron moments. I've had my share when I wish I could just melt into the ground.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Empty Nest InsiderMarch 15, 2013 at 3:30 PM

    I've heard many good things about Diane's book. Sorry that you've had to go through so much, but I'm impressed with all you've accomplished.

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shellyMarch 16, 2013 at 5:40 PM

      Thank you, Julie. But sometimes you have to make mistakes to learn.

      Delete

I'm dying to know what you think.

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