Lenora by Catherine Burr is now available in Japan. The book is in English but if you are buying from the Japanese website for Amazon, here is the direct link –Amazon Japan.
Tag: Books
Blog Hop with Author Winona Rasheed
Join us here at CatherineBurr.com on Feb 15th and on Feb 16th at New Line Press.com for an in-depth Interview with prolific children’s and YA Author Winona Rasheed. Winona recently released her 8th book and is working on book #9 to be released soon. We’re hoping to have Winona spill some of her publishing secrets as she is both traditionally and self-published. She love to connect with readers and fellow writers, so please stop by and ask Winona about her books or publishing in general! Follow her on Twitter @winonarasheed and on Facebook.
How to Write a Novel
Video: Learn how to write a novel from bestselling author Catherine Burr, in this 5 minute video.
Catherine Burr is a bestselling author and publisher of more books than she can count. Her first commercial book was published in 1996. In 2004, she started her own publishing house and is now mentoring and guiding authors through the self-publishing maze. Google Plus her +Catherine Burr
Think you don’t need a website or social networking to be a author? Think again
I originally wrote and posted this blog when I was accepting submissions for my publishing company, and still believe authors should have a web presence (of some kind).
Think you don’t need a website or social networking to be a author? Think again!
I am simply amazed how people write to me and announce that they do not have a website, do not have any social networking, do not have any web presence, and yet they want me to publish them, oh, and they will get those things, “if” I publish them.
No! No! No!
Dear writers, if you want to be considered for publication, start a web, a blog, Facebook, Twitter, you know what all the social networking sites are. Set them up, post, write, don’t be lazy. Don’t tell me you’ll get serious, “Once you have a contract.”
Oh boy.
Promotion 101 from a publisher’s POV. How am I going to promote you if you don’t have anything for me to promote? When you query me, here’s a heads-up, round about the FIRST thing I’m going to do is Google you. No website, two strikes against you, No Facebook, No Twitter, ditto, ditto, ditto. You submitted to me, where is your seriousness of becoming an author? And yes, your ms will go to the sludge pile if you do not have a serious web presence. Without one, I don’t see you as a serious writer and promoting you is next to impossible. Don’t tell me you have a friend who can slap up a website if only you get a contract.
My friends. Writing as a career is a serious business, don’t treat it as an after school assignment.
Update: I realize I sounded a little frustrated when I wrote this blog, but as a publisher, it amazed me how people claim they want to be authors yet aren’t willing to do the promotional aspect of it. Believe me, I do understand, but there is much a writer can do to promote themselves, unless they have a PR firm who can do it all for them.
It’s easier than ever to establish a web presence. Twitter, Facebook, Rebel Mouse, Good Reads, Amazon Author Page, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, there are so many places to have a free website, Word Press, Blogger, Weebly, the list goes on and on. If you are an author who has a book or books for sale on Amazon.com, and you have not set up your free Amazon Author Central Account, you really should (IMO). Amazon gives you a free web page, where better place to connect with readers than where people go to buy books? By the way, there is a different one for each country, so get a cup of coffee and get to it! I know, I need to. 🙂
A few places to get started:
- Amazon Author Central
- Google Plus
- Rebel Mouse
- Good Reads
- Website
Catherine Burr is a bestselling author and publisher of more books than she can count. Her first commercial book was published in 1996. In 2004, she started her own publishing house and is now mentoring and guiding authors through the self-publishing maze. Google Plus her +Catherine Burr
What social sites would you recommend that aspiring authors use to promote their books?
Bookstores Are Closing: Share Thoughts on Where to Hold Author Events
In my previous blog post, I discussed the closing of Barnes and Noble brick and mortar stores. As authors, most of us would agree that it is a sad time to see bookstores shut down, especially authors who have not yet had the experience of book events in physical bookstores. Where does this leave authors who want to have an in-person event to showcase their books?
Publishing has entered a new era and it’s time for authors and indie publishers to take a hard look at other options that are available for us for book events. We need to start by brainstorming. I’ve posted some ideas to get us kickstarted, please add your ideas in the “comments” section at the end of this blog and we’ll see what new ideas are born so we can move forward into the new age of publishing.
- Book Groups: Just about everyone knows someone in a book group. Continue reading “Bookstores Are Closing: Share Thoughts on Where to Hold Author Events”
A December to Remember for Amazon and Barnes and Noble
After 17 years as a book seller, Amazon.com has reached a record low. Amazon’s print (aka physical) book December growth rate was the lowest ever in their 17 year history according to founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, in a new report issued January 29, 2013.
Let me repeat that. In the 17 years that Amazon.com has been selling print books, this past December was the slowest growth rate for sale of print books, ever. Inversely, Amazon’s Kindles and ebook sales are soaring and they’ve never looked back. Continue reading “A December to Remember for Amazon and Barnes and Noble”
Blogging for the Love it
I have been blogging of late about the writing business (and it is a business) with the self-publisher in mind.
Today, I want to touch on something that I read the other day. Someone was amazed at how bloggers keep posting even though people don’t necessarily comment or leave “Likes” on their post; they were in fact “inspired” by the determination of writers.
Here’s the truth. Facebook has turned us into a needy, insecure generation of wanting reassurance that we are “Liked.” Continue reading “Blogging for the Love it”
How to be Successful in Self-Publishing
How to Be Successful in Self-Publishing
OR Everybody in Self-Publishing Needs to Just STOP and Take a Deep Breath
That’s exactly what I want to tell newbies in self-publishing. There seems to be such a sense of desperation out there with a plethora of people who just don’t know what they are doing. And it needs to stop. Lol. I know, good luck. I received a nasty email from someone because I dared asked to be removed from their mailing list (something I never signed up for in the first place). I looked them up, they were vanity published. Nuff said. I won’t even discuss vanity press here, I’ll save that for some other time.
Please note, just because you have someone’s email address (including publisher’s whose attention you are hoping to catch), does not give you the right to spam them. And, if you are going to be sending emails to a self-created list, there are requirements you must include in the email, like an “unsubscribe” button.
People who consider themselves published because they are self-published or vanity published, need to be careful that they are not throwing themselves to the wolves without any professionalism or a clue as to what they are doing, and when things backfire, become angry and disgruntled. It’s not a pretty sight for publishing and gives self-publishing a bad wrap.
Everyone in self-publishing needs to take a deep breath and relax. It’s going to be ok.
There seems to be this sense of urgency, this “we have to get in on the gold rush before it’s too late” mentality. There seems to be this “upload my unfinished, unedited book and no one will notice that it’s crap” methodology happening, and it ain’t working.
Self-published people, you must:
• Be professional (always)
• Do not rely on “critique groups” to edit your book (trust me on this)
• Find a GOOD editor
• Take your time with your manuscript
• Hire a professional cover artist (who uses professional images)
• Don’t try and design the cover yourself (just don’t)
• Do not ask your friends, neighbors, and countrymen to read your book (period.)
• Listen to your editor
• Hire a good proofreader (not your friend’s cousin twice-removed)
• When you think you are ready to upload your book, post a large red STOP sign above your computer. You are not ready. Repeat the above steps over and over and over before you hit the upload button.
• Do not vanity publish
• Do not send mass emails and show everyone’s addresses. Always include an “unsubscribe” button
Once you’ve gone public:
• Do not respond to negative reviews. DON’T. Just don’t. Turn, run, look the other away. Yell and scream at yourself but not at the reviewer.
• Continue to work social media (as you have been all along) but DO NOT bombard everyone with 24/7 “Buy my Book” updates. It’s tiring and boring. And it’s not going to get us to buy your book.
• Do not send spam emails to publishers who turned you down in an attempt to “throw it in their face.” They probably will not remember you, so it’s lost yards on the football field and will only make the publisher now remember your name as an author who is foolish and unprofessional.
• Give us a glimpse of your new life as an author; feed us your hints. What have you learned? Extend a helping hand to the up and coming authors who are following you and haven’t yet made the leap themselves yet into self-publishing.
• Be positive.
• Be professional.
• You are now self-published, you are now a small business owner. Treat it as such.
• You’re in the publishing business now, it is not an after school assignment.
• Publishing is a small community, especially the romance world. Don’t burn bridges. Don’t gossip. Don’t smack talk. Be kind.
• Get busy and write your next book.
• Don’t beat yourself up over what you did wrong, but learn from your mistakes and move forward.
Catherine Burr is a bestselling author and publisher of more books than she can count. Her first commercial book was published in 1996.
Writer’s Block or Self-Knowledge?
Sometimes when I think I have writer’s block, it’s more of a case of self-awareness of who I am.
I know that when I’m in writing mode, I become one with my story. I disappear into the dialogue of the characters who have become part of my family. I travel with them to fictional (and not so fictional) cities and towns. We journey together, in their highs and lows, their conflict and resolution. Sometimes, it’s a place I don’t want to go because once I’m in that mysterious writing mode, there’s no exit strategy until I’ve written, “The End.” Continue reading “Writer’s Block or Self-Knowledge?”
Authorgraph Lets Authors Sign eBooks
One of the favorite features of print books has always been the ability for an author to sign their books for readers enjoyment and keepsake. Well, what does one do with eBooks? Easy, Authorgraph enables readers to have personalized autographs from their favorite authors. Originally called, “Kindlegraph,” the feature is available for authors that have signed up on the Authorgraph website (free for authors). When an author adds their books, the author’s titles are easily located through an Amazon identifier number and author’s are given their own page on Authorgraph that displays their books, and also authors can receive the code to display a widget on their own websites. Very cool.
As an author, I have seen references to Kindlegraph, now Authorgraph on social networking sites, like Twitter, and so I decided to try it out, for myself and also to let other authors know about my experience, and I’m happy to say that the sign up process took about two minutes (if even), and my books appeared on my own author page, which is totally cool. You can see the, “Catherine Burr on Authorgraph” page here, and I was emailed the code by Authorgraph, which I easily installed on my website.
This is the year of eBooks like never before. Technology is changing at a rapid rate, and with the advent of programs like Authorgraph, authors and readers are able to connect on the digital bridge of the future.
Catherine Burr book for sale for $2,475
Rainy day in the Caribbean
Makes for a good writing spot
My Caribbean home office
Inconvenient Affairs by Catherine Burr
Best Seller List
Recently it came to my attention that one of books, an out of print, hard to find, sold-out books is for sale online for $2,475.00. It’s a 63-page book, that’s $39.29 per page (I did the math). I don’t know who put it up for sale for that amount and I don’t know how many copies have been sold at that price (if any), however here’s the back story.
A few years ago, I was living half (at least) the time in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands with my husband. One day, the power went out, this was a common occurrence whenever it rained, which in the islands, was a lot. Anywho (a made up word), being the enterprising writer that I am; I took a stack of blank paper from my printer and got comfortable on our king-sized bed, and to the nurturing sound of a rain storm, I started writing.
In a couple of hours, I had pounded out a short story. When I got back to my California office (a fancy name for my den), I sent it to my editor who edited it (I hadn’t sent it from the VI’s because the Internet was sketchy at best), and I did a mesmerizing cover for it, and released it on Kindle. I called the story, “An Inconvenient Attorney.” It was never available (that I know of) for free and the price fluctuated between .99 and 1.99. Continue reading “Catherine Burr book for sale for $2,475”
Catherine Burr 