Pull up a chair and get comfortable. There’s a whole lot of information to share with you today and you won’t want to miss it!
And, be sure to check back again tomorrow for our e-Book Cover Design Awards for January 2017.
David Wogahn on Authorimprints
Create and Manage the Perfect Amazon US and UK AuthorCentral Page
“Amazon’s AuthorCentral is the gold standard when it comes to creating and managing an author presence on a third-party website. In fact, some budget-conscious authors could even use it as their primary author presence on the Internet (although not recommended as an author website substitute).”
Sandra Beckwith on Build Book Buzz
The guest blogging audience most novelists don’t know about
“Guest blogging is one of my favorite book promotion tactics because it lets authors reach more of the right readers.”
RJ Crayton on Indies Unlimited
Newsletter Swapping Service Offers Authors a Free Way to Connect, Advertise
“If you’re an author who doesn’t have a ton of money to spend on advertising, but would like to be seen, newsletter swapping is something you might want to consider.”
Michael Larsen on Nonfiction Authors Association
26 Reasons Why Now is the Best Time to Be a Publisher or Self-Publisher
“Publishers have more options for publishing than ever…”
Dan Wagstaff on The Casual Optimist
Book Covers of Note February 2017
“A little later than usual — between one thing and the apocalypse — but there are some great covers out this month, including at least one contender for cover of the year…”
Self-Publishing News You Can Use
By Amy Collins
The Metropolitan Art Museum Makes over 375,000 art images available for use
The museum has always classified the art in their vaults under two categories, public domain vs. images that are under copyright. The public domain images are now available.
Announcement from the Metropolitan Art Museum:
On February 7, 2017, The Metropolitan Museum of Art implemented a new policy known as Open Access, which makes images of artworks it believes to be in the public domain widely and freely available for unrestricted use, and at no cost.
It also makes available data from the entire online collection―both works it believes to be in the public domain and those under copyright or other restrictions―including basic information such as title, artist, date, medium, and dimensions.
Links of Interest
https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/image-resources
All the World’s a Book Fair (or Writer’s Conference) Calendar
Self-Publishing Expo (March 4th)
Tucson, Arizona
Some conferences sell themselves on a theme, a location, or the number of industry bigwigs. Some, like the Self-Publishing Expo, tout their keynote speakers. In this case it’s Mark Coker of Smashwords, Robin Cutler of Ingram Spark, and self-published author David VanDyke, who wrote the Plague Wars and Stellar Conquest series. They also play up their vendors, editing, layout, and marketing teams. Seems like the real thing for people who want to make real books.
South by Southwest (March 10–19)
Austin, Texas
Also known as SXSW. It’s too big. Words can’t contain it. It, however, can contain words.
As the worlds of entertainment, culture, and technology converge, content creators such as you will find a home, and perhaps gain new horizons for what form your writing could be. Of particular interest might be “Convergences” on “Experiential Storytelling ” (formerly known as “Digital Domain”): March 12–14 or Journalism: March 11–16.
Also, awesome bands.
The Tucson Festival of Books (March 12–13)
Tucson, Arizona
It’s a family-friendly tent show with music, food, and books galore. Check out Science City, where you can learn about aeronautics, venoms, and hexaflexagons, among many science things.
Authors presenting include T. C. Boyle, Maureen Dowd, Joe Conason, Alice Hoffman, and a horde of others.
The London Book Fair (March 14–16)
London, England
Twenty-five thousand publishing professionals come to network and negotiate rights, sales, and distribution. A big deal for some.
The New York Pitch Conference (March 16–19)
New York, New York
You don’t really want to work on your craft and workshop your novel anymore, you want to pitch it to business pros! If you’ve got $800 to burn and don’t know how to get your manuscript looked at, you can come to the big city and sit across from someone important.
The bigwigs are looking for Serious and Light Women’s Fiction, Mystery/Crime, Thrillers, Adult and Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy, Suspense, Historical Fiction, Memoir, and Narrative Non-Fiction, as well as General and Upmarket Literary Novels. Also they’ve got sessions to hone your craft and workshop your novel.
Left Coast Crime 2017: Honolulu Havoc (March 16–19)
Honolulu, Hawaii
What, the book you wrote is a fantasy war epic featuring dwarves, elves, and a species of goat-people you call “the Pannians”? You’ve got an excuse; book a ticket to Hawaii.
Lake Forest Literary Festival (March 2, 20–21)
Lake Forest College, IL
There’s a video art installation on the March 2 called “A Novel You Can Walk Through,” but the more typical literary festival stuff happens on the 20th and the 21st, including a reading from Meg Whiteford, winner of the 2016 Plonsker Prize.
The Society of Professional Journalists Regional Conference
March 24–25 Stephenville, Texas
March 24–25 Salt Lake City, Utah
March 31–April 1 Detroit, Michigan
March 31-April 1 Bloomington, Minnesota
Not every self-published author is trying to write the next great erotic vampire time-travel mystery series—some of you are trying to find the truth! Get the scoop at a number of conferences around the country.
Find out how to be a journalist from the pros as they discuss writing and the media landscape (it’s not a barren wasteland) and the portals through which you can spread the news.
I’m sad to report that the &Now Festival has become the &Then Festival.
The Southern Literary Festival (March 31–April 1)
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Arkansas was colonized by pirates fleeing persecution in Kansas. Then, in 1937 (moving from whimsy to facts now), a number of schools and colleges were formed to promote Southern literature. Each year a different school hosts their conference, and this year it’s the University of Arkansas.
Photo: The Met
