Advanced Self-Publishing, Author Feature, New Releases, Calendar of Events, Book Marketing Opportunities
Indie Author Insider V53 - September 2024
“Publishing a book and praying for the best isn’t a winning game plan. No one will trumpet the arrival and presence of your book or brand like you do. Once you stop tooting your own horn, people will stop paying attention. If your name is Stephen King and you’ve penned hundreds of books with tons of movie deals, then you can sit back and relax. Otherwise, you’re relegated to marketing and promoting your books indefinitely.” ~ Dale Roberts, Advanced Self-Publishing for Authors
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WELCOME!
Let’s welcome new subscribers by checking out their books, newsletters, or other creative projects: Bidi Sh, David Cowen, Frederick Walter, Jones Walters, Melissa Allred, Paul Macko, Rita Dorene, Robert C. Gilbert, Timothy Moore, and Unha Engels.
Welcome to Indie Author Insider! We are looking forward to getting to know about your books and writing journey. Please share your book launches, signings, and other events by posting info on the comments or emailing kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
NEW BOOK RELEASES
Advanced Self-Publishing is book 2 of Dale Roberts’ Self-Publishing A-Z series. I did not hesitate to make this small investment as an independent author.
Speaking of advanced self-publishing, did you see that audiobooks are exceeding ebook sales at Harper-Collins?!
It is important to have our books available in all formats. Even audiobook listeners like to have the ebook, paperback, or hard cover version of a book they’re reading. I often purchase both the ebook and audiobook. What’s your favorite format?
Did you know you can create AI audiobooks on Amazon KDP automatically!
https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Invite-Only-KDP-Beta-for-Audiobooks?language=en_US
The Life I Never Knew I Wanted: A Memoir About Camping, Family, and What Happens When We Get Off the Beaten Path by Sarah Styf. Journey with Sarah as she takes to the open road to learn about life and love!
KATHY’S CORNER: Indie Insights
Filling you in on my creative writing journey to inspire you on yours!
Mark your calendar to join me and fellow indie authors for a Hoosier Indie Authors Cookout hosted by Leland & Bonnie Gamson, Saturday, October 12, 2024, 2-4 PM, in Marion, Indiana. This event will be a great opportunity to mingle with local writers and creatives! See more details below in Calendar of Events.
I joined the 7-Day Book Publishing Challenge with the Mikkelsen Twins of Publishing.com. I’ve followed them for years and love seeing their training and marketing evolve. I join most of their free self-publishing challenges just to see their course marketing process and receive expert advice on the latest in independent publishing. This time I became a VIP to get more insider info! My goal with this Challenge is to create a marketing book for indie authors and give to all Indie Author Insider paid subscribers for free!
I added ASMR videos to my WriterKat YouTube Channel. This was my son’s and grandson’s idea. I had no idea keyboard ASMR was a thing. Several of those types of videos have millions of views. Who knew? I’m just having fun with it and getting more comfortable about sharing on social media. As an introvert, it takes a lot to go outside my social comfort zone, but I know that’s where the magic happens! My main goal with making these videos is to consistently share positive messages. I hope to get some feedback on what topics people are interested in seeing. What would you find interesting? It’s fascinating that people are interested in the clicking typewriter sound. I read years ago that the New York Times piped typewriter sounds in the lobby after they switched to computers. While looking for that referenced article, I ran across an article written in 2011 about type-ins where enthusiasts gather to type on old school typewriters, and an article from 2013 about the sounds old typewriters make written by Tom Hanks. Apparently, it’s been a thing!
Do you like writer merch? I’ve dedicated Mondays (I call it Merch Monday) to creating more merchandise for the writing community. If you type WRITERKAT in the search bar on Amazon, it will bring up my creations. I also have a shop on RedBubble. Message me if you would like a custom design!
I signed up to volunteer at the inaugural Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest, Saturday, October 5th at the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis. I love participating in first-time events and hanging around creatives.
AUTHOR FEATURE – Stella Fosse
Welcome Stella Fosse! Please tell us about yourself and your writing journey.
I'm a Californian. But now in my seventies, I live in North Carolina with my partner, who is also my publicist and live-in IT guy. My four grown kids are spread around the country. I'm retired from a 35-year biotech career, and these days I write and publicize my books full time.
I'm sure having a live-in IT guy has come in handy! How many books have you written?
As of August 29th, I have published five books. Three are fiction and two are books on writing.
What is the most recent book you have published?
Write and Sell a Well-Seasoned Romance is my new one that launched this month. It's a step by step guide to create, edit, publish and market a Romance novel with vivid older characters.
What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope people will write their own romance novels using the steps in my book. I'm thrilled that even before publication, some of the beta readers are following the instructions and writing their sexy stories.
What was the most challenging aspect of getting your book published, and how did you overcome it?
The launch date for the new book turns out to be ten days after I have cancer surgery, so we've needed to set up publicity and marketing in advance. The entire campaign will run automatically until I've recovered enough to take an active role. Fortunately the book itself has plenty of ideas for creating memes and book trailers, and I know how to set them up ahead of time. I didn't expect to rely on my book in quite this way!
I'm sending lots of healing energy your way for the cancer surgery success and that you will be back to writing in record time. Setting up your marketing in advance is brilliant. Advance publicity is often an overlooked part of the book launch process.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
A few years ago, I taught a series of writing classes through an online school for adults over 65, and the workshops on Romance were the most popular. And the writing was really good! My motivation comes from the belief that the more vivid stories of older characters are out there, the more we can move away from social stereotypes about older persons.
I believe you have tapped into an underserved market and I am cheering for your success!
What is your favorite genre to read and write?
I love reading and writing women's fiction that features women characters past midlife.
What is your writing routine, and any specific habits or rituals that have helped you stay productive?
I'm a binge writer. Every November I participate in National Novel Writing Month, a terrific, free online program with lots of support for writers. I commit to writing 50,000 words in thirty days and spend months afterwards editing that draft.
I love NaNoWriMo, but it's definitely challenging. It's a great way to create a rough draft.
How do you handle writer's block or moments when you feel creatively stuck?
My favorite writing tool is Andy Couturier's book, Writing Open the Mind: Tapping the Subconscious to Free the Writing and the Writer. Andy is all about writing as play, which is the key to happiness as far as I'm concerned.
I haven't heard of that writing resource before and am looking forward to checking it out. Thank you for sharing!
What are you working on next?
When I turned sixty I was amazed at how fun that decade was. I fell in love, retired, sent my youngest off to college, ditched my career, and took up weightlifting! My essays from that decade are full of verve and vinegar. Now that I'm seventy, I'm pulling my best essays from my sixties into a collection. I plan to call that book What to Expect When You're Sixty: Adventures in the Secretly Wonderful Decade.
I love that your sixties were amazing for you and I can't wait to read your stories!
If you could do a book signing anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I'd love to do a book signing in Paris.
Where is the most exciting or unusual place you have promoted your book?
My first book was Aphrodite's Pen: The Power of Writing Erotica after Midlife. It's a collection of writing ideas interspersed with essays and sexy stories by women over fifty. The bookstore where we planned to hold our launch went out of business, so instead, we held our event at Good Vibrations, a woman-owned sex toy shop in Berkeley, California. What a setting! We had a blast.
Talk about going where your target market hangs out! How fun!
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
The very first thing I would say to a new writer is: Get out of your own way, don't let anyone else get in your way. Your first draft is play space. Enjoy it, don't critique it, don't let anybody rain on your parade.
I love that advice and the idea of your first draft being play space.
What do you love about being an author?
I always wanted to be an author, and I'm so glad that I've arrived at this point in life where I get to do exactly what I want. When I publish a new book, holding a copy in my hand is such a thrill.
What do you dislike about being an author?
I hate that point when you're done with your book but your book is not done with you! When you've read the manuscript fifteen times and you're still finding things that need changing!
I know that feeling very well!
What has helped you sell the most books?
Building a social media platform and a mailing list means that when I publish a new book, I can reach out directly to thousands of people who are already reading and enjoying my material.
What is the most valuable lesson you've learned on your journey as an author that you wish you had known before you started?
I've learned that marketing can be fun too. I really had no idea.
I agree! I never realized how creative marketing is before I became a self-published author.
What is your favorite quote?
"The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." From the late poet, Muriel Rukeyser.
Ooh, that's a good one. I'm adding it to my list of favorite quotes. Thanks for sharing!
Where can we find you?
StellaFosse.com. I publish blogs on my website, including a guest essay by a woman author over fifty once a month. I also publish a newsletter. All blogs and newsletters go out to my mailing list. I publish other essays on Substack that you can find at Stella.Fosse.substack.com. And I'm active every day on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Is there anything else you want to share?
Creativity is a great source of fulfillment for many women after midlife. And it's a wonderful way to push back on gendered ageism. There are not nearly enough stories with vibrant older women as main characters in books or in the media. Please join the fun revolution.
I agree, 100%! Creativity, especially writing, has been a lifesaver for me. Thank you for sharing your author's journey with us, Stella. I have purchased all the books you mentioned and am looking forward to your upcoming book.
Listeners, if you are an author and would like to have a free author feature like this one, simply complete the author interview questions you will find at writerkat.com. This is made possible by our sponsoring Indie Author Insider subscribers: Ashley Gary Johnson, Bess Sturgis, Bonnie Lieberman, John Sherman, Sarah Styf, Lloyd Mullins, and Nancy Nau Sullivan. Thank you for supporting indie authors, and thank you for tuning in. Write on!
2024 INDIE AUTHOR CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Book Marketing, Networking & Selling Opportunities
Do you want to connect with authors, meet book lovers, and sell more books? Check out these opportunities!
September
9/7/24 – Indiana Authors Day, Saturday, September 7, 2024, 3 PM, at the John Hay Center, 206 S College Ave, Salem, Indiana
9/7/24 – Beyond the Book Festival, Saturday, September 7, 2024, 9 AM - 3 PM CST, Starke County Public Library, 152 West Culver Road, Knox, Indiana
9/7/24 – Lexington Legendary Book Bash, Saturday, September 7, 2024, Hyatt Regency Lexington, 401 W High Street, Lexington, Kentucky. Visit their Facebook page for updates. Look for Bess Sturgis at this event!
9/7/24 - 9/8/24 – Big Four Arts Festival, Saturday, September 7, 2024, 10 AM - 7 PM & Sunday, September 8, 2024, 10 AM - 5 PM, Big Four Bridge Lawn, 1103 River Road, Louisville, Kentucky
9/7/24 - 9/8/24 – 39th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest, Saturday, September 7 & Sunday, September 8, 10 AM – 6 PM. Takes place on the streets of South Dearborn, from Ida B Wells to Polk Street, Chicago, IL. Rain or shine.
9/13/24 – Congruence Arts and Music Festival in Downtown Marion, Indiana, 5-9 PM, live music, art displays, crafter/maker booths, food vendors, and more.
9/27-29/24 – Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, Friday, September 27, 2024 - Sunday, September 29, 2024, 160 State Street, Harbor Springs, Michigan.
October
10/4-5/24 – Books by the Arch, St. Louis, Missouri, October 4-5, 2024. Look for Bess Sturgis at this event!
10/5/24 – Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest, Saturday, October 5, 2024, 10 AM - 8 PM, at the Harrison Center for the Arts, 1505 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, Indiana.
10/12/24 – Hoosier Indie Authors Cookout, Saturday, October 12, 2024, 2-4 PM, Marion, Indiana. You do not have to be a “Hoosier” to attend. Leland & Bonnie Gamson are graciously hosting this event. It’s a great opportunity to mingle with local indie authors and creatives! Please RSVP to kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com by October 7th so Leland & Bonnie will know how much meat to order. Bring a dish or drinks to share and join us!
10/18-19/24 – The 2024 Louisville Book Festival will be held in downtown Louisville, KY on Friday, October 18th, and Saturday, 19th from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Look for Dan Klefstad at this event. Speaking of Dan, check out his interview with Nia Springer-Norris in Success Magazine, How to Promote Your Book, No Publicist Needed!
10/19/24 – Meet an Author, Be an Author, Saturday, October 19, 2024, Indianapolis Public Library, 40 E Saint Clair St, Indianapolis, Indiana
10/19/24 – West Virginia Book Festival, Saturday, October 19, 2024, 8 AM - 8 PM, Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in downtown Charleston, West Virginia.
10/19/24 – Twin Cities Book Festival, Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minnesota.
10/19/24 – DSM Book Festival - Saturday, October 19, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa, this event is dedicated to book lovers and features a range of activities including author readings, book signings, and more (BooksRun).
10/19/24 – Las Vegas Book Festival, Saturday, October 19, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada.
10/22/24 – Poets Laureate of Lawrence, Tuesday, Oct 22, 2024, 7-9 PM, Arts for Lawrence Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana. John Sherman will be the featured poet and will have his books for sale during the event.
November
11/2/24 – 37th Annual Buckeye Book Fair, Saturday, November 2, 2024, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM at Greystone Event Center, 50 Riffel Road, Wooster, Ohio
11/6/24 – Local Authors at the Annual Christmas Gift & Hobby Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Kristina W. Kelly will be there November 6, 2024, from 10 AM - 2:30 PM
11/11-15/24 – Author Nation (Formerly 20Books Vegas), November 11-15, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada
11/16/24 – Bullitt County Authors Fair, Saturday, Nov 16, 2024, 10 AM – 2 PM, Central Library, 740 Conestoga Pkwy, Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Author vendor applications accepted until October 1st or until slots are filled. Look for Dan Klefstad at this event.
11/30/24 – Lew Wallace Hoosier Author Fair, Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 5–8 PM at Fusion54 Coworking Space, 101 W. Main St., Crawfordsville, Indiana. No vendor fee! Plus, they provide a table and chairs.
December 2024
12/6/24 – Winter Artisan Market (formerly INDIEana Handicraft Exchange), Friday, December 6, 2024, 6-9 PM, Vendor applications are open through October 31st.
January 2025
1/31/25-2/1/25 – Sixth Annual Sunshine State Book Festival, Friday, January 31, 2025, 7-9 PM and Saturday, February 1, 2025, 10 AM - 4 PM, at the Best Western Grand, 4200 NW 97th Blvd, Gainesville, Florida.
Thank you for reading the September 2024 issue of Indie Author Insider (#53). I hope you found it helpful. You can share information about your books, events, and what you want to see in future editions by emailing kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
Special thanks to our sponsoring subscribers: Ashley Gary Johnson, Bess Sturgis, Bonnie Lieberman, John Sherman, Lloyd Mullins, Nancy Nau Sullivan, and Sarah Styf. Thank you for supporting indie authors. We appreciate you!
Thanks also to the Substack Publications recommending Indie Author Insider: Self-Publishing with Dale, The Life Strategies Playbook & Mentoring Program, Jon’s Substack, Johnny B. Truant’s Inspired as F**k, Bernie Books, Made From What's Not Real, Susan's Expressions, Art Spot, Jess Wolfie's Wonderful World, Mordicai’s Substack, John Roberts’ Weekly Rambles, Cellar Door, Letters To My Brother, Lighthouse, Book Whisperer, Bradford’s Substack, My Favorite Classical Music, John Roberts' Weekly Rambles, Courtenay Nold’s Poetry Warrior Substack, and 6 P’s in AI Pods.
Kathy Gerstorff
P.S. This newsletter contains affiliate links for books and products mentioned. I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. There is no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Thanks for all the great resources! And especially thanks for featuring none other than moi this month!
I enjoyed the interview. And thanks for the shout out!