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Why Mixed Reviews Are Better Than No Reviews

For authors, publishers, and even business owners, getting reviews can often feel like walking a tightrope. You hope for glowing praise, but sometimes you end up with critiques or “mixed reviews” instead. You might wonder, what is the point of having reviews if they’re not all stellar? Having mixed reviews is far better than having no reviews at all—and here’s why.

Comparison Table: Mixed Reviews vs. No Reviews

Aspect               Mixed Reviews             No Reviews
Credibility Builds credibility through authentic feedback. Shows both positive and negative experiences. Lacks credibility. May be seen as untested or unpopular.
Engagement Indicates that people are interacting with the product. Sparks curiosity and interest. Suggests no interest or lack of visibility. Hard to attract attention.
Social Proof Provides social proof, even with mixed opinions. No social proof available, making it challenging to build trust.
Insight for Improvement Offers constructive criticism for improvement. Sets realistic expectations. No feedback to act on for growth or improvement.
Impact on Sales Helps potential buyers make informed decisions. Bad reviews may even highlight unique product features. No data or experiences shared, making the product less appealing.
Conversation and Visibility Encourages discussion and interaction. Boosts product visibility. No reviews mean no conversation, resulting in little to no engagement.

Mixed Reviews Build Credibility

  • Only glowing reviews can trigger skepticism—people may think they are manufactured or biased.
  • Mixed reviews (including a few bad reviews) paint a more genuine picture.
  • Positive and negative feedback shows real engagement with your product.
  • Mixed reviews add authenticity, showcasing both strengths and weaknesses.
  • Buyers prefer seeing a range of perspectives to make informed decisions.

No Reviews Means No Interest

  • No reviews often translate to no interest, making your product unappealing.
  • Reviews provide social proof; without them, it’s hard to convince someone to take a chance.
  • Mixed reviews show engagement—people are reading, interacting, and discussing.
  • Even imperfect reviews indicate the product is worth talking about.
  • Mixed reviews spark curiosity, attracting more interest.

Bad Reviews Aren’t Always Bad

  • Bad reviews provide insight into areas that need improvement.
  • They help set realistic expectations for your audience.
  • Bad reviews add credibility by showing honest, unfiltered feedback.
  • Bad reviews can lead to more sales—readers assess if negative points are deal-breakers.
  • What one person sees as a flaw, another may see as a minor issue.
  • Mixed reviews help readers understand what they are getting into.

Mixed Reviews Spark Conversation

  • Mixed reviews encourage discussion and increase engagement.
  • Readers might comment, agree, or disagree, boosting visibility.
  • More interaction increases the chances someone will give your product a try.
  • Mixed reviews create dialogue, which is more beneficial than silence.

Leveraging Mixed Reviews to Your Advantage

  • Use mixed reviews as a tool for growth.
  • Respond to feedback (positive and negative) to show you value your audience.
  • Engaging with reviewers can turn neutral or negative impressions into positive experiences.
  • Mixed reviews provide opportunities to showcase growth and build a community.

Conclusion

Mixed reviews are undoubtedly better than having no reviews at all. They provide authenticity, build credibility, and show that people are interested. Bad reviews, as much as they may sting, also offer a chance for improvement and demonstrate that feedback is honest and transparent. Ultimately, mixed reviews foster engagement, creating a dialogue with potential readers or customers, and that engagement is what propels growth. So, the next time you receive a mixed review, remember that it’s far better than being met with silence.

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Author Hashtags

Author Hashtags

Tired of manually typing in hashtags when promoting your ebooks or connecting with your readers?

Use this tool to quickly choose hashtags relevant to your Twitter tweets, Facebook updates, Pinterest pins or other social media posts!

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How and Why You Should Add SSL to Your Author Website

Add SSL to Author Website

This is part two of our series on setting up your author website. In part one, we covered the essentials like choosing a domain, hosting, and WordPress setup. Now, let’s dive into a critical next step: enabling SSL for your site, which boosts your SEO and enhances security.

Why SSL Matters in 2024

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) ensures secure communication between your site and its visitors. Websites with SSL begin with “https” instead of “http.” Since Google began prioritizing HTTPS sites in search rankings back in 2014, it’s become a must for any website aiming to rank well in search engines.

In 2024, SSL is no longer optional. Google Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers now flag sites without SSL as “Not Secure,” which can deter visitors. It’s a key factor in establishing trust and improving your search engine rankings.

Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling SSL in 2024

Step 1: Check if Your Website Has SSL Enabled

The first step is to check whether your site is already SSL-enabled. Type your URL into a browser using https (e.g., https://yourauthorwebsitename.com). If a padlock icon appears next to the URL, your site is secure. If not, it’s time to set up SSL.

You can also use free online tools like SSL Checker to confirm whether SSL is active on your site.

Step 2: Enable SSL on Your Author Website

In 2024, most web hosting providers include free SSL certificates as part of their packages. A widely used free option is Let’s Encrypt, which is automatically integrated into many hosting services.

Here’s what to do:

  • Log into your hosting provider’s dashboard and look for SSL options.
  • Enable Let’s Encrypt or another free SSL option. Most providers have a one-click SSL installation process.
  • Check with your hosting provider’s support team if you need help. They can guide you through the process if you’re not familiar with SSL setup.

Tip: Some hosting companies may try to upsell you on paid SSL certificates. For most author websites, free SSL options are sufficient unless you handle large volumes of sensitive data.

Step 3: Update Your Site in Google Search Console

Google Search Console (formerly Webmaster Tools) is a free tool that helps you monitor how your site performs in Google Search. Once SSL is enabled, you need to update your site’s settings in Google Search Console.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Log into Google Search Console at https://search.google.com/search-console.
  2. Add your site’s HTTPS version by selecting “Add Property” and entering your new URL with https.
  3. Verify your ownership by following the provided instructions, such as uploading a verification file to your site or using the HTML tag method.
  4. Submit a new sitemap with your HTTPS URL to ensure Google indexes your site properly.

Step 4: Update Google Analytics for HTTPS

If you use Google Analytics to track your website traffic, make sure to update your site’s URL to HTTPS within your Analytics account:

  1. Log into Google Analytics at https://analytics.google.com.
  2. Go to Admin > Property Settings.
  3. Update your default URL from “http” to “https.”

This ensures that your traffic data is accurate and that Google Analytics reflects your secure site.

Conclusion

Enabling SSL on your author website is essential in 2024. It not only helps improve your SEO but also ensures that your site is secure and trustworthy. With browsers flagging non-SSL sites and Google ranking HTTPS sites higher, this is a step you shouldn’t skip. If you need help, your hosting provider or tools like Let’s Encrypt make the process easier than ever.

Stay tuned for part three, where we’ll cover how to further optimize your WordPress site for better performance and reader engagement.

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How to Increase Book Sales with Your Own Author Website

How to Increase Book Sales with Your Own Author Website

If you haven’t started a dedicated author website yet, you will want to do so soon to increase your overall book sales, gain credibility and let readers know where your “home base” is online.

From your website you can then link to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Medium, Pinterest and other platforms.

You may think a Facebook page is good enough, but in reality Facebook still has control and can do what they wish at any time – change the rules, make things more expensive, etc. whenever they feel like it.

A real author website will consist of a domain name – such as BlakeCrouch.com and a hosting company for the domain to point to.

Setting up a website is not nearly as complicated as it use to be.  Once you get the hang of it, you can have a new website up and running in an hour or two.

So, if you have been procrastinating with setting up a website, now is the time to take action!  Even if you don’t get a complete website set up you will at least want to secure your author domain name before someone else grabs it!  (more on that later)…

For authors that already have a website, you may still want to read on, as this article will explain how you can have one for less than $10 a month.  If you are paying more than that and want to save money, then keep reading.  😁

One more note before continuing – it is possible to start out by getting a domain name and forwarding that domain to your current Facebook page/group, Blogger, etc.

You may want to go that route first and set up a more improved WordPress author website down the road.  That is perfectly fine.

🌴 If you would prefer to have us help set up your website (while you relax), please contact us and we will be happy to help!  Author domain setup and WordPress install service is currently only $25.

How to Start Your Own Author Website

The most important first step you will want to take is to make sure you grab your author domain name before someone else does.  It’s possible your name has already registered it, but if it hasn’t, why take chance that someone will get it before you?  A domain name only costs around $10-$15 a year (many times less with use of a coupon code).  So your overall monthly cost will only be $1-$2 max to reserve it.  This way you can sleep at night knowing you have your name, then set up the website down the road when you are ready.

Step 1: Choose Your Author Domain Name

If nobody has registered your domain name, I recommend that you keep things short and simple and get a name such as FirstNameLastName.com.  There are hundreds of different extensions to choose from, but .com still the best one to get as everyone typically will go to a .com by default and not .net or .org, etc.

If you can’t get your First and Last name .com, then you can add a modifier word to increase the number of available names.  Popular ones include author and books.  You could use the word “Author” at the beginning or end of the domain name.  Or “books” at the end of the domain name.

Another idea is to target a certain genre such as Mysteries.  Get FirstNameLastNameMysteries.com for example.  Or get creative with Romance, SciFi, Thrillers, etc.

You can also add your middle initial to the domain name or use your first one or two initials followed by your last name, like J.A. Konrath has done.

If you are stumped and need help finding a name, feel free to contact us and perhaps we can do some brainstorming for you.  💡

Step 2: Register Your Domain Name

Once you have decided on what your domain name will be, it’s time to register it.  There are many different registrars to choose from, but here are a few that I have used and can vouch for.  The most important thing is you don’t want to register a domain name through your hosting company as they will have control of it.  You want to be in control of it.

A few recommended registrars:

My current top two favorites are GoDaddy and Google Domains.

GoDaddy

Google Domains

Name Cheap

Enom

Name.com

Prices will change so check with each website for the latest price.

Please note some registrars will try to automatically get you to sign up for multiple years.  This is not necessary.  Just keep an eye on your order form and change the number of years to 1 year if the price seems to high.

Once you register your domain name, you should get a confirmation by email and will be set!  Make sure the contact information you use is correct so you don’t forget to renew each year.  You can usually set to automatically renew if you don’t want to worry about it.

Now, it’s time to choose a hosting company…

Step 3: Choose a Web Hosting Company

This part can be frustrating as there are so many companies to choose from.  Many of the “review” sites out there are rigged and will show the same companies over and over as they site gets
a commission from anyone they refer.  For this article I will list companies that I have personally used or have recently heard good things about.

One good indicator before making a decision is to find the official Twitter account of the hosting company and see how many outages they mention.  Also search on Twitter using the “to:@username” feature to see customers tweeting to the company.  If you see a lot of angry people, you might want to use another company.  😉

The following web hosting companies have packages for low and high budgets.  You can usually start with the cheapest plan available and upgrade at any time depending on your traffic.  If you are already a well known author, I don’t recommend going too cheap with hosting.  Buy a package that can handle the traffic.  Many companies will claim they offer unlimited traffic for their dirt cheap plans and this is true for awhile.   But once traffic starts growing, you’ll want to upgrade your account accordingly.

Recommended Web Hosts:

Dreamhost – I have used this company for many years now and have had very little problems.  Easy to use interface, reliable, good support, prices, etc.

Hostgator – Have also used this company for many years – occasional hiccups, but they are always helpful and transparent about any problems that arise

A2Hosting – Have been using them for about 2 years now – but so far seems good 😉

SiteGround – I haven’t used SiteGround yet, but see them mentioned quite often on various review sites.  Worth a shot.

BlueHost – Another web host that I see frequently mentioned with affordable entry level prices.

GoDaddy (I have only used them for registering domains, but have heard good things about their hosting – and if you register a domain name with them, it’s that much easier to get started)

Tip: You can always change hosting companies in the future if you have a bad experience, so don’t worry too much about the decision  you make.  Sometimes it is a good idea to get a backup hosting account (from different companies) so you can do a quick move in case one company has problems that won’t resolve.  The companies I have mentioned above are pretty solid, so it is unlikely you will have that problem if you pick one of them.

Make sure you choose a plan that includes WordPress as you will likely want to use that content management system to build your website.  You don’t have to use WordPress, but it’s good to have that as your primary plan.

Keep an eye on the checkout form when you order your hosting package.  Just like everyone else, they will try to sell you months of service in advance.  The usual trick is they will advertise a certain monthly hosting price with a * by it.  But that price is only good if you buy a year in advance.  You should be able to adjust the order form and pay monthly if you are not ready to commit to a full year or more.

Once you have signed up, be sure to keep a copy of your username, password and hosting account information they send you.  Print out a copy and keep it somewhere safe.  Save the information to an external hard drive.  You will need to use the login for the hosting company many times – so make sure you have a backup.

After you sign up, they will typically send you a welcome email with a control panel (CPanel) login web site address.  To make thing easier, bookmark this and automatically save the username and password in your web browser.

I don’t recommend doing website maintenance through a mobile device.  Do it on a laptop or desktop computer if possible.

Once you have this information saved we’ll need to point your new domain name to your web hosting account.  We’ll cover this in step 4.  You may need to refer to your welcome email you received from your hosting company to get the name servers to point  your domain name to.

Step 4: Point Your Domain Name to Your Web Hosting Account

These instructions will vary depending on which domain registrar you use.  To simply things, I am including links to the official support section for each registrar as mentioned earlier
on this subject.

Basically what you want to do is get the Name Servers supplied by your hosting company to point your domain name to.  You enter the name server information after logging into your domain name registrar such as GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc.

Find Your Web Hosting Account Name Server Addresses

Check the welcome email from your hosting company.  Usually they will either have the name server information in that email or will have a few links to help you get started
with your hosting account.  For your convenience, I have dug up the support links from each hosting company I mentioned earlier.

You can also get this information after logging into your CPANEL.

Name Server Documentation:

Dreamhost

Hostgator

A2 Hosting

SiteGround

BlueHost

GoDaddy

Update Your Name Server Addresses With Your Domain Name Registrar

Using the earlier recommended domain registrars, it is now time to add your name server addresses to the domain name you wish to point to your web hosting company.

GoDaddy: Change nameservers for my domains

Google Domains: Manage domain name servers

Name Cheap: How to Change DNS for a Domain

Enom: How to Change Domain Name Servers (DNS)

Name.com: Changing nameservers for DNS management

Once you have saved your name server addresses, it may take a few minutes to update and start actually pointing to your hosting company.  Depending on where you are located in the world, it will usually take between 24-48 hours to fully propagate across the Internet.  Some countries are quicker than others.  If necessary, have friends, fans or relatives test to see if your new web site is working for them.

Or, you can use this tool called DNS Checker to test your website globally.

Now it’s time to set up your domain on  your hosting account, usually in the control panel (CPANEL).

Step 5: Manage Author Domain from your Web Hosting Account Control Panel

Most hosting companies have the same control panel and everything is fairly intuitive as far as navigation is concerned.  Typically what you want to look for is the section where you can
add an “addon domain” to your account.

If you set up your author domain name with your hosting account as the only or primary domain, then it may be already set up for you.

One more time, I’ll go down the list of recommended hosts and provide links to their support articles on how to manage your domain with them.  Once your domain is fully set up, it will then be ready for you to do a one click WordPress install or upload your own custom website designed by you or someone else.

DreamHost: How do I add a domain?

HostGator

A2 Hosting: Domain Management Information

SiteGround

BlueHost

GoDaddy

😣  Note: If all of this is giving you a headache and you would like us to help you set up your domain, please contact us and we will be happy to help!  Author domain setup and WordPress install service is currently only $25.  Relax and let us take care of it for you…. 😎🌴

If it appears that your domain is set up correctly you can try typing it into your browser to see if anything shows up.  Most of the time, each hosting company will have a default page that will pull up.  Sometimes it will show an empty directory.

Step 6: Install WordPress

Once your website is fully active, feel free to install WordPress so you can become familiar with it and play around.  Don’t worry, if you mess anything up you can always start over with a clean slate by uninstalling it.

Look in your control panel for a button or section that says “One Click Installs”.  Or, you may see an area where you can install/manage new or existing WordPress installations.

Typically, you select the domain name  you wish to install WordPress on, choose a username/password, blog title and some other misc information.  Click install and it will be ready for you in about a minute.  Be sure to have it email you the installation details for your records and save the login information.

Here is a quick video tutorial demonstrating how to do a typical install.

Once the installation is complete, your WordPress site will be live and ready to go!

Detailed WordPress installation instructions, customization recommendations, themes and more will all be covered in Part II of this article (coming soon).  Stay tuned!  We’ll link to Part two from this article once it is complete.

Bonus: Author Website Tips, Tricks and Recommendations

While you’re waiting, several author website tips, tricks and other pieces of advice have been generously shared to us specifically for this article below:

Include buy links and descriptions for your books, and try to organize them if you write in different genres, have a book series, etc. The easier you make it for the reader to learn more, the better. Also, don’t forget to add a contact form and/or contact email.

Deborah A. Bailey
http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com

If you don’t know how to create a good looking website, hire a professional. My first website was a DIY mess. My current website is fresh and showcases all of my work in a way that I would not have considered—because it’s not my forte.

Sharon Buchbinder
https://www.sharonbuchbinder.com

I’m an author, screenwriter and Sensitivity Reader. I found myself being approached for podcast interviews and guest articles after I pitched a few ideas.

I soon found myself providing links to several blog posts and pages on my site and others; which was a bit scattered and unorganized.

I then decided to present myself as a brand and created a newsroom where I would list press releases, images for downloads, links to podcasts, articles and more.

Now I simply provide one link when pitching different projects. I also receive media requests from those who first landed in my newsroom. Since its creation, I am in-demand while working less and appearing more professional. A win win.

Patrice Williams Marks
https://patricewilliamsmarks.com

While I love the ease of making changes myself on my WordPress site, my tip is to use any of the blog software options that allow you (once the site is set up the way you want it to be, which may mean hiring someone to do this for you) to make all the changes yourself. It’s so wonderful not to have to wait for a website designer to make the simplest changes.

Years ago I walked away from four websites that I had paid for but couldn’t make changes on myself in order to have WordPress websites where I can be in total control.

Note: My WordPress website is actually a WordPress.org website. Having a site on WordPress.com means that you do not actually “own” your website real estate as you do with a WordPress.org site. So be careful about this difference.

Phyllis Zimbler Miller
http://www.PhyllisZimblerMiller.com

1) Have a page for each of your books and add links there for every bookseller that sells that/those title(s), to give a landing page unaffiliated with any particular bookseller to use for ads and posts.

2) Put Facebook pixel into website infrastructure (your designer can tell you how) so it starts collecting the people who visit the website. You may not be running FB ads now, but when you do, the information will be waiting for you to build audiences.

3) Add short praise review info on title(s) page(s)–not only to that info in one page for readers trying to decide whether to buy, but so you have an easy way to grab effective and concise blurbs when you need something for Twitter, FB, or other social media.

4) Add information peripheral to your books and series that encourage readers to explore your website. For instance, I have a page with links to downloadable coloring pages (adult/children) that is very popular.

Ritter Ames
https://www.ritterames.com

You can also find some quick book promotion tips here.

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How to Launch Your Book into Space

How to Launch Your Book into Space

If you’re looking for a unique promotion idea to help your book stand out from the crowd, read on. A little creativity may be all you need.

(Want to Launch YOUR Book into Space?  Contact Kevin McGill directly for more information and current launch schedule)

Some time ago I ran across a video of author Kevin McGill launching his book into space via weather balloon. For your viewing pleasure, here is that video:

I was curious how he launched his book into space so I asked him for an email interview.

Kevin McGill, author of “Nikolas and Company: The Merman and the Forgotten Moon,” launched his book into space at an altitude of nearly 100,000 feet and got the whole thing on video. This resulted in a five minute interview on CBS11 in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX for the ten o’clock show, which reaches 6.2 million people in the metroplex and surrounding area, as well as a tweet from @GoPro to its 692,000 followers.

What inspired you, or gave you the idea to launch a book into space?

Legos. To be more specific, a YouTube video I watched about two Canadian boys that sent their lego man and Canadian flag into space. My first response on seeing the video was pretty obvious:

I. Have. To. Do. This.

I’m a big nerd when it comes to anything space related. I didn’t know you could do something like that. I began obsessing about what I could send up. Sending my book up wasn’t even an idea until a week later.

What were the approximate total costs to plan, launch and recover the balloon with payload?

* SPOT GPS tracking device…$86.95
* Year subscription to SPOT GPS…$99.99
* GoPro 1080p HD waterproof camera…$199
* Extended life GoPro battery…$39
GoPro Fog inserts…$7.49
* Rain X…$11.65
* Rain X Glass Cleaner…$4.99
* 32 GB SD card…$49
* 3 600g weather balloon…$60
* 36″ neon orange and white parachute…$100
* Gas cylinder brass fitting and balloon fill tube…$12.99
* Black latex gloves for handling balloon…$9.99
600g of Helium…$100

You’ll note that I included Rain X, Rain X Anti-fog wipes, and GoPro Fog inserts on the list. These all keep the GoPro casing dry, which is extremely important. Why? First, space is cold. We learned not only will your screams not be heard in space, but things fog up as well. Any moisture that gets inside the casing will fog or freeze because of the extremely low temperatures. Your space video will turn out soft and dreamy. Be sure to keep your GoPro casing dry.

What technology did you use to find and receive the camera/payload system?

SPOT GPS. Some have tried to use their cell phones as a GPS device. I would stick with SPOT or Garmin. Cell phones can move out of cell tower range.

By the way, always test to make sure your GPS is activated before you launch. Never assume that it is always transmitting, whether you turned it on or not. It is not like a cell phone. If you notice, I am wearing different shirts in the pictures. We (ahem) lost our first space-book payload that way. It was a hard lesson to learn. I took my solace in my own tears and half a dozen YouTube videos that showed NASA’s early rocket tests falling over on their side and imploding into the launch bay.

Where did you launch the balloon from and where did it land?

I launched the space-book vessel from White Rock Lake, Dallas.

How high did it go? How far did it travel?

While we didn’t have an altimeter on the space-book vessel, our guess is it went 90,000 feet, conservatively. The highest these vessels, with this payload, and 600g helium balloons, rise to is 109,000 feet. Now, this isn’t really outer space. It’s considered “near space”. It is the area between 65,000 feet and 325,000. It came down about 31 miles away in Kaufman, TX, off of highway 175. It landed forty feet up in a tree. But no worries on that. I made my army buddy come with me and climb the tree.

What kind of special permission is needed to launch a balloon into space? Do they have designated areas to launch?

There is no designated area to launch. You can launch anything under 15 pounds without contacting the FAA. But still, just as a courtesy, most people contact FAA before launching their weather balloon.

Did you receive mainstream media attention for your book launching into space video?

I did get media attention, actually. GoPro tweeted about the launch to its 692,000 followers. I also landed a five-minute interview on CBS11 in Dallas/Fort Worth TX for the ten o’clock news, which reached 6.2 million people in the metroplex and surrounding area. Got a good deal of exposure that way. Oh, and of course, this interview for the most popular indie book site on the planet ;).

Once the video of the launch hit YouTube, did you notice an increase in sales? Interview requests?

I did have a nice bump for the next couple of weeks, but as Seth Godin points out, marketing is about the long tail. I might have gotten some sales that weekend, but what really counted was the long-term effect, which worked out in the best way possible. Schools and libraries started contacting me.

Middle-grade fantasy authors know that schools and libraries are the bread and butter for marketing. Because of their age, my audience, preteens, are very difficult to reach. They have little buying power and typically do not own an ebook reader, so the marketing channels are limited. The only way for an author to really reach them is to first engage with the “gatekeepers”, or teachers, librarians, and parents. Well, have you ever contacted a fifth grade teacher and said, “Hi. I’m just a dude that, you know, wrote some books. I don’t have a traditional publisher who could vet me and keep me from inviting readers to join my lunar cult.

Can I come talk to your impressionable-minded students?” But with the space-book launch and the CBS11 interview, I could start my conversations off saying, ” I sent my book into space because I want to show pre/teens, who would rather play video games, that a book is cool and it can take them anywhere. I was invited onto CBS11 to promote childhood literacy. Can I show your students the video and talk about books?” Not one teacher or librarian has turned me down. In fact, I just completed a summer book tour to most of the Dallas County Public Libraries.

I showed them the video and did a book signing for nearly three-hundred kids. The kids reacted so positively to the video and the Nikolas and Co series, that not only did the majority of the libraries in Dallas County stock my book series, but several librarians have asked me to come back in the fall. I’m also working out something with one of the local school districts to visit all their students between the fifth and eighth grade.

Do you have any closing thoughts or comments about how you’ve single-handedly brought us into the golden age of literary space travel?

Actually, I do have a last thought. Regarding marketing, what I hope other authors don’t take away is: you should launch your book into space. Rather: you should follow your delight. At the end of it, your readers respond best to marketing ideas that are fun, a little crazy, but most importantly, you. If you’re true to your books and true to your own delight, then the marketing ideas will be the easy part.

MORE ABOUT KEVIN AND HIS BOOKS:

Book website: https://nikolasandco.com – Goodreads

Get his first book for free on Kindle!: Nikolas and Company: The Merman and The Moon Forgotten #1

 

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Send Your Author Name to the Planet Mars

Send Your Author Name to the Planet Mars

If you would like to immortalize your author name (real or pen name), now is your chance to send your name to the planet Mars, courtesy of NASA’S Mars 2020 Rover.

The Mars 2020 rover has a launch window of July 17 – August 5, 2010.  You need to submit your name by September 30, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET in order to be included on a tiny microchip that will be attached to the rover.

https://mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name/mars2020

After you submit your name, you will get an official souvenir boarding pass, suitable for framing or sharing on your website/social media.

Here is what a boarding pass looks like:

All names will be etched on a silicon waver or microchip.  NASA uses an electronic beam machine that can etch microscopic letters as small as 1 micron (less than width of a human hair).

Please note all names are subject to review.  If you pass the reviewers, your name will officially land on Mars on February 18, 2021!

Good luck!

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Free Novel Writing Software for Mac, PC, Android and iOS

Free Novel Writing Software for Mac, PC, Android and iOS

If you’re on a budget and are looking for free software to write your next book on, we’ve scoured the Internet and have compiled a list of free novel writing software for Mac, PC, Android, IOS and Linux.

Programs that have free trials or links to “upgrade” are not included as many times they only provide partial functionality – even though they still might be good 🙂

In this article we’ll only feature the free stuff.  In no particular order, here we go:

 

Google Docs

– Almost everyone has a Gmail/Google account, so why not use their built in word processor to write a book?  Google Docs will auto save as you write, so you don’t have to worry about losing your creative work.  You can even export ebook in .epub format!  Works on any computer that is online – so you can continue working on your novel at home, work or while traveling.

One really great feature with Google Docs is the Google Voice Typing dictation feature.  Just sit back, relax and start talking.  Google Docs will translate your speech to text.  Edit as needed later.

Here’s a video tutorial on writing a book on Google Docs:

 

Notepad for Windows

– Well, this may not be the best option, but it is free already installed on your Windows computer.

Just search for “Notepad” on your PC and the program should pop up.

 

 

yWriter 4, 5 & 6

– yWriter is a free writing program by Simon Haynes and is currently available for Windows, Android, iOS and Linux.

“yWriter is a word processor which breaks your novel into chapters and scenes, helping you keep track of your work while leaving your mind free to create”.

Here is a video tutorial by Carey Green which shows you how one author created his book using yWriter:

WordCradle

– This is a cool web based writing app where you can create an account for free.  Create characters, chapters and brainstorm your plot from anywhere you can access the Internet.  Collaborate and be motived by other writers using the “pals” feature.  Here’s a tutorial overview on YouTube…

Open Office

– This is an set of office applications just like Microsoft Office, but totally free and open source.  Available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Pages for iPhone and iPad

Pages for Mac

Dropbox Paper

– I haven’t tried this one yet, but have seen it mentioned so may be worth checking out.  Here’s an article from the National Novel Writing Month on the subject: 7 Tips to Write Your Novel with Dropbox Paper.

FocusWriter

– Another truly totally free application with versions for Linux, Windows and Mac.  Option to tip the creator when you download.  What I love about FocusWriter is the distraction free writing feature.  Other features include typewriter sound effects, spell checking, timers and more.  Here’s a screenshot below… beautiful in my opinion 🙂

 

PageFour

– As of December 2017, this software is now free to download, with one catch – it is no longer under development.  Even so, it still looks like a pretty good option to write your next novel with features such as dictionaries in multiple languages, organization options, character summaries, search, password protection and more.  Available for Windows.

WriteWay

– Available for Windows, it is packed with features such as book organization into acts, chapters and scenes.  Outlining, front/back matter pages, dictionary & thesaurus, character profiles, word & page count, statistics, text to speech, RTF, PDF, HTML, .doc & docx export file formats and more.

Reedsy Book Editor

– To be honest, I couldn’t get this to work when I signed up, but have seen it mentioned many times so am including it on the list.  I’ll keep trying to figure it out and perhaps reach out to them to see what I’m doing wrong – or if it requires a paid account.  Not sure.  I’ll report back and update this post when I get it figured out 🙂

Apple iBooks Author

– Originally I thought this was a paid program, but it appears to be free.  Personally I have used the paid version in the past, but according to their App store it does indeed appear to be free.

Sigil eBook

– Just when you thought there were no more apps available, here’s yet another free one.  This one is like Word or LibreOffice but specific for EPUB ebooks.  Many features including plugins, available for Mac, Windows, Linux.  WYSIWYG editing, Metadata editor, spell checking, style sheets and more.  Here’s a thorough video tutorial on how to write an ebook using Sigil.

LibreOffice

– Yet another free office suite similar to Open Office.

ZenPen

– This is a simple web browser based distraction free writing app that lets you write and save your work as HTML, Markdown or plain text format.  Features full screen mode, word count and a darker night mode.

Q10

– Free, lightweight, full screen text editor packed with features such as live statistics, page count, portable (use a pendrive if you wish), timer alarm, spell checking, typing sound effects, autosaving and more.

WriteMonkey

– Available for Windows, WriteMonkey is a stripped down writing application with plugins, pomodoro timer, visual progress bar, corkboard and more.

 

iOS and Android Apps:

There are too many mobile apps to mention, but here are a few you can start with if you are interested in writing on the go…

Hanx Writer for iPhone & iPad

– Recreate the Experience of a Manual Typewriter

Writer for Android

– jamesmcminn.com

Writer Plus for Android

– writer.plus

Monospace Writer

for Android

There may be other free writing apps we have not mentioned here, so if you know of one you think should be included, please let us know in the comments below.

 

 

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eBook Submission Sites – Updated March 2023

eBook Submission Sites - Updated March 2023

We are currently working on this list of ebook submission sites where you can promote your free, bargain and regular priced ebooks. Currently we have 267 websites and promotion services.

Some will consider posting your ebook for free, others may require payment to be listed.

It will take some time for us to go through the entire list, but will be adding a brief summary of the services they offer in the column to the right of each web site.

Here are some eBook submission sites where authors can submit their eBooks for free or for a fee:

  1. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): KDP is Amazon’s self-publishing platform, and it allows authors to publish eBooks and paperbacks and make them available for sale on Amazon. Authors can enroll their eBooks in KDP Select program and use promotional tools to reach more readers.

  2. CraveBooks.com: is a website that offers a range of free and discounted eBooks for readers. The site features a curated selection of eBooks in various genres, including romance, mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy. Readers can sign up for the site’s email list to receive notifications about new eBooks and special deals. CraveBooks.com also features a blog with articles about reading and writing, as well as interviews with authors. The site does not require readers to sign up or create an account to access the eBooks, but users can sign up for a premium membership to receive additional benefits, such as access to exclusive content and discounts on eBooks. Overall, CraveBooks.com is a useful resource for readers looking for free and discounted eBooks in a variety of genres.

  3. Smashwords: Smashwords is an eBook distribution platform that allows authors to publish and distribute their eBooks to major retailers like Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Smashwords also offers marketing tools and resources to help authors promote their eBooks.
  4. Draft2Digital: Draft2Digital is another eBook distribution platform that allows authors to publish and distribute eBooks to major retailers. Draft2Digital also offers formatting and conversion services and provides authors with a range of marketing tools and resources.
  5. BookBaby: BookBaby is a self-publishing company that offers a range of services, including eBook distribution, print-on-demand, and marketing services. Authors can submit their eBooks to BookBaby for distribution to major retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble.
  6. Lulu: Lulu is a self-publishing company that allows authors to publish and distribute eBooks, print-on-demand books, and other products. Lulu offers a range of distribution options, including distribution to major retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble.
  7. eBookPartnership: eBookPartnership is a global eBook distribution service that helps authors and publishers distribute eBooks to major retailers around the world. eBookPartnership also offers eBook formatting and conversion services, as well as marketing and promotional tools.

In conclusion, these are some of the popular eBook submission sites that authors can use to publish and distribute their eBooks. Each platform offers different services and pricing options, so authors should research each one to determine which is the best fit for their needs.

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How Do You Make Your eBook Permafree on Amazon?

How Do You Make Your eBook Permafree on Amazon?

On Amazon, “Permafree” means exactly what you think – permanently free.  Authors do this occasionally to give away one of their titles with the hope that it will help promote their other books, so making your ebook permafree sometimes can bring nice, long term sales other related titles.

So, How Do You Make Your eBook Permafree on Amazon?

The quick answer is to remove your ebook out of KDP/Kindle Unlimited and upload it for free to a competing ebook platform such as Smashwords, Apple iBooks, Nook, Kobo, etc.  Then go to your ebook’s page on Amazon and look for the “tell us about a lower price” link.  Once there, fill out the form to notify Amazon of the locations where the ebook is priced for free.

You may want to have friends & family do the same to increase the odds of success.

(Note: If you have already made your ebook permafree and would like to add it to PermaFree.com, please click here to do so)

As a final option, some recommend that you contact Amazon KDP support directly, but my gut tells me this could be risky.  I’ll do more research on this and see if I can find out if it is a real risk or if there’s nothing to worry about.  It’s just one of those things.. sometimes it’s better to stay under the radar a bit instead of being an annoying mosquito.  😀

Step 1: Take Your eBook Out of KDP/Kindle Unlimited

Assuming your ebook is already published on Amazon, the first step you want to take to get your ebook permanently priced for free is to make sure it is removed from KDP/Kindle Unlimited.

Log into your Kindle Direct Publishing account and look for the book title you want to make permafree.  On the right side, you should see “KINDLE EBOOK ACTIONS” and a “Promote and Advertise” button underneath.  To the right of that is another tiny button with three dots.  Click that and select “KDP Select Info”.

Step 2: Upload Your eBook to Other Retailers (iBooks, Nook, etc.)

Next you will want to upload your eBook to other competing platforms such as iBooks, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Scribd, etc.  You can do this yourself or use a third party service.

Make sure you set your ebook price to $0.00 after you upload.  These competing retailers will be used when notifying Amazon of where your ebook is available for free.

Here are links to these platforms for your convenience:

Apple iBooks

Barnes & Noble Nook

Kobo

Scribd

Smashwords

Third party ebook publishing/distribution services to make this process easier include: Smashwords, INscribe Digital, BookBaby and Draft 2 Digital.

Step 3: Notify Amazon of Your eBook’s Lower Price on Other Platforms

Go to the Amazon page where your ebook is located and scroll down under “Product Details”.  You will see all sorts of other information including File Size, Publication Date, Language, Amazon Best Sellers Rank, etc.  Below that you should see a link that says “Would you like to tell us about a lower price?”.

 

Simply fill out the form and follow the instructions.  Since you have uploaded to a competing platform, you will want to select “Website (Online)” and provide the URL to one of the competing sites where your eBook has been published.  Include price, shipping and date of price.

Once you have reported a lower price, then you need to sit back and wait.  Be patient and don’t overdo it… reporting over and over.  Amazon knows all and will likely see you logged in, doing this.  Once should be enough (for you).

Over time, ask friends and family members to do report the price as a favor for you.  The best case scenario is to have people report the free price that are in no way linked to your account.  Example is if you have sent gifts to family members on Amazon, their reports of a free price may not have as much credibility as a distant stranger.

Other actions you can take to increase your chances include contacting Amazon KDP directly, giving them the same information as in the form posted above.  Include a URL to where the book is available for free, your ASIN number, dates available free, etc.  I do question if this should be done from the actual author (you) and the same email you use in your KDP account.  Personally, I don’t know if I would do that.  Probably a better idea to have a friend email them instead, but that’s just me.  I’ll do more research on this and see if there is any risk involved that could negatively impact your KDP account.

And, that’s about all there is to it.  To verify this still works (as of June, 2018), I am going to test all of the above steps to verify that they still work and get a rough idea of how long the entire process takes.  Stay tuned and bookmark this post.

Advantage of Permafree on Amazon

Making your eBook permafree on Amazon can offer several advantages for authors, including:

  1. Increased Visibility: Permafree books are often listed at the top of Amazon’s free books chart, making it easier for readers to discover your book. The increased visibility can help attract new readers who may not have found your book otherwise.
  2. More Reviews: When readers download your book for free, they’re more likely to leave a review. This can help increase the number of reviews on your book’s page, which can in turn increase its visibility and attract even more readers.
  3. Building a Fan Base: Permafree books can help you build a fan base of readers who enjoy your writing style and may be interested in purchasing your other books. By offering one of your books for free, you’re providing readers with a low-risk way to try out your writing and potentially become loyal fans.
  4. Marketing Tool: Making your eBook permafree can be a useful marketing tool to promote your other books. You can include links to your other books in the front and back matter of your permafree eBook, encouraging readers to check out your other titles.
  5. Competitive Advantage: Making your eBook permafree can give you a competitive advantage over other authors in your genre who are charging for their books. By offering your book for free, you’re providing readers with a unique value proposition that can help you stand out from the crowd.

In conclusion, making your eBook permafree on Amazon can offer several advantages for authors, including increased visibility, more reviews, building a fan base, marketing tool, and competitive advantage. While you may not earn royalties on permafree books, the benefits of increased visibility and potential for future sales can make it a valuable marketing strategy.