First Word

Here I am awake and ready to blog. I check my stats every time I go online. My curiosity piques as I see that in one day I had 350 page views, which for this blog is way off the charts. Now I'm curious, "Why?" I ask myself. What appeared and where that drove up traffic? Blogger allows you to see sources, but most of these sources came from Google, which is nonspecific. These systems rarely come with classes. When it comes to blogs or even social media, it's all "figure it out." Asking questions of others is always good, but the answers are varied and sometimes inaccurate. I think it's more trial-by-fire. We had a writers' group meeting last night. The focus was on building your followers on social media. What I noticed that was missing from the discussion was traditional marketing and promotion. So much emphasis exists on using the free and seemingly easy resources with Blogger, Facebook, Twitter and the many other tools that charge nothing but y...

Up until this year, the Wall Street Journal's projections that the eBook industry would hit billions in revenues (way back in 2012), I would have been skeptical. The Journal gave projections that at the time seemed implausible, but trend-wise also was right on course. I'm going to say that 2014/2015 (just as projected) are demonstrating that rapid and precipitous upward trend predicted back in 2012. Last summer is when we noticed a dramatic shift that caught our attention at 3L Publishing ( www.3LPublishing.com ). Just a year ago, print sales still rivaled eBook sales to the point that we could still largely put our investment on print with confidence. Now just a year later I wouldn't make that kind of assertion. Today the greatest example is the No. #1 selling Chocolate Flowers by Jori Nunes. Early sales figures show for every print copy sold, she's selling 10 eBooks. Yes, that is a 1 to 10 ratio (and that's an estimate). We cannot say the same about childre...

It has been a while since I've just quipped or been interesting on my blog. Why, you ask? Well, have you ever had your brain so full it's leaking? We have so much going on right now with the national exposure of the book Chocolate Flowers . The phone calls and requests for ghost-writing services and full-service publishing (see our company at www.3LPublishing.com) have been nonstop. I just got off the phone with a woman from South Carolina. So many compelling and important stories to tell from people who call in from across the country. Most of the interest is coming from social media since the Dr. Phil show didn't directly promote Chocolate Flowers or even reveal its title. The social media attention has proven the importance of having a strong presence. I'm about to max out my "friends" on Facebook . I think the biggest lesson: Don't automatically exclude someone on Facebook and accept "new" friends if you want to grow your business. I o...

Chocolate Flowers Available on Amazon (print and Kindle): click here Dr. Phil clip ( click here ) The book has been lauded as very well written, and that is very important. The material is very sensitive. It needed to be published with a great deal of awareness that it not be salacious. Jori Nunes' intent is to raise awareness about child abuse and sexual molestation. While the content is difficult, it's important and people need to be aware. Those who watch the show on February 20, 2015, please know there is a viewer discretion attached for good reason.

Many authors covet winning a book award. In my experience with 3L Publishing books that have won awards, the value isn't the monetary gain. Most awards unless you're no. #1 winner for the general category don't pay awards. I thought I would take a moment to outline what is the value of book awards. No. 1 -- Credibility A panel of "experts" evaluate your book based on professional criteria. Some evaluate it just on content. Others evaluate the entire book including design. A panel of experts sanctioning a book as "good" or "excellent" gives an author something to point to that is a credible second party. It far exceeds the idea that your family likes it ... or your local librarian gave it the thumbs-up. No. 2 -- Exposure I have rarely seen awards generate much sales. It naturally does depend on the book's sales in the first place. A book already selling well is going to gain even more credibility (as noted) and probably continue to sel...

(L-R) Dr. Phil, Jori Nunes, and Robin. SACRAMENTO , California, January 25, 2014—Sacramento-based 3L Publishing author Jori Nunes, who wrote the groundbreaking book Chocolate Flowers on childhood abuse and sexual molestation, reveals her story on the Dr. Phil Show . The show is set to air February 20, 2015 and centers on the book’s central theme. Nunes’ book, which was released in 2013, was specifically written to raise awareness about child abuse and sexual molestation, and now her message is reaching a broader audience on the Dr. Phil Show . Buy a copy now ( click here ) 3L Publishing, a boutique publisher, proudly worked with Nunes to help her edit and publish this harrowing story that reveals dark secrets experienced by many children. Chocolate Flowers gives these terrible secrets the light of day to diffuse and dispel the power that enables predators to do what they do – pray on innocent children. The book’s difficult subject matter was tastefully...

Writing the book is only half the journey. Writers whose business education got left out after the fifth creative writing class often get left with a manuscript in one hand and a shrug with the other hand. Where do I go? What is this publishing world? Then as they read the "rags to riches" stories or hear them from fellow writers, their heads fill up with images of dancing dollar bills and red-carpet congratulations. Soon they prepare to quit those nine-to-five jobs and go forth and conquer the literary world. So, as a denizen of said literary world, I want you to know that writing and novel writing and books all sorts of literary pleasures have their ups and downs. Getting published or accepted to be published is just on small peak or step toward the end goal -- success. Mind you success means many different things to different people. Once you've managed to get past the proverbial literary guard and have a book actually published, realize this journey is not complete ...

Social media has its upside and its downside. People using Facebook or Twitter or Instagram to do business are often nonplussed by the habitual social aspects that makes it great, but also annoying. When I'm friended on Facebook my initial consideration to accept is based on two things: 1. is this a prospective customer/client or 2. is this another person only interested in a date? Since I'm looking for clients/customers for our business 3L Publishing (www.3LPublishing.com) that second question has merit. Those looking for a date will start almost immediately bothering me. The no. #1 thing I don't like though ... getting in touch with me and using business as a means to your end. Men (and even some women) who approach me about my business and act like that is what they want to know about and then do bait and switch. What I really want to know is: are you single? Not only is that a very cheesy and dishonest way to approach me, but it's offensive. I was taught manners...

Outflow gets inflow ... so I'm an open book about my business. I like to teach other people how to succeed. It gives me so much pleasure when I see someone go from "rags to riches" (even if it's emotional). So just so you all know right now I'm human. I give myself the badge of flesh and blood. I have my great days like you all do and then I have my tough days. Sometimes as I'm selling our services for 3L Publishing (www.3LPublishing.com), I hit a sudden wall of "No's" vs. "Yes's". If the series of No's starts to trump the Yes's I've learned a valuable technique (well two of them): Give yourself a five-minute pity party . Yep, scream, kick, cry and just light up the room. Punch a pillow. Get your sob on. But that's all you get! Bring on the cake, eat the ice cream, and MOVE ON. Five minutes is all you get. Then move to my opening phrase: outflow gets inflow. Start reaching out. Work it! Work it! Work it! Keep y...

Great article on book marketing and social media ( click here ). I don't know how many conversations I've had with clients about consumer behavior, but this article amplifies what I've said. We live in an unpredictable, crazy culture that loved unimportant things like pet rocks, Chia pets, clappers, and a host of funny as-seen-on-TV gadgets that sometimes but most of the time don't work. If I had a nickel for every time an author asks me, "Is this best-seller material?" I would be richer than Bill Gates. I know what I like to read. I know what my friends like to read. I know what people are generally reading. But asking me if you've got the next Harry Potter or fan fiction like 50 Shades of Grey is basically asking me to call the next pet rock. I mean who knew that "mommy porn" and S&M would set American women into a dither or excitement. I was pretty surprised when some of my women friends gushed their love for this book. So in the abo...

When I open my presentations, I ask two questions: “How many of you throw away books in the trashcan?” I follow up that question with the next one, “How many of you throw away brochures in the nearest garbage can?” The second question provides the audience’s a-ha moment. Most people feel value when they buy or are given a book. A book has weight. It has pages. It has merit. It conveys the perception of knowledge and expertise and time and money to publish. A feeling of guilt or at least a sense of environmental responsibility overcomes the desire to toss all that time, money, expertise, and most importantly “paper” into the garbage can. On the other hand, how many flyers, tri-fold brochures or one-sheets create such a moral or ethical dilemma that you actually feel guilty to throw it away? I’ll be honest. I’ve thrown away countless brochures. I even curse when someone shoves a flyer under my car windshield wiper because now I have to find a garbage can so I’m not a litterb...

Before we get started, read the July 2014 Author Earning Report ( click here ). 3L Publishing (www.3LPublishing.com) falls between the two high categories of publishers that have the most best sellers on Amazon -- Indie (25%) and Small- to Medium-sized Publishers (45%). The most important takeaway for those considering other options to self-publish or use low-end services like Create Space or Smash Words is the ranking for top-sellers is 1% -- not good. Already in 2014, we had Josh Mathe's book In the Footsteps of Greatness crack the top 10 on Amazon and go to no. #3 to be considered an Amazon best seller. What do you need to know as you consider your publishing options? Based solely on the published figures in that report, here are your bullet points: The mainstream big publishing houses' market share has eroded down to 16 percent in terms of overall best sellers produced. The self-published options have the lowest market share at 1% and hardly offer any potential ...

****1/2 Actually, I don't know why I gave it less half-a-point, but maybe it deserves five stars. Cake is yet another riveting, emotional and spiritual movie out in theaters. Chronic pain sufferer Clair is kicked out of a support group after she articulately, truthfully and in an unvarnished description goes through a "forgiveness" exercise and excoriates her friend's suicide. The group's stunned reaction leads to Clair being asked to leave. The heart of the story begins here with Clair's pain and addiction to pills spiraling out of control. She begins to hallucinate the woman who committed suicide and soon her obsession lands her on the woman's doorstep where she befriends her widower and son. While Clair is self-destructive and a self-proclaimed bitch, the audience slowly learns what happened that resulted in the physical and emotional scars. Outsiders are often unsympathetic to her situation, but Clair has bottled it all up and uses pills to numb...