Okay, so I'm one to think about things too long or jump without thinking--no middle of the road here in this
Hi Shaunna,
Today I was interviewed by a journalist for a story in a big magazine who is writing an article about self-publishing. A former Self-Pub Boot Camp student told her about me - thank you Susan! - and we had a very long talk. The journalist didn't know very much about self-publishing but she sure does now! I wonder how she's going to distill the information I gave her into a one-page article.
"What do self-publishers need to know most?" she asked.
"BUY YOUR OWN ISBN NUMBERS!" I replied, without hesitation. Oh no, did I shout? Maybe.
Buy a set of 10 for $250. You may not need 10, but one costs $150 and you need at least three: one for PDF (print), one for MOBI (Kindle) and one for EPUB (all other ebooks). You might also need one for your audio book and another for your multimedia edition.
The point is that with your own ISBN you can change services as you wish. Don't trap your book with a single service.
If you buy your own ISBNs you will not be sucked into purchasing a publishing package from one of the many services run by companies like the notoriously unscrupulous Author Solutions, because they do not allow you to apply you own ISBN number to a book they produce for you. Lesson: If you cannot apply your own ISBN, your book is essentially trapped with the company that owns it.
I also pointed the journalist to experts in my tribe... people who have founded companies based on their desire to help authors. I'm proud to say that many of these experts have participated in my Self-Pub Boot Camps, which are (in case you didn't know) are now online as a virtual program.
So that's my reminder to you, today. Please buy your own ISBNs from Bowker. It's the single most important action item for you to do in order to remain an independent author.
Please spread the word! Forward this email to your writer friends:
http://us4.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=dabcb9e533dcf9b66d2b0ebb1&id=d6be918179&e=93e175f383
Links:
Buy your ISBNs from Bowker here http://motosfo.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dabcb9e533dcf9b66d2b0ebb1&id=44411bfe22&e=93e175f383
Indie Book School and Self-Pub Boot Camp http://motosfo.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dabcb9e533dcf9b66d2b0ebb1&id=98d0e444bc&e=93e175f383
Thanks!
Carla
That's it! go explore but come back soon!
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