How Claudia Must Die Was Born

I’m often asked how I come up with stories. This is difficult to answer considering I can’t pinpoint one moment in time. Usually, something plants a seed and then I’ll stumble onto a news story or overhear a conversation and an idea starts to grow. My upcoming release, Claudia Must Die, raises a few eyebrows when I mention the title. People want to know more right away, and I explain it’s about a wanted woman who plots to have her look-alike murdered in an attempt to escape her past. That spurs the typical question, “How did you come up […]

T B Markinson2014-12-08T02:42:31+02:00December 7th, 2014|Categories: Features|Tags: Crime Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Is Kindle Unlimited Killing Self-Publishing?

Over the weekend there was an explosive post by mega-seller H.M. Ward saying that her book sales have taken a 75% dive since joining Kindle Unlimited.

I had my serials in it for 60 days and lost approx 75% of my income. Thats counting borrows and bonuses. My sales dropped like a stone. The number of borrows was higher than sales. They didn’t compliment each other, as expected.

Taking a huge ass pay cut while I’m still working my butt off, well that’s not ok. And KU effected my whole list, not just KU titles. At the time of

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Henry Baum2020-02-21T06:01:48+02:00December 2nd, 2014|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips|

SPR and CreativIndie Announce The Bestseller Book Launch Package

Self-Publishing Review, the leading indie book review site, and CreativIndie, the brainchild of book marketing and design expert Derek Murphy, have come together to offer self-published and indie press authors a guarantee of reaching #1 in their category on Amazon.

The package combines platform-building exposure with solid, provable marketing techniques we are so sure about we will give you your money back if you do not reach the number 1 spot in your category.

The package is only available to ebooks that have not been launched yet, on application. You can apply here.

The Difference Between Platform and Marketing[…]

Cate Baum2020-02-21T03:53:58+02:00November 27th, 2014|Categories: Features, News|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips|

How To Edit Your Self-Published Book Like A Pro In 8 Steps

So you have decided you can edit your own book? It’s a notoriously dicey option, but SPR’s book editor Cate Baum has put together a quick guide to the professional process using digital techniques for proofreading and the general sweep edit needed to complete your book before market.

Firstly, I want to say I don’t condone this idea. Editing yourself is scary and dangerous, and usually starts and ends with a bruised ego. Many writers have done it, some have ended up abandoning it and hiring someone else to finish it, or worse, find out they need to have it […]

Cate Baum2019-04-12T14:02:50+02:00November 25th, 2014|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Editing Tips|

Is Marketing Now More Important Than Your Book’s Content?

With a slew of self-styled “marketing gurus” with all sales guns pointing to the vulnerable self-published author, who’s to be trusted in this newly-grown jungle of book “experts”? And now Chelsea Peretti is doing book signings without a book. Is this a trend for marketing over content? Does it actually matter if your book is good quality or not? SPR’s Naka Jackson, a lit postgrad, decided to take a look at the people behind the top five guides on Amazon today to see if their own advice is selling their own novels.

Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Reference […]

Naka Jackson2014-11-15T02:42:29+02:00November 14th, 2014|Categories: Features|

Eight Tips For Writing Character Voice In Your Novel

What are we talking about when we discuss the “voice” of the character you have created in your book? We’re discussing the way in which your character communicates with others in dialogue, but also how the character thinks and narrates to your reader. This is more than just how your character talks. This is the whole inner world of your character.

1. Physical Aspects

Your character needs to be able to communicate from within the body you gave them. A deformed mouth may mean no talking out loud, but the character can think and communicate to the reader. If your […]

Cate Baum2014-11-05T09:48:58+02:00November 5th, 2014|Categories: Features|

Winners of The SPR Full Moon Awards Announced!

We are happy to announce the winners of the 2014 Full Moon Awards! In the next few weeks we will be featuring these books in our reviews and interviews section. In the meanwhile, please take a look at the lucky authors!

Horror

Winner – Matt Drabble – Gated

Michael and Emily move to Eden Gardens, a US gated community that offers “Heaven on Earth and Twice as Nice”. The people are warm and friendly and welcome them with open arms. The town is a beautiful throwback to a bygone age, where the sun always shines and the sky’s always blue.

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Cate Baum2019-04-12T14:12:25+02:00October 31st, 2014|Categories: Features|Tags: SPR Book Awards|

28 Free How-To eBooks For Self-Publishers

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Or perhaps you just need some direction, inspiration or technical help with your book? We’ve put together a list of 28 totally free ebooks you can download right now that should help you get going!

Writing

How To Write Fiction
Award winning writer, trained journalist and qualified trainer, Gurmeet Mattu, brings you a 15 Module Complete Creative Writing Course aimed at those who’d like to learn the nuts and bolts of writing fiction. The Modules include instruction on how to develop characters, write believable dialogue, how to vary tempo and how to ‘find your […]

Lysa Grant2018-10-22T12:30:36+02:00October 28th, 2014|Categories: Features, Resources|