Robert J. Hughes – Platforms and the Digital Revolution

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Victor Volkman
On July 21st, 2012 Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with journalist and bestselling author Robert J. Hughes about creating your platform and energizing it with social media.Robert J. Hughes is a writer living between New York and Paris. He was a longtime arts reporter for The Wall Street Journal, where he wrote about theater, classical and popular music, books and television, as well as philanthropy and fine arts, including the auction markets.  Robert took us on a back-to-basic tours of the who, what, and why of platforms for authors:

  • What exactly is a platform?
  • How do you build a platform?
  • What is the coming trend in digital publishing?
  • How easy is it to self-publish, and why should you consider it?
  • What steps do you need to take to ensure success in self publishing?
  • What new digital tools are available to you?

Robert J. Hughes

Robert J. Hughes
Robert J. Hughes is the author of the novel Late and Soon, which Edmund White praised for its “Jamesian subtlety.” His new novel, “The Rectory,” will be published soon.He is currently at work on a book about his life in France  Late and Soon: A Novel
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Victor R. Volkman – Maximizing eBook Sales on all Platforms: Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBook, and library wholesalers

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Victor Volkman
On May 17th, 2012 Tyler R. Tichelaar and Susan Violante spoke with editor, publisher, and entrepreneur Victor R. Volkmanabout how to get maximum revenue from your eBook platforms.  Victor has made getting total market coverage in ebooks, the fastest growing media market, the centerpiece of his strategy for the past 18 months.  In that time period, he has added sales channels on Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, and Kobo platforms as well as entered agreements with ProQuest eBrary, Content Reserve’s Overdrive, and other library wholesalers to maximize market share. Our talk covered all points of the eBook compass including:

  • How can a self-publisher compete against big name companies like Random House in the ebook market?
  • How have ebooks impacted publishers’ sales mix over the last year?
  • What are the major eReader platforms and how are their market shares?
  • Are there platform-independent stores?
  • What’s the deal with Amazon KDP Select?
  • What are library wholesalers (Content Reserve, Proquest eBrary, EBSCO) and what kind of pricing do they require?
  • Why would I want my eBook in a library?
  • Should I use SmashWords?
  • How can you manage price changes with multiple vendors?’
  • What is book metadata and how important is it in the big picture?

Victor R. Volkman

Victor R. Volkman
Victor R. Volkman published his first book in 2003 and soon discovered many others needed help in producing self-help, personal growth, and trauma recovery books. His company Loving Healing Press and imprints including Modern History Press, Marvelous Spirit Press have since produced more than 150 books in hardcover, paperback, and eBook.He has personally edited more than a dozen anthologies including

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers
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eBook Sales by Platform

eBook Sales by Platform

 

Posted in eBooks, Kindle, Libraries, Marketing, Victor Volkman | 2 Comments

Cyrus Webb – How to Prepare for an Internet Radio Interview

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Victor Volkman
On May 3rd, 2012 Victor R. Volkman and Tyler R. Tichelaar spoke with veteran radio host and media maven Cyrus Webb, President of Conversations Media Group.  Cyrus been active in the arts for over a decade and has used his passion for engaging discussions to build his media brand. Through his radio show he has interviewed Pulitzer-Prize winners, celebrity musicians and actors as well as individuals with a powerful story to tell. Tonight, Cyrus Webb shared his inside information on how you can make yourself into a guest that radio interviewers can’t refuse!  We touched on all aspects of guest appearances including:

  • What are some of the most important things for the author wanting to be interviewed to know about the host and the show?
  • Do interviewers prefer a hard copy of the book prior to the show or an electronic copy?
  • Can a book be too old, do you have to pitch it in a special way?
  • Give us the top 5 mistakes people who are new to the medium will make
  • Is there a difference in how to approach internet radio vs. AM talk radio or other segments?
  • What can fiction authors talk about?
  • How early should I arrive for an interview that is in person or how early should I call if over the phone?
  • After the interview is over should I contact the host or producer again to say thanks and ask for a review if one hasn’t been written?
  • What about call-in shows?

Cyrus Webb

Cyrus Webb
Cyrus Webb is the President of Conversations Media Group, the home of Conversations LIVE radio show, Conversations Magazine, Conversation Pieces web show as well as Conversations Book Club.   Since he first began Conversations LIVE in July 2003 no guest or story has been too small for him to cover. Through all of his endeavors Webb vows to stay true to his company’s motto of “feeding your love of life.”

Conversations Book Club

Conversations Book Club
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Beth Werner – All About the Association of Independent Authors

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Victor Volkman
On April 19th, 2012 Victor R. Volkman and Irene Watson spoke with professional editor and marketing guru Beth Werner about the Association of Independent Authors and what it can do for you.   In 2010 Beth left the corporate world to launch Author Connections, LLC, a company created to educate, encourage and empower authors. She currently provides editing and marketing services to an exclusive roster of select clients. Her professional mission is to support high quality, multi-media content for hungry readers.  As an AiA board member she was able to educate us on aspects of the association including:

  • Where can authors participate in forums and discussion groups with other authors?
  • Is there an online resource guide that authors can reference for service providers?
  • If an author has a drafted manuscript but doesn’t know what to do next, where can they find help with the publishing process?
  • If an author has very limited time but wants a regular snapshot of news and tips in the publishing world, is there a source of useful information they can rely on?
  • When an author is considering an industry service provider, is there a way for them to verify a valid partner from a ripoff or sketchy player?
  • How does AIA membership compare to other organizations like the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) or Small Publishers of North America (SPAN)

Beth Werner

Beth Werner
Beth Werner has been a professional editor and small business developer since the age of 20, having worked 16 years in b2b magazine publishing; gaining practical training and first-hand experience in consultative selling, customer relations, and integrated marketing strategies. Her primary focus was advertising sales – where she learned to design custom brand campaigns in various vertical industries. During this time, Beth worked with and counseled some of the largest companies in the world about integrated marketing for successful business development.Her passions are travel, gourmet cooking and dining, photography, and gardening. Her own book, Travels of an Independent Woman (#readtiw) is coming soon…

Association of Independent Authors

Association of Independent Authors
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Yvonne Rose – Writing and Publishing African American Books

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Victor Volkman
On April 6th 2012, Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with Yvonne Rose, Associate Publisher and Senior Editor at Amber Communications Group, Inc.  Ms. Rose began her stint at Amber Books in 1998 as the co-author of the Company’s flagship title, the national bestseller, Is Modeling for You? The Handbook and Guide for the Young Aspiring Black Model. Yvonne Rose was appointed to head Quality Press and has turned a few thousands of Self-Published authors manuscripts into completed books.  She spoke with us a wide-range of issues relating to African-American authors specifically and publishing in general

  • Writing for African American culture
  • Publishing hurdles of African American books
  • Target marketing to African American community
  • Writing cross-culture book – mixed race books
  • African American any different than other cultures?
  • Getting the characters right for the culture
  • Importance of covers depicting African American content

Yvonne Rose

Yvonne Rose
She recently published Ageless Beauty: The Ultimate Skincare and Makeup Book for Women and Teens of Color. (Amber Books).  As the Director of Quality Press, Yvonne and her team of editors, designers and printers, oversee the editing, design/layout, registration and manufacturing of every self-published author’s books. She also consults with the authors regarding their marketing, production, promotional, distribution and publicity goals.Yvonne has ghost-written and co-written several top selling non-fiction titles, including: Natural Radiance: A Guide for Ethnic Skin Care (Global Skin Solutions Publishing) by Pamela Springer; Fighting for Your Life: The African American Criminal Justice Survival Guide (Amber Books) by John Elmore, Esq.; Led by the Spirit: A Sharecropper’s Son Tells His Story of Love, Happiness, Success and Survival (Strickland Books) by Robuster Strickland; Let Them Play…The Story of the MGAA (MGAA Books) by John David and A Journey that Matters: Your Personal Living Legacy (Lyceum Group Books) by Erline Belton. She is currently ghostwriting books for two high-profile personalities – retired Arizona Cardinal, Levvar Fisher, and WBLS New York Radio / Television host and personality Doctor Bob Lee.

Ageless Beauty: The Ultimate Skincare and Makeup Guide for Women and Teens of Color

Ageless Beauty: The Ultimate Skincare and Makeup Guide for Women and Teens of Color
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Posted in Ethnic, Getting Published, Self-Publishing | 1 Comment