Guest Blog Wednesdays with... Ami Blackwelder

This week on Guest Blog Wednesdays at The Australian Bookshelf we are joined by author, Ami Blackwelder.

She gives us some pointers about the self-publishing industry. Tomorrow there will be a feature on my blog about her upcoming releases!

        Is Self-Publishing right for you?

Look at me. My Shifter Evolutions saga is on the shelf at Barnes n Noble in Tampa! Want it in your BnN? Just ask at the front desk and they can order the book for you!What route I chose and why?I began writing fiction novels at the start of 2009. I wrote short stories, poetry and non-fiction before that time. After completing my first novel The Gate of LakeForest I pursued epublishing and found an epublisher www.ireadiwrite.com with Michelle. She accepted me and took my sequel novel Prisoners of Pride as well. I then wrote my first historical romance title The Day the Flowers Died and submitted it to Whiskey Press. They accepted it. But at that time, I was really looking into self-publishing and noticed a trend in that direction with many writers, good writers, successful writers. After learning a lot from Michelle, I decided to go my own route and said no to Whiskey Press.I discovered something all writers should know!epublishers, small publishers, indie publishers cannot do anything for your brand and your novel that you cannot do better. With minimal promos, they will take at least 50% of your profits.I don't sign with publishers now unless they offer non-exclusive rights, so that I may publish/distribute with whomever and wherever I wish. The only exception tothis rule is if you are accepted by a BIG-House-Publisher who is also willing to put Money behind the Promos for your book. Which usually means you need an agent.If you can get an agent-great! Make sure they get you a good deal with a big publisher who has the vision you have so they see the potential and are willing to money where their mouth is.Otherwise, do it yourself! You can learn!! You will have total creative freedom, get to work intimately with an editor you chose, chose the cover design you want,distribute to where you want, and get all the profits while having the ability to distribute the book as soon as you want as well as stop distribution and make changes whenever you want. No such luck with a publisher.So, make sure you pay attention to how much you are giving up in exchange to how much you are getting before you sign the dotted line.That is What and Why. Perhaps many of you are asking...HOW?Tips:Find a good editor or two! Find an illustrator or graphic artist!Createspace.comLulu.com (ipad)dtp.amazonpubit.com Promote on a few sites you've researched and like and build your loyal base of fans from thereGet a website on blogger, or wordpress or weebly (all for free)Have a presence online on twitter, facebook, kindle and nook forums and pick a few more forums you like related to your book genres.Build a fan base in your local area with distribution of your books to schools, universities, libraries, and book events everywhere! Ask and you'll be surprised how many say "yes" !Learn more on my website: http://amiblackwelder.blogspot.com every Sunday!More about Ami:Ami Blackwelder is a forbidden romance writer in the paranormal and historical romance genre. Growing up in Florida, she went to UCf and in 1997 received her BA in English and teaching credentials. She travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand.Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University;), her fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the country. Later, she achieved the Semi-Finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand’s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea’s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.Thanks Ami!The Shifter Evolutions series by Ami Blackwelder:Check back in tomorrow for a book feature on Ami's new release title of The Shifter Evolutions Series, The Invasion of 2020