Hello Friends!
Happy New Year! I’m so excited for 2025! I’m looking forward to getting out into the world and talking about my new book.
My new nonfiction picture book biography is now available on Amazon and soon on my website, which is such an amazing accomplishment. This has been a dream for many years, and now it has come to fruition, and I am so excited. I can hardly believe that my hard work has helped me accomplish my goal.
The link to my new book: If You Don’t Vote, You Don’t Count: Vernon Dahmer’s Fight for Equality: https://a.co/d/gRNJnMc
Self-publishing can be an exciting and rewarding journey, but it is definitely a journey. I can hardly believe that my dream has come true. Now, I’m really living my creative life. I have so many goals with my writing life! I’m so excited! But I will keep writing! If you have a dream of publishing, it is possible to accomplish your goal. Here are five tips to help you successfully publish your book:
1. Perfect Your Manuscript: Make sure your manuscript is polished to perfection. This might include several rounds of editing and proofreading, either by yourself, beta readers, or a professional editor. I took the plunge and hired a professional editor who was familiar with the background of the civil rights movement and was a children’s book writer and editor. He was a valuable resource in helping me clean up my manuscript and make it picture book ready.
2. Choose the Right Platform: There are many platforms available for self-publishing, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Smashwords, and Ingram Spark. Research each one to see which best suits your needs, budget, and goals. I’ve started with KDP because this platform is user-friendly with its easy upload format and ordering process for author copies.
3. Create a Professional Cover and Layout: A book’s cover is crucial for attracting readers. Consider hiring a professional designer to create an eye-catching cover and format your manuscript for both digital and print versions. When looking for a graphic artist to help you, you can find a variety of artists on the Fiverr platform. Fiverr is a great website to help you accomplish your self-publishing goals with various price points that can accommodate any budget.
4. Market Your Book: Build a marketing plan to promote your book. Utilize social media, author websites, book trailers, and email newsletters to reach potential readers. Consider offering pre-orders and special promotions to generate buzz. One of the items that was high on my list was to create my website. As soon as I retired, I challenged myself to design my website. Using WordPress’s drag and drop method, I was able to create my website. However, after about a year, I hired a professional website designer to design an author’s portfolio website. Check it out at www.writershellydahmer.com.
5. Gather Reviews and Feedback: Encourage readers to leave reviews on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads. Positive reviews can significantly impact your book’s visibility and credibility. I’m really hoping to do a better job getting reviews and feedback. I know some authors will emails and ask for reviews, but I’m still working on this project.
I can’t believe my book is out in the world. Navigating my new independent author life is trial and error, so that’s why I want to help you accomplish your goal of getting your self-publishing life off the ground.
Here’s my latest video that discusses my self-publishing journey. https://youtu.be/12EtlPy1sDg
Thank you for joining me today. If you found this post helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit from it. And remember, living creatively is not just about producing art—it’s about finding joy and sharing it with others. Please take care and be kind to someone today. Our world needs it. Let’s heal together!
Also, I’ve added my books and creative gear to my website. Please check it out!
Please take care and be kind to someone today! Our world needs it!
Shelly Dahmer
Author & Creative Entrepreneur
Website | Books | Creative Gear
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases. However, it does not make the price of my book increase.
