Day Two at Morgan Mandel's Basic Guide to Self-Publishing

Hi Gang,
Come on over to http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com for Day 2 of Morgan Mandel's Basic Guide to Self-Publishing where the topic is How to Get Started: Legalities, Technicalities, References.

Thanks,
Morgan Mandel

Killer Career Blog Book Tour Recap, Permalinks, Schedule of Self-Pub Posts at Blood-Red Pencil

First,
You'll find the permalinks for all of my tour stops in a post below this one. Later, it will also be available through a click on the left column of this blogspot. I'm offering them in case you missed one, or if you'd just like to come back and check one for reference.

To let you know what I've learned from my Killer Career Blog Book Tour so far -

Everyone said it would be tiring. I usually blog here everyday, so I didn't think blogging somewhere else would make much difference. I was wrong. It did. For one thing, I wanted the posts to be super-good, instructive, entertaining, with as few mistakes as possible. Because of that, it took longer to compose them.

I not only owed my best efforts to my hosts, but also to myself. I spent lots of time getting Killer Career together just right and I wanted my posts to reflect that fact.

Getting the posts ready wasn't enough. Before I left for work, I spread the word to Twitter, Facebook, Live Journal, MySpace and Hi5. On the train, I spread more word to my e-groups, and believe me, I belong to many. I also plugged the tour at Book Place, my ning network. With Twitter once wasn't enough. During the day, I'd quickly do a tweet about the blog when I could.

After I'd spread the word, I checked the blog-of-the-day numerous times on my work breaks and on the train going home and at home so I could answer comments. I'll carry on in the same manner next week for the rest of my tour at The Blood-Red Pencil.

Another thing - I didn't realize my hosts would be so generous. My blog remained up for days on many of the blogspots, which meant extra exposure. For that I'm extremely grateful. I'll keep checking for comments on all the stops off and on in case more appear.

And now, I'm turning the spotlight on my next tour stop of the tour, one that will last seven days. I've got to say The Blood-Red is a special blog. It's comprised mainly of editors who generously dispense wonderful writing tips. I'm honored to belong to such a group.

Here's the Schedule for what I'm calling Morgan Mandel's Basic Guide to Self-Publishing, at
The Blood-Red Pencil :

Monday, August 24 - Why Self-Publish
Tuesday, August 25 - How to Get Started - Legalities, Technicalities, References
Wednesday, August 26 - Why Use an Editor
Thursday, August 27 - Choosing a Printing House & Getting Familiar With It
Friday, August 28 - Setting Up Cover Art & Logo
Saturday, August 29 - Promo
Sunday - August 30 - Downloading, Proof, Acceptance, Publication

Thanks. I hope you continue on for the rest of the tour!
Morgan Mandel

8th Killer Career Blog Book Tour Stop at Murder by 4

Having trouble moving your plot forward? Try a secondary character -
See how at my 8th tour stop today at:

http://murderby4.blogspot.com/2009/08/need-to-move-plot-forward-consider.html

If you missed it, I showed ways to add description to novel yesterday at Helen Ginger's blogspot. Here's the link:
http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com/2009/08/adding-description-to-your-novel.html

Tomorrow's a recap and the schedule for my upcoming week's posts at http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com where the week will be devoted to
self-publishing.

Thanks,
Morgan

Blog Book Tour - Stop Seven at Straight From Hel

Today my Lucky Seven Stop on my Killer Career Blog Book Tour takes me to my wonderful editor, Helen Ginger's blogspot, http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com.

Come on over and learn some ways to add description to your novel.

If you missed it, yesterday an excerpt from the 12th chapter of Killer Career appeared at L. Diane Wolfe's blogspot. Here's the permalink which will take you straight to the excerpt post:
http://circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com/2009/08/thursday-excerpt-killer-career.html

Thanks, Morgan

Blog Book Tour - Stop Six at Spunk on a Stick

I'm off today to Spunk on a Stick around 7am. It's the blogspot owned by the perky and talented L. Diane Wolfe, at http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com/ . You'll find an excerpt there from Killer Career. I hope you like it! You'll also find information on her Circle of Friends series of books. My host is a busy gal!

Yesterday, Lillie Ammann set up a beautiful spot for my fourth stop. Unfortunately, her server played tricks for some hours in the afternoon. If any of you missed the interview, you can find it at http://www.lillieammann.com/blog . She asked some great questions. It's worth checking out.

Thanks,
Morgan

Stop 5 of Killer Career Blog Book Tour - Lillie Ammann's Blog

Today, my 5th stop is over at Lillie Ammann's A Writer's Words, an Editor's Eye at
http://www.lillieammann.com/blog . I invite you to come on over. She posed some
great questions, plus her setup over there is beautiful.

Thanks,
Morgan

Blog Book Tour - Stop Four at Unbound Today

My 4th stop takes me to Unbound for an interview by Hagelrat at
http://hagelrat.blogspot.com/2009/08/morgan-mandel-blog-tour.html

She offered some great questions. You're bound to learn things about me you didn't already know. Remember, to be eligible for a prize, you need to comment on at least one stop and report here to me before or after that you did, providing your email here.

As a bonus, if you didn't get to see it yet, the post is up at http://booklandheights.blogspot.com/2009/08/morgan-mandel-and-her-killer-career.html
about How I Named My Baby. Find out how I chose the Killer Career name.

Thanks,
Morgan Mandel

BLOG BOOK TOUR 3RD STOP AT THE LITTLE BLOG OF MURDER

Today, Monday, my Killer Career Blog Book Tour stops at http://www.thelittleblogofmurder.com, where my host is Jeff Marks.

The topic is Libraries - Do They Help or Hinder Sales?

Come on over, see what I have to say, and offer your opinion.

My prior two stops are also still on display by my hosts, if you'd care to check them out -
http://www.marywelk.com/ - Villains and Heroes - Gotta Love 'Em - host Mary Welk

http://booklandheights.blogspot.com/ - Interview, plus a later post coming - How I Named My Baby - host Mary Cunningham

Thanks, everyone


PS Remember the prizes - Comment there and let me know here before or after with your email address here and you could win - gray tee shirt for a guy without the cover art on it, cap or tote bag for a girl with the cover art on it.

PPS Tuesday, tomorrow's stop, is at Unbound, http://hagelrat.blogspot.com where Hagelrat will interview me.

KILLER CAREER GETS ANOTHER REVIEW!

I'm excited to report that my new release, KILLER CAREER, just got another review, this one by Ron Berry, and I love it! Thank you, Ron, for your kind words.

What I find fascinating about reviews is that you never know what might strike a chord with the reviewer. That happens with our readers also. Nobody thinks exactly alike and that's a good thing.

Snippet: "Morgan Mandel writes an intriguing tale which will keep you turning pages"

For more, go to:
http://unwriter1.wordpress.com/2009/08/08/review-for-killer-career/
Thanks,
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com,

KILLER CAREER ON SALE AT AMAZON.COM, BN.COM, ALSO AVAILABLE FOR ORDER AT BOOKSTORES, LIBRARIES, MOBIPOCKET.COM

Bios

I got my bio ready for the Blog Book Tour for Killer Career and sent it off to Mary Welk for my first stop at her blog on August 12. Afterwards, I wondered, should I use the same bio at all the stops?

Have you gone on a tour yet? What did you do? If you haven't gone on one, what would you do? Use the same one each time, or think up a new one?

BLOG BOOK TOUR FOR KILLER CAREER - A PREVIEW

Here's the lineup for my upcoming Blog Book Tour for Killer Career. If you follow a particular blogspot, please mark the date of my appearance on your calendar. If you've never been to some of them, it wouldn't hurt to try them out. They're all great places or I wouldn't have picked them.

8/12/09 - Cicero’s Children – http://www.marywelk.com/ Host: Mary Welk – Villains & Heroes – Gotta Love ‘em.

8/16/09 – Bookland Heights – http://booklandheights.blogspot.com/ – Host: Mary Cunningham - Interview and How I named my baby

8/17/09 – The Little Blog of Murder – http://thelittleblogofmurder.com/ - Host: Jeffrey Marks Libraries and library events – Do they help or hinder book sales?

8/18/09 – Unbound – http://hagelrat.blogspot.com/ – Host: Hagelrat – You’ll have to ask her for her real name. I’m sworn to secrecy. - Interview

8/19/09 - A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye – http://www.lillieammann.com/blog
Host: Lillie Ammann - Interview

8/20/09 - Spunk on a Stick – http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com/ – Host: L. Diane Wolfe – Thursday Excerpt

8/21/09 - Straight From Hel – http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com/ – Host: Helen Ginger –
How to add description to your novel.

8/22/09 – Murder by 4 – http://www.murderby4.blogspot.com/ – Host: Marta Stephens –
Need to move your plot forward? Consider a secondary character.

8/23/09 – Recap of Previous Week & Schedule of The Next Week’s Guide to Self-Publishing – How I Did It - Weeklong Feature at The Blood Red Pencil – Host: Dani Greer http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/

8/24 through 8/30 Guide to Self-Publishing – How I Did It by Morgan Mandel

Killer Career Released at Amazon

It's August, which means Killer Career has been released at Amazon.com. Here's the link for anyone who wants to get a copy.

If you haven't heard, Killer Career is about a lawyer whose career change could be a killer when her mentor, a NY Times Bestselling Author, does more than write about murders. As for her bestfriend, who is also her law partner, does he mean more to her than she thought? Will he let her go without a fight? To save herself and him, she must face her worst fear: claustrophobia.

Getting back to my Sunday post about the dog days of August, that shot of Rascal appears on every cover of Killer Career, only not as large, since she's the mascot of Choice One Publishing Co.

Happy August!
Morgan Mandel

Bookmarks

Wednesday night we picked up my Killer Career bookmarks, which had finally arrived at my brother's house. He's the one with the protected porch.

For some reason, I'd put off ordering them. Then I had the other decision of where I wanted to go. I chose Print Place. After that, I had trouble figuring out how I wanted them to look.

I was kind of nervous, but they turned out just lovely. Thursday I'm off to a few downtown Chicago bookstores to hand out my own bookmarks for a change. Usually I'm dropping off those from my friends.

By the way, that's a good in at a store. If you want to get known, just bring bookmarks from friends when they have a new book and drop them off. The staff then gets to know who you are. Sometimes that's all you need to get a book signing.

What about you? Do you drop off bookmarks for your friends? If not before, will you now?

Two by Two

I received my author copies of Killer Career and already they’re marching out two by two. On a normal day, I lug a laptop computer, a tote bag and purse with me to work. On these Killer Days, I add to the mix two copies of Killer Career. I’d bring more but the 300 page books get heavy along with everything else.

On my lunch break I drop them off at the post office. Today, one is going to Robert W. Walker, another to Austin S. Camacho for providing terrific back cover blurbs. Yesterday, I sent a few out for reviews, tomorrow will be two copies to a friend who already received her own copy and now wants to share Killer Career with others.

You might ask why I don’t do this on weekends when it’s easier to get to the post office in the car. Actually, I did drop off nine filled bubble envelopes last Saturday and will probably bring more the next.

I don’t like to wait and I don’t like to make others wait, so as the need arises, Killer Career is marching out two by two.

The official release date is August 15, but Killer Career is available for pre-order, on & off line.

Publisher: Choice One Publishing
isbn#978-0-9819916-0-3

Reviewers, Blog Book Tour, Reader

I've got quite a few reviewers lined up for Killer Career and hope to get some feedback soon.

There are only two days left to fill on my blog book tour. I'll be posting the links to the tour stops when I get it all set up. Very soon I'll need to think up some witty things to say on the blogs I visit. The last stop, which will be for an entire week, will be on http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/ when I tell everyone the process of getting Killer Career published.

Anyway, I thought I had the Microsoft Reader conversion figured out until I discovered that the Reader program doesn't support Microsoft Word 2007, though it's the same company. It uses Microsoft 2003 like most of the world. So, even when I set my document to compatibility mode for 2003, I got weird error messages. Now I'm trying to use my old computer with Word 2003 on it to see if the program will work there. So far the old one is getting hung up on adding the cover art. It doesn't have much room. That's why I usually just let the DH use it for surfing. Nothing's easy.

I did get to go to Mount Prospect Saturday night where they had a doings called a Block Party on their main street, with food booths, tables and bands. The DH and I met some fun people to sit with and had a great time.

KILLER CAREER NOW AVAILABLE AT MOBIPOCKET

I'm happy to announce Killer Career is making its way along the Internet. I've found several sightings. Of course, I had to print out each and every page I discovered and add all of them to my special folder as keepsakes.

Anyway, the first ebook offering of Killer Career, mobipocket edition, is available for order right now, is over at
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=208914&Origine=6314

For Pre-Order links of the paperback version to date, with more to come, check out http://choiceonepublishing.com/.

If you haven't gone over there yet, you're missing out on seeing what a sexy villain looks like.
Later on, more about the good guy will be up on that site.

Money

A lot of us authors say we're not into the writing business to make money. That has to be true, judging from the data on how much authors make from books compared to the time spent writing them, as well as the time and money spent promoting them.

Still, it helps to get some of it back. I just got my author copies of Killer Career this week and sold three of them at work. It's not a lot of money, but it did feel good to have the money coming in instead of going out.

The downside is I have to go to the bank and deposit it. That's not hard to do, but putting the money into the bank isn't all. I also need to keep track of what's what. Today's deposit is subject to Illinois sales taxes, so I'm putting it in my checking account. That will remind me at the end of the year that 10 per cent is due the State of Illinois. Come December, that amount may change, as Cook County is repealing the tax increase then. That means I'll have to remember to charge less in taxes on whatever date in December it rolls back, also I'll need to fill out two separate sections in the business sales tax form.

There are other downsides to bringing in money for books. I should be happy I'm getting money, but I don't like having to keep track of it. Still, it goes with the territory.

Gee, I'd hate to be a bestselling author. What a hassle that would be. Only kidding.

A POST OFFICE IN MY FUTURE

My author copies arrived today. After the DH and I picked them up at my brother's house, I couldn't get anything accomplished. I had to check every box to make sure my babies were okay and that someone else's babies hadn't been substituted. Okay, I didn't go over every book, but I did peek inside the first two or three rows in each box and all appears to be well. They did survive the ride over.

Anyway, I was admiring the babies so much and so distracted, I couldn't do lots of the things I still need doing, like getting letters ready to send out for reviews, and lots more, way too much to mention.

Anyway, I hope to get one or two letters ready during the week, but Saturday is the target day for dropping off the main bulk of them. Watch out, post office, here I come!

Crazy times

I'm not posting as much here lately because I've got so much going on. It's been kind of organized bedlam lately. All sorts of summer doings to attend. I don't want to disappoint the DH by not partipating, though it takes time away from the production of Killer Career.

All kinds of kinks for Killer Career being worked out, since I want my baby to be perfect.

In the works is a Blog Book Tour, which I plan to start on August 15. When it's all finalized, I'll be posting the topics and sites here.

Gotta go to a birthday party now.
Morgan

KILLER CAREER Already at Barnes & Noble.Com

Just for the heck of it, I went over to Barnes and Noble.com and searched for Morgan Mandel

Killer Career Came Up!

I'm not sure if orders can be taken yet, but it looks like they can! Here's the link if anyone wants to try:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Killer-Career/Morgan-Mandel/e/9780981991603/?itm=1


If you do order, be sure to let us know how you like it.

Morgan Mandel