Saturday, Oct 14, from 12-5 pm, I’ll be joining other local authors and publishers at the Tampa Bay Book Fair. It’s at the 49er Flea Market on 49th St N. in Pinellas Park, just north of Quaker Steak (on the other side).
Let’s talk about all things books – writing, publishing. Pick up a pen or a book – they will be discounted on that day. Get ideas for what you’d like to produce as well. Be inspired by others like you who live here.
I’ll be sharing a booth with local author Bria Burton, which adds variety to the types of books you’ll find at our booth.
I’ve been kind of quiet this year – busy helping others get their books into print, creating a photo book for the family, and finally getting back to finishing the next draft of my novel.
I hadn’t mentioned when the new book became available on Amazon, but it is now, and you can find it here. With the deals going on now, you might be able to get a healthy discount!
(the cover, once again!)
The purpose of this book is to give the reader the ability to use software they have never seen before, without the daunting prospect of having to learn it on their own. Self Publish for FREE walks you through both Scribus and GIMP, step by step, to produce the files necessary to build a book on CreateSpace. Short on hype and long on learning, this book has a singular focus: to help you get your files ready to upload.
There are many websites that can help, many tools that others offer. But if you’re the true do-it-yourselfer who wants full control, then this is the book for you.
Upcoming Signing Event
Maybe you know someone who wants to create a printed book. Or maybe you can wait, because you want an autographed copy of Self Publish for FREE along with some face time. If so, you can pick up a signed copy for 25% off list price at the Gulfport Art Walk on Saturday, December 19th, 2015. (And we’ll pay the tax for you!)
John Rehg will be there signing Self Publish for FREE and others he’ll have for sale in time for Christmas, including ones for children, for zombie fans, for those who like humor, and for prayer and reflection. There’s something for everyone in the family!
Thanks
At this time of year we give thanks for all the authors who have trusted us with their work, for all the readers who have supported them, and for being able to share our knowledge with those we’ve come in contact with, one way or another.
John Rehg has released a new book, Self Publish for FREE, available on CreateSpace now (here) and Amazon next week. For those who want to create a book but thought publishing it was either too difficult or too expensive, here’s your answer!
Here’s the cover:
The first in a planned series, John walks you through, step by step, to master the software (that is free) that can get you in print on CreateSpace.
Instructions are included for a word processor (LibreOffice), a layout program (Scribus), and a graphics program (GIMP), all available for free download and use on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
You can actually create a book at no cost! (Except for the price of this one, and the price of buying yours once it’s created.)
We’ll continue to post helpful hints on this website, and encourage you to visit the forums of those programs to benefit even more. But if you want to save time and hunting for tutorials, get a copy of Self Publish for FREE.
Book Signing Saturday Nov 7, 2015
Tampa Bay Book Fair is this Saturday at Park Station in Pinellas Park. We’ll have several authors there and we’ll be there, too, signing books and talking about writing and publishing. Park Station is located on Park Blvd. between 58th and 59th streets. Parking behind the building as well as farther back at the senior center.
Come out and join the fun, and you can preview a proof copy of the self publishing book. We’re not sure yet where we’ll be, but will tweet our location once we find out. (Follow @JohnRehg for the update.)
This event will be filled with local authors, and there are supposed to be food and beer trucks on site. The event takes place from 2pm – 8pm. Pick up some Holiday gifts early!
J Gerard Michaels’ Cord Wheaton Saga is back with episode 17: Zombieween with a FREE download. After taking the summer off, the detective returns in the continuing saga of the run up to the apocalypse. Or is it? Will he stop it? Can he stop it? Here’s the cover:
This episode also introduces a new character, named for a real person (signed up in September), and follows our detective as he works to make Halloween safe for St. Petersburg. This begins book 4 of the series. The cover is also made possible by the use of someone’s photo that Michaels thought appropriate for the holiday, following a tradition (though the photographer was not aware of this) of offering to use others’ artwork for covers of the episodes or books.
FREE Download this weekend!
Michaels is offering Zombieween as a free download on Kindle this weekend. You can get the ebook here. This continues his practice of offering the episodes free at or near their release date.
If you haven’t caught up with all the previous episodes, check out his author’s page (this title will be added soon) here.
Upcoming Event
In just over a week, you can meet Michaels in person at the Tampa Bay Book Fair event being held at Park Station in Pinellas Park (one of the venues).He’ll be there along with several other authors who have published under our name: Bria Burton and Tic Rawghers.
Date and Time: Saturday, Nov 7, 2015 from 2-8pm.
Location:Park Station,5851 Park Blvd, Pinellas Park.
This event will feature local authors, panel discussions, readings, etc. It should be a fun time and gives you the chance to meet area writers. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet a current best seller or a future John Grisham or Michael Connelly. (Okay, 2 of my favorite authors in the mystery/crime genre.)
When you read those words, I imagine you’re thinking, “Wow, they sold a lot of books.” That’s how most people measure success, I think. They measure it by money.
And although it was our best Art Walk event in those terms, that’s not what I mean when I say it was a success. To me, what was important was meeting all those people who stopped by our booth to talk. Whether it was dogs and cats, zombies, old men, or Sci-Fi history, we shared a great deal in discussions with so many people.
That, to me, made it a success. So much so, that I couldn’t wait to post my impression of the night. It started out hot, but Bria had a cheap tablecloth we hung up behind us that blocked the sun. And even though it was hot, there was a nice breeze coming off the bay that helped keep us somewhat cool.
Once the sun dropped out of sight, the cool night air refreshed us. It was a beautiful night – more of an October or November night to me – made even better by the friends who stopped by, and others who took the time to say hi and chat about anything.
New Zombie Signups
We also had several people sign up to be in an upcoming Cord Wheaton episode. J Gerard Michaels will be in touch with them to decide how he will craft them into the story. We are expecting a release date of early next year, or maybe even late this year!
Prometheus a Hit
The anthology – historical science fiction – was a big hit, and Bria was occupied quite a bit talking about the book, and selling them quickly. It also gave her an opportunity to try out some new technology, with great success.
The night flew by so fast, we forgot to eat. What a difference from some of the other nights, where we would easily go pick up food at a local restaurant, unconcerned that we would miss someone stopping by.
So, thank you to all those who came out to say hello and support us. We had a great time!
Free Downloads Weekend Celebrates The 5K Zombie Run
This weekend we are celebrating our participation in the 5K Zombie Run taking place in Largo, FL, with some free downloads of Kindle ebooks. Of course, with this being a zombie run, author j gerard michaels has several promotions going. He’s offering a free download of 1 episode from every book (3 in all) of The Cord Wheaton Saga. They are: Zombie Raid, episode 6 from book 1, Zombie Origins, (there are 7 episodes in all in the book), Spring Brain, episode 8 and the first one of book 2, Zombie Menace, and Run Zombie Run, episode 14 from book 3, Zombie State, his most recent compilation just released this month.
Book Signing and free giveaways
j gerard michaels will be at the 5K Zombie Run in Largo signing copies of all 3 of his books, giving away some freebies to go along with them, and available to chat about what’s coming next. If you’d like to get yourself into the book, that’s always a possibility. The series is based in Florida, and the hero, Cord Wheaton, is a detective in the St. Petersburg Police Department. Most of the locations are real. The roads are real (except for a few in north Florida), and some of the people are real, as they’ve given permission to be included in the book.
author j gerard michaels
Additional Book Promotions!
To stay in the spirit of the 5k Zombie Run (which is to have fun), jg michaels is offering promotions on the first 2 books, Zombie Origins (book 1), and Zombie Menace (book 2). What’s the deal? Beginning Monday, Mar 2, book 1 is discounted to $1.99 (ebook). On Wednesday, Mar 4, the price goes up to $2.99, and on Friday, it returns to its normal price (3.99).
Beginning Wednesday, Mar 4, book 2 is on sale for $1.99 until Friday, Mar 4, when it returns to its normal price (2.99).
Grandpa gets in on the Action
Grandpa Tic Rawghers supports the 5k Zombie Run, too. He’s offering a free download of his I Didn’t Run Today and My Body Thanked Me short. Tic is proud of his first print book being published, You Can’t Change Me!, and will offer that at the run as well, along with some freebies.
Grandpa Tic Rawghers
So we hope you can get out there this weekend, and if not, maybe the following Friday in Gulfport, FL for the Art Walk. And as always, thank you for your support!
Grandpa Tic Rawghers, author of the Grandpa’s Guides series, has come out with his first book in print! We are excited to announce the availability of You Can’t Change Me! Grandpa’s Guides on Life and Love, available now in paperback and ebook formats. This book encompasses all 4 of Tic’s guides, as well as a small bonus section where he explains some of the mysteries of life.
How was this possible? He first completed his 4th guide, There’s Nothing to Do! on Kindle available here. This guide is on Summer Vacations. If you’ve heard kids complain right after they’re out of school, well, Grandpa Tic has some suggestions to make their summer vacation an unforgettable one. Filled with his wit and wisdom, Tic shares some snippets from a summer vacation he took that he still remembers to this day as he explains things to his grandkids and his kids.
This guide will be a FREE download Friday and Saturday, 2/20-21.
Or, you can buy the print book and get the entire collection in Kindle format for only 99c! This offer is available all the time.
Tic will be signing and selling his book at the Gulfport Art Walk on the first Friday in March, 3/6/15. Come see him at a booth along the walk – the location will be known later.
BRIGITTE MOORE TALK AND BOOK SIGNING
Brigitte D Moore, author of Finding Home, will be signing at the Barbara Ponce Library in Pinellas Park. Here are the details in a flyer promoting the event. She has a fascinating story and would love for you to come out and listen and ask questions.
If the flyer here is difficult to read, here are the meeting details:
When: Saturday, Feb 28, 2015 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM.
Where: Lobby Meeting Room at Barbara S. Ponce Public Library
j gerard michaels has released a new book, the third in his Cord Wheaton Saga, Zombie State, in both paperback and Kindle. It’s available now here. This is the cover:
This compilation includes episodes 12 to 16 in the series. It follows the detective as he attempts to prevent the zombie apocalypse from becoming a reality. It looks like one state has pretty much turned, and it’s his state, which was ground zero.
Filled with action, humor, romance, mystery, and of course, zombies, the twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy!
Author EVENTS
This is a busy time for author appearances. We have 3 coming up in the next month, all occurring within a week of each other.
Brigitte D. Moore will be giving a book talk at the Barbara S. Ponce Public Library in Pinellas Park on Saturday, Feb 28, 2015 in the afternoon. One of our most popular authors continues to make sales and spread the word about her personal story.
j gerard michaels will be at the 5K Zombie Run in Largo, FL on the same day, in the morning. You could actually make both events! This one is a fun family affair, with children of all shapes and sizes enjoying exercise and the outdoors. The author will have some goodies to give away as well.
Bria Burton will join j gerard michaels at the Gulfport Art Walk in Gulfport, FL (southwest of St.Pete) on Friday, March 6, at a booth selling their books. I’ll be there as well promoting Soul Attitude Press. This is another great event that we’re happy to be a part of.
UPCOMING
We have more books coming in the near future. Grandpa Tic is hard at work on his 4th guide, hoping he can then produce a print book. We’re also working on a step-by-step guide to give you the ability to produce your own book, for free! (Or, for the cost of this book, you’ll then have a guide to produce your own at no cost.)
Yep, you read that right. We are blowing out the doors on Kindle with a bunch of free downloads from some of our authors. All weekend long, Nov 15-16, you can download 3 zombie ebook episodes of The Cord Wheaton Saga, 2 spiritual offerings from John Rehg, and Tic Rawghers’ first guide.
The books to download are:
Tic Rawghers’ first guide:
Grandpa Tic’s humorous look at the electronic world of today through the eyes of an old man and his grandchildren.
Laugh along with him as he attempts to learn how kids function today, while giving them advice on how it really should be done!
j gerard michaels’ The Cord Wheaton Saga episodes 4 And a Zombie in a Pear Tree (in English and Vietnamese) and 7: Soul of the Undead
And finally, John Rehg has two short books for free this weekend:
BOOK SIGNING
The authors will be reading and signing copies of print books (though Tic won’t as his aren’t in print yet) at Wilson’s Book World in St. Pete, Florida, this Saturday, Nov 15 around 3:30-5 pm, along with Bria Burton, Sunny Fader, and others.
Should be a lot of fun and we’ll have some free things to give away or include with any purchase. We hope you can make it out to listen to some good stories, etc.
A celebration of independent bookstores. Authors will be reading and entertaining and offering their books for sale. Come out and enjoy the fun. We have several authors appearing at Wilson’s Book World at 2394 MLK in St. Pete (just south of 24th Avenue).
Why should you be there?
Several of our authors will be reading! Bria Burton, author of Lance and Ringo Tails; John Rehg, author of several books on spirituality and prayer; j gerard michaels, author of the zombie series: The Cord Wheaton Saga, and possibly a special appearance by Grandpa Tic Rawghers, author of Grandpa’s Guides, an ebook only series.
Bria reads at 1:30, and the others around 3:30. Come out and join the fun.
Free Downloads!
To celebrate, some authors will be offering free downloads of some of their ebooks. Stay tuned for these special offers tomorrow.
COMING SOON- HELPING YOU GET PUBLISHED
Are you overwhelmed by the plethora of options in the publishing world? Do you get inundated with emails touting the latest and greatest publishing offer? Are you tired of all these and just want a simple way to put together your own book?
If you answered YES! to any of these questions, we’re here to help. We don’t do everything, but we can help you get published, and we’ll soon be offering some tips and advice on how to publish yourself, easily and at virtually NO COST!
That’s right – it’s something you can do very easily and cheaply. What a wonderful gift to give. Now, I know you are thinking, “It’s too late! Christmas is less than two months away!” (Actually, for those counting it’s 42 days, and I don’t expect you to put something together that quickly.)
Now’s the time to think about next year! And get started on putting your book, your story, your poetry (or whatever) together. We’ll start our series in December. Stay tuned for more details. (Or check back, or get on our mailing list!)
You can ask the publisher Saturday at Wilson’s Book World – we’ll be there celebrating Florida Indie Bookstore Day!
