Category: Writing

Delays, Delays, Delays: Not My Choice!
My Thoughts · poetry · Self-publishing · Writing

Delays, Delays, Delays: Not My Choice!

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Allow for Delays

Delays have hampered the release of my new poetry book, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry. The reasons vary: publishing issues and the effects of the dog attack.

Dog Attack Causes Delays

Today is three months since that vicious dog attack that has altered my life and caused the delay of the release of this book. First, I hurt too much to work at all on this book. Then my life filled up with doctor’s appointments and just trying to get everything figured out with the wound. During the early weeks of this trauma, my thoughts and concentration suffered with the pain and the horror!

Recently, the nerve damage pain in my foot and ankle and now my leg has overtaken my life. So, the orthopedic doctor prescribed gabapentin for the nerve pain, causing me to feel fuzzy and have trouble thinking clearly. All of this affected the way I handled the specifics of self-publishing which now has caused further delays.

Publishing Issues

I originally planned to release this book in August. At first, I received the book cover on June 26 and gave them a page count for the book but didn’t get back to them until September 5. Then I changed the page count and needed them to adjust it. I also had neglected to get them the book description and my biography. So more delays!

I received the book description on July 16, timely enough. Because of a planned family get-together in Colorado, I neglected to look closely at the book description and forgot I hadn’t. Then on July 21, my life changed with the dog attack.

The cover company, 100covers.com, has been a dream to work with. Patiently, they have let me alter the requirements so far.

As I waited for the paperback cover, I wondered about the delay. On October 12, 2024, I emailed them because I had been waiting to release the paperback but hadn’t received the final cover. Today I got an email from them saying they sent me the covers on October 2, 2024—see the effect of the gabapentin. I couldn’t believe it I missed it, delaying another two weeks.

So, this afternoon, I checked the paperback cover and found two mistakes in the book description and my biography. I just emailed them to see if we can correct the mistakes that are my fault! Yikes!

I’ll let you know. What’s so frustrating for me about this—early in April when this four-book poetry book series became a reality, in my over-performing mindset, I thought about publishing maybe two or three of these books this year. Yes, I realized quickly that was far-fetched, but taking all this time to just publish one goes against my work ethics!

As I lamented to Lin, my husband, today about the delays, he reassured and said, “So, if you don’t release it until November, what difference is it?” His relaxed attitude helps me as I labor over these delays.

Update on Chapbook and Title

Last week, I shared about my chapbook I’m creating and offered some possible titles. Well, after my book coaching session this last week, I threw those titles out because they had nothing to do with the topics of the poems I write about in this chapbook. My book coach reminded me of four ways to title a nonfiction book. One of them was using the title of a poem from the book. I did that with Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir and my new poetry book I’m getting ready to release, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry.

So, here’s the new title and the cover I created. I need your opinion on the difference choice of fonts.

#1

Book cover - delays

#2

Book cover - delays

Please help me out! Make a comment in the Comments section on which number you like or email me at larada@icloud.com but respond!

Finally,

Self-publishing a book has so many moving parts. Add the insanity that the dog attack had on me and my abilities and it equals delays, delays, delays!

Podcasts & My Interviews

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover

[mc4wp_form id=3447]

A Lead Magnet—What’s That? And Why Is It Important?
Book Promotion · My Thoughts · poetry · Writing

A Lead Magnet—What’s That? And Why Is It Important?

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Marketing strategies - lead magnet

A lead magnet in the book marketing industry plays a key role, but what is it? And why is it important? I’m creating one for my four-book poetry series.

Lead Magnet Explained

“For authors marketing their books, giveaways (which we shall refer to as ‘lead magnets,’ for reasons that will become clear) work on multiple levels. They will:

  • Make readers more aware of your work and your ‘brand’;
  • Operate on the psychological principle of reciprocity — people innately wish to “pay you back” when you give them something for free; and
  • Give you access to their contact details.”

https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/how-to-create-an-irresistible-lead-magnet-to-market-your-book

Lead Magnet for My New Poetry Series

As I have listened to my book coach, Derek Doepker, and book coaching group, I realized I needed a lead magnet for my new poetry series. In the book industry, the lead magnet is usually is an e-book.

At first, I was going to make Book #1 of this series (the one I’m about ready to release) the lead magnet and have it FREE to entice poetry readers to join my email list. But another poet in our book coaching group gave me an idea—she created a chapbook as her lead magnet.

So what’s a Chapbook?

A chapbook is “a small book containing ballads, poems, tales, or tracts.”

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chapbook

A chapbook’s size varies, but usually isn’t more than forty pages.

“From where would this chapbook come?” I wondered one day as this idea took root and sprouted. I have enough poetry I’ve written and more for the three other books in this series. Could I grab some from those three books not finalized yet? I needed a theme—something to organize this chapbook around!

Then it hit me! As an English teacher, I taught a poetry unit each year and wanted to grow as writer/teacher. So in 2002 & 2003, I attended poetry classes put on by Continuing Education, affiliated with University of New Mexico. These classes stretched me as a teacher/writer and ultimately as a poet later.

What a great theme! The teacher becomes the student! So, I sat in those six weeks classes and at time wondered—what was I doing! I had never been a poet who wrote rhyming poetry or formatted poetry. These classes focused on formats and forms. I had embraced Free Verse as my poetry of choice for writing. In this class, I felt challenged, stretched and wondered about my creations. The teacher encouraged me; my fellow students did, too, so it was an affirming experience. That’s why I wanted to feature them in this chapbook.

Help Me Select My Chapbook Title

Because you support my writing, I want you to have a part of the selection process for the title to my chapbook. Remember, it’s a short chapbook featuring poetry I wrote for two poetry classes I took.

Here’s the title possibilities:

  1. Two Poetry Classes, One Lesson: A Teacher’s Poetic Enlightenment
  2. Two Poetry Classes, One Insight: A Teacher’s Journey to Poetic Enlightenment
  3. Chalk Dust and Stanzas: Lessons from Both Sides of the Desk
  4. Chalk Dust and Stanzas: Lesson from the Other Side of the Desk

Help me decide! I like all of these choices. Make a comment in the Comments section and identify which title you like the best by the number.

Finally,

this chapbook will be the lead magnet for my four-book poetry series and will be permanently FREE on Amazon as an e-book. I will let you know when it’s available—probably next week or so!

Historical Fiction & Family Saga Book Giveaway!

This giveaway expires October 9, so jump on it today!

https://booksweeps.com/giveaway/historical-fiction-family-sagas-giveaway

Podcasts & My Interviews

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover

[mc4wp_form id=3447]

June 30 Ends Audiobook Appreciation Month! Did You Leap?
Audiobooks · My Thoughts · Self-publishing

June 30 Ends Audiobook Appreciation Month! Did You Leap?

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
June is Audiobook Month

June 30—hard to believe, but now we face the end of Audiobook Appreciation Month. Did you leap? Did you download an audiobook or two and try it out? Listening on a drive somewhere? Or on a walk around the neighborhood or in the park?

I’ve featured my three audiobooks this month and my adventure in this area of publication. Hopefully you have had plenty opportunity to look them up and download one or two or three!

I ended up featuring my newest audiobook, This Tumbleweed Landed, and my first one, Let Me Tell You a Story on Father’s Day this month, so I’m going to end with my Christmas audiobook. Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir.

June 30, 2024 Made Me Think of My First Audiobook Recording Experience

Interestingly, in 2015 after I self-published my first book, This Tumbleweed Landed, in 2104, my cousin called and asked me if I had plans to do an audiobook of this book. She wanted to share it with my aunt and thought hearing the book in my voice would be delightful.

So, I began researching. I bought an e-book, Audiobooks for Indies: Unlock the Audio Potential of Your Book by Simon Whistler. Looking back at his book now, he suggested a Blue Yeti for a microphone, but I bought a Blue Snowball. I ignored his other suggestions which looking back now at this book after my training with Derek Doepker, I missed a lot.

Blue Snowball Microphone

On February 8, 2015, when I was at my home in Branson, Colorado, I went into the bedroom and recorded one part. I thought I still had that recording and was going to share it with you and compare it with the one I did recently. But the folder is empty—I deleted it! I must have done that when I decided to record it a few months ago.

The sad part—that’s the only time I used that microphone. I stepped away from creating audiobooks—it seemed too much, too hard! I couldn’t do it! It just wasn’t the right time.

Fast forward to 2021 when I bought Derek’s training, “Audiobooks Made Easy,” and started recording my first audiobook! I released my first one in early 2022, my second before Christmas 2023 and my third in early 2024. I’m so glad June 30 came and I looked back on this adventure! My message to you authors out there—don’t give up!

Here’s the audiobook posts this month in case you missed them:

With us facing July tomorrow, enjoy Christmas in July! Here’s some samples from my Christmas audiobook, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir. Enjoy!

Finally,

I have plans for more audiobooks, so which one should I do next? Let me know!

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover - June 30

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover - June 30

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook audiobook cover - June 30

Enjoy my interview on the podcast, The Writing Table

[mc4wp_form id=3447]

Virtual Voice for An Audiobook—Yes or No?
Audiobooks · My Books · My Thoughts

Virtual Voice for An Audiobook—Yes or No?

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Microphone to record - Virtual voice

Virtual voice for an audiobook of mine? Yes, or no? KDP, Amazon’s self-publishing branch, sent me an invitation in November, 2023 to participate in a Beta version to do my eligible ebooks. Finally, a couple months ago, I opted in to do it. Let’s talk about the process.

I have recorded three audiobooks myself, creating a home recording studio in a walk-in closet in our master bedroom. Those titles are Let Me Tell You a Story, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir and lastly, This Tumbleweed Landed, listed below to purchase. Also, in 2022 I recorded another book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, but have only seven of thirty-one chapters revised in a final copy. That’s the year shingles hit me and I stopped mid-stream.

Recording an audiobook - Virtual Voice

I thoroughly enjoy recording my own books because I love re-reading them, being surprised and thrilled at my words and thoughts.

So, the idea of having someone else record my books didn’t appeal to me at first, but I love to experiment and I have been a “technology nerd” for years, so I thought I’d give it a try. I selected When Will Papa Get Home?, a historical fiction I self-published in 2017. I planned to do an audiobook for this book after I finished my Bitter or Better audiobook.

In the process of using KDP’s offer of a virtual voice, I received no email or notification it was done. I just finished a promotional for this book for Father’s Day and noticed the audiobook was in “Draft” format, so I realized they had done it.

Pick a Voice

Next, I went into the audiobook setup and had eight voices to choose from: five feminine voices and three masculine voices. Two of the feminine voices had British accents, so they wouldn’t work. All choices ranged in age from thirty to forty which seemed to work. I chose the seventh voice.

Audiobook cover

KDP offers to create a cover for the audiobook, showing a sample of the e-book and the audiobook, but it doesn’t show you what your cover will look like—lots of free offerings that make me wonder.

KDP Select Enrollment

Because my book is enrolled in KDP Select, automatically they enroll my audiobook in Audible Plus.

Pricing and Royalties

Next, they talk money. They give you the choice of setting the price. With the other audiobooks I’ve created, they gave a suggested price—not here. But they do give a price for the audiobook as a Standalone and then an eBook add-on price with royalties for all. Here they list the Amazon.com royalties and the Audible.com royalties which is 40% of the price. ACX.com also offers 40% royalties for audiobooks they distribute. FindAwayVoices.com offers the best royalties—80%!

Virtual Voice Studio

Finally, I arrived at the heart and soul of this setup—listening to how the virtual voice sounds speaking my words. When I heard my name, Larada, read, I realized I had to edit the pronunciation. So, I typed in “La Rayda” for the edit and it seems to be close to how my family pronounced my name. I have the option of editing the “Voice speed,” also. Also, I can add “Pauses” if need be.

This book has Spanish sprinkled throughout, and I just listened to sections that have some Spanish to see how the virtual voice did. On some of it, the pronunciation worked, but the word “hijita” didn’t because the “j” in Spanish sounds like “h.” Also the “i” in Spanish sounds like the English “ee.” So I’m going to have to do some major editing of this audiobook because of the Spanish words.

Finally,

I listened to snippets of several chapters. Yes, the Spanish pronunciation creates some issues, but for the most part, the feminine voice I selected sounds great and uses inflection to emphasis crucial points in the story.

I’m still not sure about this because of ownership rights to the audiobook. I need to do some more research because I don’t want to give up ownership to the audiobook. Their contract says, “you retain all ownership rights in and to the copyrights and all other rights and interest in and to your Books, and we retain ownership in the AVV (Audiobook with Virtual Voice) Edition file.”

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GWHSFAK69P2537YR

That doesn’t sound good to me at all! What do you think? Would you do it?

My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Buy Let Me Tell You a Story Audiobook

Buy Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Enjoy my interview on the podcast, The Writing Table

[mc4wp_form id=3447]