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Indie Publishing is Here to Stay #SelfPubIsHERE

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Lisa Fleetwood, Robin Elizabeth, Writing & Publishing .

In case you missed my blog post over at my main blog, Welcome to My Library, check out my latest post below. 🙂

#SelfPubIsHere

In a 2018 blog titled, ‘Self-Publishers: We Want You’ the National Library of Australia says,

‘Our collection aims to provide a true reflection of Australians and Australian culture. With improvements in digital publishing and printing technologies, self-published books make up a large portion of the nation’s published output, so we are keen to ensure they are held in the collection. 

I’ll point it out just in case you missed it… self-published books make up a large portion of the nation’s published output.

I don’t have stats so don’t ask me, but if self-publishers make up a large portion of Australia’s published output, (and the NLA would know since they’re the ones collecting all the books), then why are we under-represented at festivals?

Obviously, there are standards but every self-published author I have met in Australia has professionally edited and presented books with great stories. We take our books seriously and hire professionals, including freelance editors that are the very same ones that traditional publishing houses use.

I’ll digress for a moment.

When I self-published I thought holding my print book in my hand would be the ultimate moment, but it wasn’t. I was over-excited to fulfil a life-long dream of becoming an author and I was naïve – it was my first book. I didn’t know! But, of course, the best and most rewarding part of publishing was connecting with readers.

At festivals, self-published authors could connect with MORE readers but generally we are excluded. Unless we are a mega successful hybrid author who initially self-published and was then picked up by a trade publisher. The rest of us usually miss out, even if we have successful books and a horde of faithful readers.

Self-publishing gives writers the freedom to develop their own ideas and stories – and publish them. Stories that many readers love, but would never see the light of day if the only option for writers was traditional publication. Most readers do not look at who published a book. If the book is professionally presented and edited and the story grabs them, that’s what is important.

And, just because a book is not published by a traditional publisher does not mean there are not readers out there who want to read a well-written, professionally edited, heartwarming memoir about me and my travels around the globe looking for sausage dogs. Yes, we’re talking about my book, Destination Dachshund: Three Months, Three Generations & Sixty Dachshunds. 😉 Go grab yourself a copy here(shameful plug) or Robin Elizabeth’s, Confessions of a Mad Mooer: Postnatal Depression Sucks.

Back to the readers… these are the people we are trying to connect with but it is very limiting in Australia to try and reach them when we are left out of the loop when it comes to festivals and conferences, and slip under the radar for industry reviews.

I do wonder if the Australia Council for the Arts or the state and federal governments are only interested in funding the arts (writing in this case) if a writer has been traditionally published?

Are self-published writers and their stories not deemed worthy enough for funding at festivals or funding for a dedicated self-publishing festival? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

#SelfPubIsHere

In the Australian Self Publishernewsletter by Thorpe-Bowker they cover a lot of ground including information about ISBNs, self-published author spotlights and book formatting. It’s a great newsletter.

But how good would it be if self-published writers and aspiring authors could gather – IN PERSON – to learn, discuss, and flourish at a festival that is all about self- publishing.

This is the blurb for a UK self-publishing conference:

The Self-Publishing Conference is a dedicated self-publishing event, offering authors a chance to find out about a wide range of publishing options, to hear from and question those who work within the thriving self-publishing world, and to network with fellow authors, many of whom will already be experienced self-publishers.

 The event attracts experienced professionals from the world of editing, marketing, production, design and distribution. The event aims to educate, inform and inspire authors who are publishing their own work, or who are considering that as a route to market.

Australia, please, can we have one too?One whole day dedicated to self-publishing. Or two days? With an evening meet & greet. And wine. My bags are already packed.  

#SelfPubIsHere

There is a market for self-publishers and our books but there is a distinct lack of representation at Australian festivals. I’d love to see more panels and workshops geared towards self-publishing and a section at literary festivals showcasing the publications of some of Australia’s wonderful indie authors. 

And FYI… Sydney Writers’ Festival… although I love you I would truly like to see the representation of self-published authors in your future programs.

Chat about making space for self-publishing on social media with Pauline Findlay and Robin Elizabeth using #SelfPubIsHere. Help self-publishers gain more recognition. Make some noise!

For more in-depth articles read Robin’s blog post ‘Let me Proposition You… With a Self-Publishing Festivaland Pauline Findlay’s article on Medium ‘Why are self-published authors being ignored by Writers’ Festivals, Book Fairs and Awards?’

 

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Tags: #SelsPubIsHere, Festival, indie author, Robin Elizabeth, self-publishing, writing festival .

Gold Medal Book Award for Destination Dachshund

Posted on October 4, 2017 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Book Awards, Lisa Fleetwood, Uncategorized, Writing & Publishing .

Gold Medal Book Award for Destination Dachshund

 

Bookends Publishing is excited to announce that travel memoir Destination Dachshund: Three Months, Three Generations & Sixty Dachshunds by Lisa Fleetwood has won the Gold Medal in the ‘Non-Fiction – Travel’ category in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest! 

 

 

 

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Tags: book award, Destination Dachshund, Lisa Fleetwood, literary award, memoir, readers favorite, travel memoir .

Lisa Fleetwood on self-publishing and dachshunds

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Author, Books, Lisa Fleetwood, Memoir, Uncategorized, Writing & Publishing .

Recently the Australian Writers’ Centre interviewed me about my travel memoir, Destination Dachshund: Three Months, Three Generations & Sixty Dachshunds. I am so excited to share the interview where I talk about the book, self-publishing and why I chose to do it, and how I became a best seller on Amazon.

I’ve done four (or maybe five) courses at the centre and all have been beneficial to honing my skills as a writer – all of which contributed to my eventual publication. But there is more to just doing writing courses than working on the craft of writing. It’s about the people you meet there. Generally speaking your writer friends are your allies, the bright sparks at the end of a disappointing day writing (or not writing), your wing-ladies and men.

Prior to 2011, when I began to regularly attend courses, workshops and literary events I was doing it alone. I was writing with no-one to bond with, no one to discuss a plot hole with, no one to help me push though writers block, and no-one to rant to when everything I just typed mysteriously disappeared from my computer.

The people I’ve met at courses, workshops, conventions, and festivals are the ones who encouraged me to reach for stars. Yes, of course, my lovely family and other friends do this all the time too – I feel very fortunate and grateful – but there is nothing like bonding over a shared goal… to be published. We all know that no on else gets it like another writer. It’s just a fact.

There are so many positives to writing courses than just the content of the course and fan-girling over legends of Australian literature Kate Forsyth and Garth Nix. Whether it is online or face-to-face these are the places that you will start to meet your writing tribe who continue to support, help, and motivate.

Read the interview with the Australian Writers’ Centre below:

Lisa Fleetwood on self-publishing and dachshunds

 

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Tags: Australian Writers Centre, dachshunds, indie, memoir, self-publishing, Writing .

Robin Elizabeth interviewed by the Daily Mail

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Books, Memoir, Uncategorized, Writing & Publishing .

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Confessions of a Mad Mooer: Postnatal Depression Sucks by Robin Elizabeth gained media attention recently in the Daily Mail. Interviewed by Lauren Ingram, Robin discusses postnatal depression and her visit to a psychiatric hospital after the birth of her twins. Read the full article here.

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Buy the book: Robin shares her experience with postnatal depression in her heartfelt, funny, and raw memoir – a wonderful read for anyone who has experienced postnatal depression, those who love true stories, those who want to gain insight into what some mothers go through, or simply if you are a mother, like myself, who identified with some of the feelings Robin had after becomong a mother. I did when reading the book. My kids are now 18 and 16 but I remember those feelings of inadequacy and constantly wondering whether I was doing the right thing. Becoming a mother is hard, beyond hard – one of the hardest things a woman will experience in her life, but also the most rewarding.

Thank goodness someone finally realised that Robin needed help as she is one of the most wonderful mothers I have ever met. Her journey of healing in Confessions of a Mad Mooer is inspiring.

Buy it HERE.

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Tags: Bookends Publishing, Confessions of a Mad Mooer, Daily Mail, memoir, PND, postnatal depression, Robin Elizabeth, Write or Wrong .

Self-Publishing is hard but it doesn’t need to be. I did it – so can you.

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Books, Lisa Fleetwood, Writing & Publishing .

Self-publishing a book is hard work, mostly because it’s so scary… 

…which is why I joined Self-Publishing School to help me launch Destination Dachshund. And, even within that great community of writers and the helpful course modules it was still scary. For several reasons there were still many unknown factors in the publishing process:

  1. The course was mainly geared toward standard non-fiction, not fiction or narrative non-fiction like I was writing,
  2. It was mainly geared to the American market, and as such not all of the course worked for me as an Australian writer,
  3. It did not provide much information about print book options – only ebook.

 

Creativity

All authors, writers, or any artists anywhere will have the same fears when launching their art in the world, in what ever form it takes – but for the indie author who doesn’t have the backing of a publishing house, and doesn’t want to pay a few thousand dollars for a course like I did (I figured it was way cheaper than the cost of my husband converting his Ducati 1098s into a street fighter. He has his hobbies and I have mine, haha!), and has no experience in ebook or print options, front and back matter, ebook or print book formatting, book covers, setting up a launch team, keywords, metadata, ISBN and barcodes, or how to get your book into online bookstores – then it can become overwhelming.

Holding your print book in your hands is the ultimate goal for a writer but it just doesn’t seem to happen to everyone as much as they may strive for it. There are so many fantastic stories written by amazing people, but that does not guarantee publication. Talent is not enough. To me it is a combination of talent, perseverance, and being in the right place at the right time.

I’ve personally witnessed many writers reach the conclusion that despite years of writing (and I mean years and years), dozens of writing courses and workshops, blogging, mentorships, costly structural edits, the ‘almost’ pick-ups by an agent or publisher, and lots of wine – that maybe, just maybe they might have to take their writing career into their own hands.

Self-publishing may open the doors to your future writing career – it may not – but why not take the chance on yourself? It certainly shows that your serious about your writing and willing to take risks.


Bookends Publishing

In April 2017 Bookends Publishing will be releasing a self-help book called ‘Publish Your ebook in 10 Easy Steps’ as well as a series of step-by-step PDF guides and Bookends own ‘Self-Publishing Dictionary’.

And keep an eye out for open submissions for the Bookends Short Story Award in April as well.

Watch this space!

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Tags: ebook, Lisa Fleetwood, Publishing, Writing .

Win a copy of Destination Dachshund on Goodreads #Giveaway

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Uncategorized .

Enter Lisa Fleetwood’s Goodreads giveaway for your chance to win one of three signed paper back copies of her Amazon best-seller Destination Dachshund: Three Months, Three Generations, & Sixty Dachshunds. (Australia only)

It’s pretty simple – click below and enter the competition at Goodreads!

Merry Christmas!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Destination Dachshund by Lisa Fleetwood

Destination Dachshund

by Lisa Fleetwood

Giveaway ends December 20, 2016.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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