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Category Archives: Books

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 free copy of Confessions of a Mad Mooer: Postnatal Depression Sucks

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Books, Memoir, Robin Elizabeth .

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It is almost time for the book launch of Robin Elizabeth’s memoir Confessions of a Mad Mooer: Postnatal Depression Sucks and it’s getting exciting!

To celebrate the launch Robin is giving away 2 signed print copies of her memoir!

For your chance to WIN:

Facebook: (Click on image below to enter)

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Twitter: (Click on image below to enter)

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

Merry Dachshund!

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Books, Lisa Fleetwood, Memoir, Uncategorized .

xmas-picNeed a stocking filler, a good read, or a cute dachshund Christmas ornament?

Just for Christmas Amazon Best Seller ‘Destination Dachshund: Three Months, Three Generations & Sixty Dachshunds’ comes with a free gift – a handmade dachshund Christmas ornament. The book is also signed by the author, Lisa Fleetwood. 

$22.99 for book and dachshund ornament local Penrith area/Blue Mountains delivery. 

*For postage Australia wide: $29.99

To buy please contact us at Bookends Publishing:

Praise for Destination Dachshund: Three Months, Three Generations & Sixty Dachshunds

“A likable author makes for a likable, dog-centric travel book.” – Kirkus Review

“Fleetwood’s resulting chronicle of a multigenerational family trip—88 days, 15 countries, and 60 dachshund spottings—has an invitingly chatty tone that makes one feel like one is traveling with her.” – Kirkus Review

“I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys memoirs, travelogues, history, who has a love for pets, or who is just looking for a great read in general.” – Reviewed By Tracy Slowiak for Readers’ Favorite

‘Destination Dachshund is a truly delightful read with many laugh out loud moments. And it isn’t just a book about travel – even though the extraordinary array of travel experiences captured between the pages is epic. The author unpacks with warmth and humour the intricacies of family relationships, our love of pets, and the joys of travelling with dodgy-kneed grandparents. And then there’s the hilarious dachshund spotting competition. I now find myself scanning walkways and parks for these spunky little dogs.’ —  Vanessa, Sydney

“A truly engaging read that is so much more than a travel memoir. Not only does Lisa take us on her 3-month trip of a life time, she also takes us into the heart of her family. While the Fleetwood’s travel through Europe, they must also navigate their own grief. Destination Dachshund is a remarkable book – filled with honesty and humour, and the sights, smells and sounds of amazing locations. It will make you want to hug the ones you love, then book a flight somewhere!” – Sharyn, Springwood, NSW 

1 Comment .
Tags: christmas, dachshund, Destination Dachshund, giveaway .

Author Robin Elizabeth joins Bookends Publishing

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Lisa Fleetwood Posted in Author, Books, Lisa Fleetwood, Memoir, Robin Elizabeth, Uncategorized .

coama_book-cover-v1-hrThe newest addition to the Bookends Publishing library: Confessions of a Mad Mooer: Postnatal Depression Sucks by Robin Elizabeth.

I am so pleased to welcome Robin Elizabeth and her heartfelt, funny, and moving memoir to Bookends Publishing. Destination Dachshund and I were getting very lonely. 😉

Confessions of a Mad Mooer is Robin’s story of her time in a psychiatric hospital after being diagnosed with postnatal depression. Coping the only way she knew how – through her writing – Robin honest and often witty blog posts from on the inside are touching, funny and bring light to a subject matter that is often swept under the carpet.

Robin’s first blog entry from ‘the inside’, the psychiatric hospital she found herself in with her newborn twins can be read HERE

Confessions of a Mad Mooer: Postnatal Depression Sucks is out in December 2016 in print and ebook.

Contact us to preorder a signed copy:

 

Bookends Publishing ♥

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

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