Peek Behind the Novel – Layer 7

WHERE WE LEFT OFF IN LAYER 6:

We compiled the novel into a Word document and named it "Manuscript from Scrivener". That's where we now pick up with Layer 7.

This layer is another proofreading layer, but there is a little formatting we will do in this layer that I will go over below. There is also a video at the end if you want to see me talk about it in a little more detail.

LAYER 7 - STEP ONE

Copy and paste the chapters into my eBook template. The purpose of this is so that I don't have to redo all of my styles. It's easier to just do a copy and paste.

LAYER 7 - STEP TWO:

Using the find feature, I go over all of the troublesome words in my list. I do this before I begin to proofread the story.
I read only the sentence with each of the words and change them if needed.

LAYER 7 - STEP THREE:

Change the Heading 1 formatting, if needed
I fix the normal and no-indent normal formatting throughout the entire book.
I add in simple page breaks between chapters

Book Marketing – How to Recruit ARC Readers

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF RECRUITING ARC READERS?

Most authors know that ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copies or Advanced Review Copies. I don't think the debate on this is settled yet.

There are multiple reasons to recruit ARC readers:

ARC readers can offer you valuable feedback about the book.
They can also be a group of readers who may give you your first five or ten reviews, depending upon how many ARC readers you are able to recruit.
Announcing you are looking for ARC readers is a first step in your book marketing campaign. This is a good way to post on a website or social media about the upcoming eBook.
By announcing there will be a new release soon enough, you will create the buzz about your book.

WHEN SHOULD I OFFER MY BOOK TO ARC READERS?

It all begins when you get the book back from the editor. Make all the changes in the eBook within two to three days after receiving it from the editor.

I'll explain below why it's not recommended to give an "early pre-edited copy" to the readers -- which is how I learned to do it. But I paid the price. More on this below.

After the edits are done, its now time to list it as a pre-order on Amazon and/or as an ARC copy.

I've heard horror stories from some authors about setting it up for pre-order and then not making the deadline! BUT, since you are not setting the book as a pre-order until it is actually in Final Manuscript form, you don't have to sweat it at all.

Setting your eBook up for preorder on Amazon is the first buzz you will create about your new eBook. It's an event to be announced on a website and social media. This will let your present readership know there's a book coming soon.

CAUTION FOR NEWBIES AND BEGINNER SELF-PUBLISHERS:

Don’t get impatient and offer the eBook before the last edit. I was told to do this and make "use" of the time the editor had the book. However, I paid the price for this, and it's a tall price, one that follows me forever.

When you offer your ARC book it will be for free. Many readers will take advantage of the free eBook and download it -- with or without any intention of being an actual ARC reader. They may not read it right away. But this version of your book lives on their Kindle or other eReader.

After you get your final manuscript back from the editor, there will ALWAYS be things that you missed, even if you proofread it twenty times!

So when the reader gets around to reading your eBook, they won't remember they downloaded an early ARC copy. They will think this book was released with these very typos and/or other foibles that you missed! Very often, readers see read when they see typos. And they very often mention it in the feedback! This is what I mean by it will follow you forever. So don't do it!

RECRUITING ARC READERS IS A MARKETING STRATEGY IN AND OF ITSELF:

Recruiting ARC readers can also be a marketing strategy because who doesn’t like freebies & giveaways? Giveaways and Freebies have a way of capturing everyone’s attention. With a great eye-catching graphic, this can create interest and general buzz about your upcoming book.

It's also an opportunity to recruit more readers.

If you make a few different graphics to go along with your invitation to sign up as an ARC reader, this is something you can post several times over the six to eight weeks before your book is actually released. By having several different graphics, it prevents your posts from appearing too repetitive.

HOW DO I DO IT?

It all sounds good. How do I do it?

It starts with a calendar and a final manuscript.

Using your calendar, set your true release date for 8 weeks out for a beginner or 6 weeks out if you’ve done this before.

EIGHT WEEKS? REALLY?

Why so long? You need to give yourself time to recruit readers and you need to give the readers at least two weeks to finish the book. You want to recruit as many readers as you can. This is the best way to get at least a few reviews when your book is initially released.

Newbies will be anxious to upload and release, but there will be enough for you to do in the 6 to 8 weeks while you recruit and give your ARC readers time to read the book.

THINGS TO DO DURING THE RECRUITMENT TIME:

While the book is awaiting release, you can upload to Amazon as a pre-order. This acts as an announcement that your book is coming. Its an opportunity to post about it on social media, on your website, and in your newsletter.
Add this new book and a link to it to your Other Books by Author page. Don’t forget to add it to earlier books. You want every ‘read-through’ advantage you can set up.
Create a review link. What’s a review link? It’s a link that takes the reader from your Note to Reader page directly to Amazon to leave you a review.
Work on your eBook cover. Then work on the back cover graphics for the Paperback and Hardcover.
Create at least four different graphics about the new book to post to social media. Remember, you’ll need graphics for the following events:

Recruiting ARC Readers
Announcement of Pre-Orders at Amazon or wherever you sell your books
Announcement of your eBook cover art
Announcement of Only 7 Days before Release.
Announcement of Release of your eBook
Newsletter, social media and website graphics
Graphics with quotes from your book and eye-catching graphics.

WHAT IS THE WORK FLOW REGARDING RECRUITING ARC READERS?

Step One in Recruiting ARC Readers is you need a Graphic and a Form.

Here is a small graphic ad I added to my monthly newsletter for a recent eBook asking for Advanced Copy Readers.

I tell them that if they find any errors in the book and email me, I will add them to my acknowledgement page. I actually got several signups with this approach.

Now, about this little button that says “Click here to get download!”

Behind this button is the magic of computer coding and integrations between Bookfunnel and Mailchimp. In the video below, I take a few minutes to go into how things work regarding this download button.

But if you don't have a website or mailing service yet, don't despair, there are other types of forms that are available. I give one easy example in the video below.

YOU CAN SEND THE FORM FROM A WORDPRESS WEBSITE WITH EASE:

My website and millions of other websites are built on WordPress. WordPress is a platform and many coders release what are called plug-ins. They give different functionalities to the website.

One of these plugins is called Contract Form 7. You can easily use this form to offer and keep track of ARC readers. I do a demonstration of this in the video below.

PREPARE THE PROPER COPIES:

In order to send the eBooks to your ARC readers, you will need to have your final manuscript in an ePub format and a PDF format. Once you get an email from the form you set up, send these two copies to the readers.

ePubs are able to be read on most eBook readers and PDFs can be ready by anyone with a computer.

BE AND STAY ORGANIZED:

If I can offer just one final tip to newbies from the things I did that went wrong when I was a newbie -- it would be to be and stay organized with this.

Because these signups and emails and names will trickle in one at a time, it's too easy to start filing them all over the place. I had some in a special folder that I forgot about, I put them on a list I thought I would remember but I didn't. So now I keep a list of my ARC readers on my "Info - BOOK NAME" file (a notepad document) for each book. I keep them way at the bottom so I can find them when it's time to send a thank you and an invitation to leave me a review.

Writers Research – Tax Liens

ARE TAX LIENS PUBLIC INFORMATION?

Yes, a tax lien on a company is a public record. This means that anyone can search for and view the lien, including potential creditors, investors, and the general public. The lien will typically be filed with the county recorder's office in the county where the company is located.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A TAX LIEN?

The purpose of a tax lien is to give the government a legal claim on the company's assets if the company fails to pay its taxes. The lien will remain in effect until the taxes are paid in full.

There are a few exceptions to the rule that tax liens are public records. For example, if the lien is filed against a company that is in bankruptcy, the lien may be sealed. This means that the lien will not be available to the public.
Cops & Detectives can use this readily-available information to find out if a suspect is having money problems, or if he has suspicious business practices.

HOW TO FIND TAX LIEN INFORMATION:

If you are interested in finding out if a company has a tax lien, you can search the public records for the county where the company is located. You can also contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to see if they have a lien on the company.

Since this is writer's information, you can see what information a detective can get and where he can get it.

WHY WOULD THE POLICE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT TAX LIENS?

Here are some of the reasons why someone (or a detective) might want to know if a company has a tax lien:

To determine if the company is financially stable.
To assess the company's risk as a potential creditor or investor.
To protect their own assets from being seized to satisfy the tax lien.When writing a plot line, you may also want to know:
What is the suspect's or his/her company's financial situation? Is this part of the motive?
What are the company's assets? Is a suspect's money all tied up in business assets?
Who are the company's creditors and investors? Could one of them be a suspect?

HERE IS A LIST OF SOME OTHER TERMINOLOGY SURROUNDING A TAX LIEN:

Sometimes just having an overview of how things work can help you thicken the plot or add some details that will enrich the story. Below are some words and definitions that surround the subject of Tax Liens:

Tax lien: A legal claim against a taxpayer's property for unpaid taxes. A tax lien gives the government the right to seize and sell the property to satisfy the debt.
Levy: The act of seizing property to satisfy a debt. In the case of a tax lien, the government can levy on any property owned by the taxpayer, including real estate, personal property, and bank accounts.
Notice of lien: A document that is filed with the public records to notify creditors and other interested parties that a tax lien has been filed against a taxpayer's property.
Lienholder: The person or entity that holds a lien on property. In the case of a tax lien, the lienholder is the government.
Redemption: The right of a taxpayer to pay off a tax lien and regain ownership of the property that was seized.
Statutory redemption: A type of redemption that is available to taxpayers under state law. Statutory redemption typically allows taxpayers to redeem property within a certain period of time after the lien was filed.
Judgment lien: A lien that is placed on property to satisfy a court judgment. Judgment liens can be filed by creditors who have won a lawsuit against a debtor.
Encumbrance: A legal claim against property that affects its ownership or use. Encumbrances can include tax liens, mortgages, and easements.
Lien priority: The order in which liens are satisfied when property is sold. Tax liens typically have the highest lien priority, meaning that they are paid off first.

Writers Research – Throw-away or Burner Phones

I am in the process of writing the fourth book in the Jack Nolan Detective Series. I had to do some research about cell phone and how the cops trace cellphones, but this is some other research about disposable phones. These are referred to by criminals and cops as burner phones.

They are purchased in a box at Walmart or Walgreens, places like this. Normal people use them to protect their identifies. For example, if you are having a garage sale and you don't want to use your regular phone number, you can purchase a throw away phone for $15 to $45 dollars and it will protect your real phone number from getting out there.

Husbands and wives who cheat also use burner phones that they hide from their spouses. They don't have to worry about getting caught texting to their lovers.

Drug traffickers also use burner phones. They use them so they can't be traced by the cops. BUT, as you will read below, they are not foolproof. As a matter of fact, they are kind of easy to trace. If you watched the show, Better Call Saul, his system of selling the phones would work for the drug lords. It worked because Sol bought the phones in bulk in his name. He sold them to individuals for cash. So nothing would ever trace the phones to the people who bought them.

Knowing this is helpful to know what will work in a plotline and what won't work. Below is also more info about how the police can track most phones that are purchased by the person using them at a big box store.

Can Police Detectives find people who use burner phones?

Yes, the cops can find the identities of the people who were contacted using the burner phone if they have the right tools and resources. Burner phones are designed to be disposable and difficult to track, but they are not foolproof.

Here are some ways that the cops can find the identities of the people who were contacted using a burner phone:

Tracing the other party: The cops can get the burner phone number by seeing it on someone else's phone, like a girlfriend or boss, etc. Once they have the burner phone number, they can get the following:
Cellular data: The burner phone will likely have a SIM card that can be traced back to the person who purchased it. The cops can also get a warrant to compel the cellular carrier to provide them with records of the calls and texts that were made and received on the phone.
GPS data: If the burner phone has GPS capabilities, the cops can use that data to track the phone's movements. This can help them to identify the people who were in contact with the phone at certain times and locations.
Social media: If the person who used the burner phone has any social media accounts, the cops can try to track them down through those accounts. They can also look for photos or videos that were taken with the phone and see if they can identify the people in the photos or videos.
Physical evidence: If the cops find the burner phone, they may be able to find physical evidence that can help them to identify the people who used it. For example, they may be able to find fingerprints or DNA on the phone.

Here are some strategies that criminals use to avoid being tracked by the cops if they use a burner phone:

They only use burner phone for short periods of time: The less time they use the burner phone, the less data the cops will have to track them. So plotlines may take this into account.
They, of course, dispose of the phone once the crime has been committed.
Most non-criminals who use burners phones use it to protect their identity for a specific reason, i.e., maybe selling a car online, having a garage sale, etc. Their use of burner phones are legal and the cops would have no way of knowing they used the phones.
However, if criminals use the disposable phones for criminal reasons, that's when the cops will be more likely to track them down.
Be careful about what you say and do on the burner phone, even if you are just selling things online. The cops can use anything you say or do on the phone as evidence against you.
It is also important to remember that burner phones are not foolproof. If the cops are determined to track you down, they will eventually be able to do so.

Writers Research – How Police Can Get Financial Records

WHAT DOES ALL THIS RESEARCH HAVE TO DO WITH WRITING A POLICE PROCEDURAL?

I'm writing Book 4 in the Jack Nolan Detective Series and there is the possibility of a financial crime. I did some research on how detectives can get financial records. I mean, do cops just call and ask nicely? No, there has to be a warrant.

Actually, there's a whole procedure about getting financial records. I cobbled this together from a few searches I did pertaining to getting records from a financial institution. I hope it helps.

HOMICIDE DETECTIVES NEED TO GO FORMALLY BEFORE A JUDGE FOR A WARRANT FOR FINANCIAL RECORDS

Yes, homicide detectives need to formally go before a judge to get a warrant to see financial records. They cannot ask a district attorney to get it informally. This is because financial records are protected by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. In order to get a warrant, the detectives must show the judge that they have probable cause to believe that the financial records contain evidence of a crime. They must also specify the records they are seeking and the financial institution where they are located.

COMMON PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A WARRANT FOR FINANCIAL RECORDS:

The common procedure for obtaining a warrant for financial records is as follows:

The detectives will file an affidavit with the court, which will state the facts that they believe give them probable cause to believe that the financial records contain evidence of a crime.
The judge will review the affidavit and decide whether to issue a warrant.
If the judge issues a warrant, it will be served by a process server or someone from the local Sheriff's office on the financial institution, which will be required to produce the records to the detectives.

ASKING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR PROSECUTOR FOR HELP:

The detectives can also ask the district attorney to help them obtain a warrant for financial records. The district attorney will review the affidavit from a legal perspective and decide whether to file it with the court. If the district attorney does file the affidavit, the judge will still need to review it and decide whether to issue a warrant.

It is important to note that the detectives cannot simply ask the financial institution for the records without a warrant. The financial institution is prohibited from disclosing financial records without a warrant or the consent of the account holder.

The Fourth Amendment requires that warrants be issued by a neutral and detached magistrate, and that they be supported by probable cause. This means that the judge must be convinced that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the financial records contain evidence of a crime. The affidavit that the detectives file with the court must be detailed and specific, and it must support the conclusion that there is probable cause.

If the judge finds that there is probable cause, they will issue a warrant. The warrant will specify the records that the detectives are seeking and the financial institution where they are located. The warrant will also be valid for a certain period of time, and for a specific type or range of records. After the expiration date, the warrant is void.

Once the warrant is issued, it will be served on the financial institution. The financial institution will be required to produce the records to the detectives. The detectives will then be able to review the records and see if they contain any evidence of a crime.

WHO SERVES (DELIVERS) THE WARRANT?

The warrant is served by a law enforcement officer, such as a police officer or a sheriff's deputy. The officer will present the warrant to the financial institution and demand that the records be produced. The financial institution is required to comply with the warrant, and they cannot refuse to produce the records.

In some cases, the warrant may be served by a private process server. A private process server is a person who is not employed by a law enforcement agency, but who is authorized to serve legal documents. However, private process servers are not typically used to serve warrants for financial records.

The person who serves the warrant must be careful to follow the procedures outlined in the warrant. If the warrant is not served properly, the financial institution may not be required to produce the records.

Here are some of the things that the person who serves the warrant must do:

They must identify themselves as a law enforcement officer or a private process server.
They must present the warrant to the financial institution.
They must demand that the records be produced.
They must keep a record of the service.
If the financial institution refuses to produce the records, the person who serves the warrant may need to take further action, such as filing a Motion to Compel Production.

LANGUAGE FOR A WARRANT:

Here is a generic warrant form: You never know when you may need some of this verbiage when writing a police procedural.

I, [Your Name], being duly sworn, hereby depose and state:
I am a [Your Title] with the [Your Agency].
I am investigating a potential crime involving [Financial Business Name].
I have probable cause to believe that [Financial Business Name] has engaged in illegal accounting practices.
I believe that the financial records of [Financial Business Name] may contain evidence of this crime.
I request that a warrant be issued for the production of the following financial records:
All account statements for all accounts held by [Financial Business Name]
All transaction records for all accounts held by [Financial Business Name]
All internal accounting records for [Financial Business Name]
I have attached a copy of the financial records that I am requesting .
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated: [Date]
[Your Signature]

DISCLAIMER:

This affidavit is just a template, and you will need to tailor it to the specific facts of your case. For example, you will need to specify the precise financial records that you are requesting. You will also need to provide more detail about the crime that you are investigating and the probable cause that you have.

Once you have completed the affidavit, you will need to file it with the court. The court will then decide whether to issue a warrant for the financial records.

Writer’s Research – Police Investigating Cell Tower Information

WRITERS SHARING RESEARCH:

In my last police procedural fiction book, I did some research on cell phones and the terminology used by police officers. I thought I would share it with other writers to save you the research time.

Cops and detectives use cell phone triangulation records in most cases now. So here is some basic information with many of the terms used. I hope this helps some other authors.

WHAT ARE CELL TOWERS:

Cell towers, also known as cell phone towers or cellular towers, are tall structures that transmit and receive radio signals. These towers facilitate wireless communication between mobile devices and the network. Mobile phones connect to the nearest cell tower to send and receive voice, text messages, and data.

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WHAT IS CELL TOWER PINGING?

Cell tower pinging is the process of using a cell phone's signal to determine its location. This can be done by sending a signal to the phone and having it respond with its location data.

How does cell tower pinging work? Cell phones communicate with cell towers by sending and receiving radio signals. The cell tower that a phone is connected to can be determined by the strength of the signal between the phone and the tower. By triangulating the signals from multiple towers, the phone's approximate location can be determined.

HOW DO COPS USE CELL TOWER INFORMATION?

When cops are researching where cell phones are pinging from, they typically use a process called cell site location information (CSLI). CSLI is data that records the location of a cell phone by tracking its connection to cell towers.

Is It Legal? In the United States, cell tower pinging is legal if it is done with a warrant or with the consent of the phone's owner.

WHAT IS THE TERMINOLOGY:

Cell Towers - General term for cell towers
CSLI (Cell Site Location Information) is data that records the location of a cell phone by tracking its connection to the cell towers.
IMEI + a fifteen-digit number is how each cell phone is identified. This number is assigned at the factory.
The cell towers don't have a specific name, they are known by their radio frequency.

WHAT IS THE METHOD:

Each cell tower has a unique identifier, which is called the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI). The IMEI is a 15-digit number that is assigned to every cell phone when it is manufactured.

When a cell phone connects to a cell tower, it sends the tower its IMEI number. The tower then records this information in its logs.

Cops can obtain CSLI data from cell phone carriers with a court order. The data they receive from the phone companies will show which cell towers the phone has connected to and when. This information can be used to track the phone's movements over time. So the cops don't know the individual cell tower information. They get it with the phone information.

In addition to the IMEI number, cell towers are also identified by their location. This information is typically stored in a database called a cell site locator (CSG). The CSG is used by cell phone carriers to track the location of their towers.

The specific information that is included in CSLI records can vary depending on the cell phone carrier and the type of phone. However, most CSLI records will include the following information:

The date and time of the call or text message
The phone number of the caller or recipient
The cell tower that the phone was connected to at the time of the call or text message
The strength of the signal from the cell tower
In some cases, CSLI records may also include the latitude and longitude coordinates of the cell tower. However, this information is not always available.

If you are writing a book about a crime, it is important to be aware of the role that CSLI can play in an investigation. CSLI can be a valuable tool for law enforcement, but it is important to remember that it is not always accurate. The accuracy of CSLI can be affected by a number of factors, including the strength of the signal from the cell tower, the location of the cell tower, and the type of phone.

CELL TOWER INFOMATION DISCLAIMER:

However, it is important to note that CSLI data is not always accurate. The accuracy of the data can be affected by a number of factors, including the strength of the signal, the distance between the phone and the tower, and the terrain.

Overall, CSLI data is a valuable tool that can be used to track the location of cell phones. However, it is important to understand the limitations of the data before using it to make decisions.

WHAT IS THEIR AREA OF COVERAGE?

The coverage radius of a cell tower depends on a number of factors, including the technology used, the height of the tower, and the terrain.

In general, a cell tower can cover a radius of 1 to 3 miles for 4G LTE and 5G cell towers. However, in some cases, the coverage radius can be as much as 10 miles.

For example, a cell tower using 5G technology with a directional antenna can have a coverage radius of up to 10 miles. However, a cell tower using 4G LTE technology with an omnidirectional antenna may only have a coverage radius of 1 to 2 miles.

The terrain can also affect the coverage radius of a cell tower. Mountains and hills can block the signal, so cell towers need to be placed in areas with clear line of sight.

In general, cell towers need to be built every 5 to 10 miles to provide adequate coverage. However, the specific spacing of cell towers will vary depending on the factors discussed above.

Here are some other factors that can affect the overall radius of a cell tower:

The number of antennas on the tower: More antennas can provide better coverage.
The power of the transmitter: A stronger transmitter can provide better coverage.
The frequency of the signal: Lower frequencies can provide better coverage over longer distances.
The weather: Heavy rain or snow can block the signal.

HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH CELL TOWER IS USED?

This information is about how a cellphone customer can find out about their own cellphone towers. This wouldn't be used by the police necessarily but it is information I came across during my own research.

There are several methods you can use to determine which cell tower your phone is connected to. There are apps in the Play Store for this purpose. As an author, you won't need to track anything and probably don't need any apps, but it's good to know that this exists when plotting. These apps provide information about nearby cell towers, including the one your phone is connected to. · Check your phone's settings: Some smartphones display information about the connected cell tower in the settings menu. Look for "Network" or "About Phone" options to find this information.

Book Formatting – Ebook, Paperback & Hardcover

In this blog post I will explain how to go from an eBook template, to a Paperback Template and then to a Hardcover Template. What is the benefit of this? By doing it this way, you don't have to start over each time with a different template and redo all of your styles!

REMINDERS FOR ALL MANUSCRIPTS:

Be sure to remember to embed fonts into your documents. Go to File > Options > Save > Scroll down until you see this section about Embedding the fonts. Only check the first box. This information is from KDP.

LET'S START WITH THE EBOOK MARGINS

EBOOK COVER SIZE: 1600 X 2560 – 300 dpi
If you will be using a cover on the web, make a copy of your eBook cover at 72 dpi. This will make your cover images faster to upload and download on the web.

I use an 8.5 x 11 size paper but I have seen videos saying you can use the size of your paperback. But I'm teaching people the way I do it. To get to these settings, Click on the Layout Tab > Margins > Custom Margins. Below is a picture of the settings that I start with.

This formatting has no gutter and the pages are completely centered. That's why I use this formatting.

NEXT STEP: Spend time changing your styles. You will need the following:

Normal - with indent of .02"
Normal-no-indent - for first paragraph after Chapter
Book Title
Book Subtltle
Book Author
Scene Ending, if applicable

I take away all of the styles that I won't be using. This makes your template more sleek. You don't have to comb through all of these styles that you will never use. In order to delete them from the gallery, right click on the style and choose to remove from the gallery.

FORMATTING THE PAPERBACK:

KDP suggests you use Kindle Create to make the manuscript, but it was always too finicky for me. I use the same manuscript size for the paperback, 5.81 x 7.81 and just use only page breaks, no headers and no page numbers. I haven’t ever had a problem.

The following pictures are for the eBook and the Paperback. I’ll write them below.

FORMATTING FOR EBOOK SPECIFICALLY:

Use simple page breaks. Don’t add page numbers or headers

FORMATTING FOR PAPERBACKS:

You need to use section breaks at the end of each chapter so that your chapter pages are on the right hand side in the real-world paperback. That is considered an “odd page” The book title is the first page and you want that on the right-hand side.

You need to put in page numbers and headers for the Paperback.

You need a full total of pages. By skipping some even pages and numbering the first pages with Roman numerals, be sure you take the total page count from the bottom of your Word document. It will be more than your pages in the book. That is the number you will need to go to the Paperback book cover calculator

CHANGES FOR THE HARDCOVER MANUSCRIPT:

FORMATTING FOR BOOK COVERS:

Paperback Hardcover Book Cover calculator: https://kdp.amazon.com/cover-calculator

Once you have the number of pages of your paperback, go to the calculator at the link above, and click through the calculator and choose what you want.
Then choose the proper trim size. I use Width: 5.06"
And Height: 7.81". The proper size for your Paperback and Hardcover should be determined by the average in the genre of books you are writing to.
If you use 6” x 9” for your paperback, then you can use the same manuscript for the Hardcover and only have to redo your Hardback Book cover
Tip if you are using Gimp: Once you create your book cover graphic in layers, save the Gimp file and export to a jpg. Then open the jpg separately and export and save a PDF. I say this because when I was new, I was hours and hours trying to figure out why my text kept getting thrown off-kilter.

Testing MailerLite Form

Are you ready to offer a free Advanced Reader Copy? Why reinvent the wheel. Click below to download my Instructional and Cheat Sheet

Pictures-of-Templates-ARC-Verbiage-Signup-Reviews

The form you have selected does not exist.

Book Marketing for Authors with Mailchimp

BEFORE WE GO TO MAILCHIMP:

This blog post is geared specifically for book marketers in the examples I use, but the information is relevant to anyone who is interested in learning how to use Mailchimp as a marketing tool.

Before we go to Mailchimp, it's important to know where Mailchimp fits into the whole picture. So let's take a closer look at how Mailchimp comes into play when you are selling and/or giving books away.

LETS LOOK CLOSELY AT AN EMAIL PROMOTION AT BOOKFUNNEL:

Above is a diagram of how once you upload a book at Bookfunnel, and a reader clicks on it, the diagram shows how the $20 a year package handles the email and how the $100 a year program handles it.

As you can see, there is one manual step of downloading the emails from Bookfunnel and then uploading them into your email list at Mailchimp. If you are a brand new author or a brand new marketer, if you know how to copy and paste, you can move emails from Bookfunnel to Mailchimp.

LET'S LOOK CLOSELY AT A SALES PROMOTION AT BOOKFUNNEL:

I added this diagram to show new book marketers that entering sales promotion is not the same as giving books away. When readers click on your giveaway books, that's when they sign up for your newsletter.

If you enter your book into a sales promotion, the readers go directly to your book to purchase it. I mention this because, as a newbie, I went through a long period where I entered too many sales promotions and not enough giveaways!

As anyone in marketing will tell you, people unsubscribe from time to time. So it's important to continually build your email list. With this knowledge, hopefully you won't make the same mistake I did.

MAILCHIMP - IS THERE REALLY A FREE TRIAL?

There is a 30 day free trial at Mailchimp. You have limited access to some of the bells and whistles, but there is 30 days where it will cost you nothing. However, as soon as you click on this button, you will be taken to the page that compares all of their pricing packages.

MAILCHIMP - PRICING AND WHAT YOU NEED TO REALLY KNOW:

The process of growing a sizeable book marketing email list takes a lot longer than 30 days, so it's best that you know what is behind the other packages that we will focus on.

The free plan only allows you to collect up to 500 emails. That's a lot for a beginner, but you will be surprised how quickly you can accumulate over 500 emails. The next package is called the Essentials package. This one costs $13.00 a month or slightly over $100 a year. This is the plan I have been using.

This plan allows you to build a list up to 2500 emails. Once you grow over that amount, it begins to charge a little more for every 5o to 100 emails after that. Once you grow past 3,000, then this becomes an expense. Hopefully by then you will be selling enough books to cover your monthly business costs.

Here is a close-up of the Essentials plan. This plan works well for me as a book marketing platform for the following reasons:

It allows me to integrate Bookfunnel with Mailchimp and it also allows me to integrate Mailchimp with my WordPress website. This type of integration doesn't come with the first plan.
You can have up to 3 separate audiences. An audience is a fancy word for email list. Now, it may be easier for you to keep one list and separate the emails using Tags. For example: I write mystery romance and also vampire books. You can use a tag entitled "vampires" and one entitled "mystery" and this would be enough to function with one list but target each segment by using a tag.
This plan also allows up to three users in case you have a family member who helps you with marketing or you want to hire someone down the road.
You do get more templates with this plan, but as I go into in the video below, having more templates is really no big deal. Most people follow a very similar template for a weekly or monthly newsletter.

MAILCHIMP ALLOWS ONE AUDIENCE BUT . . .

I already touched on how to use Tags to segment off your one audience list. Above I have a snapshot from the video and it shows an example of some of the tags I have used with my giveaways both at Bookfunnel, SiteOrigin and my website at readfirstchapter.com.

How to Start a Mailing List with Bookfunnel

WHAT WILL WE COVER?

We’re going to cover how to sign up, what the dashboard looks like, how to upload your books, where to find the promotions to enter, what an author swap is and how to find one. I’ll show you a few examples using my own books.

IT ALL STARTS AT BOOKFUNNEL:

Go to bookfunnel.com and sign up for an account. Here is a screen shot from the first page. I've fiddled with it to show the actual address and the logo, but it will look similar to this picture here.

It's important to read the rest of the blog first so you know which plan or package you want to sign up for.

BOOKFUNNEL HAS THREE PACKAGES:

The first package called First-Time Author costs $2o per year. This is good enough for a new author or anyone else operating on a shoe string. With the $20 package, you are entitled to one pen name, and up to 500 downloads per month.

With this $20 package, you can't coordinate your email list with a mail program. However, that's not a problem because all of the emails are saved for you and you can download them from the dashboard. Then you can easily upload to Mailchimp using a simple copy and paste.

The next package is $100 a year. That comes out to $8.33 a month. With this plan, you can have up to 3 pen names and up to 5,000 downloads. But the most important benefit to this plan is that you can integrate Bookfunnel with Mailchimp or several of the other popular mail programs out there. This gives you the ability to put this entire thing on autopilot. This is the plan that I use. This also gives you the right or ability to sponsor your own promotions.

LET'S LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD AT BOOKFUNNEL:

Above is a snapshot from the Bookfunnel dash board. This keeps a daily count of how many downloads and clicks you have gotten from your giveaways and books that were entered into the various promotions.

There are links on this page in order to download the emails. So if you choose to get the least expensive plan, this is where you will go to download your emails. Bookfunnel prepares them into a CSV file and you can save and/or open these in Excel or Google Docs.

THE BOOKS TAB:

The Books Tab keeps track of the eBooks you have uploaded and how many downloads there have been. There are drop-down links (in the orange boxes) to edit your books information and also to reupload copies.

I have perma-free books as well as Amazon Kindle Unlimited books. I usually have an advanced reader copy being given away also. So I use the Giveaway pages as well as the Sales pages. I always insist that the readers give their emails to get the books.

Some authors are very touchy about giving away eBooks, but I believe giving away the books is the best, easiest and most cost-effective way of building a readership there is.

LET'S LOOK AT A BOOK PAGE - THE DETAILS

This is a screen shot from one of the books pages. In order to upload an eBook to Bookfunnel, you will need:

eBook Bookcover – high resolution
Short blurb about the book.
ePub copy of your book
mobi copy of your book
pdf copy of your book

To offer a free-download, you will need to upload the book files as shown here. To enter promotions for sales of your book, you will need to create a landing page.

HOW TO CONVERT A WORD DOCUMENT TO EPUB AND MOBI:

Above is a Google Chrome Extension that you can find in the Chrome Web Store. This one allows you to convert almost any document. However, it allows you to convert word documents to epubs and mobi formats.

LET'S LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF A GIVEAWAY PAGE:

This is what a Free download page looks like. When you enter your book into a promotion and someone clicks on it, they see this page.

You choose the header, subheader and the book description.

In order to get the free book, they must sign up to your newsletter, and then verify their email. Then Bookfunnel delivers the book. Bookfunnel then either holds the email in a list that you download ($20 membership level) or it sends it to your list at Mailchimp ($100 membership).

LET'S LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF A SALES LANDING PAGE:

The books you list for sale will need to be set up on what Bookfunnel calls "sales pages". This was a bit confusing for me when I was new. To create a giveaway page, that seems to be as easy as just uploading your book and choosing to require the readers to sign up with an email. It's one or two clicks and you are done.

But the sales page, you need to click over in the menu on Sales Page. Then you will be led through with a widget to create your sales page. It's easy peasy. The confusing part for me was that I kept forgetting to click on "Create a Landing Page."

LET'S FOCUS ON BOOK PROMOTIONS:

Above is a screen shot of the promotion genres that are at Bookfunnel every month. These are numerous promotions in each of these categories. When you click on the plus-signs, a longer list of promotions opens up in each of these categories. As you can see, just about every genre of fiction and non-fiction is covered.

The numbers in the parentheses are how many promotions are available in that category. Below we'll look at a category close up.

MYSTERY SUSPENSE PROMOTION CLOSE UP:

Above is an example of some of the promotions in the Mystery & Suspense category.

There are promotions for Sales, Amazon, Kobo, and some for Giveaways and also Kindle Unlimited.

I’ve been using Bookfunnel for about three years now and I’ve built a mailing list of 3,000 or so readers. In my humble opinion, this is the easiest way for a self-published author to market their books.

WHAT ARE BOOK SWAPS?

Bookfunnel also offers “Book Swaps”. A book swap is when you agree to feature someone else’s book in your newsletter and they agree to feature one of your books. This is a great way to get even more readers to see your eBooks.

Below is an example of a “Weekly Feature” panel from one of my own Author Swaps.

THAT'S ALL YOU NEED!

That’s all you need to know in order to sign up with Bookfunnel to start a readership list today.

Whether you are marketing books or anything else, a mailing list is the most personal way to keep in contact with your client and/or customer base.

In our next video, I’ll show you all you need to know to sign up with Mailchimp.com, which is the other piece of this mailing list puzzle.