Ask the Author: Ken Brandt
Answered Questions (9)
Ken Brandt
Thanks for the question John! There are many blind and visually impaired authors, and just like authors with perfect vision, each author has different possible approaches to choose from for getting a wider blog audience and getting published. I think the process is pretty much the same for all authors, regardless of their vision. Like most processes, it is more difficult the worse your vision, but that just makes the reward even more satisfying.
It sounds like you already have a blog, which is a great base to work from and is hopefully growing organically. Some of the standard ways of increasing a blog audience include: exchanging guest posts (you guest post on another blog, they guest post on yours, hopefully expanding both your audiences), you interview people on your blog (and they publicize the interview), and asking podcasters interested in your blog’s subject to interview you. There are many articles on the internet about expanding your blog audience. I have a bit of a blog on my website (KenBrandt.com), but focus my efforts much more on book sales than increasing my blog’s audience.
Getting published is usually a challenge, which is why so many authors choose to self-publish, which – unlike years ago - is now an accepted and reputable practice. You will need to make an assessment as to whether you want to spend the time and effort approaching publishers or go with self-publishing. I self-published, was happy with the process, love all the book reviews and interviews, and am happy with the results. You might be too. On the other hand, if a publisher is interested in your work: great!
Hope that helps. Happy to have a conversation about any of this if you would like to. Good luck with your blog and your book!
It sounds like you already have a blog, which is a great base to work from and is hopefully growing organically. Some of the standard ways of increasing a blog audience include: exchanging guest posts (you guest post on another blog, they guest post on yours, hopefully expanding both your audiences), you interview people on your blog (and they publicize the interview), and asking podcasters interested in your blog’s subject to interview you. There are many articles on the internet about expanding your blog audience. I have a bit of a blog on my website (KenBrandt.com), but focus my efforts much more on book sales than increasing my blog’s audience.
Getting published is usually a challenge, which is why so many authors choose to self-publish, which – unlike years ago - is now an accepted and reputable practice. You will need to make an assessment as to whether you want to spend the time and effort approaching publishers or go with self-publishing. I self-published, was happy with the process, love all the book reviews and interviews, and am happy with the results. You might be too. On the other hand, if a publisher is interested in your work: great!
Hope that helps. Happy to have a conversation about any of this if you would like to. Good luck with your blog and your book!
Ken Brandt
A few rambling thoughts.
I don't think I have any mysteries in my past. However, like everyone else, my future is a bit of mystery...or maybe a big mystery. I am optimistic, so hope it works out well, which is what am driving toward.
Answering the "your own life could be a plat for a book?" part of the question is easy for me because I wrote an autobiography/memoir: "Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight". Check it out!
I don't think I have any mysteries in my past. However, like everyone else, my future is a bit of mystery...or maybe a big mystery. I am optimistic, so hope it works out well, which is what am driving toward.
Answering the "your own life could be a plat for a book?" part of the question is easy for me because I wrote an autobiography/memoir: "Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight". Check it out!
Ken Brandt
Thanks for asking Chilly! Sept. 6, 2021 is the official launch date for the audio version of "Positive Vision". I am very excited! It should become available Sept. 6 at about 40 booksellers worldwide, including all the major audio book sellers. Some of the 40 may take a little longer. Look for it then, or look now at two places that allow you to order it in advance: Google Play and Libro.fm.
Ken Brandt
I am not working on another book yet.
Instead I am spending time being interviewed, publicizing my current book on my web site https://www.kenbrandt.com/ and associated social media sites: Twitter https://twitter.com/kenbrandtauthor - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KenBrandtAuthor and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kenb...
Plus, exercising and and playing jazz trumpet!
Instead I am spending time being interviewed, publicizing my current book on my web site https://www.kenbrandt.com/ and associated social media sites: Twitter https://twitter.com/kenbrandtauthor - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KenBrandtAuthor and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kenb...
Plus, exercising and and playing jazz trumpet!
Ken Brandt
Three things.
First, after you have written and edited your heart out, but before you show your draft to a professional editor, show it to ten friends. Ask them each for cold, hard, objective feedback and suggestions. Some will come back with great idea about rearranging chapters, cutting out sections, adding sections. Others will turn out to be super copy editors. You will be surprised and very impressed with the suggestions and very grateful for the time and effort your friends generously put in. This worked out so well, that I did it again with ten other friends. It was just as valuable an exercise with them. You will gain a better sense of what people like and dislike in your draft, your book will be better, and you will appreciate your friends even more.
Second, use a professional editor for the copy, and a professional graphic designer / art director for the cover design and book design. It has to look good to attract buyers, and be visually easy, interesting, and pleasing for your readers.
Third, after you have worked with your professional editor for a while and it looks like your book is complete, make a final ruthless edit. Read your book again (for the millionth time!) and cut out the least important, least interesting 5-10% of it. Your book will be shorter and sharper, with more impact. As Yogi Berra said: addition by subtraction.
First, after you have written and edited your heart out, but before you show your draft to a professional editor, show it to ten friends. Ask them each for cold, hard, objective feedback and suggestions. Some will come back with great idea about rearranging chapters, cutting out sections, adding sections. Others will turn out to be super copy editors. You will be surprised and very impressed with the suggestions and very grateful for the time and effort your friends generously put in. This worked out so well, that I did it again with ten other friends. It was just as valuable an exercise with them. You will gain a better sense of what people like and dislike in your draft, your book will be better, and you will appreciate your friends even more.
Second, use a professional editor for the copy, and a professional graphic designer / art director for the cover design and book design. It has to look good to attract buyers, and be visually easy, interesting, and pleasing for your readers.
Third, after you have worked with your professional editor for a while and it looks like your book is complete, make a final ruthless edit. Read your book again (for the millionth time!) and cut out the least important, least interesting 5-10% of it. Your book will be shorter and sharper, with more impact. As Yogi Berra said: addition by subtraction.
Ken Brandt
Happy to be in your queue Gillian!
Ken Brandt
You are very welcome Gillian, happy to be Goodreads friends.
It is great to hear that you are looking forward to reading my book: I hope you enjoy it and I am looking forward to your thoughts.
Yes, a Kindle version is available from Amazon.
Thanks for the good wishes.
All the best to you and yours for a safe and upbeat 2021,
Ken
It is great to hear that you are looking forward to reading my book: I hope you enjoy it and I am looking forward to your thoughts.
Yes, a Kindle version is available from Amazon.
Thanks for the good wishes.
All the best to you and yours for a safe and upbeat 2021,
Ken
Ken Brandt
Thanks for the two questions and good wishes Con!
I just finished writing and narrating my first book, so I’ll focus on publicizing it (interviews, articles, and hopefully soon - book talks, etc.) before starting on a second book. So far, the book reviews have been really nice!
The pandemic is a terrible worldwide health and economic tragedy, but there has been a small silver lining: it enables us authors to more easily concentrate on the heads-down PC and Internet activities of writing and publicizing our books.
Thanks again, and all the best to you too!
I just finished writing and narrating my first book, so I’ll focus on publicizing it (interviews, articles, and hopefully soon - book talks, etc.) before starting on a second book. So far, the book reviews have been really nice!
The pandemic is a terrible worldwide health and economic tragedy, but there has been a small silver lining: it enables us authors to more easily concentrate on the heads-down PC and Internet activities of writing and publicizing our books.
Thanks again, and all the best to you too!
Ken Brandt
Yes, "Positive Vision" will be available as an audio book soon! The narration has been completed, audio engineering is underway, and production will follow that. I am not at all sure how long it will take, but hopefully not too long. The hardcover, paperback, and ebook are available now, and the audio book is in the works. Thanks for asking!
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