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Navigating Indieworld: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing Your Book
Social media guru, Julie A. Gerber and award-winning author of forty-three best-selling, independently published books, Carole P. Roman, team up to travel the winding road of self-publishing, promoting, and marketing a book. Join these two self-help experts as they share their vast store of experience in an easy to read, comprehensive guide, complete with end of chapter checklists to keep an author on track.Learn the importance of a beta reader and the value of a good editor. Know what's needed when preparing a list for choosing an illustrator. Compare the many ways to promote your book. Find out what each step can cost and where you can save. This guide takes new independent authors from the first draft, through publication and the complicated world of marketing. Included is a directory of resources to help get there faster.Navigating Indieworld will end up being the ultimate travel guide for writers on their journey to published author
(Abridged set of reviews to take advantage of the author's own advice.)": Think about the book description as your first ad. It should be short, attention grabbing, and see the book using the first line."
(Abridged set of reviews to take advantage of the author's own advice.)": Think about the book description as your first ad. It should be short, attention grabbing, and see the book using the first line."
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2016
5 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Julie A. Gerber
4 books211 followersJulie A. Gerber is the founder of Away We Go Media, a social media management and consulting firm for authors. She is also a blogger at All The Hits and Misses. Julie is the Forbes.com featured co-author of the award-winning, best-seller, Navigating Indieworld: A Beginner's Guide To Self-Publishing and Marketing Your Book as well as the best-selling paranormal, Tortured Souls: The House On Wellfleet Bluffs. She can usually be found refereeing her sons or glued to her desktop as she works from home. She lives in Georgia with her husband, two kids, and her little sidekick, a doting Pekingese rescue named Abby.
http://www.awaywegomedia.com
http://www.awaywegomedia.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 1, 2026
So. You want to be an indie writer, but don't know where to start?
"To Do List
1 - Write your book."
Then allow me to direct you to this book.
Carole P Roman and Julie A Gerber are both fabulous published authors who have navigated the indie world for years.
They have figured out the ins and outs of independent publishing and are now sharing the lesser-known secrets with everyone.
From writing to publishing to marketing - these authors have got you covered.
If you are curious whether you should pick up a few beta readers or an editor, Julie and Carole have the answers for you (yes, and VERY yes)
If you are unsure on where to go for cover art and promotions? They know people in the business!
"Think of the book description as your first ad."
In short, nearly all of your indie questions can be answered in this handy guide.
"Your book is not dressed. You have no cover. It's like you sent your book out in public naked."
As a longtime reader of indie books, it was SO much fun to get a behind-the-scenes peek at what its like to be write in the indie world.
And while I'm not a writer, there was SO much advice in here that I agreed with.
Probably the strongest one that resonated with me is Carole and Julie's insistence at hiring an editor.
Because there have been SO many brilliant books that came my way that were riddled with plot holes, grammar errors and character inconsistencies.
"Maybe you don't think you need one but trust me, you do."
Skipping an editor is what turns a potentially amazing book into a mediocre one.
It was also fun to read their advice on contacting book bloggers and their advice for interacting with them - which is something I stand behind 110%!
"If you are editing your book, fair warning. Any mistakes are going to be blasted in your reviews, and readers won't be gentle about it."
All in all, if you are an aspiring author or just merely curious, I really recommend checking out this handy book!
With thanks to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
"Grab that bull by the horns and tackle writing, publishing, and marketing your book. The time is now."
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
September 7, 2016
Wow! Just wow!!!
Okay, more than just wow. I'm just so happy that a fellow indie published a book with so many different resources. I always say, don't reinvent the wheel and with this book, you don't have to. This book is full of resources. Everything an indie will need from editing advice to cover design resources to ways to get reviews. This is your one-stop-shopping for everything you need to know. Not only is this book well written and by two experts in the field, but it's fun, snappy and easy to follow. The little marketing tips here will serve an author for a long time. And the veteran author will find it just as helpful as a newbie. Everyone can benefit from a book like this which is written from the heart after trials and tribulations. These authors have been through it all and seen so much. Take their advice so you find the successes and not all the headaches. I highly recommend. Here's one of many dozen quotes I found helpful.
"Indieworld is a vast entity filled with a universe of people driven to do the same thing. They are seeking what I refer to as the three 'F's': fame, fortune, and fulfillment."
"Experts say, write about what you know. I don't agree with that. Write about what you want to know. Write about what you love and hate."
"Think about the book description as your first ad. It should be short, attention grabbing, and see the book using the first line."
"Indieworld is a society of some of the most wonderful people you'll have the pleasure of meeting, and the best way to get ahead is by having each other's back."
Okay, more than just wow. I'm just so happy that a fellow indie published a book with so many different resources. I always say, don't reinvent the wheel and with this book, you don't have to. This book is full of resources. Everything an indie will need from editing advice to cover design resources to ways to get reviews. This is your one-stop-shopping for everything you need to know. Not only is this book well written and by two experts in the field, but it's fun, snappy and easy to follow. The little marketing tips here will serve an author for a long time. And the veteran author will find it just as helpful as a newbie. Everyone can benefit from a book like this which is written from the heart after trials and tribulations. These authors have been through it all and seen so much. Take their advice so you find the successes and not all the headaches. I highly recommend. Here's one of many dozen quotes I found helpful.
"Indieworld is a vast entity filled with a universe of people driven to do the same thing. They are seeking what I refer to as the three 'F's': fame, fortune, and fulfillment."
"Experts say, write about what you know. I don't agree with that. Write about what you want to know. Write about what you love and hate."
"Think about the book description as your first ad. It should be short, attention grabbing, and see the book using the first line."
"Indieworld is a society of some of the most wonderful people you'll have the pleasure of meeting, and the best way to get ahead is by having each other's back."
October 21, 2016
Entering the world of self-publishing can be overwhelming, but this guide is a great place to start. It condenses the information that took me several months of internet searches to find myself. I began reading this book after already having six published books of my own, yet I found useful information on steps I might have skipped over, such as editorial reviews and press releases. There are real life examples from the authors' own experiences and a directory in the back for resources mentioned. I recommend this especially for authors who know they want to publish but don't know where to start.
January 30, 2017
Navigating Indieworld is an excellent introduction to writing, publishing and marketing your book.
The first chapters are about developing your idea into a story, before moving on to detailed instructions on formatting, editing, proofreading, and publishing through traditional publishing houses, hybrid, and print-on-demand. Towards the end of the book both author Carole Roman and her marketing partner Julie Gerber, discuss the most used social media apps, explain the types of users you can expect to find on each and give concrete examples of how you can use these platforms to target and interest your audience.
What sets this book apart are the extremely honest insights the author shares about her own experiences gained while publishing and marketing her many books and those of her sons’, including details about what did and did not work.
These personal anecdotes and specific examples make it easy to relate to and add a sense of authenticity. Some books about publishing and marketing I’ve read leave me wondering if the person has ever formatted a manuscript before or actually tried to market a book.
With this one, you know the marketing advice and publicity tips you’re reading are from someone who’s actually tried them out. The author doesn’t only include those ads or events which worked, but also shares her failures and explains why she thinks a certain giveaway or advertisement didn’t work, allowing the reader to decide if it’s worth it for them to try out.
Her advanced marketing tips are superb. These are not the standard checklists I see in pretty much every book on this subject, but show she’s taken the time to think up creative, ‘out of the box’ ways to reach and engage with new readers. Most I wouldn’t have thought of or dared to try. While reading the last few chapters of this book, I had a notebook out and made a ‘to-do’ list based on her advice and suggestions.
I’d recently become disenchanted by all of the fairly standard paid promotional opportunities out there, and found it difficult to decide where – if anywhere – I should put my time and money. Reading this book has re energized me to try new things, take chances and have fun with it, instead of seeing marketing as a necessary evil. That’s exactly what I needed!
The first chapters are about developing your idea into a story, before moving on to detailed instructions on formatting, editing, proofreading, and publishing through traditional publishing houses, hybrid, and print-on-demand. Towards the end of the book both author Carole Roman and her marketing partner Julie Gerber, discuss the most used social media apps, explain the types of users you can expect to find on each and give concrete examples of how you can use these platforms to target and interest your audience.
What sets this book apart are the extremely honest insights the author shares about her own experiences gained while publishing and marketing her many books and those of her sons’, including details about what did and did not work.
These personal anecdotes and specific examples make it easy to relate to and add a sense of authenticity. Some books about publishing and marketing I’ve read leave me wondering if the person has ever formatted a manuscript before or actually tried to market a book.
With this one, you know the marketing advice and publicity tips you’re reading are from someone who’s actually tried them out. The author doesn’t only include those ads or events which worked, but also shares her failures and explains why she thinks a certain giveaway or advertisement didn’t work, allowing the reader to decide if it’s worth it for them to try out.
Her advanced marketing tips are superb. These are not the standard checklists I see in pretty much every book on this subject, but show she’s taken the time to think up creative, ‘out of the box’ ways to reach and engage with new readers. Most I wouldn’t have thought of or dared to try. While reading the last few chapters of this book, I had a notebook out and made a ‘to-do’ list based on her advice and suggestions.
I’d recently become disenchanted by all of the fairly standard paid promotional opportunities out there, and found it difficult to decide where – if anywhere – I should put my time and money. Reading this book has re energized me to try new things, take chances and have fun with it, instead of seeing marketing as a necessary evil. That’s exactly what I needed!
September 14, 2016
When you want to sail safely, you use Navionics—software that plots a route and warns you in case of submerged rocks or bad currents when navigating in shallow bays.
Want to be an indie author? Navigating Indieworld will be your Navionics—you can trust it.
Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman have written an excellent manual for indie authors. Not only rookies will benefit from reading their witty handbook, full of positive energy and humor. Even the tycoons of the indie business will find new information here as the authors cover every step of the publishing process in detail, outlining all the possible options one can choose from. From beta-reading to marketing the book, every stage is illustrated with samples (I loved the section about blurbs!) and accompanied by handy links and resources (for example, Grammarly--just what I was looking for!).
While reading, I felt like I was talking to the authors in a cafe—they offered me the advice over a good coffee and a cake, joking about us authors and our struggles. This makes the book so good—it's not another to-do list, it's pure fun.
I'll be recommending Navigating Indieworld to all of my friends who want to join the world of indies and sail towards successful completion of their publishing projects.
Want to be an indie author? Navigating Indieworld will be your Navionics—you can trust it.
Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman have written an excellent manual for indie authors. Not only rookies will benefit from reading their witty handbook, full of positive energy and humor. Even the tycoons of the indie business will find new information here as the authors cover every step of the publishing process in detail, outlining all the possible options one can choose from. From beta-reading to marketing the book, every stage is illustrated with samples (I loved the section about blurbs!) and accompanied by handy links and resources (for example, Grammarly--just what I was looking for!).
While reading, I felt like I was talking to the authors in a cafe—they offered me the advice over a good coffee and a cake, joking about us authors and our struggles. This makes the book so good—it's not another to-do list, it's pure fun.
I'll be recommending Navigating Indieworld to all of my friends who want to join the world of indies and sail towards successful completion of their publishing projects.
December 15, 2017
A complete guide for Indie authors.
"We are color, age , and gender blind and seeking fame, fortune, and fulfillment without getting screwed in a place which is known as Indie world." - Carole P. Roman
Right from the first thought about writing, Carole and J.A. not only guided through this book but shared their own experiences about cover designing, blurb writing, publishing, networking and promotion.
Thank God! I have got the opportunity to read this great book. I recommend this book to every author who wants to learn about self-publishing.
"We are color, age , and gender blind and seeking fame, fortune, and fulfillment without getting screwed in a place which is known as Indie world." - Carole P. Roman
Right from the first thought about writing, Carole and J.A. not only guided through this book but shared their own experiences about cover designing, blurb writing, publishing, networking and promotion.
Thank God! I have got the opportunity to read this great book. I recommend this book to every author who wants to learn about self-publishing.
March 18, 2017
Carole P. Roman and Julie A. Gerber have created a wonderful resource for the Indie Author. I bought the kindle version of this book but would like to own the paperback. Perfect to keep in your arsenal of business aid.
September 6, 2016
‘A best-seller for one of us is a victory for all of Indiekind.’
Carole P. Roman writes a lot, wins a lot, and sells a lot of her well-known books. Julie A. Gerber is an expert in utilization of the social media. Together these two leading ladies have organized a guide for beginners (is anyone these days ever anything BUT a beginner, with all the daily changes in writing/publishing/fining readers?) that details everything we need to know from the start of a book to assuring the book is readable or worthwhile enough to pass to an editor to polish to finding an artist who can make visible the thoughts of a book, to getting that finished book out to the public to buy and read. Big task – well performed.
Carole states in her usual warm introductory comments, ‘We will approach the subject to educate, prepare, and enable any person to write, publish, and ultimately sell their books to the general public.’ And adds ‘A funny thing happened on the way to my retirement. I found myself entering a whole new career in my late fifties, joining a community of people in which there was no return. I entered Indieworld. A different breed of people lives there, yet we all have the same agenda. It’s an amazing place - we don’t see our differences. We are color, age, and gender blind. We only want to tell our story and have it be appreciated. Oh yes, and make a small fortune in the process. Indieworld is a vast entity filled with a universe of people driven to do the same thing. They are seeking what I refer to as the three “Fs”: fame, fortune, and fulfillment without getting screwed. I bet you thought I was going to use another word.’
That is the tone of this tome – warm, humorous, detailed, immaculately researched, thoughtful and – it works! This book literally takes the subject from the initial idea for a book through the creation of the finished (‘!’) book and then all the steps beyond – brutally honest beta readers, finding an editor who believes in your idea and book and is willing to take it to the literary OR, formatting (‘crucial when you load your book onto a self-publishing site’), create a budget for getting published (and the many types of publishers out there), writing a synopsis/promo copy, creating interesting bios to accompany the book online or on-flap, choosing a cover image, selecting artwork to give your book visual life and heft, creating trailers, setting the price and selecting the 'audience’, the dos and don’ts of KDP – and that is just the first half of the instruction guide – the social media information, audible format, and finding reviewers, ‘network,network,network’, book tours and more follow.
Not only do these ladies discuss their recommendation (and provide ample illustrations of each topic), but they also give sites and resources that are actually useable! Indieworld alert – buy this book!
Carole P. Roman writes a lot, wins a lot, and sells a lot of her well-known books. Julie A. Gerber is an expert in utilization of the social media. Together these two leading ladies have organized a guide for beginners (is anyone these days ever anything BUT a beginner, with all the daily changes in writing/publishing/fining readers?) that details everything we need to know from the start of a book to assuring the book is readable or worthwhile enough to pass to an editor to polish to finding an artist who can make visible the thoughts of a book, to getting that finished book out to the public to buy and read. Big task – well performed.
Carole states in her usual warm introductory comments, ‘We will approach the subject to educate, prepare, and enable any person to write, publish, and ultimately sell their books to the general public.’ And adds ‘A funny thing happened on the way to my retirement. I found myself entering a whole new career in my late fifties, joining a community of people in which there was no return. I entered Indieworld. A different breed of people lives there, yet we all have the same agenda. It’s an amazing place - we don’t see our differences. We are color, age, and gender blind. We only want to tell our story and have it be appreciated. Oh yes, and make a small fortune in the process. Indieworld is a vast entity filled with a universe of people driven to do the same thing. They are seeking what I refer to as the three “Fs”: fame, fortune, and fulfillment without getting screwed. I bet you thought I was going to use another word.’
That is the tone of this tome – warm, humorous, detailed, immaculately researched, thoughtful and – it works! This book literally takes the subject from the initial idea for a book through the creation of the finished (‘!’) book and then all the steps beyond – brutally honest beta readers, finding an editor who believes in your idea and book and is willing to take it to the literary OR, formatting (‘crucial when you load your book onto a self-publishing site’), create a budget for getting published (and the many types of publishers out there), writing a synopsis/promo copy, creating interesting bios to accompany the book online or on-flap, choosing a cover image, selecting artwork to give your book visual life and heft, creating trailers, setting the price and selecting the 'audience’, the dos and don’ts of KDP – and that is just the first half of the instruction guide – the social media information, audible format, and finding reviewers, ‘network,network,network’, book tours and more follow.
Not only do these ladies discuss their recommendation (and provide ample illustrations of each topic), but they also give sites and resources that are actually useable! Indieworld alert – buy this book!
November 3, 2016
I read this book in one sitting and couldn't get to sleep after I finished it because I so was revved up and ready to get to work! I'm in the process of writing and publishing my first romance novel. Since I'm pretty risk adverse I wanted to know a bit more about the self publishing world before I took the plunge. In addition to that, I was also looking for tips on how to make this experience an enjoyable one.
This book gave me everything I wanted and more. It starts off with a lovely introduction by one of the co-authors and consists of 33 chapters, every single one well-written and fast paced. Personally, I especially enjoyed the chapters about editing and formatting. It made me realize that finding a good Beta Reader and editor should be a top priority, especially due to the fact that English is not my first or even second language.
Another thing I liked about this book is that the advice given is backed by experience. Almost all of the chapters include a section written by the co-authors that feels personal and real. These were very helpful because as a reader it made me more likely to want to read more since the authors have clearly been through the same things that I'm going through now. Carole and Julie didn't shy away from talking about their own mistakes or failures, e.g. Carole's monetary investment in a Publishing Company that resulted in the sale of just a few copies.
Oh, and another thing: every chapter contains plenty of examples; something that really adds tremendous value to the book.
All in all, this is a wonderful guide for a beginner. I hadn't even thought about publishing my story as an audiobook until I read this book. Make sure to check out the chapters regarding social media and the handy directory regarding book tours in the back as well.
Conclusion: A book worth more than the price that I paid for it on Amazon. I highly recommend it.
This book gave me everything I wanted and more. It starts off with a lovely introduction by one of the co-authors and consists of 33 chapters, every single one well-written and fast paced. Personally, I especially enjoyed the chapters about editing and formatting. It made me realize that finding a good Beta Reader and editor should be a top priority, especially due to the fact that English is not my first or even second language.
Another thing I liked about this book is that the advice given is backed by experience. Almost all of the chapters include a section written by the co-authors that feels personal and real. These were very helpful because as a reader it made me more likely to want to read more since the authors have clearly been through the same things that I'm going through now. Carole and Julie didn't shy away from talking about their own mistakes or failures, e.g. Carole's monetary investment in a Publishing Company that resulted in the sale of just a few copies.
Oh, and another thing: every chapter contains plenty of examples; something that really adds tremendous value to the book.
All in all, this is a wonderful guide for a beginner. I hadn't even thought about publishing my story as an audiobook until I read this book. Make sure to check out the chapters regarding social media and the handy directory regarding book tours in the back as well.
Conclusion: A book worth more than the price that I paid for it on Amazon. I highly recommend it.
September 16, 2016
Having worked with Indie authors and being an Indie author myself, I have had to navigate all the issues with writing a book that these two authors explore. They mentioned time and time again that the act of writing the book is only half the battle and that yes, it can be a daunting task to get a published and seen but is worth it in the end.
They mention many people they have worked with from beta readers, to editors, to cover designers, to illustrators, to publishing. Included are links to many of these people. In addition, several chapters are dedicated to the marketing end which includes the use of social media, radio, advertisement, as well as book reviewers and bloggers.
If you are a new author reading my words then I recommend reading this book before you decide to publish. Keep it handy for reference because you will no doubt want to use it time and again even after your first book is complete.
Not only am I an author but a virtual assistant who has worked with authors to market their books. I would hate to see the pitfalls that can and do happen. However, I want to you to succeed too. Julie Gerber and Carole P. Roman outline those things too. If you take note, of their recommendations, then you have a good chance of maybe not falling trap to those things and have a better chance at succeeding and navigating the crazy but wonderful place they call "Indie World." 5 stars!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. Hudson aka Naila Moon
They mention many people they have worked with from beta readers, to editors, to cover designers, to illustrators, to publishing. Included are links to many of these people. In addition, several chapters are dedicated to the marketing end which includes the use of social media, radio, advertisement, as well as book reviewers and bloggers.
If you are a new author reading my words then I recommend reading this book before you decide to publish. Keep it handy for reference because you will no doubt want to use it time and again even after your first book is complete.
Not only am I an author but a virtual assistant who has worked with authors to market their books. I would hate to see the pitfalls that can and do happen. However, I want to you to succeed too. Julie Gerber and Carole P. Roman outline those things too. If you take note, of their recommendations, then you have a good chance of maybe not falling trap to those things and have a better chance at succeeding and navigating the crazy but wonderful place they call "Indie World." 5 stars!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. Hudson aka Naila Moon
September 5, 2016
As a relatively new independent author, I found "Navigating Indieworld" to be full of helpful information. The book covered all kinds of helpful topics for independent authors. How to find an editor, write an author bio, write your book blurb, get a good book cover, find reviews and enter book competition. It talks about how to set up your social media platform and get publicity for your book.
The author covers the basics to make sure that you have a thorough understanding of each subject before going deeper. Definitely jam packed with helpful information. Some of my personal takeaways are that I'm going to try using beta reader and redo my author bio. I also have some new places to look for potential reviews.
The to-do list at the end of the each chapter is a nice feature. It sums up what was covered in the chapter and helps you pinpoint your next steps. This keeps all of the information covered in the book from becoming overwhelming. There is also specific websites referred to in each topic so that I don't have to waste time figuring out how to complete an item on my to-do list.
I especially appreciate how the authors put price estimation into each category. This is especially helpful for Independent authors who are trying to keep a close eye on their finances and estimate a budget for their upcoming book.
I received this book at no cost in exchange for my honest opinion.
The author covers the basics to make sure that you have a thorough understanding of each subject before going deeper. Definitely jam packed with helpful information. Some of my personal takeaways are that I'm going to try using beta reader and redo my author bio. I also have some new places to look for potential reviews.
The to-do list at the end of the each chapter is a nice feature. It sums up what was covered in the chapter and helps you pinpoint your next steps. This keeps all of the information covered in the book from becoming overwhelming. There is also specific websites referred to in each topic so that I don't have to waste time figuring out how to complete an item on my to-do list.
I especially appreciate how the authors put price estimation into each category. This is especially helpful for Independent authors who are trying to keep a close eye on their finances and estimate a budget for their upcoming book.
I received this book at no cost in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 20, 2016
Navigating Indieworld: A Beginner’s Guide To Self-Publishing and Marketing Your Book by Julie A Gerber and Carole P Roman is exactly what it says. It is a how to book to bring your books to the marketplace as an Independent Author. It not only lays out a blueprint for how to get started, it also, gives you more places to look, references to consult, and authorities that have expertise you may need.
As a new Indie author I appreciate the thought and effort that went into this book. Julie A Gerber is a marketing expert, and Carole P Roman has brought her books and her sons book into the marketplace. These are ladies with some expertise in these matters. I have every intention of going back over some of the chapters in the book because I couldn’t look up and give enough thought to the issues they present the first time through. Of all the books I have read on this subject, and I have read several and taken several webinar courses on bringing your book to market, this is the best all around basic how to an Indie author can consult.
I give this book a five out of five stars because it brought me the full buffet of the things I need to know and think about when writing and marketing my stories. Many that I have read have given one aspect of the subjects a singular focus. I appreciate having it all presented to me.
As a new Indie author I appreciate the thought and effort that went into this book. Julie A Gerber is a marketing expert, and Carole P Roman has brought her books and her sons book into the marketplace. These are ladies with some expertise in these matters. I have every intention of going back over some of the chapters in the book because I couldn’t look up and give enough thought to the issues they present the first time through. Of all the books I have read on this subject, and I have read several and taken several webinar courses on bringing your book to market, this is the best all around basic how to an Indie author can consult.
I give this book a five out of five stars because it brought me the full buffet of the things I need to know and think about when writing and marketing my stories. Many that I have read have given one aspect of the subjects a singular focus. I appreciate having it all presented to me.
Read
December 15, 2017Very proud of our Five Stars from the Foreword Review. Here's what Barry Silverstein had to say about Navigating Indieworld.
"Navigating Indieworld is comprehensive without being too densely packed with information. As a result, the would-be self-publisher should be able to quickly obtain a solid overview of all of the moving pieces and then decide which they feel comfortable executing independently. The book is not preachy; rather than present one way to do things, the authors offer a range of options. Gerber and Roman share their opinions and experiences openly and honestly, offering guidance in a way that is not heavy-handed."
"Navigating Indieworld is comprehensive without being too densely packed with information. As a result, the would-be self-publisher should be able to quickly obtain a solid overview of all of the moving pieces and then decide which they feel comfortable executing independently. The book is not preachy; rather than present one way to do things, the authors offer a range of options. Gerber and Roman share their opinions and experiences openly and honestly, offering guidance in a way that is not heavy-handed."
August 7, 2017
In this book, the authors suggest preparing for a new book like preparing for a baby. This book contains a vast amount of information, from production to marketing, and beyond. What makes this book unique is the overall positive message of paying it forward, and not just for the sake of writing. As I read through the pages, I felt the authors giving more than directions - they were rooting for my success along with the success of Indie writers everywhere. I only wish I'd read this book before publishing my first. Even after my fair share of research, I still learned more from reading this book.
September 28, 2016
Gerber and Roman give you the best of their informed opinion based on both their professional expertise and experience as successful authors in their own right. Here is a treasure trove of resources for publishing and promoting your indie book. Specifics delivered in an accessible friendly style with clear instructions presented step-by-step. Suggestions are clear, details specific, and all the information is in a concise package.
The content covers all the basics—most of what I needed when I was a beginner indie author—but never found in one easy-to-dip place. Seasoned self-publishers will be delighted to discover many gems of insight that potentially can lift their game. Each chapter has a ‘to do list’ summarizing in bullet form the main points discussed at the end. The resources the authors provide include editors, proof-readers, blog tour recommendations, and really, just a host of other necessities that otherwise demand untold time to research for yourself. The authors state they receive no form of payment from any party they recommend. Did you know libraries will not accept a paperback copy that does not meet their size requirements? A publishing consultant would provide you this information, but they tend to be expensive. Here the authors not only give recommendations they also suggest how to wring the best deal from a service.
Promoting the book means promoting yourself as the writer. You will learn how to write your own biography for both your cover and shopfront. Reviews are covered from the aspects of finding and receiving. Indie authors will find the review chapters particularly helpful. Writing a blurb means understanding the audience as much as knowing how to summarize the content of the story. All this is explained and illustrated with several helpful examples from Amazon’s top one hundred that reveals the ‘active ingredients’. Other chapters focus on issues involved in authoring the book, from Beta readers to Google Drive. Book trailers are one aspect of promos of which I am most ignorant. I have learned never to underestimate the value of including a good trailer when planning a book launch.
My only quibble is due to the fact I am an Australasian author and a few of the suggested resources seem to be limited to authors from the US. Since there is a very large population of English readers in the US, the decision to aim squarely for that market makes sense, and I do have at hand the World Wide Web. All in all, Navigating Indieworld is well worth five stars.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The content covers all the basics—most of what I needed when I was a beginner indie author—but never found in one easy-to-dip place. Seasoned self-publishers will be delighted to discover many gems of insight that potentially can lift their game. Each chapter has a ‘to do list’ summarizing in bullet form the main points discussed at the end. The resources the authors provide include editors, proof-readers, blog tour recommendations, and really, just a host of other necessities that otherwise demand untold time to research for yourself. The authors state they receive no form of payment from any party they recommend. Did you know libraries will not accept a paperback copy that does not meet their size requirements? A publishing consultant would provide you this information, but they tend to be expensive. Here the authors not only give recommendations they also suggest how to wring the best deal from a service.
Promoting the book means promoting yourself as the writer. You will learn how to write your own biography for both your cover and shopfront. Reviews are covered from the aspects of finding and receiving. Indie authors will find the review chapters particularly helpful. Writing a blurb means understanding the audience as much as knowing how to summarize the content of the story. All this is explained and illustrated with several helpful examples from Amazon’s top one hundred that reveals the ‘active ingredients’. Other chapters focus on issues involved in authoring the book, from Beta readers to Google Drive. Book trailers are one aspect of promos of which I am most ignorant. I have learned never to underestimate the value of including a good trailer when planning a book launch.
My only quibble is due to the fact I am an Australasian author and a few of the suggested resources seem to be limited to authors from the US. Since there is a very large population of English readers in the US, the decision to aim squarely for that market makes sense, and I do have at hand the World Wide Web. All in all, Navigating Indieworld is well worth five stars.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
October 16, 2016
Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman have come up with a fascinating step-by-step guide to self-publishing and marketing books. Like all beginners, you begin at the beginning, with that idea that just will not let you rest. So, you sit down and begin to write, and you don't give up until the book is finished. But, are you finished, or have you just begun? Then you look the book over. Does it sound and look good to you? Maybe another opinion couldn't hurt. That is where a beta reader comes in. They can help you sort things out where your book might need the most help. And that is just the beginning of this wonderful book. I really love this guide with all of the to do lists at the end of each chapter and the way the instructions are broken down through each chapter that can also help a beginner through publication. Once you pick what kind of book you want to publish, this guide can help you find great ways to research that may help to promote your book. I also love the Directory that shows the authors, blogs, websites, which have sites for reliable reviews. And, along with these there is a list for book tours, formatting, illustrators and agencies, just to name a few. This exciting guide can lead you down the publishing road to success, if you will let it. All you have to do is sit down and start writing that wonderful book you have always been itching to get at but thought you never had the time. Get that idea rolling with NAVIGATING INDIEWORLD A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING AND MARKETING YOUR BOOK. And, of course, you have to do some research on your own. But In my opinion, this is a great guide that can teach anyone who is willing to learn and has been thinking about getting a book published on their own. I want to also thank the wonderful authors for receiving this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review. Outstanding book!
November 2, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book. This is an honest review of the book.
It doesn't matter if you're new to publishing or already published, there's something in this book for you. Julie and Carole have put together a large amount of information without it feeling overwhelming. They do make sure to mention that the book is to serve as a general guide, not the ultimate source of information. That being said, I have an intimate knowledge of the author world and they do a good job at making sure to provide the most important information any aspiring author is going to need.
One of the things that they made sure to do was structure the book around the processes from start to publish to what happens after publishing. If you're already published, you can jump right to the section of information that interests you the most and they will have tips and advice for it. Need to know about social networking? They have that info. Need to know about promotions and ads? Yep, that's in here. For me, their info on book trailers and connecting with bloggers was particularly helpful, but I know I'll end up to reading this again for maximum effect.
As a bonus to their experiences and content, they also have a directory of potential contacts for those who need some help finding where to turn.
And last, but not least, they drive home what I believe is the most important piece of indie publishing, backed up with information and their experiences. Being indie published is not a competition.
Navigating Indieworld is a 5 star because it's an easy, well formatted read, and Julie and Carole are spot on with the things any indie author should be looking into if they'd like to go farther.
It doesn't matter if you're new to publishing or already published, there's something in this book for you. Julie and Carole have put together a large amount of information without it feeling overwhelming. They do make sure to mention that the book is to serve as a general guide, not the ultimate source of information. That being said, I have an intimate knowledge of the author world and they do a good job at making sure to provide the most important information any aspiring author is going to need.
One of the things that they made sure to do was structure the book around the processes from start to publish to what happens after publishing. If you're already published, you can jump right to the section of information that interests you the most and they will have tips and advice for it. Need to know about social networking? They have that info. Need to know about promotions and ads? Yep, that's in here. For me, their info on book trailers and connecting with bloggers was particularly helpful, but I know I'll end up to reading this again for maximum effect.
As a bonus to their experiences and content, they also have a directory of potential contacts for those who need some help finding where to turn.
And last, but not least, they drive home what I believe is the most important piece of indie publishing, backed up with information and their experiences. Being indie published is not a competition.
Navigating Indieworld is a 5 star because it's an easy, well formatted read, and Julie and Carole are spot on with the things any indie author should be looking into if they'd like to go farther.
April 7, 2017
Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit. (Don't ask me why that's surprising, I'm not sure except for the fact that I avoid non-fiction like the plague and I'm not actually currently planning on self-publishing any books in the near future.)
Though I already knew a bit about self-publishing, this was fairly useful.Don't ask me why it was useful when I have no current plans to self-publishing ... It gives loads of useful information, from editing to using a multitude of social medias to promote your book and the many different kinds of ways to reach reviewers. It covers many many marketing things which I would never have considered, and outlines their uses in an engaging, easy to understand way.
It was really nice to read the hard-earned knowledge that authors Gerber and Roman now know from what seemed to be much trial and error, and a lot of practice and time.
Throughout the book, there's a multitude of useful resources, from reviewing companies, to places to create graphics.
It kind of pumped me up to go market something or other. ;)
A lot of it was directed at ... probably adults, or at least people who have a spare at least a thousand dollars lying around. Quite a bit of the resources mentioned were things that cost a good chunk of money (or at least in my eyes as one still in the realms of teenagerhood. XD) It is nice to know what's out there, though.
Honestly, I think it's worth a read for any indie authors out there. There's plenty of ideas, suggestions, and tips that could be useful to anyone, especially a beginner, and at 143 pages, it's chockful of usefulness and won't take a significant amount of time to read.
Though I already knew a bit about self-publishing, this was fairly useful.
It was really nice to read the hard-earned knowledge that authors Gerber and Roman now know from what seemed to be much trial and error, and a lot of practice and time.
Throughout the book, there's a multitude of useful resources, from reviewing companies, to places to create graphics.
It kind of pumped me up to go market something or other. ;)
A lot of it was directed at ... probably adults, or at least people who have a spare at least a thousand dollars lying around. Quite a bit of the resources mentioned were things that cost a good chunk of money (or at least in my eyes as one still in the realms of teenagerhood. XD) It is nice to know what's out there, though.
Honestly, I think it's worth a read for any indie authors out there. There's plenty of ideas, suggestions, and tips that could be useful to anyone, especially a beginner, and at 143 pages, it's chockful of usefulness and won't take a significant amount of time to read.
November 18, 2016
I received a copy of this book as a gift and voluntarily chose to review it.
How I wish that I had this book four years ago when I began my publishing journey. While I have a few graduate degrees and have spent many hours writing papers in the world of academia, writing, publishing and marketing your own book is quite a different story.
The author team of Gerber, a social media and marketing expert, and Roman, the successful author of more than forty children's books provide a wealth of experience and knowledge for the novice author. Readers are guided through the process from start to finish. Roman advises how to choose a topic, determine size, format, design, method of publishing, writing book descriptions, press releases, and a biography. She suggests how to choose a cover design and illustrator., determine a price, set up an ISBN, and choose keywords.
Think you're done? Once a book is published one must set up e books, accounts on amazon and goodreads, twitter, pinterest, facebook, google +, linked in, instagram, etc. depending on your type of target audience. Gerber shows the author how to match your book to the right audience and promote on social media outlets, press, radio and TV outlets.
I especially like the bullet summary at the end of each chapter and the summary of resources to check out by topic at the end of the book. If you are thinking of writing a book, this is the one book that you must read before you begin the process.
How I wish that I had this book four years ago when I began my publishing journey. While I have a few graduate degrees and have spent many hours writing papers in the world of academia, writing, publishing and marketing your own book is quite a different story.
The author team of Gerber, a social media and marketing expert, and Roman, the successful author of more than forty children's books provide a wealth of experience and knowledge for the novice author. Readers are guided through the process from start to finish. Roman advises how to choose a topic, determine size, format, design, method of publishing, writing book descriptions, press releases, and a biography. She suggests how to choose a cover design and illustrator., determine a price, set up an ISBN, and choose keywords.
Think you're done? Once a book is published one must set up e books, accounts on amazon and goodreads, twitter, pinterest, facebook, google +, linked in, instagram, etc. depending on your type of target audience. Gerber shows the author how to match your book to the right audience and promote on social media outlets, press, radio and TV outlets.
I especially like the bullet summary at the end of each chapter and the summary of resources to check out by topic at the end of the book. If you are thinking of writing a book, this is the one book that you must read before you begin the process.
October 3, 2016
Navigating Indieworld by Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman is a wealth of information for the author who is going the route of self-publication. Not being an author, I found this beginner's guide quite impressive--all the ins and outs of getting a book into the hands of as many readers as possible. Having reviewed a number of Roman's children's books myself, it was interesting to read about her experience with the artwork and other aspects of publishing those books. Who knew there were so many things to think about when writing a book! Formatting, the size of a book to fit on a library shelf, art work inside and the cover outside, the bio and the blurb, ebook, paper and audio too, Facebooking and networking. Using personal experiences, suggested To Do Lists at the end of each chapter and a directory of contact these two authors have collaborated to bring aspiring authors a comprehensive look at how to get a book published and marketed. From this reader's viewpoint it would seem this easy to read, organized publication should be in the hands of would-be successful authors, covered with post-it notes and dog-eared and underlined--a well used resource.
I received a copy of this book as a result of a contest, with the understanding I would review and give and honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book as a result of a contest, with the understanding I would review and give and honest opinion.
October 10, 2017
Comprehensive and Concise
I acquired a free copy of the Kindle edition. My honest review follows for a guide which delves into everything an author needs to know about self-publishing, marketing, and promoting.
A conversational approach raised the bar in uplifting this book from informative to entertaining. I appreciated the honesty and forthright suggestions based on the experiences of Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman.
The dreaded book blurb? They break it down into components with effective examples.
Negative book reviews? Sound advice on that topic too.
Of note—recommendations for where to query reviews, and enter one’s book in contests.
And, so much more!
This team definitely walks the walk when it comes to trying different marketing strategies from freebies to substantial monetary investments. Since they left no stone unturned for every aspect of publishing, marketing, and promoting—this comprehensive and concise guide has potential to benefit the novice or seasoned author.
I acquired a free copy of the Kindle edition. My honest review follows for a guide which delves into everything an author needs to know about self-publishing, marketing, and promoting.
A conversational approach raised the bar in uplifting this book from informative to entertaining. I appreciated the honesty and forthright suggestions based on the experiences of Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman.
The dreaded book blurb? They break it down into components with effective examples.
Negative book reviews? Sound advice on that topic too.
Of note—recommendations for where to query reviews, and enter one’s book in contests.
And, so much more!
This team definitely walks the walk when it comes to trying different marketing strategies from freebies to substantial monetary investments. Since they left no stone unturned for every aspect of publishing, marketing, and promoting—this comprehensive and concise guide has potential to benefit the novice or seasoned author.
September 30, 2016
No matter whether you are self-published or traditional, seasoned vet or newbie, you must read this book! It’s just as valuable to own as your dictionary, thesaurus and Manual of Style (S&W or Chicago).
Award-Winning Author Carole P. Roman and Julie Gerber are experts in the world of Indie publishing and in this book, they take you step-by-step through the writing, editing, formatting, publishing and marketing process. Their tips and techniques are spot-on and I wish I had this reference when first started out.
Navigating Indieworld reads like a workshop with two experienced women who make the reader feel comfortable and at ease. They want to share their wisdom with other writers/authors and I, for one, am supremely grateful.
A must read for any writer/blogger/author! Grab this book today and discover the secrets to Navigating Indieworld.
My Rating: 5+ stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com
Award-Winning Author Carole P. Roman and Julie Gerber are experts in the world of Indie publishing and in this book, they take you step-by-step through the writing, editing, formatting, publishing and marketing process. Their tips and techniques are spot-on and I wish I had this reference when first started out.
Navigating Indieworld reads like a workshop with two experienced women who make the reader feel comfortable and at ease. They want to share their wisdom with other writers/authors and I, for one, am supremely grateful.
A must read for any writer/blogger/author! Grab this book today and discover the secrets to Navigating Indieworld.
My Rating: 5+ stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com
November 5, 2017
This was a great beginner's guide, and one I wish I'd found a year ago! While some of these tips I'd already come to learn on my own through trial and error, I found the information in this book to be current and relevant, providing a little something for any indie ready to pursue a writing career - no matter the genre.
My favorite chapters were the first by Carole about that moment inspiration strikes (I felt as though Carole was inside my head!), and the last chapters encouraging new authors to seek help, making them feel less alone in an overwhelming industry.
A big 'thank you' to Carole Roman and Julie Gerber for recognizing a need, and for creating an easy to read manual of do's and don'ts. For anyone new to this wild ride of indie authorship, this is a handy guide to have in your toolkit.
My favorite chapters were the first by Carole about that moment inspiration strikes (I felt as though Carole was inside my head!), and the last chapters encouraging new authors to seek help, making them feel less alone in an overwhelming industry.
A big 'thank you' to Carole Roman and Julie Gerber for recognizing a need, and for creating an easy to read manual of do's and don'ts. For anyone new to this wild ride of indie authorship, this is a handy guide to have in your toolkit.
December 5, 2016
Wow! If you are getting ready to publish a book, or you have all ready written one, and want to be successful, you really need to read “Navigating Indieworld”. So many things I like about this book, the authors sharing personal good / bad experiences, offering a step-by-step approach for your book to be a best seller along with the estimated cost involved. Save yourself hours of searching, the book list websites and so many different ways to promote your work.
December 23, 2017
Very informative book, with very helpful links to resources. I'd read another book similar to this as I started out trying to publish my novel, and I found this one much more helpful, particularly in the area of marketing, which is a mind-boggling endeavor. Highly recommend this book, even if you already think you know something about the process.
I did receive this book free.
I did receive this book free.
December 25, 2018
Hire someone to read your book? A professional? What? After this suggestion, I started to feel like the suggestions in this book would cost someone a lot of money. Self-publishing will probably be just that, a little self-published book. A humble addition to the many books out there. The authors stated that they don't like to see their books exceed the 100 top list on Amazon. I just don't agree that one should get upset if a self published book is not in the top 100 in a category. Yes, this is an admirable and hopeful goal but, a self-published book, low-budget, that will not break the bank is just that, a little contribution. I have met a few people who over spent, or who spend way too much time and energy on their books. It's fun, yes, and one ought to have fun with this but not to the point of a new career nor should one feel badly if the book doesn't reach top sales. There are so many self-published books out there now, I'm not sure any of these expectations and expenses are realistic. Publish excellent work on a shoestring, that's my philosophy and that's what works for me. Maybe I'm wrong, looks like from these reviews on this book, I am, but I have my opinion here for what it's worth.
October 24, 2016
The quintessential handbook for New authors
For new authors the list of decisions that must be made to self publish and promote a book can be overwhelming. Everything,from writing, getting beta readers, editing, formatting, cover design, public relations, advertising and more must be addressed if they ever hope to sell their book. These two ladies have put together a masterpiece of both insight and information. Step-by-step they lead the new author into the promise land of self-publishing while removing the fear of giants. Each chapter is filled with great information and links to excellent resources. Each chapters ends with a call to action prompting you to act on and use your newly acquired resources. The information on how and where to promote your book will save a new author hundreds of hours in research and probably just as much money. Navigating Indieworld is truly a great guide for anyone desiring to self-publish and market their books.
October 4, 2016
I can only say if you’re an aspiring author, have a lot of questions about writing, publishing, advertising, covers or any other aspect of getting your book created, then this book may be your new bible.
Inside Navigating Indieworld, authors Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman cover every aspect of book publishing. Not only do they give you the Indie Author route, but they also give you a variety of other choices and changes in direction which you could take.
Consider this your checklist of things you have to do before you publish your book! Wish I had found it sooner!
Inside Navigating Indieworld, authors Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman cover every aspect of book publishing. Not only do they give you the Indie Author route, but they also give you a variety of other choices and changes in direction which you could take.
Consider this your checklist of things you have to do before you publish your book! Wish I had found it sooner!
May 23, 2017
Great for people who have no idea how to start in the self-publishing world. The advice felt geared for an older audience that didn't understand how the internet works. There's a section on how to use Twitter complete with a definition of "hashtag" and how it works. I don't feel like I've gained any knowledge on marketing. This book read like a collection of blog posts, not really like a how-to guide. The flow from section to section felt off and disorganized.
September 7, 2016
This book is a basket chock full of tips, suggestions, and guidance. I plan on referencing it again and again.
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