A.’s Comments (group member since Jul 18, 2015)

A.’s comments from the A Cooperative Press for Indie Authors group.

J. wrote: "I know no-one seems to come in here any more (I mostly don't seem to get the e-mails any more, either) but just in case:

Here's my newest book. It's a YA novel - the first in what will be a series..."

J.D. After two major surgeries and the start of a new school year, I am a bit behind, But I am working to catch up on all new member books. Hopefully I can get everything back up to date in the next few weeks.
A.

J.D. wrote: "A. wrote: "J.D. wrote: "My second full-length novel, Blood Ties, will be out on January 5 in paperback and Kindle!

In fact, I'm taking pre-orders for the Kindle edition on Amaon. And as you can se..."

J.D.

If you get a review, it would look great on our The Reader's Review of Books: http://independauthorscoo.wix.com/lit...

J.D. wrote: "My second full-length novel, Blood Ties, will be out on January 5 in paperback and Kindle!

In fact, I'm taking pre-orders for the Kindle edition on Amaon. And as you can see, the book is now liste..."

J.D.
I have added your new website link, your cover, your synopsis, and POS link to the website. Check it out and make sure it meets your approval. www.co-opress.org

A.

J.W.
Thanks for some good information. One of the important aspects of self-publishing is the vetting of editorial and artistic resources. One of the goals of IACP/Co-oPress is to bring together authors, editors, artists, and others necessary to self-publishing so that we can help 'build' each others' reputations. We must all be apprentices before we become masters at our arts. I would encourage you and others to invite editorial and artistic talent you have employed to join us at IACP/Co-oPress so that we can list them in our Members area. They could list those members they have done work for as references.

I'll get it done this evening.

J. wrote: "I had wanted to read and review some of my fellow IACP members' books here.

The one I've read so far, however, I didn't enjoy much. This isn't actually a criticism - look at my review history and ..."

I think the best "etiquette" is to avoid reviewing each other's work, but instead encourage our third party acquaintances to read and review our works. I have purchased a few member's books and given them to third parties encouraging them to read and review them. Not much luck so far, but tenacity is not something I'm short on.

J. wrote: "Thanks, Anon.

I also, BTW, mention the organization (only by the name "Co-oPress", I think) in the "Acknowledgments" at the end."

Your book is up on the Group bookshelf and on the website. Please check to make sure I got everything correct.

A.

J. wrote: "Not a lot of action in the Goodreads group recently...

Anyway, here's the latest (and the last!) of my "Dr Jeremiah" novellas. If it could be added to the Bookshelf here, and to the Co-oPress site..."

I hope to have my next book to press during the Thanksgiving break. I'm going to use the small Helios logo on the cover and spine; include the full Helios logo with imprint webpage url, and IACP/Co-oPress logo and homepage url in the front matter. I'm also going to redo the Amagon cover to include the same, if time permits.

I know that if we keep spinning this web....

A.

If not this evening, then tomorrow - it shall be done!

A.

G.G. wrote: "Ok,maybe I misread but I thought the short story part of the web site was to post actual stories that people can read directly on the website."

G.G.

I think we can do it both ways if we chose. But $0.99 eBook short story is a source of revenue, albeit a small one.

J. wrote: "Part of the idea of the logos for the Co-oPress and the individual imprints is to raise visibility, right? People see the logo, it leads them back to the website and they see all of our books.

I h..."

JD

I think adding the coop website address to the front matter is a wonderful idea. As we progress towards a fully established coop, it will be our only real "address."

Also, I am going to add the imprint and coop to the front matter of my new work The Budding of Ptatkurapki, and as time permits, amend my already published works to contain that material as well.

Every link we make strengthens our web.

J. wrote: "By the way, how are we defining "short story"?

Up to novella length? (That is, roughly 17,000 words or less.)

Just curious for the future. (After I finish my final Dr. Jeremiah novella, and befor..."

I think we can define it as we please. In fact, I don't see any problem listing certain works in both areas. Let's ask Our Authors for some input and see if we should establish some guidelines for defining a novel, a novella, or a short story.

Ken wrote: "There are three ways to approach the formatting of paperbacks and hardcovers on websites like Createspace and Lulu. The first option, and probably the one most taken, is to keep it cheap. Smaller p..."

Ken,

I think finding an alternative to investor driven entities like Createspace is the real answer. A publishing cooperative of independent authors contracting directly with a print-on-demand service provider would cut out the middle man. (I say that realizing that Creatspace/Amazon probably owns the print-on-demand servicers they use) Still, they are investor driven entities, while a true cooperative is member driven.

Please check out the blogs at: www.co-opress.org and let me know what you think.

A.

Justin wrote: "So I'm curious, aside from a bunch of messages on Goodreads and a few articles posted on the Facebook page, has anyone done anything for the group?

I'm at a loss again like I first was when the gr..."

Justin,

Right now IACP is little more than another POS for works by participating independent authors. As time passes (I understand that it generally takes 6 months or so for the search engines to really kick in) it will provide additional exposure to the reading public.

But my real hope is that it is a starting place for something much larger - an independent cooperative publishing house to compete with the traditional investor driven publishing houses. We are in the process of putting together a steering committee to explore a realistic business model. Drop us a line at: info@co-opress.org if you are interested in participating in this next phase. For more information check out the Blogs on the website.

A.

In reality, I think the chance for independent authors to be "discovered" by the reading public is slim (unless, of course, we are independently wealthy already and can afford an effective advertising campaign). Our best hope is to create a "place" where readers can find us - a place that we can build and promote collectively. Our little venture at IACP is only a few months old, but if we continue to use all available means to promote it (including some eventual collective advertising) I think we can create a "place" where people will expect to find something to read. Maybe not my book; maybe not your book; but a book! That place may be nothing more than our present website; maybe it will evolve into a catalogue; maybe someday it will grow into a real publishing house (with a little help from the Blue Fairy, of course).

A.

J. wrote: "I've taken a few days off of writing. (Stress issues, only partially related to writing.)

After my best ever month in September (again, that was a whopping $10) my October has been abysmal. I rebr..."

It takes courage to be a writer, not the least because success is so capricious. How many absolutely marvelous works have gone unpublished or unnoticed? Countless numbers, I dare say.

Though we may seem excessively abundant in number at places like Goodreads, in fact few are the people who have the courage and stamina to sit down with themselves, alone, and face the myriad demons that inhabit our thoughts and spur our creativiety (of course, there are a few angels as well).

So always be of good heart. Writing is the loneliest, most thankless of human pursuits, and yet when it succeeds, it represents humankind's noblest achievements.

A.

J. wrote: "Here are the rest of the revised covers finally:

[bookcover:Kingdoms ..."

J.D.

The new covers w/links are up.

A.

J. wrote: "Here are the rest of the revised covers finally:

[bookcover:Kingdoms ..."

J.D.

I'll get them up this evening.

A.

J. wrote: "While I try to get the impetus to actually write (only 1,000 words today - I spent the majority of my Saturday off struggling vainly to fix my internet connection) I have been working on a rebrand ..."

J.D.

The new cover is up on the Group Bookshelf and the Co-oPress website.

A.

J. wrote: "Is it okay if I put this here?

I'd like a thread for supporting one another in a less concrete way. Not beta-reading, reviewing, suggesting marketing ideas, or any of that.

Just good old-fashion..."

J.D. and G.G.

I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. Admitting the frustrations, disappoints, and discouragements that are all to often our most abundant rewards as independent authors speaks to the very reason we write. The thrill of holding that first printed volume in one's hand is so often followed by the disappoint - not of rejection, but of just being ignored. How many times have I proudly announced to friend or family: "I've written a book!" Only to be answered with a flat and totally disinterested: "Oh. That's nice." But we soldier on, because we must. And though at times we may seem a severely overpopulated bunch, in reality we are doing what very few of our species would even attempt. I don't write because I want to be rich an famous (though I won't lie and say it doesn't find a place in my imaginings). I write because I have stories to tell. And I really believe that with this new paradigm in publishing, we will all find readers who will appreciate our efforts, and perhaps learn from our stories. So damn the naysayers; damn the poor sales; damn the obscurity! Write on!

A.