Q&A with Angelina Cabo discussion

Screenwriting friends keep asking me if they should turn their (as yet unsold) spec screenplays into novels and send them out into the world as ebooks. Anyone out their done this - or is my friend Peter Michael Rosenberg the only one?. Love to hear success stories (or otherwise!).

I don't know about screenplays, but self publishing is becoming big. I would say go for it.

It depends how much work they're going to put into adapting them into novels. I think screenplays will lack a certain something that people expect in novels. I wouldn't be interested in reading one that was mostly dialogue with a few connecting paragraphs but if they were thoughtfully re-written, they could be onto something.

In general, self publishing is becoming much more common and social networks make it easier to get the work out there.

Caroline Kozaka wrote: "If the ebook sells, it's a great way of promoting the screenplay and turning into the (beloved by Hollywood execs) "intellectual property"."

Know of anyone who's done it? I know that the "graphic novel" route is a good way to get your screenplay noticed sometimes, but only in certain genres. I'd like some examples of a success. I think (I know?) that "Sideways" was a spec that became a novel that became a script again.

Crystal wrote: "I don't know about screenplays, but self publishing is becoming big. I would say go for it."

Are you going to self-publish your debut novel or submit it to publishers? (Sorry, can't help being nosy...)

I am going to self-publish it. Just to kindle. I hate Barnes and Nobel lol. They make you use have a C.C. on file even for their free books. haha. My husband loves my story idea's and so do my friends , so when we heard about self publishing, we decided he could do my editing, and I will write. I have been sending each completed chapter to my best friend, and she reads it. She loves it. Once it is completed and copyrighted, I want to send a free copy to a few book reviewers. It's so funny right now, b/c I will finish a chapter, my husband will read it, and then he will laugh at the humor in my book. It's nice to work together on it. I also want to do children's books, but maybe once I have built up a bit of an income IF I succeed. I have been writing stories for my daughter, and I feel children's books, might be better in the child's hand.

I'm 30k into my first novel [looking at the 80-90k sweet spot] and I plan on having it professionally edited. I'm a huge fan of self publishing but I tend to see way more editorial mistakes in self published versus conventional.

I'm going to put it up at $.99 on Amazon and B&N and then start querying agents. Worse case scenario, I'll sell a couple of books. Best case scenario, I'll sell a couple of books and end up with deal as well. ;)

Amy wrote: "I'm 30k into my first novel [looking at the 80-90k sweet spot] and I plan on having it professionally edited. I'm a huge fan of self publishing but I tend to see way more editorial mistakes in self..."

Yes, it's amazing even the basic typos your eye slides over after umpteen readings of your own work.

And that seems to be one really great thing about going the indie route - you can't lose! But check out JA Konrath's blog as he seems to have experienced a bit of a backlash from the hardcore DIY'ers! http://tinyurl.com/3uqpfel

I selfpubbed my first book. It's tough sledding so far. You really have to be active on the Internet. I am very happy, though. I have complete control over everything.

I'm 10000 words into my second book. You would be amazed how much time promotion takes away from writing, and no one here even knows who I am. :)

Typos were my big issue too.

Dude, I know who you are! (But I may be a creepy stalker... who set up this discussion thread just to lure you in... oh wait, is that a good idea for a thriller?).

Did you do it all yourself with your first book (book cover, format, upload etc) or did you get help? And what kind of promotion are you doing? (Feel free to ignore my interrogation, just interested in what approaches other newbies are taking).

E.R. wrote: "I selfpubbed my first book. It's tough sledding so far. You really have to be active on the Internet. I am very happy, though. I have complete control over everything.

I'm 10000 words into my sec..."

The one thing that bothers me about self publishing is exactly that: promotion taking over time from writing.

I took my self-pubbed novel and submitted it to an indie publisher who happily accepted. I'll still be promoting, of course, but it shouldn't take too much time away now since they're going to be doing some marketing too. And now I'm finally almost done with my second novel.

Sheenah wrote: "E.R. wrote: "I selfpubbed my first book. It's tough sledding so far. You really have to be active on the Internet. I am very happy, though. I have complete control over everything.

I'm 10000 word..."

Keep us updated with how working with an indie publisher goes - I do myself.

A bit more about time spent promoting and not writing. My friend Peter Michael Rosenberg won an award with his first novel, Kissing Through A Pane Of Glass, got a three book deal with Simon & Schuster and thought his career was made... not true, trad published writers often have to work as hard as us indies.

Most of the trad marketing budget is going to go to the Stig Larsson's, James Patterson's and Ian McEwan's. (See Joe Konrath's great blog about that too - I'll post the link when/if I can find it!).

Angelina wrote: "Sheenah wrote: "E.R. wrote: "I selfpubbed my first book. It's tough sledding so far. You really have to be active on the Internet. I am very happy, though. I have complete control over everything. ..."

Found the link: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2007/08...

Angelina wrote: "Dude, I know who you are! (But I may be a creepy stalker... who set up this discussion thread just to lure you in... oh wait, is that a good idea for a thriller?).

Did you do it all yourself with ..."
I got Glendon at Streetlight Graphics to make an awesome cover. I did everything else myself. I'm getting loads of good feedback on the book. Looking at around 6 books in the series.

Sure, the promotion is tough sometimes, but the indie community males it worth it. Look at all the nice folks I just met today. :)

Angelina wrote: "Angelina wrote: "Sheenah wrote: "E.R. wrote: "I selfpubbed my first book. It's tough sledding so far. You really have to be active on the Internet. I am very happy, though. I have complete control ..."

Interesting article on promotion. I'm still trying to figure out what works for me, but I'm glad that I don't have to market my book by myself anymore.

So far everything is great with my publisher. I will definitely keep you posted on how working with one goes for me.

I agree with Angelina that one has to be active. Credibility is always an issue, as I discussed on a recent post at www.grassrootswritersguild.wordpress.com. I think writers should try all methods, including traditional publishing.

The Admin Team of www.backofthebookreviews.com has received a few self published books and we find that they sometimes have more heart and soul in them. We are always happy to receive self published books and to get the lesser known authors out there to our reading public.

Backbookreviews wrote: "The Admin Team of www.backofthebookreviews.com has received a few self published books and we find that they sometimes have more heart and soul in them. We are always happy to receive self publishe..."

Thanks for the vote of confidence in indie books! And can I send you mine for review :D ?

Of course we would be honoured to read it please email us at admin@backofthebookreviews.com we can’t wait to read it

Hello,

I also self-published my novel, Cage of Bone. It is available on Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords. It's a dark young adult story. I bought a stock image and added the text for the cover. I love the way it turned out! I did notice a couple of typos after I published but I have since corrected them. You do get blind to things when you look at them too long.

I have received 3 reviews so far but I am always interested in more. It does take a lot of time to market online. I spend much of the day online, connecting to people on Twitter, Facebook and the Kindle boards.

Cheers!

Leanne (JoyMagnet on Twitter and Leanne Beattie, Author on Facebook)
Cage of Bone

If any of the readers on this discussion would like to consider us for reviews we are always open and eager to accept new material. Please email us at admin@backofthebookreviews.com

*Sorry Angelina for the shameless plug lol*

Backbookreviews wrote: "If any of the readers on this discussion would like to consider us for reviews we are always open and eager to accept new material. Please email us at admin@backofthebookreviews.com

*Sorry Angelin..."

Shameless plugs (as long as, I guess, we don't annoy the kind folks at Goodreads or get boring) are fine by me!!

Leanne wrote: "Hello,

I also self-published my novel, Cage of Bone. It is available on Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords. It's a dark young adult story. I bought a stock image and added the text for the cover. I l..."

Being nosy I checked out your cover and synopsis - and I don't count myself a YA anymore but I love both!

I'll give it a whirl if I get a moment free from Tweeting, blogging and Q&A-ing!

Thanks, Angelina! I am far from YA in age but I love the genre. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is my favourite YA book.

Leanne wrote: "Hello,

I also self-published my novel, Cage of Bone. It is available on Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords. It's a dark young adult story. I bought a stock image and added the text for the cover. I l..."

Your cover looks beautiful! To be honest I was a little scared that you said you just put text on a stock image. I've done some designing before and I know that typography can make or break a image.

Your synopsis sounds intriguing. I'm definitely going to try to get my hands on it and read it when I have more time.