Jodie Leigh Murray

Welcome to the second part of my self-published author's process blog post. This part is more lengthy than the first part, published two weeks ago, because it contains the publishing piece.

 

Request or Assign ISBN's and Barcode

You can get a free ISBN if you're self-publishing on Kindle Direct Publishing or IngramSpark, but you'll be restricted to distributing only through them. With that being said, I purchase my own ISBNs and barcodes through Bowker Identifier Services so I can publish through as many avenues as possible. You will need an ISBN assigned for each version you publish. If you plan on publishing a hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio book, you will need to purchase 4 ISBNs and two barcodes. You need a barcode for physical books (i.e. hardcover and paperback). You can purchase one ISBN for $125.00 or you can purchase a bundle of 10 for $295.00, which is only $29.50 each. They have multiple bundles to choose from. I did the bundle of 10 ISBNs plus 1 barcode for $320.00 and I only publish paperback and ebook so I only need to purchase barcodes for the next 4 books I publish.

 

Design Cover and Interior (Paperback and eBook)

I would not recommend designing your own cover and interior unless you have experience in doing so. The cover is the first thing people are going to see. It needs to be perfect, and it needs to stand out. There are routes you can take with the cover. You can hire someone to do the artwork by going to Reedsy or Flickr. There are several websites where you can find an artist. Remember to credit the artist on your copyright page. There are also several websites where you can purchase a pre-made cover, which is what I did. Be careful because they might use stock photos which can only be used a certain number of times. My covers have come from BookCoverZone and they give me the artist name if I request it. I've been pretty lucky in my covers. I use IngramSpark's BookBuilder Tool to format the interior of my book and upload the pages in the trim size I need. Then I export it as a PDF for later upload to Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon) once it's ready to publish.

 

Send to Readers' Favorite for Review

I use Readers' Favorites to get professional reviews. I pay for the express reviews, which is about 3-weeks for 3 guaranteed reviews. The reviewers will rate you on categories such as characters, marketability, plot, etc, and give you an overall from 1 to 5 stars. If you receive a 5-star review, you get an emblem to put on your book cover and/or interior along with your reviews. These are your reviews to do with so you can put them in your book, the outside cover of your book, online, on sell sheets, wherever you see fit to put them. They are important. The cost is currently $129 for the express reviews. You can also opt for free reviews, but they aren't guaranteed. Reedsy offers a review option for $50, but those reviews may not be guaranteed.

 

Final Proofread (while in Review)

This will be new to me this time around. While the book is in professional review, I'll proofread and I have someone else proofread at the same time to ensure there are no errors. I definitely don't want another repeat.

 

Finalize Cover and Interior

Once the reviews come back, I finalize my cover and hopefully have a 5-star emblem to add. I will post the reviews in the interior. I haven't started adding a review to the front or back cover yet, but it might be something I consider soon.

 

Upload to KDP and IngramSpark

Uploading to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark is relatively easy, but it is time consuming. I would not recommend multi-tasking while you do this. With both, you will enter your title, ISBN, metadata, pricing, upload your manuscript (final formatted interior) and your cover. For KDP you will do the process for each type of publication. I do the paperback first, then I do the ebook. IngramSpark is all together and it should already be in there if you use the book builder tool. You just have to go through it again to make sure everything looks right before you approve. Be sure that "expanded distribution" is unchecked for both. You need a PDF file to load for the cover, both for the paperback (front, spine, and back) and the ebook (front only). For the interior, KDP will be an EPUB file which you will get from IngramSpark if you use the book builder tool. If you didn't, you can use Draft2Digital to reformat your interior into an EPUB format.

 

Order Author Proof

It takes up to 24 hours to get the email from KDP and IngramSpark accepting (or not) your book. I had a minor issue with KDP on my logo, which is why it's absent from the spine on my first book run. It was taking too long to get it to fit within the template safe zones, and I moved on. I think I got it this time, though. IngramSpark, I had an issue with my 5-star emblem and had to adjust the resolution. Finally, when they were both ready, and I received the emails, I ordered my author proof from Amazon. This is a copy of your book (at your cost plus shipping, which was about $9.50), for you to review to make sure everything looks as it should. I used this proof to read through the book to catch any additional errors or mistakes. However, some errors and mistakes sneaked through, which are fixed now.

 

Order Author Copies

Once you're satisfied with the proof, you can order your author copies. You can get them at author cost, which is currently $5.26 per copy plus tax plus shipping through KDP. I use the author copies for online sales (if you have a website) and events like book launches, and craft and book fairs. If you publish through KDP and IngramSpark, copies are slightly cheaper through Amazon than IngramSpark. I ordered some from IngramSpark just to see the quality of them, but I ordered the majority from Amazon.

 

Update website and social media

Once you send your book to Readers' Favorite reviews, you can update your website and social media with the pre-order release date.

 

Order Marketing Materials

I order bookmarks for my business cards, sell sheets to send to bookstores, and a tabletop sign for events with a rounded up price to include tax. I used Vistaprint for everything, but my bookmarks were not consistent when I had to reorder. So, I'm going to try a similarly priced alternative. The sell sheets and tabletop sign was cheaper with Vistaprint and I'll continue to use them for my other materials.

 

Apply for Copyright Registration

Once you have your book in hand (not the author proof, which is marked as Not for Resale), you can apply for your copyright. The copyright offices have an option to upload your book instead of mailing it in, along with the $45 copyright fee. I mailed my first book in, but I might do the upload for the next one. It will save me the cost of the printed copy doing it that way, at least.

 

In closing, I hope you've enjoyed learning about my process and I encourage you to reach out and ask questions. I don't expect people to follow the same process that I follow, but if you have questions about anything I've done, please let me know. Helping you will make me happy! I can't promise I have all the answers, only having been through this one full process and about a half a process with my second novel. I've had stumbles I've learned from, and there is still much to learn!

I've been asked by a few different people about the process that I go through to self-publish, and I would be more than happy to share my process. Before I start, I want to warn that this is going to be a lengthy blog even after breaking it into two parts. People have said to me they could never publish a book. You can, if you tried. But it is hard work. A lot goes into it, but the reward is well worth it. I use a planner to keep track of where I am, especially since I have four books going at the same time. I am addicted to being busy and I am not by a long shot, an expert. Do your research, ask questions, make mistakes and learn from them. It's what I did, and I have no regrets.

 

Research, Outline and Prep

I'm the type of author who plans everything out before I write. I do my character sketches, scene breakdowns, research what I need on setting and anything that I don't know. Historical takes more research than contemporary, but there is still a fair amount of research that I did for The Gangster's Daughter. Like with diets, there is so much help for outlining and prepping for writing that it can be overwhelming. I've fallen into a groove over the years in knowing what I need, but what I need might not work for what someone else might need.

 

Write the Book

Write, write, write! Bestselling author Jodi Picoult said: "You can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page." That is so true. After years of getting in my own way, I write what comes to mind getting it onto the page. I know 98% (or more) isn't going to be perfect right out of the gate. That's the beauty of editing. I can perfect it later–and I'll get to my editing process. I edit no less than 4 times. There are some people that edit far more than that, but if I kept on editing (and getting in my own way), I would still be an unpublished author.

 

Read, Edit, Rewrite and Write the Back Cover Summary

Other than writing the book, this is the step where I spend the most time. This is where the two screens on my work computer come in handy. I put my first draft on one screen and a brand spanking new blank page on the second screen, and I rewrite it. Once I've rewritten the book, I use my ProWritingAid program to help me tighten up sentences. That's about all it's good for. The very first publication (in Amazon) of my first book was proof of what type of errors it did not catch. As much as I would like to blame the program for it, I should have known better and reviewed it myself more thoroughly before I submitted. That's the good thing about life though–you live and you learn. The program does a good job with helping with sentence clarity, redundant words and overly long sentences, so it's not a total waste. I also write the back cover summary draft.

 

Engage Beta Readers

I have had a lot of luck with people volunteering to be beta readers for my first two books (and future books). I have so many that I have a list of people who I can ask, but I have those who have told me in no uncertain terms that they are willing to always do it for me. This is another important step because I need unbiased opinions before I engage my developmental editor. The editor is the biggest expense. Beta readers must read it and give feedback promptly. I try to engage at least 3 beta readers.

 

Edit Again

Once I get feedback from the beta readers, I edit again. I don't do the same process as I do with the first edit. Instead, I go through the suggestions and determine chapter by chapter where I need to tighten things up and make things more clear. I've had good luck in that my beta readers have pointed out some pretty simple things to remedy.

 

Send to a Developmental Editor

This is the big one. I'm not going to lie. The first one cost me $1,400 to hire the developmental editor, but I do not regret it for one minute. I use a website call Reedsy. Reedsy connects you with professionals who can help you edit, design, and market. There are others, but it's for publicity, ghostwriting and translating. Self-publishing requires hiring for editing; I opted for developmental editing. Above all else, you need a developmental editor. Writers can't be subjective enough with their own writing to do what a developmental editor can do. What is that, you ask? A developmental editor reviews chapters and advice on character, story, and pacing. It is not the same as a copy editor, who does a line-by-line edit to improve accuracy and readability. After finishing proofreading, the book goes through copy editing as the last step. Reedsy allows you to search and get quotes from professionals you will hire to do these jobs. I love my editor, Becky Wallace, based on what she does for me–I will never go with someone else unless she stops doing what she does. She is outstanding at what she does!

 

Edit Again and Proofread

Becky's developmental edit includes a letter outlining points and a chapter-by-chapter review of changes. I say suggested because as she stated in her notes to me–I'm the writer and this is my work. She is merely making suggestions based on her opinions. I can accept them, or not. My choice. It's the same with the manuscript. She provides her changes, suggestions and comments in the manuscript as tracked changes so I can see everything she has changed. She also includes copyediting for the first 50 pages as a perk. It was refreshingly nice to see the bad writing habits I had gotten into and learn from. I take the time to read through the letter first to see where I need to focus before I did into the manuscript. It took me two solid works of non-stop editing evenings and weekends for The Gangster's Daughter and it was soooo worth it. Her suggestions prompted my brain to shoot in several ways and I think it paid off and made the story so much better than it was. It was great to begin with, but now it's better.

 

Write Dedication, Acknowledgements, Author's Note (if applicable), and Update Author Bio

This is the most challenging (seriously) of the process. Wouldn't everyone want a book dedicated to them? Of course! But it's not that easy. Usually I have in mind who I want to dedicate to, but to write the dedication without sounding dorky or mushy I'm no good at. The acknowledgements, I will honestly say I will thank my beta readers (by name) and my followers and readers every time. That's a straightforward decision for me. Without them–and you–this wouldn't be happening to me. If I have something to share with my readers about the story or facts, I will provide an Author's Note. I should review my author bio with each book to make sure it remains accurate, even though it won't change much.

 

My next blog will cover ISBNs, cover and interior design, reviews, proofs, and marketing. Not everyone will follow the same process, but if you have questions about what I do, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions! I didn't do this alone, and neither should you!

My astrological sign is Virgo, which is August 23 through September 23. The Zodiac element is Earth. Researching astrology in Wikipedia revealed a link to Demeter and Persephone. Demeter is the Greek goddess of the harvest. Persephone is her daughter and queen of the Underworld. I love Greek mythology, maybe not to write, but I enjoy reading it.

 

A Virgo's strengths are loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, and practical. I can't disagree with any of those. They describe me perfectly. Every single one of them. Weaknesses are shyness, worry, overly critical of self and others, and all work and no play. Again, I can't disagree with those, although I have been working on the overly critical of self and other's weakness.

 

Animals, healthy food, books, nature and cleanliness are among likes of a Virgo. Here is where I disagree. Animals, yes. I never want to see an animal suffer. If I could rescue every suffering animal, I would. Books, oh absolutely. Hello! I'm a writer! You can't exactly be a writer without being a reader. Nature and cleanliness, yes and yes. Healthy food? Uh, no. I like the thought of healthy food; I don't like to eat healthy food.

 

Dislikes are right on. I dislike rudeness, asking for help, and taking center stage. Taking center stage is the most difficult in my pursuit of living my dream, but it's worth it to see my words in print. To see people enjoy my stories, my characters, my worlds.

 

Interestingly enough, Virgos have an attention to detail and humanity, making us one of the most caring of the zodiac signs. We lead organized lives, even when things become chaotic. And true to my sign, my concern for details is so strong that I am overly critical and concerned about things that others don't really care about. I constantly worry about fixing something that may or may not be fixable.

Coming up with character names is tricky. The name chosen needs to fit the character's personality and their physical description. Contemporary novels are slightly easier than historical novels in considering names, but you still need to have that right fit. In The Gangster's Daughter, which was an idea in my mind for many years, I knew immediately that my main character names were going to be Regan and Cameron. There was no doubt about it. Everyone else either did not exist yet, and I had to find the right name, or the name changed. Regan's father, Gavriel, was originally going to be Bruce.

 

I do a bit of research on nationality when choosing a name, but it doesn't always work. Gavriel is an Italian name. I have some books that I use that break down names by nationality, and I use these but I also use the internet. The internet is a wondrous place to find information. I discovered a website that makes up character names from given criteria. Criteria such as gender, character type, nationality and birth year. I don't always find what I'm looking for there, but it's interesting what it generates. There've been times when I have heard a name in passing and thought 'that is a cool name'.

 

Historical is harder to come up with names. In The Duke's Daughter, I changed the heroine's name at least five times. I finally settled on Evie, and it fit her perfectly. This is equally true with the hero Xander. His name changed at least five times, as well. In fact, almost all the characters in The Duke's Daughter have had a name change. This is also a story that has been on my mind for many years.

 

Choosing names for historical characters requires consideration of era, personality, and appearance, while avoiding absurdity. I've come across some names of era's that I wouldn't dare put in a novel, and there are some names that are unique but don't fit the character. Historical names are everywhere between baffling and classic. I take a long time pouring through books and the internet, using every resource I can to find the name that fits my character perfectly.

 

Surnames are a different story. Going way back, surnames weren't used until after the Norman conquest. They identified an individual's trade, birthplace, physical features, and sometimes father's name. Once surnames came into play, you now have to put two names together that make sense and fit the character. Think of famous character's such as Harry Potter (yes, you caught me). Reading the books, or watching the movies, can you think of this character with any other name? Probably not. It fits his character just as Hagrid, Hermione and Ron.

 

The main thing I have to remember when I'm trying to come up with the perfect character name is not to let it hang me up. I noted dozens of possibilities, then move on. For my fourth novel (not yet named), I found my two main character names right away, but I have several other characters I have to come up with, so I noted several more. I also need dog names and breeds for this one, so this is going to be a fun one. It might change later, it might not. Typically, I have character names set before writing, so I don't miss any changes.

Pinpointing the inspiration behind any of my books is difficult, and I'll tell you why. Have you ever heard a song that caused goosebumps on your skin? Or a scene in a movie that had you in awe? That is me with a combination of both. I have heard so many songs and seen so many movie scenes that have morphed into my dreams.

 

I'm not talking about copying a movie scene into a scene in my books. That's illegal. Almost every single spark of an idea I have had for a story has been a scene in my head that I watched from a third person's view in my dreams. I'm standing there watching a part of a story unfold, except it's just one tiny piece and I have to figure out the rest of it. One idea transforms into several more and so on until I have somewhat of a story. But a story is more than just a string of scenes. There has to be a plot. There has to be a theme. Characters, who are deep and flawed, like they are real people.

 

My inspiration behind The Gangster's Daughter stemmed from a single idea of a modern-day betrothal. I love history and history is what I have always written. There were several ways I tried to bend this story into a historical piece, but no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't fit that way. And I couldn't be happier that it turned out how it did. This book didn't belong to the historical romance genre. It's romantic suspense through and through.

 

I needed Regan to be a strong, independent woman and she could do that best in the modern day world. It's true that many women have fought decade after decade for equal rights, and rightly so! But I felt that she would have been her best person today rather than say…1910's or 1920's.

 

The wonderful thing about story-weaving is that you can make up anything you want to, as long as the plot and characters are strong. Without those, you've got nothing.

 

I don't want to give away too much until people have a chance to actually read the book! For those of you who have signed up for my email list, in my July newsletter I've shared some of my playlist. My playlists are the inspiration behind everything I write. I thrive on music. I urge you to look up some of those songs and give them a listen, and after you read the book – try to picture a scene to one of those songs! And that is my inspiration behind every word I write.