An Indie Author's Experience of 'Going to Print'

Many authors want to see their books in print form. This used to mean sitting around and waiting for a publishing company to 'discover' their work. Along comes the digital age and with it, the time of the 'indie author'. Individuals suddenly gain the ability to self-publish their writings, which has seen a measurable drop in print book sales. But the days of books are far from over, and in keeping pace with this ever changing market, Amazon's CreateSpace allows indie authors to self-publish in print.

Firstly though, what is an indie author?

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On the way to Equality

I recently watched an amazing movie, one which I not only enjoyed greatly, but one which moved me to write about it as this month's blog. The story is about friendships, and courage, even in the face of the greatest of hardships. I know this description fits a great many movies and books. Some of these stories are pure fiction, but this particular one is based on real life experiences and events. I am sure that by now you have a mental list of movies that meet this criteria. Stories such as 'Schindler's List', 'Saving Private Ryan', and 'Men of Honor' should definitely be on this list. I am, however, referring the movie, 'Tuskegee Airmen.'

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Too close to home or do you weave reality

Many writers enjoy weaving a moral story inside their works of fiction and fantasy. Real world events can often be the catalyst for amazing storylines, and their subsequent consequences. Sometimes the message conveyed is subtle, and missed. Other times the meaning to clear and obvious. In either case, once discovered, the effect on the reader can be quite profound.

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Just what is the difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction

I am sometimes asked what a science fiction novel is, and if it differs from fantasy. Well first, let's tackle their individual meanings. 

Science fiction is content which is usually set in the future, or in futuristic settings. These stories usually involve space travel, scientific advancements, or alien races. A common theme of science fiction is an off world setting. Think of Frank Herbert's Dune saga, or Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.

Fantasy writing usually involves mythical beasts, magic, and strange lands, which are often inhabited by stranger creatures. Some of the most famous fantasy lands include J.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, or J.K Rowling's, Harry Potter Series. A prolific author who was ahead of her time was Enid Blyton. She wrote numerous children's fantasy books, many of which I still recall to this day.

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The technology of a writer (and avid Gamer)

The only common denominator for my title is that I do both. In reality, the computer system that is essential for writing has rather simple needs, while a gaming system definitely requires far newer technology. I will add that having multiple monitors for both is a very handy feature.

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World at War...  What does that mean?

This blog, like most of my others, was going to be on a rather safe topic. But with all the strife we have in the world right now, I could not in good conscience stick my head in the sand and ignore what is going on. With that being said I must warn you that this blog expresses my views and insights into the world's current events. For those who are not interested in this topic, please come back next month when I promise I will provide a more contemporary blog.

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Are social media friends, friends...  I think so.

Many years ago my wife and I started playing World of Warcraft, a game we played for almost seven years. Over the course of these years we became good friends with a number of other players. We used Ventrilo, a voice chat program, in order to communicate with each other as we played. Roll forward ten years, and even though I have not meet these people face to face, thanks to our many chatting sessions and the phenomenon that Facebook has become, I feel as though I know many of these people extremely well.

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We all have to start somewhere and with perseverance, we can make our dreams come true.

My Stepdaughter, Kayla, has been fascinated with cartoons for her entire life. When she said she wanted to be involved in the industry, her mother and I did what we could to support her endeavors.

She spent four years studying at the Chicago Institute of Art, then took the bold step of moving to New York in order to pursue her new career. During college, and these early days in New York, she had to work a variety of jobs in order to make ends meet.

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Progress in the quest for an Editor for the Terran Chronicles Universe

I began writing the Terran Chronicles Universe series in 2010, and have been tweaking my writing and publication process ever since. Many times I have talked about being an indie author, and having limited resources at my disposal. One of the defining factors that differentiates many indie authors from professionals is the quality of their editing.

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James Jackon's Experience of Apple Publishing Directly to the iBookstore

Just like many indie authors, I am constrained as to what I can do in terms of self publishing. My home computer I write on is a Windows based system, which means publishing directly to Apple is not possible because the Apple publishing process requires an Apple Computer.  However there are companies that will, for a nominal fee, publish to Apple

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A Writers Holiday - Does it really exist in the Terran Chronicles Universe?

As this month rolls by, I realize the small vacation with my wife, and two friends, is getting very close. We are going away, which means away from the computer I use to write my stories, blogs, and pretty much everything else. I imagine that I am like many writers, in that I have a lot of ‘things’ going on at once. So how will I find the time to have a holiday?

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What may work for some doesn't always work for others.

Just like thousands of other authors, I released a new eBook in December of 2013, and signed up for Amazon's Select program. This means that my book, 'Colony'; must remain exclusive to Amazon, and thus not be available elsewhere.

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The start of a New Year and reflecting on the past.

January 2nd is the claimed birthday of Isaac Asimov, a prolific and renowned science fiction writer. He, Robert A Heinlein, and Arthur C Clark, have been referred to as the 'big three' when it comes to writing. In my October 2013 blog, I paid homage to these greats, and others, for the inspiration they continually provide me.

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Amazon Prime - The benefits of KDP Select for Authors.

Amazon owns Kindle, along with a most successful eBook publishing and sales platform called Kindle Direct Publishing. KDP reaches around the world, and thanks to the ease with which authors can self publish, the selection of eBooks available is astounding.

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The explosion of Social Media and keeping up.

With the explosion of social media, and the advent of applications like Facebook, Skype, Pinterest, Twitter, and more, distance is no longer a barrier to communication. Not too many years ago, the only way to keep in touch with family and friends, was via letters, now often referred to as 'snail mail'. Email filled in the gap for a few years, but that too, is fading as a preferred means of keeping in touch.

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Respect and Inspiration.

The art of writing is, like many other art forms, constantly evolving. The days of ink being scrawled on papyrus with quills, has been replaced with keyboards and computer screens. But the creative minds working with these tools remain the same.

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The glamorous routine of an Indie Author Day's in the life of.

I thought it was about time I shared with you all, how my days go by. So many blog posts are aimed at marketing and promotion, and although I enjoy reading and writing these, I really wanted to do something different this month. The benefit of writing one’s own blogs, is that you can indulge yourself from time to time.

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Considering the impact of Science Fiction eBook Character deaths.

The death of a main character in science fiction ebooks can have a profound impact, not only on the story, but on the readers and viewers as well. The writer needs to seriously look at a number of elements, for each personality involved.

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Why change a website when it's already working.

Back in Nov 2012, I wrote a short blog called 'Websites. Why have one and who creates it?' It is now time to not only expand on this, but to follow through with what has been happening on the Terran Chronicles Website.

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Free ebooks and your marketing strategy.

This question not only plagues writers, but all artists, especially those who make a living from selling their creations.  When it comes to eBooks, there are quite a few opinions about 'giveaways' or 'free ebooks'. Some folks swear by the philosophy, stating that by giving away a whole pile of eBooks it can increase readership.

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