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Patricia Simpson | Author

Out of This World Suspense

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6 Secrets to Self-Publishing Your Novel

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6 Secrets to Self-Publish Your Novel – Fabulous Writing Tips

Multi-published author Patricia Simpson shares tips for self-publishing your book.  Click here for a ⁠transcript⁠. — Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patricia-simpson/support
  1. 6 Secrets to Self-Publish Your Novel
  2. How to Leverage a Bad Review
  3. POV: Can I Really Wear Those Shoes?
  4. The Secret to Managing Your Manuscript
  5. 5 Reasons to Keep Creating During Troubled Times

Self-publishing doesn’t carry the same stigma it once did when it was termed “vanity press.” (Oh, the horror.) Today, some writers are finding tremendous success with self-publishing. Some self-publishers are later picked up by traditional publishers. And some traditionally-published writers are leaving the fold to strike out on their own. To add to the mix, a lot of people are listening to books. It’s an exciting time to be a writer!

During my long career, I have worked with traditional New York publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin/Silhouette and TOR. Currently I publish as an indie. I have learned a lot about the publishing process, especially in the last few years.

Here are the steps I take when I self-publish a book and what I have learned so far. You could have a totally different experience or take a completely different approach. That’s the crazy thing about the writing industry. There are so many variables—with luck and timing playing a maddeningly large part.

1. Write the book.

  • Get feedback from a critique group along the way.
  • Get feedback from beta readers when the book is done.
  • Let the book sit for a couple of months. Let it “fester.”

2. While your book is “festering…”

  • Set a definite publication date. You can set the book up for presale at this time, but the date will be hard and fast at that point. Allow a couple of months. Preferably six. You’ll be busy.
  • Decide what book categories and keywords you will use for marketing. I use a program called PublisherRocket for this. You can also use this program to see sales for books similar to yours.
  • Write to Amazon to request more than the allotted categories. I haven’t done this yet, but many writers do. (Maybe that’s why they’re millionaires…) The strategy here is to rank really high in a category on Amazon. A book with a category of Amish Romance will have a much greater chance of ranking high than one with the category of Contemporary Romance. There are millions of books in that category.
  • Write loglines and pitches for your book. You will use these statements on your cover, website and marketing materials. Writing a pitch will also help solidify your cover concept and book description.
  • Write the back blurb/description if you haven’t already. I usually do this before I even start the book!
  • Start the cover process.
    • Research trends for covers in your genre. Collect samples for your designer.
    • Pay close attention to the type of image and title choice of successful authors you are similar to. It’s usually the cover that gets a reader’s attention. Then the back blurb.
    • Hire a cover designer or create your own front and back cover. Amazon provides a template for this, depending on the page length of your print version. I use an app called Canva that is fantastic for making covers and marketing videos.
    • Pay close attention to typography choices and treatment. This is where many amateur designers slip up.
  • Update your website and social media outlets to hype the publication date.
  • Keep your friends and fans informed about your book’s progress via social media. Cover reveals, reviews, giveaways, etc.
  • Set up dates for interviews, ads, announcements, press releases, book signings, etc.

3. Do a careful second edit.

  • Make changes after considering the early feedback.
  • Run your manuscript through editor applications.
    • Microsoft Word Editor for spelling, grammar and readability.
    • Autocrit (or similar program) for writing issues such as overuse of certain words, pacing, dialogue, etc.
  • Send the manuscript to a professional editor.

4. Prepare your book for publication.

  • Make changes suggested by the editor. Spellcheck again.
  • Create an audiobook (optional) or at least read through your manuscript out loud. You will catch typos, superfluous tags, adverbs, and clumsy writing if you take the time to read your text out loud. This step is well worth it. Make changes so the audio matches the text version exactly.
  • Obtain a separate ISBN for every version of your book (digital, print, hardback, audio) from Bowker Identifier Services. When your book is ready for publication, you can also copyright your novel at Bowker. You will need the ISBN when you upload your files to your sales partners. Most sales partners provide a barcode for the back cover, so I never pay for barcodes anymore.
  • Prepare your digital files for publication. I use a program called Vellum that creates a beautiful product for digital and print, and churns out all the different formats you will need for uploading to distributors, including the PDF that will give you a page count for the Amazon cover template and review sites.
  • Upload the cover and content files to the presale area of your sales partners.
    • Decide how you will distribute. Only via Amazon Kindle Unlimited? Amazon takes a high percentage and wants exclusive distribution of your book.
    • I distribute my book on Amazon (not Kindle Unlimited) and Draft2Digital, which distributes to multiple platforms such as Apple, Barnes&Noble, Google, etc. Their royalty share is less than Amazon, so you make more per book. Plus, they provide a universal link that updates automatically when a new partner comes on board. That means you don’t have to constantly update your website and social media links.
    • For audiobooks, I use Findaway Voices. They distribute to ACX (Audible) as well as many other outlets, including libraries. I’ve had better sales using this strategy than using ACX alone.

5. Send out the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for reviews.

  • BookSirens, HiddenGems, NetGalley, etc. Readers read for free. Authors pay a fee per reader. Readers post reviews to the sites of your choosing.
  • Kirkus Reviews and other professional review sites. (Pricey)
  • BookBub Ads and Features (Pricey but effective.)
  • Ask your street team to read and post reviews on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, etc.
  • The more reviews you get, the more credibility your book will have.
  • Gird your loins for the review process, LOL.

6. Hype your book’s launch.

  • Ask your friends and fans to buy the book on launch date. You want to have as many sales that day as possible.
  • Use direct mail, newsletters, blog posts, Facebook Groups, X, etc.
  • There are tons of classes and books that can help you navigate the marketing process.
  • Marketing is the bane of most writers, but it’s as inevitable as writing a synopsis. You just have to do it.

It’s easy to self-publish. Thousands of people are doing it every week. The difficult part for a new writer is how to stand out in the crowd. One way gain readership is by following the steps above to create an error-free product with quality content and cover and by getting good reviews. The above steps might sound daunting, but the process creates a much better outcome than if you just slap up a Word document to Amazon and walk away.

The real work comes after you self-publish. Marketing. But that’s a story for another time…

A Mystery Novel with a New Twist

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Book cover of Dead Man's Wine by Parker French.

A week before the fabulous Flight of Fancy Charity Auction in Sonoma, California, someone kills a counterfeiter concocting fakes of very expensive wine. Wine expert Sarah McKee is called in to help identify the victim—if she can. Whoever killed him took his wallet, car, and computer—as well as his face.

Awards and Kudos for Dead Man’s Wine

Dead Man’s Wine was a semifinalist in the highly competitive ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition 2023, coming in at the top 3% out of thousands of entries. It’s getting good reviews, too!

Praise from Readers

“Dead Man’s Wine was a great, quick read! I love a good murder mystery with a glass of wine and this book had them both!”

“This book had a great twist on the usual murder mystery.”

“A very engaging story with lots of character development that I hope means a continuation of the series.”

“This was a really good cozy mystery, with a likeable main character, and a plot that moved along at a good pace.”

“I loved this book. It was well written and I read it in a day.” 
Buy It!

How to Leverage a Bad Review

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Cat reading a book.

As a long-time author, I have received plenty of reviews over the years. Some of them good. Some of them bad. Some of them real head-scratchers. Many of my writer friends say they don’t look at reviews because they don’t mean anything. They’re just personal opinions about what a reader likes or dislikes. You can’t please everyone, and there’s always going to be haters. So why bother reading the comments at all? The book is out there. It’s done. End of story. (Literally.)

Not in my case.

Call me a masochist, but I still read reviews of my novels. Especially the ones with low ratings.

When I read a bad review, I don’t just say “Hmph, that’s ridiculous” and move on. (Well, sometimes I do…) I try to understand that review, no matter how much it makes me scratch my head or swear I’ll never write again. The person took the time to read and comment on my book, and their reaction deserves consideration.

What is the reader trying to say in a bad review? Is there an underlying issue that needs to be addressed? How do I leverage the comment to improve the next book I write or change a current one?

Here are head-scratcher reviews I’ve received, my initial reactions, and then how I chose to leverage the comments.

  • Comment: “I would have rated this book a lot higher, but the author left too many things unexplained at the end.”
    Rebuttal: “Really? You couldn’t put two and two together?” A writer walks a fine line of “not enough information/too much information”. Too many details can really slow the pace of a book, especially near the ending. In Spellbound, I underestimated how much a reader might want to have the background details explained to them.
    How I leveraged the comment: I went back and added more to the ending to make it clearer for readers who like things wrapped up in neat little bows. I kept it brief. But now it’s a better book that will not frustrate readers.
  • Comment: “I don’t like books about the paranormal.”
    Rebuttal: “Why did you read and review it, then, LOL?” After my initial outburst, I considered the comment for what it was actually saying. Did the reader not know what kind of book it was? Did the cover or the book description fail to mention there was a vampire in the story?
    How I leveraged the comment: In books where I am able to direct the cover design and book blurb (which is not always the case for an author), I now make sure it is obvious the book contains paranormal elements. I don’t want people wasting their time and money on a book they won’t enjoy.
  • Comment: “I didn’t like the law enforcement officer.”
    Rebuttal: “You weren’t supposed to, LOL!” This character will grow throughout the series, until he redeems himself. I’m not sure why readers rate a book by this criterion.
    How I leveraged the comment: I considered why the person might have made this comment. Was the character too cardboard? Too over-the-top? Hmm. I didn’t change him, though. I might have if the reader had provided constructive criticism about why they didn’t like him. But again, he was designed to be unlikeable.
  • Comment: “Because of the personal twist at the ending, I don’t wish to read the rest of the series.”
    Rebuttal: “Whoa. Never expected that!” In Dead Man’s Wine, my heroine announced an unplanned pregnancy at the end of the book. I did this for dramatic purposes, thinking readers would worry about her and want to know what happens in the second book. I had no intention of making my detective a single parent. But the reviewer didn’t know this, and she dinged me. I had no idea surprise pregnancy/single parenthood was such a divisive issue.
    How I leveraged the comment: I went back and changed the text while the book was still in pre-order. No way do I want to alienate a reader for an issue that won’t be carried through the rest of the series. Now the book will appeal to a wider audience.

In summary, no review is a bad review. Yes, a nasty comment can crush your spirit. And yes, a lack of stars can destroy your sales. But there is nothing a writer can do about it, except leverage those bad reviews to improve their books.

Because a writer keeps writing, right?

Book Reviews: Useful or Not?

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Lately, I’ve been wondering if reader comments are worth looking at. As the saying goes, “One person’s treasure is another person’s trash.”

Woman reading a book.

I see this all the time on a Fantasy/SciFi group I belong to, where readers post about how great Sanderson is or how much they love Hobb, and commenters will argue back and forth about these authors. After awhile, I quit looking at these types of posts, because they’re all about the treasure/trash scenario. Personal preference.

When it comes to books, everyone has their personal preferences. That’s fine. But personal preferences should be jettisoned when rating a book. It’s like the movies your friend recommends that you think are meh, and vice versa. Why rate a book on the personal preference scale? It doesn’t mean anything.

Here are some favorite wacky personal preference reviews:

  • “Not enough description.” “Too much description.” (For the same book. What???)
  • “Really good story!” One star. (Does the reader know how the rating scale works?)
  • “I don’t really care for romance books.” Low rating. (Okay, so why are you reviewing them?)
  • “I was triggered by the love triangle.” Low rating. (Fair, but not all readers will be triggered. What about the plot, pacing and writing style?)
  • “I didn’t like the ending.” (Hmm. Maybe the author hoped it would make you think?)
  • “I didn’t like the law enforcement character.” (You weren’t supposed to, LOL!)
  • My favorite is a reader who rates a book really low because of a personal preference or lack of comprehension, and Amazon lists that review at the top for all time and eternity. And there’s nothing an author can do about it. Thanks, Amazon!

The not so wacky review…

Then along comes a reviewer who makes a point about the book that all the beta readers and critique partners have overlooked. “I didn’t like the personal twist at the end, especially since it appears the twist will carry through for the rest of the series. I would read other books by this author, but this twist makes me not want to read the series.” Strong words, but I appreciated them.

A constructive comment like this, coupled with similar comments made by other reviewers, induces me to think about my book as it sits in pre-order. I included the twist for dramatic purposes. Life is messy sometimes. I thought readers would worry about the heroine and be anxious to see what happens to her in the next book. Apparently this particular issue does not thrill mystery readers. Who knew? So, I have decided to change the twist, especially since it comes to nothing in the next book. Why take the chance of alienating a reader?

That’s the power of a thoughtful review.

Comments about a book’s plot, character arcs or pacing is the stuff of useful reviews. Retelling the plot or rating the story on the basis of personal preference? Not so much…

Happy reading and reviewing!

What Makes a Compelling Hero in Fiction?

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A good hero in fiction can possess a variety of qualities that make them compelling and relatable to readers. Here are some common qualities of a good hero in fiction:

  • Courage
    A hero often faces challenges and obstacles, and must have the courage to overcome them.
  • Integrity
    A hero should have strong moral principles and be true to their values, even in difficult circumstances.
  • Empathy
    A hero should be able to understand and connect with others, and have compassion for those in need.
  • Determination
    A hero should have the drive and determination to see their mission through, even in the face of adversity.
  • Selflessness
    A hero should be willing to put the needs of others before their own, and be willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.
  • Vulnerability
    A hero can be more relatable if they have flaws and moments of weakness, as this makes them more human and complex.
  • Sense of humor
    A hero with a sense of humor can add levity to a story and make them more likable to readers.

These are just a few of the qualities that can make a hero in fiction compelling and memorable. Ultimately, the qualities that make a hero in fiction depend on the story and the themes the author is trying to convey.

I write paranormal romance, so my leading men share the above traits as well as being out of this world. Readers love my Scottish heroes the best—heroes like ensorcelled knight Hugh in Spellbound, released-from-a-Chinese box Connor in Jade and hologram hottie Hazard in Whisper of Midnight, my very first otherworldly hero.

AI’s Top Ten Paranormal Romance Novels

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Paranormal romance is a sub-genre of romance that involves elements of the supernatural, such as vampires, werewolves, witches, and other paranormal beings. Here are ten popular paranormal romance books/series. How many have you read?

  1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer – A vampire romance between a human, Bella Swan, and a vampire, Edward Cullen.
  2. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – The story follows a witch named Diana Bishop, who falls in love with a vampire named Matthew Clairmont.
  3. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward – The first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, the story follows a vampire named Wrath and his love interest, Beth Randall.
  4. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare – This book is the first in The Mortal Instruments series, which features a teenage girl named Clary Fray who discovers she is a Shadowhunter, a human-angel hybrid.
  5. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning – The book follows a woman named MacKayla Lane who discovers she has the ability to see faeries, and falls in love with a man named Jericho Barrons.
  6. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris – The first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, which follows a telepathic waitress named Sookie who falls in love with a vampire named Bill.
  7. The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning – This series follows a woman named MacKayla Lane as she becomes involved with a group of Fae and falls in love with a man named Jericho Barrons.
  8. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward – This series follows a group of vampire warriors and their romantic relationships with various women.
  9. The Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole – This series follows various supernatural beings and their romantic relationships.
  10. The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs – The series follows a shapeshifter named Mercy Thompson and her romantic relationships with werewolves and other supernatural beings.

Maybe I’ll ask AI what the Top Ten Paranormal Novels are (not specifically romance novels), and one of my books, such as SPELLBOUND or RAVEN IN AMBER, might make the list!