Not the Booker prize, but...

BRAG gold logoSelf-publishing is expanding exponentially; it has long ceased to be a minority interest. But along with the glorious freedom of writing any genre, mixed genres or no genre and the ability to control every aspect of a book’s production comes responsibility to the readers.

Some authors write books purely for their own pleasure and that’s great fun and personally very satisfying, but today self- or independent publishing is a serious option for career writers. However, not everybody is conscientious in producing a well-rounded, page-turning book with impeccable production values. How is a reader able to distinguish the dross from the diamonds in today’s avalanche of self-published work?

This is where the B.R.A.G. Medallion comes in. Based in the US, but rapidly becoming recognised in the world of self-publishing as a seal of excellence, IndieBRAG’s selection process is rigorous, rejecting 90% of applicants.

IMG_4645_smWhen INCEPTIO, the first of the Roma Nova thrillers, was awarded a Medallion, I was delighted; my writing had passed one of the highest bars around. In February this year I heard that the second book in the Roma Nova series, PERFIDITAS, had also been selected. Silly grins all round and bubbly opened.

And yesterday, SUCCESSIO leapt the 90% barrier. Extremely silly grins all round and double ration of bubbly.

Around 150,000 (conservative figure) new book titles are published in the UK alone each year, plus goodness knows how many self-published books. Most readers browsing for a book spend about 5 seconds looking at the cover. Having the B.R.A.G. gold medallion on your books grabs a reader’s attention and indicates to them it will be a quality assured read, whatever its genre.

And who am I to disagree? Cheers!

 

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is now out.

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