Off to Denver!

HNS2015-logo3Well, I’m packing my bags this weekend for a long trip to the USA and Canada. On the last weekend of June, I’m attending the Historical Novel Society Conference in Denver where I’ll be able to meet ‘virtual’ friends of several years’ standing in the flesh. Quietly excited… 😉

But more than that, on the Saturday (27 June) I’m chairing a panel on the subject of The Brass Tacks of Self-Publishing at 10.30 am.

My co-conspirators co-panellists are Helen Hollick, Anna Belfrage, Geri Clouston and Daniel Willis and here’s our session description:
Considering self-publishing your work? Before you embark on that campaign, you need to know what you’re getting into. It’s is much more than just writing a story, and posting it on Amazon. This panel, made up of successful self-published authors, will cover the details of what it takes to make it as a self-pub. Here’s a hint: it’s a lot like work!

So who are my fellow panellists?

Helen HollickHelen Hollick at Instow, North Devon (photo Bideford People News)
Managing Editor for HNS Indie Reviews and a successful self-published and mainstream author.
The Pendragon’s Banner trilogy (The Kingmaking, Pendragon’s Banner, Shadow of the King), a re-telling of the King Arthur legend where Arthur Pendragon is a post-Roman battle-hardened warlord. Before that, she wrote The Saxon Series (Harold the King (US – I Am the Chosen King) and A Hollow Crown (US – The Forever Queen). Now she’s into pirates, especially Captain Jesamiah Acorne, in her Sea Witch historical fantasy series for adults. http://www.ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.co.uk
I interviewed Helen in 2014.

GJ-1Geri Clouston
President of IndieBRAG an organisation whose mission is “to recognize quality on the part of authors who self-publish both print and digital books.”

“After a book is nominated through our website it is subjected to a rigorous selection process. This entails an initial screening to ensure that the author’s work meets certain minimum standards of quality and content. If it passes this preliminary assessment it is then read by members drawn from our reader group. We have over 150 readers in 11 countries who regularly read self-published books for us. They judge the merits of the book based on a comprehensive list of criteria, the most important of which is whether or not they would recommend it to their best friend. If a book meets our high standards, we award it our B.R.A.G. Medallion and present it on our website. The B.R.A.G.Medallion is quickly becoming recognized as a sign of quality in self-published books. It attests to the fact that a reader can be confident that a book bearing the B.R.A.G.Medallion will not be a waste of their time or money! (from my interview with Geri in 2014)
http://www.bragmedallion.com

Anna-BelfrageAnna Belfrage
Author of the acclaimed Graham Saga – A Rip in the Veil, Like Chaff in the Wind, The Prodigal Son, A Newfound Land, Serpents in the Garden, Revenge and Retribution, Whither Thou Goest and To Catch a Falling Star.

Set in 17th century Scotland and Virginia/Maryland, The Graham Saga tell the story of Matthew and Alex, two people who should never have met – not when she was born three hundred years after him. I recommend you read all of these!
Read more about Anna in my interview with her when she released Serpents in the Garden in April 2014.
http://www.annabelfrage.com

DanielAWillisDaniel Willis
From his website: Daniel A. Willis is a renowned royal expert, genealogist, and historian. In addition to his books, he has worked as a free-lance reporter covering royal events. His articles and commentary have appeared on news sources such as Yahoo! News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Associated Press. His fiction includes the Chronicles of the Mages series.
http://www.danielawillis.com

We’ll discuss some of the key issues such as the choice to self-publish, the pros and cons, How – DIY to full assisted, pitfalls to avoid, the importance of reviews/awards – quality stamps of various kinds and non-spammy marketing. Then it’s open to the floor…

I’ll let you know how we get on!

 

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO. The fourth book, AURELIA, is now out.

Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines…

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