Well, I’ve had to push back the release date of Dragon’s Keep for a few more months. It’s ready to go as an ebook but some other issues were brought to my attention.
I attended a monthly meeting of authors and publishers. During the discussions, someone said that a hard copy (paperback) should come before or at the same time as the ebook. It makes the ‘book’ itself more professional, more ‘findable’. Everyone there agreed. Hmmm.
After the meeting, I did some research. Although I’ve seen examples where authors have published eBooks first, the consensus seems to be that publishing the paperback first, or at the same time, is the way to proceed.
So, with much regret, I cancelled the March 17 release date. My son-in-law said it best, “Do you want to publish on March 17th because it’s St. Patrick’s Day, or do you want to do it right?” Put it in perspective, didn’t it?
I laid out a timeline for paperback publishing and realized that I need to run another Indiegogo Campaign to raise $1000 to $1500. That’s going to cover the following:
- Interior Design – $500 – $700
- ISBN numbers purchased – $295 (one is $125, 10 are $250. Go figure.)
- Library of Congress number – free
- Copyright filing – $35
- Advertising Campaign – $50 – $100 (This covers an author One Sheet, printing of bookmarks and tabletop posters of the books’ cover and I don’t know what else, maybe a name badge.)
- First paperback printing – $400 (I think I need to print 100 books to sell to local book stores, libraries and maybe school libraries. Maybe do some book readings at the local retirement centers and sell some there. Oh yeah, copies for friends, too.)
The total here is $1435.00. There are always unexpected costs. Check out the Indiegogo campaign and help me get this book into your hands. It’s going to be a blast!
Now that you know more than you ever wanted to about book publishing, here is what I’ve already done:
- Designed the book covers for all of the Dragon’s Children books (saved $1500).
- Purchased a domain name: natlivanderwerken.com ($10).
- Gone live with a website at natlivanderwerken.com (saved $500 to $1000 doing it myself.)
- Finished making the editing changes to the manuscript.
- Created an author page on Amazon.
- Contacted an Interior Book Designer for costs.
- Joined the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers organization. I’m already a Gold member at Author U.
- Raised $105 with my first Indiegogo campaign. I learned a lot about marketing. That paid for the domain name and the web hosting. About to do another.
I’m setting a new release date of July 14, 2017, two days before the premier of the final season of The Game of Thrones. There are going to be BIG dragons in this one. Perfect timing, don’t you think? Almost like Universe wanted me to publish right about then.
Here is the back cover material for Dragon’s Keep.
An Age of Darkness Comes Again
The Dark stalks Ard Ri. It is moving north, destroying everything in its path. Deamhans haunt the land.
First born son and heir to Dragon’s Keep, thirteen year old Thomas Arach wants desperately to earn his father’s respect. Kept safe from danger, he’s bitterly sure he’ll never be allowed to learn how to fight. Will his parents finally let him learn the arts of war?
Amidst sabotage and treason Thomas is forced to take on the defense of Dragon’s Keep after his parents are ambushed and disappear.
Swords of Light slumber in the Keep, waiting to be chosen. An unexpected ally from times long past waits for ultimate danger to take up the mantle of greatness once again.
An ancient fragment of the legendary Dragon Talisman lies hidden in the Keep. Thomas must find it to have any hope of saving his home and possibly his world.
Can Thomas discover the courage within himself to stand against the dark? Can he find the path to saving Dragon’s Keep?
Do you think this will pull readers in? Do you have any suggestions? Leave a comment below. I read and answer every one of them.
