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Wendy Jones

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Status Replies posted by Wendy Jones

  1. Hello, Mel!

     

    A couple of days ago, I wrote a long post on the "Introduce Yourself" thread, but I don't see it.

    Does it have to be moderated?

     

    Damani

    1. Wendy Jones

      Wendy Jones

      Hello, Damani

       

      Finding a developmental editor for historical fiction

       

      I have an idea for you. Go to the library and find books as much like the first draft of the book that you and your spouse have written. Then look in the acknowledgments section.

       

      Usually, the writer thanks his/her editor. Make a list then research the editors and choose one based on what they can suggest about a sample that you send them to edit. Please let me know if this helps.

       

      Recommendation for a Copy Editor/proofreader/fact checker/ indexer

       

      There may also be an association of developmental editors online with their specialties listed. I found a copy editor/fact checker/proofreader/indexer this way. His name is Frank Steele. When you get to that stage in the process do look him up. He's excellent and a dream to work with.

       

      Success to both of you on your book

       

      Much success to you and your spouse on your book.

    2. (See 1 other reply to this status update)

  2. Hello, Troy

     

    This sounds exciting, creative, and viable, but I always do  research and sleep overnight on decisions. I'll get back to you tomorrow. I also might have some questions for you.

     

    Now to answer your questions about my Author's Page. Yes, delete all stores from the drop down menu and keep my website as the place to buy the book.

     

    But please keep "borrow from the library."  An Extraordinary Life: Josephine E. Jones is available in several New Jersey libraries and Roosevelt Library in New York. You can get the book through inter-library loan or the consortium if the library in question is a member.

     

    There are some corrections about my Author Page that are best dealt with via email.  That's it for now.

     

    1. Wendy Jones

      Wendy Jones

      Troy, taking a day or two is not a problem. Thank you in advance.

       

      Now to the matter at hand. I could not follow all of your discussion about needing a large bookseller and using Ingram as a distributor--but I gather you'd be moving large numbers of books and this would be the most efficient way to do it.

       

      I have a question and some suggestions.

       

      Is the correct domain name "www.readblackbooks.com" ?

       

      I sell my books through the website and in person.

      If someone sent a reader to the website and s/he bought a book, I would have no problem paying a $1 commission.

       

      I don't want to sell through independent bookstores of any color because they want the books on consignment, some are asking for a 55% discount, and they want the Depression era (yes, we're in a second Depression, but even in prosperous times they have kept the policy) return policy. It's not financially viable.

       

      If I sell one book one the website, I have enough money to pay to have one book printed. I would have to sell five books in a bookstore (with the 40% discount) to have  enough money to print one book. It's not financially viable. 

       

      The only exceptions I would make to this policy would be the bookstore at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture branch of the New York Public Library and the bookstore at the National African American History Museum in Washington, D.C. 

       

      They are such rich repositories of African American History, that I couldn't pass up the chance to be in these bookstores.

       

      Here are a few hand selling ideas I think would work:

       

      A book party like the Tupperware Party model with the organizer taking a percentage of sales. A brief reading would give potential readers a sense of the book.

       

      Going in person or via Skype to book clubs to give a reading. Within a week the club would let you know if they were going to purchase books for the club.

       

      A book swap in which readers presented their favorite books to each other and "swapped" with each other.

       

      I'll pass on others as I think of them.

       

    2. (See 1 other reply to this status update)

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