I'm an award-winning author, editor, self-publishing book coach, publisher, fasting advocate, NFP teacher, and ghostwriter who lives in Canada.
Since I self-published my first book eight years ago, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of self-published books being released. In 2009, nearly 80 percent of all books released were self-published. And with the e-book revolution, there are even more independently published books released each year. Many authors are choosing this route, […]
Although I now own and run and a publishing company, all my books were self-published. I don’t like the connection that people often make between self-published books and “bad” or substandard writing. The truth is, the vast majority of self-published books (I’ve read a lot of them) are indeed substandard quality. I download free Kindle […]
Hello CWG Members! It’s time again for CWG elections. We have four current officers who are willing to remain on the board (two in different positions). However, since our current vice president (me!) is willing to run for president, we are in need of a vice president. If you or any other member would like […]
As a Catholic writer, do you sometimes feel out of touch with other Catholic writers? Do you feel out of place at your secular writers’ group? Years ago, when I first began writing fiction, I joined a local secular writers group. However, I soon felt like a fish out of water. No one in the […]
All authors need an editor. Self-published authors should not publish a manuscript without hiring a competent editor to improve and polish it. For the purposes of this post, an editor is someone who suggests changes in overall plot, setting, characters and theme. I am not talking about a copy-editor (although copy-editors are important too). Before […]
A book’s cover is the first thing a prospective reader sees so it is important that it be professionally created. If it is poorly designed or if it is too simplistic, it can turn your reader away. I know of some self-published books in which the story and writing were pretty good, but the covers […]
“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” St. Thomas Aquinas When I self-published my first novel seven years ago, I joined a local secular writers’ group but never quite felt a connection. It was only through the Catholic Writers Online (Yahoo group) that I discovered a new group called […]
In my post last month, I gave a link which lists some popular awards contests for self-published authors: http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2009/01/self-published-book-contests/ This list doesn’t claim to be all inclusive, but it is helpful. And be aware that most of these contests require an entry fee. One award that doesn’t require an entry fee (if you’re a member) […]
Every year at the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show, the Catholic Writers Guild organizes a booth which displays members’ books. Wholesalers, bookstore owners and other attendees can see, page through and even read excerpts of displayed books. It’s time again to gather books for the booth. You don’t need to attend the conference or trade […]
After years of creating, editing, polishing and many revisions, the last line of your book is written. You have sent it off to the printer. You are finally finished! Now you can sit back, kick up your feet and relax while your book becomes a bestseller. Wrong. For the self-published author, the writing of his […]
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Catholic Writers Guild
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