Category: Author Inspiration

Author Inspiration, writing tips

Finish Writing Your Book This Summer: 10 Inspiring Thoughts

As the warm rays of summer beckon, it’s the perfect time to finish that manuscript you’ve been working on. Summer is a time for relaxation, fun, and adventure. But it’s also a great time to finish writing your book. Here are ten motivating tips to help:

Embrace the Season of Renewal
Summer is a time of renewal and energy. Nature bursts with life, and there’s a palpable sense of possibility in the air. Harness this vibrant energy and infuse it into your writing. Let the warmth and sunshine fuel your imagination, giving your characters the vitality they need to come alive on the page.

Set Clear Goals
Define your writing goals for the summer with clarity and purpose. Break down your book into manageable milestones, such as completing chapters or reaching a specific word count. Setting clear goals helps you stay focused, measure progress, and build momentum, bringing you closer to the finish line.

Create a Writing Routine
Establish a writing routine that works for you. Dedicate specific blocks of time each day or week to immerse yourself in your writing. Consistency is key. Treat your writing time as sacred and non-negotiable, guarding it against distractions and interruptions. The more you commit to your craft, the closer you’ll be to completing your book.

Find Your Writing Space
Identify a writing space that inspires and stimulates your creativity. It could be a cozy corner in your home, a peaceful park bench, or a vibrant coffee shop. Experiment with different environments until you discover the one that ignites your writing muse. By creating a dedicated space, you signal to your mind that it’s time to dive into your story.

Overcome Writer’s Block
Writer’s block can be a formidable adversary, but don’t let it hinder your progress. Embrace techniques like freewriting, brainstorming, or taking a short break to recharge your creative batteries. Seek inspiration from books, movies, art, or simply stepping into nature. Remember, the key is to keep writing, even if the words don’t flow effortlessly at times. Trust that the breakthrough will come.

Find an Accountability Partner
Enlist a writing buddy or join a supportive writing group. Sharing your goals and progress with someone who understands the creative process can provide accountability and encouragement. Celebrate each other’s successes, share writing challenges, and offer feedback. Together, you can navigate the writing journey and cheer each other on towards completion.

Reward Yourself
As you reach significant milestones or complete drafts, reward yourself. Treat yourself to something you enjoy, whether it’s a relaxing day at the beach, a favorite meal, or indulging in a new book. Celebrating your achievements along the way boosts motivation and reminds you of the joy that comes from accomplishing your writing goals.

Embrace the Imperfections
Remember that writing is a process, and your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. Embrace imperfections and allow your creativity to flow without constraints. Give yourself permission to write without self-judgment, knowing that revisions and edits will refine your work later. Focus on capturing your story’s essence and let your unique voice shine through.

Visualize Your Success
Close your eyes and visualize the moment when you hold your finished book in your hands. Imagine the sense of accomplishment, pride, and fulfillment that washes over you. Use this vision as motivation during challenging times, reminding yourself of the incredible journey you’re on and the impact your words will have on readers.

Believe in Yourself
Above all, believe in yourself and your writing abilities. Embrace your creativity with confidence, knowing that your voice deserves to be heard. Trust in your unique perspective and the power of your story. Embrace the summer writing challenge with unwavering belief in your ability to finish your book and share it with the world.


This summer, let your self-publishing aspirations take flight. Embrace the energy of the season, set clear goals, establish a routine, and surround yourself with supportive peers. Overcome obstacles, celebrate milestones, and believe in the power of your story. The journey to completing your book may have its ups and downs, but the reward of seeing your book published and touching the hearts of readers around the world is immeasurable. Embrace the challenge, seize the opportunity, and let this summer be the season you unleash your creative potential and finish writing your book.

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Author Inspiration

Now is the time to self-publish

Self-publishing is the process of publishing your own book without the involvement of a traditional publisher. It gives you complete control over your creative vision, your marketing strategy, and your earnings. It also allows you to reach a global audience through online platforms such as Amazon, Kobo, and Apple Books.

Self-publishing has many benefits for authors who want to share their stories with the world. Here are some of them:

  • You can publish faster. Traditional publishing can take months or even years to get your book from manuscript to print. With self-publishing, you can publish your book as soon as it is ready, and update it anytime you want.
  • You can keep more of your profits. Traditional publishers take a large cut of your royalties, leaving you with a small percentage of your sales. With self-publishing, you can keep up to 70% of your royalties, depending on the platform you choose.
  • You can retain your rights. Traditional publishers often require you to sign away your rights to your book, such as the right to make adaptations, translations, or sequels. With self-publishing, you own your book and can do whatever you want with it.
  • You can reach a niche market. Traditional publishers tend to focus on books that have mass appeal and can sell well in bookstores. With self-publishing, you can target a specific audience that is interested in your genre, topic, or style.
  • You can build your brand. Self-publishing allows you to establish yourself as an author and create a loyal fan base. You can interact with your readers directly through social media, newsletters, and blogs. You can also use your book as a tool to promote your other products or services.

Self-publishing is not without its challenges, however. You have to take care of everything yourself, from editing and formatting to cover design and distribution. You also have to invest time and money into marketing your book and building your platform. You may face competition from other self-published authors and traditional publishers. And you may have to deal with negative reviews or low sales.

But despite these difficulties, self-publishing can be a rewarding and empowering experience for authors who want to share their stories with the world. It gives you the freedom to express yourself, the opportunity to reach a global audience, and the potential to earn a passive income from your passion.

If you are interested in self-publishing, here are some steps you can take to get started:

  • Write your book. This is the most important and challenging part of the process. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to write about, who you are writing for, and how you want to structure your book. You also need to write in a clear and engaging way that captures your voice and personality.
  • Edit your book. This is the second most important and challenging part of the process. You need to polish your book until it is free of errors, inconsistencies, and gaps. You can hire a professional editor or use online tools such as Grammarly or ProWritingAid to help you with this step.
  • Format your book. This is the part where you make your book look professional and appealing. You need to choose a font, a layout, a size, and a format for your book. You can use software such as Microsoft Word or Scrivener to format your book for print or ebook.
  • Design your cover. This is the part where you make your book stand out from the crowd. You need to create a cover that reflects your genre, theme, and tone, and that attracts your target audience. You can hire a professional designer or use online tools such as Canva or BookBrush to create your cover.
  • Publish your book. This is the part where you make your book available for sale. You need to choose a platform that suits your goals and budget, such as Amazon KDP, Kobo Writing Life, or Apple Books. You also need to set a price, a category, and a description for your book.
  • Market your book. This is the part where you spread the word about your book and generate sales. You need to create a website, a blog, a newsletter, and social media accounts for your author brand. You also need to use strategies such as SEO, ads, reviews, giveaways, and collaborations to reach more readers.

Self-publishing is not easy, but it is possible and rewarding for authors who are willing to learn and work hard. If you have a story to tell and a passion for writing, self-publishing may be the best option for you.

Author Inspiration, Children's Books

The 100 Greatest Children’s Books of All Time

We all have fond memories of the books we read as children, whether in school or at home. They shaped our imagination, our curiosity, our sense of wonder. But how do we decide which ones are the greatest of all time?

That’s the question posed to BBC Culture this year, who contacted hundreds of experts in children’s books from around the world, including authors, illustrators, editors, publishers, academics, librarians, writers and readers. They were asked to vote for their favorite children’s books, from picture books to novels, from classics to contemporary works.

The result is the following 100 titles, spanning more than a century of children’s literature. Some books are widely known and loved, others are more obscure or surprising. Some are old favorites while others are recent discoveries. Some are serious and profound, others are funny and whimsical.

But they all have one thing in common: they are great children’s books that have stood the test of time and continue to delight and inspire readers of all ages.

If this list inspires you to write and publish your own children’s book, Outskirts Press can help (and even illustrate it for you).

Is your favorite children’s book on the list? Let us know in the comments.

1 Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak, 1963)
2 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll, 1865)
3 Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren, 1945)
4 The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943)
5 The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien, 1937)
6 Northern Lights (Philip Pullman, 1995)
7 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (CS Lewis, 1950)
8 Winnie-the-Pooh (AA Milne and EH Shepard, 1926)
9 Charlotte’s Web (EB White and Garth Williams, 1952)
10 Matilda (Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake, 1988)
11 Anne of Green Gables (LM Montgomery, 1908)
12 Fairy Tales (Hans Christian Andersen, 1827)
13 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (JK Rowling, 1997)
14 The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle, 1969)
15 The Dark is Rising (Susan Cooper, 1973)
16 The Arrival (Shaun Tan, 2006)
17 Little Women (Louisa May Alcott, 1868)
18 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl, 1964)
19 Heidi (Johanna Spyri, 1880)
20 Goodnight Moon (Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, 1947)
21 The Adventures of Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi, 1883)
22 A Wizard of Earthsea (Ursula K Le Guin, 1968)
23 Moominland Midwinter (Tove Jansson, 1957)
24 I Want My Hat Back (Jon Klassen, 2011)
25 The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911)
26 Duck, Death and the Tulip (Wolf Erlbruch, 2007)
27 The Brothers Lionheart (Astrid Lindgren, 1973)
28 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (JK Rowling, 1999)
29 Brown Girl Dreaming (Jacqueline Woodson, 2014)
30 The Three Robbers (Tomi Ungerer, 1961)
31 The Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats, 1962)
32 The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Judith Kerr, 1968)
33 Howl’s Moving Castle (Diana Wynne Jones, 1986)
34 A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle, 1962)
35 Watership Down (Richard Adams, 1972)
36 Tom’s Midnight Garden (Philippa Pearce, 1958)
37 Grimm’s Fairy Tales (Brothers Grimm, 1812)
38 The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter, 1902)
39 The Railway Children (Edith Nesbit, 1906)
40 Noughts and Crosses (Malorie Blackman, 2001)
41 The BFG (Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake, 1982)
42 Rules of Summer (Shaun Tan, 2013)
43 Momo (Michael Ende, 1973)
44 The Story of Ferdinand (Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, 1936)
45 The Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien, 1954)
46 The Owl Service (Alan Garner, 1967)
47 Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter (Astrid Lindgren, 1981)
48 The Neverending Story (Michael Ende, 1979)
49 The Panchatantra (Anonymous / folk, -200)
50 Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson, 1883)
51 Mary Poppins (PL Travers, 1934)
52 Ballet Shoes (Noel Streafield, 1936)
53 So Much! (Trish Cooke and Helen Oxenbury, 1994)
54 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, 1989)
55 The Adventures of Cipollino (Gianni Rodari, 1951)
56 The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein, 1964)
57 The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, 1999)
58 Julián Is a Mermaid (Jessica Love, 2018)
59 Comet in Moominland (Tove Jansson, 1946)
60 Finn Family Moomintroll (Tove Jansson, 1948)
61 The Witches (Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake, 1983)
62 A Bear Called Paddington (Michael Bond, 1958)
63 The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame, 1908)
64 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred D Taylor, 1977)
65 Karlsson-on-the-Roof (Astrid Lindgren, 1955)
66 The Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer, 1961)
67 The Cat in the Hat (Dr Seuss, 1957)
68 The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Kate DiCamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline, 2006)
69 Peter and Wendy (JM Barrie, 1911)
70 One Thousand and One Nights (Anonymous / folk)
71 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler (EL Konigsburg, 1967)
72 When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (Judith Kerr, 1971)
73 Shum bola (G’afur G’ulоm, 1936)
73 Ernest and Celestine (Gabrielle Vincent, 1981)
75 A Kind of Spark (Elle McNicoll, 2020)
76 Little Nicholas (René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé, 1959)
77 Black Beauty (Anna Sewell, 1877)
78 Daddy-Long-Legs (Jean Webster, 1912)
79 No Kiss for Mother (Tomi Ungerer, 1973)
80 My Family and Other Animals (Gerald Durrell, 1956)
81 Jacob Have I Loved (Katherine Paterson, 1980)
81 The Lorax (Dr Seuss, 1971)
83 Fairy Tales / The Tales of Mother Goose (Charles Perrault, 1697)
84 The Moomins and the Great Flood (Tove Jansson, 1945)
85 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L Frank Baum, 1900)
86 Just William (Richmal Crompton, 1922)
87 The Twits (Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake, 1980)
87 The Mouse and His Child (Russell Hoban, 1967)
87 Out of My Mind (Sharon M Draper, 2010)
87 Moominvalley in November (Tove Jansson, 1970)
87 Little House in the Big Woods (Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1932)
92 Danny the Champion of the World (Roald Dahl, 1975)
93 The Snowman (Raymond Briggs, 1978)
94 Wave (Suzy Lee, 2008)
95 The Black Brothers (Lisa Tetzner, 1940)
96 The Velveteen Rabbit (Margery Williams, 1921)
97 The Bad Beginning (Lemony Snicket, 1999)
98 The Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman, 2008)
99 American Born Chinese (Gene Luen Yang and Lark Pien, 2006)
100 Haroun and the Sea of Stories (Salman Rushdie, 1990)

Advice, Author Inspiration

The Lucrative Path of Self-Publishing: A Surprising Revelation

Embarking on a self-publishing journey offers more than just the chance to leave a lasting legacy, honor your family, establish your expertise, and make your mark in the literary world. It can also be highly lucrative. Recent findings from a global survey of over 2000+ authors, independently conducted and peer-reviewed by esteemed entities such as the UK Copyright & Creative Centre, Thad McIlroy of The Future of Publishing, Steve Sieck of SKS Advisors, and commissioned by the Alliance of Independent Authors, have revealed some remarkable insights.

A Remarkable Increase in Earnings

In 2022, the average income of self-publishing authors who dedicate at least half of their time to writing and publishing activities exceeded a remarkable $80,000. This represents an astounding 53% increase from the previous year. In stark contrast, surveys focusing on traditionally published authors have consistently shown declining income over the years. For instance, a survey conducted by the Authors’ Lending and Collecting Society revealed a significant 38% decrease in median income for traditionally published authors since 2018.

Outperforming Traditional Publishing

What’s even more fascinating is that self-publishing authors, according to this independent survey, boasted a median income approximately 33% higher than their traditionally published counterparts. These findings highlight the shifting tides in the publishing industry, where self-publishing has emerged as a viable and lucrative alternative to traditional publishing avenues.

The Significance of Publishing Achievement

Regardless of the chosen publishing route, completing a book is always an impressive accomplishment. It represents dedication, creativity, and the culmination of your unique perspective. However, this survey’s results now demonstrate that self-publishing authors can also reap the rewards in terms of financial success.

Conclusion

The landscape of publishing is evolving rapidly, and self-publishing has become a formidable force in the industry. Not only does it provide a means to share your story with the world on your terms, but it also offers the potential for substantial financial gains. This recent independent survey solidifies the notion that self-publishing is not only a rewarding and empowering endeavor but also a highly profitable one.

So, if you’ve been contemplating self-publishing your book, now is the time to take the leap and unlock the remarkable possibilities that await you. Join the ranks of successful self-published authors who have found both creative fulfillment and financial success through this transformative publishing path.

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Author Inspiration, Author Spotlight, Uncategorized

Congratulations to Andrew Ceroni on his 5-Star book review from Readers’ Favorite!

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Rating:  5 STARS – Congratulations on your 5-star review! 

First Bullet by Andrew Ceroni is a brilliantly written espionage thriller.

Roy Phillips and his wife are eating dinner in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, when he notices a group of oriental-appearing men sitting near their table. His suspicions are aroused, and he questions the manager. And soon after, CIA Agent Dave McClure is sent to Ocho Rios to investigate the circumstances surrounding Roy’s death. Dave’s investigation leads him to a Chinese military base in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. There also have been several confrontations in the Gulf of Mexico between American and Chinese missile submarines. It is not clear if there is a connection between these incidents and the Chinese military base. To add drama, the CIA is warned about a plot to overthrow the German government and invade of Poland and the Czech Republic. Dave and the CIA have their hands full to prevent an outbreak of World War III.

As noted, First Bullet is an outstanding tale of espionage. Andrew Ceroni planned an enthralling story with three plots woven together. I was hooked from the first page until the end. It was a brilliant read and fast-paced. With all the non-stop action, there was never a dull moment. The descriptions of the events were detailed and vivid. It was easy to lose myself in this world of espionage and become part of it. It was a real page-turner full of twists and turns. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were excellently developed and were both authentic and intriguing. It is a riveting work full of action with a fitting end.

Congratulations to Andrew Ceroni!

Author Inspiration

AUTHOR INSPIRATION: The Freedom to Keep Writing? Priceless!

K. Raymond Zabielski had a great idea for a book—in fact, he had a great idea for six books: a coming-of-age series gorgeously woven within an epic fantasy world. With drive, skill, and passion he eventually turned his concept into a finished and polished manuscript.

The only problem?

He was spending all his time running up against the towering walls of traditional publication, when he really needed to continue writing his series. After all, once his first book hit the shelves, readers would want the second! He didn’t have time to put his writing on hold while he dealt with rejection slips from agents and unsatisfactory contracts from publishers—all of which kept looming in his way.

“Luckily,” he says, “I came across Outskirts Press.”

Zabielski did his research and learned that Outskirts Press is not just a “glorified copy house” that leaves all the work to our authors, a fear many writers have about self-publishing companies. Instead, he says, Outskirts Press “was exactly what I was looking for. All questions were answered right up front. My author representative was always there to help guide me through everything.”

 Zabielski published The Cantrill Book One: Beginnings with Outskirts Press in February. Already, the second book in the series is in editing, and the third is in the production queue. Outskirts Press’ commitment gave Zabielski exactly what he needed: “This gave me the freedom to continue writing while they took care of the nuts and bolts of getting a book out into the market.”

Zabielski is quick to add that he still participates in marketing. After all, a writer will always be a book’s biggest cheerleader, but he’s no longer alone. “Outskirts Press gives you the tools and shows you the way,” he says.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

K. Raymond Zabielski is a native of Long Island, New York, where he spent time hiking and camping in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, reinforcing his deep love of nature. He started writing The Cantrill series there. In addition to his passion for storytelling, he loves animals. After a stint in Florida, Zabielski moved to Colorado, back to the mountains, which continue to inspire him as a writer.

Skip the agent, get a partner in marketing, and enjoy total publishing freedom—and keep 100% of your net profits—with Outskirts Press!

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Author Inspiration

Author Frank Schaeffer Shares Why He Chooses Self-Publishing Over Mainstream

If you think paying for self-publishing is crazy, think again! Celebrated author Frank Schaeffer, who has penned more than a dozen fiction and non-fiction books for publishers like Macmillan and Avalon, shared his thoughts about why he was happy to ditch his traditional publishers for the freedom of self-publishing.

Schaeffer released his first self-published book, “And God Said, “Billy!“ with Outskirts Press after years of traditional, mainstream publishing. The laugh-out-loud novel drags readers into the tilted mind of a Charismatic-Evangelical who essentially sells his soul for a shot at a step up in Hollywood. He loses all — his family, his film career and his faith — only to come to a “miraculous” reversal in the most unexpected of ways.

And God Said, "Billy!"And God Said, “Billy!” is a book some 17 years in the making, and one Schaeffer might never have seen in print without the support of a publisher that shared his enthusiasm and vision for its potential. Here are several reasons why Schaeffer dumped his publisher and partnered with Outskirts Press — and how you can benefit from doing the same:

  • Escape the limbo land of traditional publishing. When one too many of his editors and publishers were bought and sold by impersonal publishing giants, Schaeffer lost the one-on-one attention he once got from people with whom he had built valuable, productive relationships. Only when he hopped to Outskirts Press did he rediscover that.
  • Benefit from a publisher that understands new media. With his traditional publisher, Schaeffer found himself doing all the heavy lifting when it came to marketing his book in any venue besides a few newspapers. Now, he can take on only what he feels he can handle and invest only as much money as he deems necessary to enlist marketing help — from self-publishing experts who are familiar with modern marketing venues and techniques.
  • Keep more of your profits. Traditional publishers have finally discovered the convenience of print-on-demand. But this doesn’t prevent them from keeping same lion’s share of the profits that they demanded when they still ran large pre-prints and warehoused the hardcopies. With self-publishing, you can print on demand and keep your hard-earned profits to yourself.
  • Get the exposure of Amazon. No one’s more tuned-in to ebooks than self-publishers, who continue to gain ground in the book publishing market, particularly in the ebook arena.
  • Set your own pace. Self-publishing neither requires you to wait many, many months to see your creation in print, nor rushes you to publish by an arbitrary deadline. Whether you’re a prolific author or a procrastinator, you determine your own publishing schedule.

Schaeffer says that his partnership with Outskirts Press has so far worked out well. “They’ve been more responsive than some traditional publishers,” he says. “Outskirts Press people actually get back to me when I have a question, and they’re setting up the online platforms (like Kindle) for a one-time fee, then directing all income direct to me from Amazon, iBook and Nook. They pay my share of the income from the print edition of the book quarterly.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Frank Schaeffer

Frank Schaeffer is a survivor of both polio and an evangelical/fundamentalist childhood and an acclaimed author of more than a dozen books, including the semi-autobiographical Calvin Becker Trilogy: Portofino, Zermatt and Saving Grandma, and the highly acclaimed Crazy For God and Baby Jack. He overcame severe dyslexia to become a home-schooled and self-taught documentary movie director, a feature film director and producer of four low-budget Hollywood features, which Frank has described as “pretty terrible.” Schaeffer’s non-fiction includes Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps and AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America’s Upper Classes from Military Service and How It Hurts Our Country.

Enjoy total publishing freedom — and keep 100% of your profits — through self-publishing!
Click here to browse your publishing options.

Author Inspiration, Author Spotlight, Book Awards, Publishing Options

Congratulations to Andrew Ceroni’s Book-Cover-of-the-Month Award!

AC-Book-Cover-Award
Can a custom cover make your self-published book an award-winning book? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Just ask Andrew Ceroni who’s book, Special Means, just won June’s Book-Cover-of-the-Month Award!

As a three-time Outskirts Press Best Book of the Year winner, Andy knew expectations were high for his latest novel so he elected to once again include the Professional Custom Cover Design option for his book with Outskirts Press.

And we’re happy to say, the results speak for themselves!

Summary

CIA agents must play catch-up in order to stop powerful men in Homeland Security and the Defense Department from overthrowing the President and his administration.

Escalating gang violence in Denver, Colorado, and in other large U.S. cities captures the attention of the first term President. He wants a solution, and he wants it NOW—but legislation takes years. The Director of Homeland Security suggests that the remedy to the deteriorating situation may be a highly classified program deep within the special charter of FEMA known as Annex K. This deep-black program, nicknamed STARDUST, would be executed beneath the heaviest cloak of secrecy and without the informed consent of Congress.

When the CIA sends Agent Dave McClure to Denver to investigate inexplicable lethal violence being waged with advanced weaponry against organized street gangs, McClure discovers that what has been unleashed is a sinister solution far worse than the problem. He unearths a nightmarish plot to do much more than eliminate gangs in America—rather, it’s an attempt to seize the military district of Washington and overthrow the federal government. McClure’s own life is now at especially high risk, and the CIA must act quickly and with overwhelming force.

But time is short…and the clock is ticking!

About the Author

About the Author: ANDREW CERONI served a distinguished career as a Senior Supervisory Special Agent in the conduct of global counterespionage and antiterrorism operations. He received his BS degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy; MA from Case Western Reserve University; and studied several foreign languages at the University of Maryland, MD. He is a member of the Authors Guild and lives in Colorado with his family.

Congratulations from all of us at Outskirts Press, Andrew!

Order the book for up to a 50% discount at Outskirts Press here.

Interested in publishing your own award-winning book with professional services like custom cover design? Visit Outskirts Press today.

Author Inspiration

How to Capture the Once-in-a-Lifetime Event of Becoming a Published Author

Today is the day! You’ve been writing your book for months, years, and possibly even decades. But now it is finally published. And according to the UPS tracking number, today is the day you finally get to see it, the day your first published book arrives on your doorstep. You hear the doorbell ring and rush to the door. There it is! The plain brown box containing published copies of your masterpiece. You grab the box, shut the door, and rush to a table to open the box and revel in your accomplishment.

Whoa! Not so fast!

This is a once-in-a-life time event you’re about to experience. Are your family members there? Are your friends? Will you want to relive this event later?

No, no, and yes are probably the answers to those questions. But here’s another question: Do you REALLY want to wait?

That’s probably a resounding NO, also, isn’t it?

What is an excited, newly-minted published author to do? How about this? Grab your smart phone and record yourself opening your box of books. This is the fastest, easiest, and best way to commemorate your accomplishment, memorialize it for future viewings, and share it with your loved ones — you know, those people who may have told you it was never going to happen…

Not only does having a video of you opening the box containing your freshly published book make sharing the event with others via email or Facebook easy, but it gives you a leg-up in marketing and promotion. Book videos are a great way to get your name and book title onto YouTube and give you something to augment your Amazon sales page and Author Profile page. Readers and writers alike will enjoy basking in the glow of your amazing accomplishment.

So, when your author’s copies finally arrive at your doorstep, take a moment to get that smart phone ready, and record the moment forever. You’ll be grateful you did.

Here’s an example of an Outskirts Press author doing exactly that. And it still touches our hearts every time we watch this, even ten years after he recorded it. Way to go, Victor!

Are you anxious to receive your first box of published books? Start publishing with Outskirts Press today.

 

Author Inspiration, Author Spotlight

Self-Publishing Author Success Story: Maureen Scanlon

author (5)Outskirts Press takes great pride in celebrating the accomplishments of our successful authors, and today we celebrate all the media and marketing success author Maureen Scanlon has enjoyed since publishing her book, My Dog is More Enlightened Than I Am last March.

Maureen Scanlon is the founder and CEO of Maureen Scanlon Life Coaching. She is an author, relationship expert, motivational speaker, positive change integrator, and spiritual coach who has successfully helped many people, from experienced professionals to young adults, make positive changes to overcome past experiences and negative thinking. When Maureen is not working to change the world, you can find her at home relaxing in Mesa, Arizona, with her husband, Dennis, and her furry babies, Jade and Brodie. She is also the mother of three adult children and grandmother to three grandchildren whom she adores.

TV appearances:

Radio, podcasts:

Magazines and Features:

About the Book:

cover (39)My Dog is More Enlightened Than I Am

Most of us go through our daily routines oblivious to the beauty of life and others around us—oblivious of the impact we have on the world. So it’s only natural that we consider patterning ourselves after our pets! These beautiful furry creatures are fully connected to their highest selves while giving unconditional love to those who cherish and care for them. By taking our lead from the animals in our lives, we learn how to live our best and fullest lives as well.

My Dog Is More Enlightened Than I Am examines the ways we all struggle and experience difficulties in our journey. You will learn to understand the lessons and meaning behind each past moment you have endured thus far and how to change your mindset and focus on the change you can make. You will come to admire the ways our animals live a life of purpose and how to be more like them.

This heartfelt, enlightening guide also offers tips on relaxation, spontaneity, developing an appreciation for our differences, caretaking, and nurturing relationships. Readers will feel a renewed sense of well-being and knowledge of how to embrace the journey like the pure souls of our furry companions.

Congratulations, Maureen! You’re an inspiration.! And so is your book!

Are you ready to publish your masterpiece with the A+ rated and #1-rated self-publishing company according to the Better Business Bureau and Top Consumer Reviews, respectively?

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