VBT Tours: Go Publish Yourself by Katie Salidas

Katie has done it again! Even with a new baby, though he's getting big, she's released another book. Stepping out of the Urban Fantasy Realm, Katie is here to help you, Go PublishYourself!

Welcome Katie!

BK: Tell us a little bit about your new release...

KS: Go Publish Yourself! will help you avoid the common stumbling blocks and get you on the road to successful self-publishing. This handy dandy guide is filled with insider’s tips and tricks, and it will unscramble the world of self-publishing into simple, easy-to-follow steps.

BK: You have written the Immortalis Series, an Urban Fantasy, how different was it to write this book compared to the series?

KS: Writing non-fiction is a totally different experience. With fiction, you can make up worlds and design characters. Non-fiction (now this is going to sound boring, but it’s not) is very straight forward. You lay out the facts and make them clear for the reader. It’s less imaginary and more technical. Trying to do it without it reading like stereo instructions is the where you can add a bit of flair.

BK: Katie also just released the 4th installment in the Immortalis series, Soulstone, congratulations Katie :).

KS: Thanks! I’m thrilled to have that one out! I can’t wait to see what readers think of it.

BK: What inspired Go Publish Yourself?

KS: It started as a collection of blog posts. I spent about 6 months writing on topics about self-editing, self-publishing, and marketing. The posts were very popular and the feedback I received was wonderful. It was then that my editor suggested I put everything together in a nice easy-to-read format. That’s when Go Publish Yourself took shape. It’s a handy dandy quick reference guide for all levels of self-publishers.

BK: What, in your opinion is the first thing a new author should do before Self-Publishing?

KS: Well, before considering self-publishing, you must have a complete manuscript. I know that sounds a little “Duh,” but it’s a serious step. Before you even think of sharing your work with the world for profit, you better be sure it’s ready. It needs to be complete: have a beginning, middle, and end, as well as be beta tested so-to-speak. You should have that complete manuscript worked over by a critiquing group or partner to ensure the story is good and the plot isn’t full of holes. Self-publishing should only be considered when you know you have a product to publish first. In other words, don’t think “Hey, I’m going to write and publish a book,” before you’ve written the first words.

BK: What is the most common mistake you see authors do when Self-Publishing?

KS: In my opinion, it’s forgetting to take that first important step. Having your work looked at by another person. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have your work critiqued. Yes, it takes time out of your production schedule, but having a separate pair of eyes (from a person not invested in the story or the author… no letting your mom critique your work) does wonders for your work. A critiquer will spot the plot holes, the inconsistent characters, and the unbelievable scenarios in your work that could lead to a bad review. Once they spot them you can fix them and make the story really shine. Next comes editing and that is the second biggest mistake I see in self-publishing. Critiquing and editing are not the same thing but new authors often treat them as the same. You must have a qualified editor look at your work after it has been through the critiquing phase. And as you’ll see in my book, I have a few very reasonably priced editors listed. It doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to produce a good book.

BK: How often should an author be marketing their work in a 24 hour period?

KS: I don’t think it’s a question of actual time spent. It’s more about how you approach marketing. There are different types of marketing. You have active marketing. For example, tweeting about your book. That’s the kind of marketing that should be done sparingly. Just a couple of times a day (and when I say a couple, I mean 2) It is necessary to make your work available and link it far and wide, but people tend to tune that stuff out. Do it too much and it becomes spam and then you piss off potential readers and they stop following your forever. Then there is passive marketing. Let’s say I am active on a message board. In my signature I have a link to my amazon.com page. Every time I make a post on this particular message board, my signature is visible. If people like what I say, they may want to check out my work. They might click the link. That’s the kind of marketing that people should be focusing on. Connecting with readers on a personal level and gaining their trust and interest. This blog post is also a form of passive marketing. I hope that you’ll find it interesting and informative, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll want to learn more. =)

BK: Where do you recommend an author go to publish their work?

KS: That’s really dependent on what formats they want to be published in. But, for arguments sake, I’d suggest starting with ebooks and Kindle. Kindle is one of the easiest to setup and the most widely known of the ebook devices and Amazon is the biggest etailer out there.

BK: What is one thing you learned through writing Go Publish Yourself?

KS: That the learning process never ends. While having my work beta tested, I was able to see the advice I was giving put into practice. My readers came back and told me what worked and didn’t. That let me go back and revise prior to production of the book.

BK: You've recently had a new baby, Hunter, how do you fit your writing in while juggling everyday life?

KS: In short – I don’t. Sadly, I haven’t written anything new since Hunter was born 4 months ago. That’s not to say I won’t get anything written soon, I just haven’t figured out how to juggle my schedule.

BK: How are you liking being a Mom all over again?

KS: The jump from one kid to two has been interesting. I’m a lot more relaxed about having a newborn in the house than I was when my daughter was little, but learning to split my attention between two kids has been hard. They always want my 100% attention to themselves. LoL. But it’s great, and I love both of my kids.

BK: Please tell us where readers can connect with you and purchase your works...

KS: You can always find me on Facebook. I practically live there.

https://www.facebook.com/katiesalidas

And on my personal website

http://www.katiesalidas.com

or on my publishing site

http://www.risingsignbooks.net

BK: Katie, as always it's been a pleasure having you with us. Is there any upcoming projects or events you'd like to share before we let you get back to your life?

KS: BK thank you again for having me! I love popping by to chat with you! And I hope to be back soon with more exciting news. For now, the focus is on Go Publish Yourself! and Soulstone, but as soon as I have something new in the works, you’ll be the first to know!

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy life to chat with us today Katie. Good luck in the future and we will continue to look forward to your work.

Self-Publishing made simple. Get your polished novel ready for Kindle, Nook, or Print in thirty days or less.

Avoid the common stumbling blocks and get on the road to successful self-publishing. This handy dandy guide, filled with insider’s tips and tricks, will unscramble the world of self-publishing into simple, easy-to-follow steps.


What’s in the book?
Common Misconceptions
The Business of Self-Publishing
Basic Costs & Budgeting
Publishing Formats: Epub, Kindle, Smashwords, & Print
Cover Art
Interior Layout
Pricing
Printing and Distribution
Marketing Basics: Platform Building, Book Signings, Blog Tours, etc.

And much more!


Don’t make rookie mistakes. Learn from an insider!

Katie Salidas is an author with several successful self-published titles. Each of her titles was created in the DIY (Do It Yourself) style, without the aid of author service companies. Through trial and error she has gained the knowhow to successfully publish print and ebooks. Go Publish Yourself! has that knowledge assembled into an easy-to-use format, packed with no-nonsense tips and quick and dirty tricks, so you can take your novel to the next level.

So, what are you waiting for? Go Publish Yourself!

I am Super Mom!

Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, I can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. I can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.

Sorry… I can’t even write that with a straight face.

Lies all lies.

Here’s the reality. I’m a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who just doesn’t know the meaning of the word balance. I try so hard to do it all, (be super mom, wife, & author) and at the end of the day I fall face forward into the couch.

Yes, you read that right, I tend to sleep on the couch. It’s a point of frustration for my hubby and a thing of comedy for my daughter. Imagine waking up to your little child yelling, “Mom slept on the couch again!!!”
Because being supermom (or trying to) means a lot of time devoted to family, writing is often done when said family is peacefully snoozing away. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen asleep with my laptop, on the couch. It just happens. Then, bright and early at 7am either my hubby (on his way to work) or my daughter (getting ready for school) wakes me up.

Writing is my passion. It’s a part of me. More than just a hobby, it’s a compulsion. I have to do it. If I don’t do at least one writing related thing each day I get cranky.

Hopefully, my passion can be your entertainment!

Over the last two years I have written and published (via my publishing company, Rising Sign Books)

April 19 - Interview & Reviewed at Immortyl Revolutions
April 23 - Reviewed at B'Tween Prose, Faerotic Prose, Loves 2 Read
April 25 - Guest Blogging at Alchemy of Scrawl
April 27 - Interview & Reviewed at AZ Publishing Services
May 1 - Guest Blogging with Cindy Vine
May 4 - Interviewed at Reviews & Interviews
May 5 - Interview, Fun Facts & Review at Books Are Cool
May 7 - Guest Blogging with Louise James
May 9 - Reviewed at Ereading on the Cheap
May 10 - Guest Blogging at Brenda-Steve's Blog
May 11 - Guest Blogging at MK McClintock's Blog
May 14 - Guest Blogging at For The Love of Reading
May 14 - Reviewed at AZ Publishing Services & Interviewed at KWOD Radio

Please Welcome Author Katie Salidas

Our guest today is Katie Salidas. Please give her a warm welcome. She is the author of Immortalis Carpe Noctem, and today we will discuss Katie as a writer. Thank you for stopping in today Katie.


Please tell us a little about yourself....

I'm a dreamer. I love to sit and think up stories. I can often be found staring at my computer screen waiting for the muse to strike. When it does, watch out. Thankfully, I have a wonderful and loving family that lets me indulge my need to write. Both my husband and my wonderful daughter know about “Mommy's writing time.” They are super supportive.

Is your family supportive in your writing?

Oh yes, my husband is my biggest fan and promoter. He's also my hardest beta reader. He's not afraid to tell me when a scene just plain sucks; then again, he's also there to tell me how great they are too. And like any good husband, he's my rock when I'm feeling particularly blue. My daughter thinks her mom is just great! She can't really read my stories (and a good thing too as they are a bit mature for her) but she will tell anyone and everyone that her mommy is an author. I've also got a set of extremely supportive parents. When Immortalis was first printed, my Dad bought 20 copies and sent them off to every member of the family.

Do you recall how your interest in writing started?

It started with a story idea that just wouldn't quit. I'd started writing Immortalis 5 years before it was published. After running into many plot road blocks, I shelved the story and tried to move on. But the story just wouldn't let me put it to rest. It demanded to be told and after multiple revisions I found I loved not just the story, but the process. Since then I have been writing constantly.

How long have you been writing?

I've written things down in some form since I was a little girl, but the real, focused writing started around 5 years ago.

What inspires you to write?

I'm inspired by the things I see. Not so much the exact stories, but the questions behind them. For Immortalis, I wanted to answer questions about vampires. Why can't they go out in the sun? Do they have beating hearts? Are they really the walking dead or something else? What are their origins? What would it be like to be a vampire? The answers to the questions really help the story unfold.

Do you ever suffer from writers block? What do you do about it?

Sadly, all the time. Sometimes I just can't write, the muse won't speak. When that happens I try to do something else writing involved. I revise work I've had sitting on the back burner. I read (reading provides inspiration), I work more heavily in the critiquing group (critiquing helps sharpen our writing skills) or sometimes I just sit and stare at the computer screen until something strikes!

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements for writing?

A good muse and a quiet place to hear her. LoL. There is so much that goes into writing it is hard to pinpoint one or even two things to say are most important. You need a good story in your head, and the drive, and not to mention the time to write it. Beyond that you need patients and skills too. Like I said, so much is involved.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

Seeing my story in print is akin to childbirth, it's a beautiful thing to see years of hard work finally turn into something you can hold in your hands. It is a dream come true.

Any recent appearances that you would like to share with us about any upcoming events?

I am actively promoting this new release, touring the blogosphere. Stop by www.RisingSignBooks.com to see all of my upcoming appearances.

You will find all of Katie's dates for her virtual book tours on her site. Leave a comment for Katie and you may be the winner to receive a copy of her book, Immortalis Carpe Noctem!

Katie, it has been a pleasure chatting with you. I hope you will stop in again when your next book is released. I wish you much success!