April 5, 2015

My books are now on Ingram! What does it mean?

My books are on Ingram now! Hooray!!! Well, not all of my books, only Rosehead and Irkadura, and you will understand the significance of the image above shortly. So, what does this mean and why is this important?

Many of you have asked for my books to be in libraries and in bookstores, but since I'm an indie, I had to figure out how to do it myself. So the first thing I did was I got extended distribution on CreateSpace. Several of you have requested my books in the libraries, and they have happily bought copies, and you sent me pictures! Yay!!! A bookstore I did a reading at sold my books! Double yay!!! I thought I was done.

Nope.

February 4, 2015

Switching extended print book distribution from CreateSpace to Ingram

by Ksenia Anske

BOOKSTORES ARE ASKING FOR MY BOOKS!

That's the good news.

MY BOOKS ARE DISTRIBUTED VIA CREATESPACE AND ARE NON-RETURNABLE!

That's the bad news.

But I did what Hugh Howey said to do! He published all his books through CreateSpace before he hit it big. He even got free CreateSpace ISBNs for all of them! Well, yeah, but after he did hit it big, his giant traditional publisher took care of the extended distribution. Actually, I don't know. I'd have to ask Hugh. I'm assuming it did. Now, before I confuse you any more, let me explain to you the hurdle I'm up against, what I did, what I will do, and what I suggest you do, if you're wading out into the self-publishing world for the first time and want your books to be available in bookstores and libraries.

February 2, 2015

The trip to Spokane and how I keep shedding my fears

by Ksenia Anske

It happened! It happened! The universe provided—because I shouted that I will wring its neck if it won't. Namely, I've been invited to do a book reading at Auntie's Books (THANK YOU!!!) in Spokane and had no idea how I would get there (I have no car), but then a miracle happened. Like, a real miracle with thunder and lightning and everything. One of my readers, Katie Lee Cook, shouted at everyone everywhere to find me a ride. Then my other reader, Cassie Rainn, has graciously offered to haul my skinny fundament from Seattle to Spokane and back. And she did. And not only that, she made me dried bananas and strawberries and elephants, and fed me along the way.