Pauline Barclay talks about self publishing.

Laura has asked me to write a few words about Indie publishing as my latest book, Sometimes It Happens… is published on Amazon Kindle. The ease in which you can publish your own book has changed dramatically over the last year. E-book publishing is now extremely fashionable with sales souring and in some cases outselling conventional paperback / hardback books. Adding to this, the launch of the Kindle and iPad has created a whole new experience in reading.

I choose the route to Indie publish for several reasons, but one main reason is that I don’t live in the UK. I live on the beautiful island of Lanzarote in the Canary isles. There are many good reasons to live here, but it does distance me from agents and publishers who like their clients to be closer at hand. So in light of my location, I decided to publish my books independently.

Independent publishing does mean you do everything; from publishing to marketing, and you can do much of the necessary steps yourself, but there are stages in your writing when you do need to use a professional. For my third book, Sometimes It Happens… I was fortunate enough to work with the brilliant author, Helen Hollick. www.helenhollick.net

Helen has been my writing guide and editor and saw me through the entire manuscript of Sometimes It Happens… Her expert eye checked for continuity, believability, repetition and so much more. These are areas that as a writer you cannot always see yourself and a fresh, experienced set of eyes can. My published book as to compete with all the other well written books in this highly competitive market, therefore it not only must be a good read, but a professionally polished publication. I cannot stress enough the importance of having an editor to check your writing. Helen’s help has been invaluable and her knowledge and experience has taught me so much more.

To add the final sparkle to my latest book, Sometimes It Happens… I had the cover professionally designed by Cathy Helms at Avalon Graphics. www.avalongraphis.org The cover says so much about the novel. Cathy has interpreted the story so well. I love the cover and I hope it will appeal to readers so that they want to read it!

Now with the book out there in the big world, as an Indie publisher, it is also my responsibility to market my book. This is the hardest part, it takes up huge chunks of my time, but like e-publishing this too has changed. There are many social sites where you can get your message out there and meet amazing people too!

To help with the marketing, I have a web site, a Blog page, I chatter on Twitter and Facebook. I am invited from time to time for interviews on other writers’ Blogs and forums like Novel Kicks. All of these are important tools and opportunities for Indie publishers and I try to use them wisely and effectively.

So would I do it all again?…of course I would, I love every part of writing, it is an addiction and my fourth book is already started!

Sometimes It Happens…is about secrets, deception, lies, love and laughter. Winning the lottery was just the beginning. Nothing prepared Doreen Wilkinson for her holiday at Villas Bonitas and nothing prepared Villas Bonitas for Doreen Wilkinson. This is a holiday that will never be forgotten by many people!

Sometimes It Happens… Will make the reader laugh out loud, I certainly did writing it!

Sometimes It Happens…

Nothing in her wildest dreams had prepared Doreen Wilkinson for something like this. But then, nothing had prepared her for winning the lottery either.

Several million. Several million. Eleven million, three hundred and fifty four thousand, two hundred and ten pounds and nineteen pence to be precise.

She had giggled at the nineteen pence. “Break the bleedin’ bank that will!”

The media had made the comment a headline, “19p to break the bleedin’ bank!” splashed all over the Sun and Daily Mirror accompanied by her smiling face and a fountain spray of champagne. She had thought it a waste shaking that great big bottle and letting it fizz everywhere, but the reporters had told her to do it

You can buy a Kindle copy of Sometimes It Happens… from Amazon price £3.16

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sometimes-It-Happens/dp/B0050K7NVE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1305715320&sr=1-3

When you have time, please pop along and say hello at my Blog http://paulinembarclay.blogspot.com

Or visit my web site where you can read sample chapters from Magnolia House and Satchfield Hall. www.paulinebarclay.co.uk

You can also find my on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/paulinembarclay

And Facebook http://www.facebook.com/paulinembarclay

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by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.