Posts by mhall@publishpros.com
Should Your Book Have a Prologue?
This is one of the great debates of writers and readers alike: Should a book have a prologue? Some believe prologues detract from the story and just serve as a boring prerequisite before the action begins. Others like having an intro with additional character background and scene information before the story starts. What is a…
Read MoreAuthor Spotlight: Terry Ward Tucker
Terry Ward Tucker, PhD, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her newest book, Arlena Returns, is the sequel to her best-selling novel, Charleston’s Elegant Sinners. Tucker’s earlier novel, Moonlight & Mill Whistles, received ForeWord Magazine’s Silver Book of the Year Award. Tucker also writes faith-based novels, screenplays, devotional books,…
Read MoreCan You Self-Publish for Free?
With more and more authors wanting to publish their work, many of them are turning to self-publishing through Amazon or other publishing companies. This can be a good option for those uninterested in losing creative control over the manuscript or wasting time trying to secure a traditional publishing deal. But how much does it cost,…
Read MoreSetting the Setting in Your Book
Strong dialogue is a well-documented challenge for many authors, but, without a setting, the dialogue doesn’t matter. If this sounds shocking to you, consider setting a historical fiction piece in the wrong time period. How can the reader engage with the book if the details and dialogue are all wrong for the setting? Arguably the…
Read MoreDo You Need a Book Synopsis or Blurb for Your Back Cover?
Once you finish writing your book, you might feel like you’ve earned a break from writing. But an important part of selling your book is writing a compelling description to appeal to readers. So should you write a book synopsis or blurb for the back of your book, and what is the difference? Before you…
Read MoreAre Paid Book Reviews Worth It?
Writing a book is a huge accomplishment, one that can’t be understated. After years of writing, reviewing, editing, and designing, your finished product is available for purchase. Then comes the next step—generating interest. One of the ways to do this is to get positive reviews praising your book, however, that can be difficult to do.…
Read MoreHow to Publish a Book on Amazon
Writing a book is an incredible accomplishment, and one that takes an immense amount of time and effort. After all the mental and physical energy required to put your ideas onto the page, trying to understand the ins and outs of publishing a book on Amazon can seem overwhelming. To help make things easier for…
Read MoreHow Much Should I Charge for My Book?
As a self-publishing author, there are myriad things to think about–among them, how much to charge for your book. With all the different books on the market and all the different places you can sell them, it can be overwhelming to determine the price-point for your book. You don’t want to price so high or…
Read MoreWhat Should Be on a Copyright Page?
Wherever you are on your author’s journey, you need to protect your work. Most self-published authors get intimidated by all the small print, legal jargon and knowing what is and isn’t required when writing a copyright page. Use this guide to help you prepare your own copyright pages and protect yourself and your work from…
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