Book Review

Have you ever read a book so wonderful that you can't put it down? This is the experience I have felt with Joel Stafford's "The First 100 Days of Your Book." It has provided me with a world of insight into the publishing world. As an independent writer, this book has been an absolute lifesaver for me.

On April 21, 2020, I published my first book "Cursed" on Amazon. It was a rather spontaneous decision after reading a short article about the accessibility of self-publishing. You see, I have been writing stories for many years now, often uploading them onto online platforms where people could read these books for free. The realization that I could submit a manuscript onto Kindle Create and have it available for sale online the next day was absolutely bewildering. This accessibility is without a doubt a blessing, but it can also be a curse (no pun intended) if you do not set up your book for success. If I had read Joel's book months ago it would have saved me a world of heartache. He breaks down step by step the appropriate action an author should take to prepare their story for success. Moreover, this book has given me the confidence to continue publishing books on Amazon and hopefully across many other online platforms as well. I would highly recommend Joel Stafford's book to anyone that is an indie writer, and particularly one that is just starting out in the business.

For anyone that is interested in my writing journey so far, I will write down three valuable points that I have learned below.

1. Your book cover is everything. I never really understood the importance of a book cover, not until I realized I would be competing with thousand other books in the same genre as me (i.e. paranormal romance).

2. Send your manuscript to a professional editor. I was under the impression that editors were insanely expensive, but that was because I was relying on google search where they were coming up to five hundred dollars or more. After a few months of networking with other indie authors, I was able to contact affordable editors that just so happened to live not to far away from my home. Good editors are out there, it is just a matter of time until you find the right editor that suits your writing style and budget.

3. Networking is key. I am a bit of a lone wolf (again, no pun intended). It takes a lot of effort for me to reach out to other author's. I found social media was the easiest way for me to get in touch with other independent writers, and exchange ideas and inspiration with each other. Having a support system takes a lot of weight off your shoulders. It also allows you to access new resources, such as websites, editors, designers, and book recommendations.

On this note, I would like to thank Istvan and his helpful website Books in Motion for generating free book mock-ups for indie authors to use (such as the one above). Press on the large black button below to access this free resource if you are interested. Joel Stafford's website and his book "The First 100 Days of Your Book" link will be posted here.

On a final note, expect an updated cover for "Cursed" in the coming days. It really is a beauty! I can't wait to share it with the rest of the world.

Much love,

Peter Gray

Free Mock-Up

The First 100 Days of Your Book: Book Marketing for Self-Published Authors by Joel Stafford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Have you ever read a book so wonderful that you can't put it down? This is the experience I have felt with Joel Stafford's "The First 100 Days of Your Book." It has provided me with a world of insight into the publishing world. As an independent writer, this book has been an absolute lifesaver for me. I would highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in self-publishing and marketing their book for the first time.

View all my reviews