Have you found a way to connect with your local library?

libraryUp here in beautiful, scorching hot Vancouver, we have some incredibly progressive people working at our local libraries. Over the past couple of years I’ve been invited to give readings, sit on panels, and teach workshops at several of their fine facilities. These are large libraries and they cater to thousands of patrons. And, I’m the self-published guy, so I’m a little harder to find. Fortunately, through the creative use of smoke and mirrors I’ve made myself so loud that I can’t be ignored. And, they carry my books and their users borrow them from time to time, so, I’ve become known to some extent, locally. The largest library is the Vancouver Public Library. This is truly a magnificent building and it’s situated right in the middle of the city. They called in a bunch of us author-type people last month for a meeting. When they told me in their invitation email what the subject matter was I couldn’t wait to attend. Continue reading “Have you found a way to connect with your local library?”

Kirkus Reviews: A Disparity Apparent

There are a lot of opinions out there about Kirkus Reviews. In the end, it’s up to each individual author to decide if spending that amount of money (~$425.00) will give him or her the return on investment or exposure they want.

Here are some articles about Kirkus Reviews (click here). If you’ve paid for a Kirkus Review, we’d love to hear about your experience. Please contact us through the contact form.

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How to Read a Wealth of Selections for Free

At Indies Unlimited, we have lots of articles for authors. This one is mostly for readers.

So, you like to read. You also have more money than you know what to do with. If you are that lucky, please note that Indies Unlimited does accept donations. However, if you are like the rest of us authors…trying to rub nickels together to turn them into quarters…you might like to know how to save some significant money. Continue reading “How to Read a Wealth of Selections for Free”

Check This Out – Borrow eBooks from Libraries

Did you know you can borrow eBooks from your local library? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. Forbes reported in June that 58 percent of library patrons don’t know they can borrow eBooks, and only two percent have ever done it.

That’s not surprising, considering that traditional publishing houses have kept as tight a rein on their eBook sales to libraries as they have on eBook sales in general. Some of the Big Six reportedly don’t sell eBooks to libraries at all. The publishers that allow such sales insist that libraries purchase only DRM-locked books, and they limit the number of borrows for a single eBook copy. Why all the hoops? The big publishers are afraid that if library patrons find out they can borrow eBooks, it will eat into their sales – and, hence, their profits. That’s despite the fact that a large percentage of eBook borrowers are also eBook buyers. Continue reading “Check This Out – Borrow eBooks from Libraries”