The Frustrations of an Author

I recently started advertising my new children's book, The Cloud Show, on Facebook. My book's potential reach is up to 120 possible purchasers. The demographics of those potential purchasers are women between the ages of 25 and 65. After doing research on demographics of mothers, I left the demographics broad since everything I do from now forward will be tests. And, I included older women because they're grandmothers or grandmothers-to-be. I didn't include education or interests or target parents because – again – everything is a test. My total budget for seven days was $5.

That was the easy part. The hard part? Ah... The hard part was trying to figure out why Facebook (FB) didn't accept my attempt to publish my ad. The worse thing about that is they DIDN'T TELL ME WHY I couldn't place my ad. I didn't know if it was my ad, my demographics, my credit card or the amount of money I was spending.

After working for probably 30 to 45 minutes reading and re-reading the application page, I finally threw my hands up in the air and signed out. I know when to stop, catch my breath, calm myself and take a day.

The next day, I signed into FB and headed to the ad section. Again, I attempted to place the ad. Nope. Ain't gonna happen.

Fine, let's play with the budget slider do-hickey. I slid the button to $8 and voila! The action button high-lighted allowing me to click it. Why didn't they just tell me my total reach for the budget was too low? Why?

Honest to gosh, I've had so many trip-ups self-publishing my books. Ingram doesn't furnish an ISBN number. You have to buy one. Amazon doesn't allow their ISBN numbers to be used in other print-on-demand sites. Barnes and Noble along with Google Play didn't like my meta data nor a couple blank pages. Amazon told me if I wanted to use the cheaper paper, I'd have to publish at least 72 pages. It was only after I researched that I found their paper type minimums. Again, they don't tell you outright. Amateurs don't know that crap.

If you want into a library, you need their wholesaler and an ISBN number. If you want to get into Walmart, you have to have a business license and an ISBN. If you want to go through Walmart's wholesaler, you need an ISBN number.

I know I could hire a marketer/publisher, but then I'd have to split my royalties with him/her.

Yes, yes, I know it's a choice I've made. I'm just telling you that selling your self-published book isn't as easy and simple as bloggers say it is. There's a lot that goes into getting your book on shelves and into certain print-on-demand sites.

I'm not giving up, though. I'm a tenacious sort. I won't be beaten. I'll find a way to make the money I need to buy an ISBN number, find a way to get my books into Google Play and Barnes and Nobel, and – by golly – I'll get into libraries. When? Well, it won't be soon, but that's okay. Working towards those goals gives me something to do.

Please check out my children's books for ages 2 - 5. They're beautifully illustrated and in rhyme. Both are available in POD or eBook.

The Cloud Show

The Little Bear and the Lollipop Tree

To Settle to Pay the Bills or Do What You Love

Dreams and aspirations are something that we all have, but not everyone pursues them. Some people settle for a job that pays the bills, but doesn't make them happy. 

Others follow their passion and try to make a living out of it. And then there are those who do both: they have a job that they enjoy and they also have a hobby that they love.

I'm one of those people. I love writing and I always wanted to be a writer. But I also knew that writing is not a very stable or lucrative career, especially in the beginning. So, I decided to study something else that I was interested in: commercial art. I didn't get my degree in commercial art (I had two toddlers who I was neglecting so, I thought it best to quit college to tend to my babies' needs.) but I was still able to find a job as an advertising layout artist at a retail store. I liked my job because the head of the advertising department taught me the tricks of the trade, he mentored me and advised me.

But I didn't give up on my writing dream. I'm retired and can write pretty much whenever I want, but I usually write on weekends when I'm not fiddling with marketing my print-on-demand store, Visages Gift Store, and my books, The Little Bear and the Lollipop Tree plus my latest book, The Cloud Show. I write short children's poems and four different blogs. I've submitted my work to contests and have won prizes. Writing is not only my hobby, but also my side hustle. It gives me extra income and satisfaction.

Some people might think that I'm lucky to have a hobby that I love. And I agree, I am very lucky. But it's not easy to balance marketing Visages Gift Shop and two books. It takes a lot of hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. Sometimes I have to stay up late to finish a writing project or wake up early to meet a deadline. Sometimes I have to say no to social invitations or family gatherings because I need to write or work. Sometimes I feel exhausted or stressed or frustrated.

But it's worth it. Because I'm doing what I love and what makes me happy. And that's what matters the most.

I know that not everyone can do what I do. Some people might have more responsibilities or obligations that prevent them from pursuing their dreams or hobbies. Some people might have different priorities or preferences that make them choose differently. And that's okay. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to dreams and aspirations. Everyone has their own path and their own journey.

But if you have a dream or a hobby that you love, don't give up on it. Find a way to make it happen, even if it's just for yourself. You never know where it might lead you or how it might enrich your life.

 New Children's Book Release:

The Cloud Show

Hi everyone!

Another of my dreams has come true. I've written another book for kids.

I'm super excited to announce that my new children's book, The Cloud Show, has been published on Amazon in eBook and print-on-demand formats. It's a fun and whimsical book that celebrates the different cloud shapes I see in the sky and is written in poem form for ages 2 to 5.

The Cloud Show is perfect for toddlers and kids who love to use their imagination and explore the natural world. It's also a great way to introduce them to some fun cloud shapes and weather concepts. The book is full of colorful illustrations and catchy rhymes that will make you and your kids smile.

If you're looking for a new book to read with your little ones, I hope you'll check out The Cloud Show on Amazon. It's available for only $3.99 as an eBook or $9.99 as a paperback here.

You can find sample pages below. Thank you for your support and happy reading!

 On Being an Entrepreneur

Hey there, fellow entrepreneurs! I'm sure you know how challenging and rewarding it is to pursue your dreams and create something amazing out of nothing. Being an entrepreneur requires courage, stamina, drive and creativity. You have to face uncertainty, risk, competition and rejection every day. You have to work hard, learn fast and adapt quickly. You have to be passionate, resilient and optimistic.

But you also have to be realistic. Success takes time and should be measured in small bits rather than giant leaps. You can't expect to become a millionaire overnight or to have millions of customers in a week. You have to set realistic goals, track your progress and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they are. You have to appreciate the journey, not just the destination.

That's why I want to share with you some tips on how to measure your success as an entrepreneur and how to keep yourself motivated and inspired along the way. These are some of the things that have helped me grow my business and stay sane in this crazy world of entrepreneurship.

Tip #1: Define your vision and mission.

• My mission is to complete “want-tos” on my bucket list. 
• My vision is to leave behind my footprint on this Earth through my art and my book(s); a legacy of sorts. That's not to say I wouldn't enjoy a bit of financial gain from my efforts. (I'm retired so my mission and vision are going to be different from someone who wants to earn a livable wage.)

Tip #2: 

• Set small goals like getting known. Blog about your adventure in starting a new business. 
• Another goal is to make sure you start at the same time every day and put in a full day. 
• Also, post on social media a discription of your business then post a little something about that day's challenge. 
• Make sure you let your friends and family know what you're doing.

Tip #3: 

• Keep at it. Don't give up. It's frustrating at times. It's discouraging at times. My son started his own business five years ago. He removes unwanted wild animals from homes and businesses. He wasn't a success overnight and Covid certainly threw a wrench in the works as well as Google changing algorithms, but he has tenacity. Plus, he has to make a living.

To end this, I'm going to do number two and work on getting myself known. Below are the latest print-on-demand designs from my Zazzle store, Visages Gift Store.

Abstract Labrador Art Coffee Mug
by Visages

Abstract Labrador Art T-Shirts
by Visages

Abstract Labrador Art Can Cooler Coozie
by Visages

Abstract Labrador Art Doormat or Rug
by Visages

Abstract Labrador Art Throw Pillow
by Visages

Abstract Labrador Art Blanket
by Visages

Abstract Labrador Art Pillar Candle
by Visages

On Being Retired

Retirement... It Can be a Challenge

I retired at 62 which is early. Official full retirement age is 65. I retired because I was working a mediocre job and wasn't kept busy enough. Since I lived with my son and his family (paying rent, of course), I felt I could afford to simply stop working. I had really been looking forward to not working anymore for several years. Forty-four years of working is plenty.

The first few years were easy peasy. I painted art pieces, made jewelry, crocheted a crap ton of Afghans for family and outfits for my new grandson, and enjoyed unlimited television.

Then the day came when I could no longer live with my son and his family. It wasn't working out as we all had hoped. I'm now living in a room in a trailer owned by a 79-year-old woman. I've no place to paint canvases or watercolor paper and I'm bored with jewelry making. Overall, I was just bored. BORED!

I thought about looking for a job, but not for long. There was no way I was going to find an Art Director job. I'd been away from it for too long. Besides, I live in an art drenched city with a killer art college just up the road. The kids coming out of that place are very talented and - frankly - I'm not up for competition. I'm 67 and done with that crap.

Ugh! A job. I didn't wanna. I didn't want to work some menial, lifeless, boring job. What to do?

I remembered I had started a Zazzle store, Visages Gift Store, back in 2011. It got to the point where I was receiving checks every other month and sometimes a couple of months in a row. Because I had neglected it for so long, there were 200 and some odd pages of product that needed attention. It took some time, but I got everything back up and available for people to see then hopefully buy.

Then I headed to my blogs, Zazzling Gifts, Dreams Come True, and Miller's Wrapped Expression. I hadn't blogged in a while, so I was a bit rusty. Still, here I am blogging away. 

Next was creating a website. I had used GoDaddy in the past so I stuck with it. As frustratingly slow as it was (and still is), I managed to get a semblance of a site up I named Visages Gift Store which is - coincidently - the name of my Zazzle store.

And I wrote a children's book, The Little Bear and the Lollipop Tree, that I'm marketing. With no revenue yet coming in from the updated Visages Gift Store, I'm having to find creative and free ways to market. Research is very time consuming. Yet, there are ways to market through social media, blogging and having a website.

Funny thing. I'm not bored anymore. I'm busier than I have been in years. I'm productive which is a must-do for retired folks. Several of my friends have bought my book, my blog stats have increased substantially, and Visages Gift Store is selling again. In two or three months, I'll have my first check from them. In another few months, I'll get a check from Amazon from my book sales.

Dreams come true, but - dang - is it ever a lot of work!

 

Adventures in Self-publishing and Marketing My Book, The Little Bear and the Lollipop Tree

I'm going to make this as brief as possible. This is basically an outline of all that I've done since finishing my first children's book June 3, 2023. I've never self-published before so I had to learn everything from scratch.

I wrote a book and illustrated, The Little Bear and the Lollipop Tree. I uploaded it to Amazon's Kid's Direct Publishing, Barnes & Noble and Kobo after satisfying the different formats each company demanded. It wasn't easy, but I got it done.

JPG Cover Image

Now I'm marketing my self-published book rather than going through an aggregator/marketer. Aggregators/marketers take a percentage of the profits as does each of the previously mentioned companies. Remember, those companies also charge you for printing so price your book accordingly.

Researching marketing ideas was overwhelming. Where do I start? I don't have extra money to advertise so I need ideas that cost very little to nothing. I'm retired and live on Social Security.

On a phone call with my son, I told him I was a bit overwhelmed with all of the marketing research for self-publishers I was doing; that I didn't know where to start. Well, my 42-year-old is wise. “Take one at a time,” he said. With that advise in mind, that's exactly what I did and it helped a lot.

First, I hit all of my social media and registered on those that I wasn't a member of. One day, I put a picture of my book cover and wrote an announcement that I had written and published my first children's book. My friends were thrilled for me. First one friend then another then yet another bought my book.

Two days later, I took two sample pages of my book, turned them into PDFs and placed them on all of my social media. A couple of more sales came from that.

I also used the same steps with all my blogs that I had done with my social media.

Next, in my research, it was suggested that I create a website. For about $12, I created a website on GoDaddy. Creating a website is daunting and very slow. For every one thing I did, I had to wait a few seconds for the task to complete. It wasn't instantaneous as I had hoped it would be. Add several seconds to each task on GoDaddy and it adds up to many minutes.

My website, Visages Gift Store, is still in construction, but I've published the pages that I had created thus far which includes announcing my book.

Next on the list was creating a video. Again, I had to research free video-making software. I settled on Microsoft's Clipchamp.com since I'm a member of Microsoft. I spent hours learning the web-based software, but at the end of the day, it was done. I introduced myself and added illustrations from The LittleBear and the Lollipop Tree.

The following day, I added the video to all my social media (or those that allowed it. One or two didn't.) as well as to my blogs (posted here on June 19, 2023) and website.

A couple of days ago, during my research, one of the “self-publishing experts” suggested using hash tags. Since I didn't know anything about hash tags and how they work I had to read about hash tag application and usage. I headed back to all of my social media and blogs. I have to hash tag!

Now I'm writing this blog outlining my adventure. I'll copy and paste it to all of my blogs as well as my website.

If you're on this same adventure, be sure to leave me a comment about your experiences. I'd love to hear from you.

One last thought: You have essentially started a new business. You'll spend eight hours a day reading, learning and applying what you've learned. Don't forget to take breaks and eat.

Meet Me, Deborah Miller, and View Illustrations From My New Book, The Little Bear and the Lollipop Tree

You can find my book at Amazon available on eBook or in print-on-demand. Click here.