Why every indie author needs an Amazon Author Central profile

Every independent author needs to work hard at marketing and selling their books. There is no way that anyone will get noticed by simply making the book available on Kindle and hoping that readers will arrive in their droves to buy it; everyone has to make people aware of what is on offer. Within our ‘How to Self Publish’ courses we dedicate a lot of time to addressing the options that are available to indie authors and in today’s blog I am going to look at one of those options in a bit more detail.

Amazon Author Central is a shop window that allows you to promote your work and let your readers know a little bit more about you. It allows you to collate all the books that you are selling on Amazon in one page and gives you a single link to promote on social media. If you can’t afford, or decide you don’t want a website, an AAC page is an excellent free alternative.

The first thing you should do after getting confirmation that your book is on sale is to set up your AAC profile by visiting authorcentral.amazon.co.uk (and authorcentral.amazon.com if you are selling books internationally*) where you can begin to populate your AAC page. Within the profile you can add your biography and photograph to help your readers to get to know you a little better. You can put as much or as little detail about yourself as you wish but I would keep it relevant and friendly. There is also a section where you can add details of your Twitter account to allow your readers to connect with you and establish a relationship with you. There is a facility to add videos, you can shoot a personal message or maybe a trailer for your book. Another great feature is the ability to add any events that you may be attending or hosting in your capacity as a writer. It allows you to promote book signings and other personal appearances.

The other section you need to concentrate on is not surprisingly, books. When you click on the ‘Add more books’ button you will be able to search for your book, by title, author’s name or the ISBN. Just beware I have found that occasionally a newly published book is not available immediately through this search and you may have to wait a couple of days before you can add it.

Within your AAC profile you will also be able to track your sales information, which is an excellent way to see the effectiveness of promotions and specific marketing techniques. The final section allows you to keep an eye on customer reviews by compiling all of the information from all your books in one area.

The AAC is just one of the many ways that Amazon has tried to make selling a book as easy as possible for independent authors and it is something that I think every writer should take advantage of.

If you already have an AAC page set up, why not stick a link in the comments and let people learn more about you and your work.

*You have set up a profile on each if you are selling in both the U.S. and U.K.

For more information about Indie Authors Scotland 'How to Self Publish' courses visit our website.

Guest blog - David Magowan

I'm offering a bonus blog this week and have asked my friend and fellow author, David Magowan to write a little guest piece. David has a passion for the darker side of literature and has compiled a list of his top five horror novels. Do you agree with his choices?

Once - James Herbert

This book is an absolute masterwork from a writer at the top of his game. The ‘Once’ in the title refers to ‘once upon a time’ but this is a fairy tale strictly for adults. A young carpenter returns to the country cottage of his childhood and reawakens all manner of magic both good and evil in the fairy-infested woods. In turns, enchanting, chilling, and erotic, it is written with a lovely vein of dark humour, this was Herbert at his very best. He was a wonderful talent who will be sorely missed.

The Haunting of James Hastings - Christopher Ransome

A thoroughly gripping, chilling and devilishly satirical modern ghost story from one of the most exciting young horror writers around just now. A self-centred body double for a world famous rap star (Eminen look way now!) learns the meaning of dual personality when it appears his new girlfriend is taking on attributes of his recently deceased previous one. Some great scares and laughs in a highly new and refreshing approach to the genre.

The Pariah - Graham Masterton

A true tour de force from the masterly Mr Masterton. A bed-hopping New England antiques dealer makes a pact with an ancient and terrifying force to bring back his girlfriend who was killed in a car accident. Little does he know the powers that he is meddling with or what he has unleashed. Packed with great chilling moments, big shocks and like a lot of Masterton's work it has his trade mark eroticism. This is the best book of his great canon of work.

The Taking - Dean Koontz

The great American thriller/ horror favourite has never been better here than his virtuoso venture into sci-fi apocalypse territory. On a stormy night in a Californian town a young couple are certain that other worldly beings are on their way and they are not coming in peace! But what is the real motivation of these 'aliens'? There are two absolute crackerjack scare scenes - one with a TV reporter and one with a doll. Read it and find out why I think this is simply magnificent horror writing.

Desperation - Stephen King

 Out of many candidates by the undisputed king of horror fiction, this is the pick of the bunch in my humble opinion. Absolutely brilliant characterisation, one scary scene after another and a rip roaring climax. A veteran writer and an ensemble of everyday American characters are captured by a mysterious highway patrolman and taken to the desert ghost town of desperation. Little do they know it is their destiny to band together and stop an unspeakable evil that has been recently awakened in the old town's mine. A sheer masterpiece of action and horror with characters you will love and will certainly experience all the terrors they witness first hand. It is crying out for a big budget Hollywood film version, (Are you listening Mr Darabont?) in short, the best from the very best.


David is a graduate of Indie Authors Scotland's 'How To Self Publish' courses and has now published three novels on Kindle. 'Dream Girl' is a dark, erotic fantasy with a large helping of black humour. His second book 'Nature's Children' is a story of ancient evil and modern terror in the favelas of Brazil. His most recent book was actually the first novel he completed. 'Gerrity's Law' is the at times harrowing tale of the redemption of a very amoral man.


If you would like to get in touch with David he is on Twitter @davidmagowan.

Review - The Dinosaur Feather by Sissel-Jo Gazan

This week’s Monday blog is a short review of a book I received from Kim as a Christmas gift. 

Scandinavian fiction has seen a huge surge in popularity over the last few years on television and in books. I have been swept up in this wonderful tide of authors like Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbø and television dramas like The Killing and The Bridge; delighting in my inner Viking. (According to legend Macleods are descended from the Norse Kings of Man.)

Written by Sissel-Jo Gazan who hails from Denmark, 'The Dinosaur Feather' adds to that canon. Her nationality was enough reason for the publisher to slap a sticker on the book telling you that if you love ‘The Killing’ then you’ll love this book. This is an oversimplification as the only real similarity is the setting. This story is set in Copenhagen but it is not a straightforward whodunit and there is nothing of the political intrigue of that brilliant series.

The book is set in the world of academia and tells the story of Anna Bella Nor’s struggles as a post-graduate student and single mother as she tries to finalise her doctorate. She is close to the final stages of her studies when both her tutor and then her friend are found dead. The death of her tutor is possibly the most original murder I have ever read and the intrigue surrounds the possibility that someone does not want her doctoral thesis to be published due to a difference of scientific opinion on the relationship between birds and dinosaurs. Due to the author’s own background, there is a lot of scientific detail covering areas such as palaeontology, ornithology and biology but it is explained in terms that keep it interesting and it never slows down the pace of the narrative.

The strange but engaging thing about the book is the way it weaves a number of family tragedies through the main crimes and then ties them up towards the end. It is a skilful piece of plotting and gives the story an extra layer of subtly that I enjoyed.

Søren Marhauge is the featured detective but he is far removed from the typical protagonist, as he doesn’t feature in the early part of the book and isn’t even responsible for the revelation at the end. He has his own family troubles and they have an effect on how he approaches his work.

This is a thoroughly original and enjoyable crime story. If you love mystery novels and are looking for something different then I can fully recommend this book.

Occasionally if I find a book that I think you’ll enjoy, I’ll post a review on my Monday blog.

Of Widows, Orphans and Rivers Of White

During our ‘How to Self Publish’ courses, we stress to authors the importance of producing the most professional book they can. What we really mean is that paying attention to the small details can pay big dividends in terms of how seriously your work is regarded. In this week’s self-publishing blog, I am going to look at some of the small distractions that can affect print-on-demand books.

Widows and Orphans

 Widows and Orphans are terms that describe words or single sentences at the beginning or end of a paragraph, which are isolated at the top or bottom of a page, separated from the rest of the parent paragraph.

A widow is a single line from the previous paragraph that appears at the top of the next page.

An orphan is the first line of a paragraph that continues on the next page.

It is important to look for these simple problems before you submit your book for printing as they can have a jarring effect and interrupt the flow of the text for the reader.

Rivers of White

 A ‘river of white’ is caused when the gap between words occurs at approximately the same place in a line of text for a number of lines consecutively within a paragraph. While someone is reading, that river effect will catch his or her eye, even if it is on a facing page. You will find that these ‘rivers’ do appear in many books but it is a good idea to minimise them, particularly if the gap occurs for seven or eight lines in a row.

All of these problems can be solved using various techniques including making small adjustments to kerning. During our course we give you a more comprehensive description of these minor issues and the techniques you can use to remove them.

By paying attention to even the smallest details, you can produce a book that is professional and will remove all distractions to allow people to enjoy what you have written.

Songs for the New Year

New Year brings a time of hope for a better future and as 2014 approaches I thought I would pick a few songs that reflect that mood of optimism.

R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People

Georgia's finest with a slightly uncharacteristic but wonderfully positive song with some help from the B-52s.

Housemartins - Happy Hour

A great video for a tune that's sure to make you want to get up and dance like no one is watching.

Beach Boys - Good Vibrations

One of the classic tunes that will make people feel good for generations to come. A little piece of summer sunshine to brighten the winter's gloom.

Jackie Wilson - Higher and Higher

A joyous celebration of all that makes being in love the greatest feeling in the world by one of the most talented performers and singers of all time.

The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)

A song that is now almost compulsory at every Scottish party. I couldn't miss the opportunity to recommend it for your New Year celebrations.

Eddie Reader - Auld Lang Syne

No New Year would be complete without a song that is over 200 years old from the pen of Scotland's greatest son. Auld Lang Syne will be sung in every corner of the world to welcome in 2014. This version stays true to that original poem and shows Eddi's wonderful voice at its best.

I wish you all the very best for 2014 and hope that you do indeed have a very Happy New Year.

The ever-changing face of book covers - Part 2

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that Santa was good to you.

Last week I charted the changes in design and taste in book covers by looking at how the dust jacket of Raymond Chandler’s ‘The Big Sleep’ evolved and reflected the contemporary ideas down through the years. I took you from the pulp magazine classic of the early forties through to the abstract covers of the seventies.

Today I bring the story up to date and look at how modern designers are putting their own spin on one of the great crime novels of all time.

Early 1980s

During the early part of the eighties the covers became flat and rather boring. I couldn’t even find a copy of The Big Sleep online from this period but as you can see from this image of ‘Playback’ the style was vey simple. A single photograph with the text tucked away in a corner. I can't be sure but I get the impression that the publishers weren’t trying too hard and that Chandler’s work had fallen out of fashion. 

Late 1980’s/Early 1990’s

By the late eighties there was a major shift in the design of the book covers and this version looks very different from anything that had preceded it. There is something very cinematic about this cover. There is more white on the page than you would expect for a crime novel but it works as it emphasises and draws the eye to the photograph, which itself looks a like still from a movie. The photograph is very generic and could apply to any crime novel of that period but that doesn’t detract from its effectiveness.

21st Century

There has been another dramatic change to the design philosophy with the bold colours and very modern typeface of the current paperback covers. These are very simple designs using a single illustration and the quirky positioning of the text to create a striking look. This version screams at you from the bookshelf and despite being very modern it still harks back to the period the books were written; I feel it is the perfect 21st Century interpretation of a pulp cover.

The future

Penguin recently ran a competition for a new design for ‘The Big Sleep’ jacket. My favourite entry is this fantastic cover by Jason Hibbs. Jason has caught the essence of the book with a modern illustration that is complemented by the clean, classic pre-war typeface. The illustration gives you a window into one of the most important parts of the story, where Marlowe discovers how Carmen Sternwood is being blackmailed. It is also one of the great iconic scenes in the Bogart movie and the greyscale image only helps to highlight the connection to the film. Although Jason didn’t win the competition, I think he has shown that Chandler’s greatest work is in good hands and that modern illustrators and designers will continue to be inspired to produce covers that are true to their subject matter while remaining contemporary to the times they are created.

Jason was kind enough to allow me to use the image. If you like this illustration pop over to Jason’s website to see more of his work and give him a compliment or two.

I’ll revisit the important subject of cover design in future blogs. I hope I have given you something to think about in terms of what kind of cover you would like for your books and how it should begin to tell your story. Check out our ‘How to self publish’ courses at Indie Authors Scotland for more information on our Cover Design course.