Reviews from

Yours and Ringo's Dreams

So You Wanna be a Paperback Writer?!

44 total reviews 
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
Excellent
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You make the publishing of your book sound like one of the rings of Dante's hell. No wonder I'm dragging something and not going for the publication of any of my ten books I've written. I need me an agent. Then I hear I need a publicist. Then they get to the editor. And it still doesn't seem easy.

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    Oh, Carol ... I just don't have the energy to go through getting an agent. That's the first I heard about a publicist. But it's not easy whatever road you take. Thank you for reading. Can I count on you to get your freebie? Spread the word.
reply by Carol Hillebrenner on 19-Apr-2023
    Did you say the name of it and when do you expect it to do the freebie thing?
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2023
    I'm dropping the yellow book cover post in half an hour, Carol. The window opens in 3 1/2 hours. The title is "The Uneven Zen of Time". I just know you're gonna like it.
Comment from pome lover
Excellent
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Jay, I have never heard of such a horror story. Thank goodness for your patience. I know you probably get more readers for an E book, but why didn't you self publish a real live, hold- it- in- your- hand book?
For mine, I found my own cover picture on line and I think they bought it and used it. I didn't like any of the ones their "artists" drew.
Looking forward to reading your book.
Katharine

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    Ask Sandra about my patience! She had to keep encouraging me past my rough patches. But I do now have three Kindle eBooks and each one has its paperback. It was the latter though that gave me fits. When you're talkin about "their artists" do you mean Fiverr's. It's a challenge to find one you can work with. Most are from the Near East, and there's a language problem. Canva is my choice now. There's a learning curve, but they work with photos that you can upload to them or their own photos and other art work that you can modify for your needs. You can pay monthly for Canva at $10 and now they're running a promotion for the first month free. You can't go wrong there. I think you'll like my freebie if that's what you mean. Please help me spread the good news about it. I'm only going to keep the window open for about 4 days and then it goes back to $2.99.
reply by pome lover on 19-Apr-2023
    when I said "they", I meant the company I went through to self publish, and you're right, the art work they came up with for a cover was totally that eastern ninja kind of drawing. I found my own picture for my cover and it was perfect.
    how do I get your freebie? and who, that you know, do you want to spread the word to?
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2023
    I'll be posting today or early tomorrow on the Yellow book Cover, and will be providing the link for the Freebie. I have no names for you but if after you read enough of it to feel comfortable about your recommendation, let your family and friends know it's available until the 25th. Bless you!
reply by pome lover on 19-Apr-2023
    where is the Yellow Book Cover? Different from here?
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2023
    No, I'll be posting a story tomorrow here showing my Yellow Book Cover (that I have used for my collection of short stories) In that post will be the link for my freebie, "The Uneven Zen of Time." Hope that clears it up.
    Jay
reply by pome lover on 19-Apr-2023
    yep.
    thanks
Comment from Terry Broxson
Excellent
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Jay, if the trilogy is shorter than this post, then I am all in. Just kidding! As an ardent fan of yours, I am wondering if you make more money if I buy the paperback version or the Kindle version. Never mind I will buy both. Terry.

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    LOL, I'm not gonna get rich on either, but I get slightly more for the paperback. But you're gonna really like the freebie one. And I wasn't kidding when I said I hope everyone tells all their family, friends, enemies, everyone about the freebie. When Amazon sees an interest in a book, they start advertising it themselves. That's when it really takes off.

    I'm still about a month away from pubbing my Trilogy. It might not be your cuppa tea anyway. It's other dimensional sci-fi/fantasy, but it's got some strong characters in it and some pretty decent writing.

    Thanks man, for caring. I mean that!

    Jay
Comment from prettybluebirds
Excellent
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Your writing gave me a much-needed laugh today. It appears you have been to hell and back trying to create a paperback book. I wish you the best of luck with your project. I enjoyed the story. The only error I spotted was it should have been (that's good) instead of (that good).

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    Ah. Thank you for your catch. It is now corrected. Glad to be the one to get your smiling muscles working. Hope I can count on you to get your freebie and keep the buzz going.
    Jay
Comment from John Ciarmello
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Oh my goodness, Jay!

I don't see the problem; it all sounded so simple. Haha??

I liked your new pic, but peeps will be shocked when they see you at your first book signing! Talk about "Where the Hell is Jay Squires?"

I'll be looking for the yellow book cover, my friend! Best, JohnC

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    Oh, you make me so happy. Spread the good word about the freebie, friend. I want everyone to get it, but it's only four days.
Comment from Pam (respa)
Excellent
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Thanks for sharing your story in the way that only you can do. I think a lot of people who self publish with Amazon have stories to tell. Luckily, I have my own in home publisher who sets stuff up for me. But Amazon does some weird things, as you so expertly describe.

I published a children's book a while ago. When you click my name in blue under one of the other books, a woman who writes porn novels is right below my lovely children's book. I guess Amazon thought that since her name was Pamela, and so is mine, that they belonged together. Then they don't even give you a good way to directly contact them.

Thanks for listening to my tale of woe! I was wondering where you had been, and now I know!

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    Oh, Pam, thank you so much! Is your book under Pam Respa? I couldn't find it. But I do know what you mean about placement of books. There's no rhyme nor reason for some of it. Under Jay Squires there is a lawyer from Florida who litigates LGBTQ cases and his name is spelled exactly like mine.

    Anyway, I sure hope you're one who'll be getting my freebie and spreading the good word about it. I want nothing more than to start a buzzzzzzzz.
reply by Pam (respa) on 19-Apr-2023
    You are very welcome, Jay. It is under my name, Pamela Spice. Odd that we have these situations with books and names. I will definitely check out your book and spread the buzzzzzzzzzzzz!
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2023
    Awww, thank you, dear! I'll give it another look now. And thanks for your support!
    Jay
reply by Pam (respa) on 19-Apr-2023
    You are welcome for the support, Jay, and I appreciate your interest in my children's books, too. Let me know if you have any trouble finding them.
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2023
    Pam, I still can't find it under Pamela Spice. Can you send me its link?
    Jat
reply by Pam (respa) on 19-Apr-2023
    I will send you an e-mail a little later on.
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2023
    Good, I'll be looking for it.
    Jay
Comment from GWHARGIS
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

We had the hardest time getting the cover to upload on my book. I was ready to give completely up but after about three hours of pdfing, dpi's and lots of four letter words it was accepted. Then I wanted to opt out of the authors portrait, but apparently that is a no no. I posted my acrylic self portrait. But I'm happy. It's done. People are buying it. This was very helpful and I could relate. Gretchen

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    So ... people are buying it, Gretchen? You are talking about the paperback, aren't you? That's so encouraging. Which one was it? I hate to applaud other people's misery, but it is good to hear that I wasn't all alone out there. And did you order proofs for your paperbacks? If so, how did they come back?

    Anyway, thanks so much for the sixer. I hope you're one of my friends to get my freebie. I'm hoping it really creates a buzz.

    Jay
Comment from BermyBye50
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Jay,

Congrats on being honored "2022 Writer of the Year." To an novice aspiring writer and poet like myself your essay "So You Wanna be a Paperback Writer?!" is an absolute page turner. You've opened my eyes wide to the many possible challenges one may face self-publishing a first book on Amazon. I hazard to guess how impossible it must be to publish using the traditional route. I can't wait to hear the rest of the story about your adventures in self-publishing. :-)

All the best,

Eugene

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    Eugene, thank you so much for your generous words ... and please keep your eyes open for the Yellow Book Cover. Free is good!
    Jay
Comment from Gloria ....
Excellent
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This is a most interesting tale of your harrowing experience with self-publishing. It's not inexpensive either.

Just one typo here: Author's bio ... and below both of those, a blub (blurb) you've composed about why the world should read your novel. May have been a Freudian slip.

I shall keep a look out for the Yellow cover.

Much enjoyed. :))

Gloria

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    A Freudian Slip indeed! Haha, thank you Gloria. And I hope you do take advantage of the freebie. I want everyone to read it!
    Jay
Comment from royowen
Excellent
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I must be procrastination personified, I've written hundreds of songs, thousands of poems, have been asked where can they buy a book, I tell them, "you can't" and I've tried to many times, now I don't know how, Just like writing, but we done you, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 18-Apr-2023
    It certainly takes determination, Roy, that's for sure. The bad part is that Amazon lets you know about any returned book. You can imagine what that would do to waning self-confidence. Anywho ... please do keep your eye open for the freebie and spread the news to your family as well. It's decent family reading.

    Jay
reply by royowen on 19-Apr-2023
    OK