Rod Raglin

Authors.me - publishing and writing technology that fails to deliver

Back in November I wrote a blog entitled, Authors.me "matches manuscripts to non-existent pages, vanity press when I discovered that the platform that claims to "...connects writers, agents and publishers to find manuscripts, manage submissions and get books published" had connected one of my uploaded books to publishing sites that, among other inconsistencies, didn't even exist or wanted me to pay them to publish my book. In fact, sixty percent of Author.me "matches" didn't actually match.

Further to that, today I received an email from one of the sites that actually did "match", Black Rose Writing, saying they "were going to pass on Loving the Terrorist (my novel) at present", however if I decided to self-publish to consider their imprint, Bookend Design "where (you) would work directly with the Black Rose Writing Design Team."

I'm wondering how much business Black Rose Writing gets from submissions by authors hoping for a traditional publishing contract and then redirecting them to their self-publishing imprint, Bookend Design?

Is there no end to the scams in this industry? And what about Authors.me vetting these so-called publishers for their site?

Technology to analyze manuscripts and provide actionable insights.

The latest product from Authors.me is Intelligent Editorial Analysis, "technology to analyze manuscripts and provide actionable insights."

They offered me the opportunity to test drive this product and so I uploaded the manuscript of my novel The Big Picture, A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic.

On a scale of 1 to 100, where a 100 most resembles a commercially viable book, my manuscript scored 85.48.

My strengths included "an elevated level of craft" because of my "measured use of adjectives like "very" " as well as "going easy on the exclamation marks". Weaknesses were inconsistent spelling (they don't say what), explicit language (curse words) and the use of clichés.

This last one I'd challenge but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and I don't plan to get bent out of shape over it since it's all grist for the mill.

If you want to try this out it will now cost you $49. Go to

https://app.authors.me/#partner/booklife-authors

InstaFreebie bolsters Advance Reading Team E-mail list

I just finished a trial offer on Instafreebie. For those of you who are not familiar with this giveaway platform here's how it's described on their site:

InstaFreebie was created in 2014 with a mission to accelerate great stories and big ideas. As the book world’s leading platform for exclusive access to sneak peeks, advance previews, and special giveaways, we live our mission every day and give readers a chance to SEE IT FIRST™.InstaFreebie was created in 2014 with a mission to accelerate great stories and big ideas. As the book world’s leading platform for exclusive access to sneak peeks, advance previews, and special giveaways.

Their basic program is free but I signed up for a thirty day free trial of the "Plus" program that allowed me to add subscribers to my email list. Fourteen people received an e-book edition of one of my novels and became a member of my Advance Reading Team by opting in with their email address.

A monthly subscription to this program is $20. That works out to $1.43 and e-mail. Nope.

Here's the site address:

https://www.instafreebie.com/plans

Deliver an hour long workshop - sell a few books

I delivered an hour long workshop on Introduction to Memoir Writing. This was in return for an opportunity to sell my books at the event. It worked, but if you factored in my time in preparation and the actual presentation I ended up subsidizing the sales.

There's got to be easier ways to sell books. Any ideas?

Stay calm, be brave, watch for the signs.

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Find reviews, blurbs and buy links to my seven novels and two plays at

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

Facebook for writing news, my experience as a writer as well as promotions, contests, giveaways and discounts regarding his books

https://www.facebook.com/Rod-Raglin-337865049886964/

Video book reviews of books about how to write fiction as well as the work of self-published authors now at

Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA