Writer’s Lifeguard: eBooks, ‘Skiing the Edge,’ Cyber Monday and All That
Posted on | November 29, 2011 | 1 Comment
Editor’s note: This Writer’s Lifeguard column should have been posted earlier, but I procrastinated. The columnist, Jules Older, still unrelated to me, makes an offer to give his eBook away free for Cyber Monday. I strongly believe he will extend that offer one more day. Why? A.) Jules is generous. B.) Jules is familiar with the art of procrastination. — Susan Older
By Jules Older, Editor at Large, Displaced Journalists
One month and a couple of weeks ago, I got an email from Lifeguard Gerry Wingenbach. Was he embarrassed! He’d just spent an
Jules Older
extremely uncomfortable night in the drunk-tank in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia. By the time he got to this:
The invitation for my night’s accommodation came from a uniformed young man; I’m guessing 22. He wasn’t comfortable until he had my hands cuffed behind my back. And I felt shame sitting alone in the backseat of his Ford sedan. It was like being in a hockey penalty box on wheels. A friend of mine at Whistler who watched this encounter told me later that the young man was “the kind of guy everyone picked on in high school, and now it was payback time.”
I was cursing the fact that the ski magazine I’d edited for lo those many years was no more. I was dying to publish Gerry’s confession.
As I was, another article by another skiing Lifeguard, Kristen Ulmer. Hers was on skiing like a man. It contained (if that’s the right word, and it isn’t), this riff:
I remember I used to be told, “You’re the best woman skier I’ve ever seen!” and I always thought, “%$#@ you!” I want to ski like a man. We all do. I want to frequency male power; be like a giant, veiny phallus thrusting down the mountain. Like a hairy, naked savage running out of the cave. Like an F-16 blasting through Jell-O.
And then it happened. I knew how to publish both these stories and more. I’d publish an eBook and call it SKIING THE EDGE: Humor, Humiliation, Holiness and Heart. Exactly one month later, I had 21 chapters by 20 leading ski and snowboard writers ready to roll. It should be available on a Kindle, iPad, Nook and Sony Reader (as well as your home computer) starting next week.
My first go as publisher. My first eBook. SKIING THE EDGE. How sweet it is. And how scary. And what extraordinary writing. But don’t take my word for it. Here’s writer and contributor Lisa Richardson, who was asked to judge a major competition for the year’s best ski writing:
Whatever is happening out there in Media Land is shriveling up the market for long form work, and the world of ski storytelling is no different. So what began as a full body immersion in the best ski writing of the year became a glimpse at the declining opportunities for ski writers to tell stories beyond schilling resorts in buffed up service pieces masquerading as features.
As it turned out, the best ski writing isn’t getting published.
Chapter Two. Fast forward to October. Another email pings into the in-box. Jules Older, my one-time editor of the now defunct Ski Press has an idea. (The four most thrilling and dangerous words in the English language: I have an idea.)
To read the rest of Lisa’s analysis of the decline of published ski writing and her take on the book, I urge you to go to the blog “Lisa Richardson Bylines.”
Which brings us to Cyber Monday, a.k.a. Today.
While the big-box store websites are offering great deals today, I think I can go one better.
SKIING THE EDGE will sell for $3.99.
But today — for you, gentle Lifeguard — it will sell for $0.00.
Let me know if you’d like an advance copy. No charge. And since it’s a PDF, you can read it just as you’re reading this.
Oh, and if you’re thinking, I don’t ski, so it’s not for me — not so fast. Though it includes occasional ski words — bullwheel, couloir, chairlift — I promise, this is a book for lovers of great writing, not just great ski writing.
eBook FAQs
SKIING THE EDGE is my first eBook, and the learning curve has been as steep as a double-black-diamond run at Vail.
If you’re thinking about publishing an eBook of your own, here’s what I’ve learned so far.
I’m no nerd, and I’m not digital savvy. Can I do this?
Yes. You’ve just described me, and I have.
I’ve heard that when you publish online, people can steal your stuff.
I’ve heard the same thing. Don’t let that stop you from doing it.
If I’m working with other writers, do they have to sign a contract with me?
Yes. That’s one piece of advice everybody agrees on.
Is it enough to offer the ebook for sale on Amazon’s Kindle?
No. That’s the biggest player, but don’t neglect Apple, Sony and Barnes & Noble. Or home computers.
How do I reach them?
Through either SmashWords or BookBaby. Both companies reformat your Word document so it uploads to Kindle, iPad, Sony Reader and Nook.
Which one is best?
They’re both good, and since they both have clarifying websites, see which one works best for you. In my case, partly because I thought the process would go faster and I’d get the book out by the opening of the ski season, I went with BookBaby. I’m happy with the choice.
How much should I charge for my travel ebook?
God, I wish I knew. I wish anybody knew. I went for $3.99, but only time will tell if that was smart or cripplingly wrong. We’re in the arena of mystery and magic. Ebook prices range from free to every bit as expensive as old-fashioned dead-tree books.
What’s the quality of eBooks?
The full range, from despicable to “I wish I’d written that.”
How bad is the e-competition?
It’s your worst nightmare. There are, by actual count, 34.5 gazillion eBooks already out there, all raising their hands and shouting, “Choose me! Choose me!” That’s your competition.
What can I do about it?
Write well. Edit well. Use a strong and appealing cover. Publicize the bejeezus out of your book. Tell everyone you know about it — and get them to tell everyone they know.
Are there other ways to publicize?
Your local radio and TV stations. Hometown paper. Alumni magazine. Websites, Twitter, blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, the works. Use ‘em all.
How about publicity opportunities to avoid?
Rule of thumb: If it costs more than $20, it’s more than likely a scam. Unless you’re shelling out big bucks for a publicist you know and trust, stick to the free stuff.
What about giving books away free to get the buzz going?
The practice has its advocates, but I’m not one of them. Long before the Digital Age, publishers were saying, “I can’t give you any, you know, money, but the exposure will be great for your career.” Didn’t believe it then; still don’t.
Anything else?
A little luck is always a good thing. Skill and persistence are even better.
– jules
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Jules Older hangs out at http://julesolder.com. He opines about San Francisco restaurants and New Zealand life on the apps, San Francisco Restaurants and Auckland Insider. SKIING THE EDGE is available on every electronic and mobile platform, including computers.
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Welcome to Our Community
Is there life – or work – after newspapers? A lot of us are in the process of finding out. Because it’s generally a somewhat lonely endeavor, it struck me, in January 2010, that it might be comforting – and possibly very productive – to go through it together.
Displaced Journalists is a community – our community – where we find common ground, where we can begin to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with our lives and livelihoods. [more]
November 29th, 2011 @ 2:47 PM
Yes, of course the offer is extended to Displaced Journos, wherever they are.
And, as of 10 minutes ago, we have epub dates:
SKIING THE EDGE: Humor, Humiliation, Holiness and Heart will be available on or about:
December 1, 2011 Amazon/Kindle and The iBookstore -
December 10 Barnes and Noble
December 29 Sony
But you need not have a Kindle, iPad, Nook or Sony Reader to enjoy it. Once you download a free epub reader, your computer becomes your library. Just Google ‘epub reader’ to find the one that’s best for you.