September 29, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
For the last 25 years, one of the joys of my job as a book reviewer has been discovering indie releases that are so extraordinary that the impact of the reading experience resonates with me for weeks, months, and sometimes years, afterward. Novels like Stepan Chapman’s The […]
September 12, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
Some writers are so engrossed with the minutia of their work-in-progress that they lose sight of an obvious indicator that should be a primary focus: reader experience. And a big part of that overall experience is feeling an intimate connection with the characters, feeling what they’re feeling—be it sorrow, joy, […]
July 7, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
One of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw’s most iconic quotes is a fitting way to begin this blog: “Don’t wait for the right opportunity: create it.”
Creating opportunity—it’s a huge deal when it comes to self-published and traditionally published writers alike. Writers may not want to be reminded of the […]
June 1, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
There are several reasons why most traditionally published novels you pick up have a blurb prominently featured on the front or back cover. The addition of a strong blurb—an endorsement by a person of note (a well-known author or expert) or an excerpt from a professional book review—immediately establishes a perceived […]
May 11, 2021
By Rachel L’Heureux
“Trade Secrets” is an ongoing blog series in which we interview professionals working in traditional publishing to explain how they approach their jobs, in order to help self-publishers understand the intricacies of the publishing process and glean some tips.
Today we speak with Carl Lennertz about the daunting yet critical task […]
May 10, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
BlueInk Review sat down with David Ebenbach to talk about the publishing industry, the advantages and disadvantages of putting labels on novels (and writers), and his upcoming science fiction debut How to Mars—about a reality show on Mars gone wrong—which is already in its […]
April 12, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
Amidst the backdrop of a pandemic killing millions of people worldwide and the planet in the death throes of environmental collapse, debut novelist Elly Bangs has released a post-apocalyptic thriller that is simultaneously terrifying and hopeful. Set on a future Earth where humankind is largely relegated to existing […]
February 9, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
So, while the content included in this blog seems to be stating the obvious—it’s not always apparent to writers who have had their heads immersed in their respective writing project for years. (Insert “can’t see the forest for the trees” idiom here.)
I’m talking about understanding reader expectation: knowing what narrative […]
February 2, 2021
By Marques Coleman With the extensive digital services and social media platforms available these days, marketing your self-published book is easier than ever. But there’s one marketing effort that remains challenging: Pitching a self-published book to independent bookstores.
In order to maximize profitability, owners need to utilize every inch of the store. Thus, […]
January 26, 2021
By Paul Goat Allen
As a genre fiction book reviewer for almost the last three decades, I’ve seen firsthand the slow but persistent evolution of all genre categories—science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, horror, etc.—and it has been a glorious growth to witness. There is no question about it: today’s genre fiction is much different […]
