by Tom Evans | Oct 20, 2011 | Scribing
There are many proud moments in an author’s career like when you finish your first draft, when the first copy of your book arrives in the post or when you get your first review.
I was on Amazon this morning and I felt a pang of pride I simply have to share with you and it’s seeing that Amazon are listing that my three non-fiction books as being “Frequently Bought Together”.
Now I’ve no idea how many people have to do this before the Amazon algorithm kicks in – it might just be one!! It is however a significant milestone in any author’s strategy.
In the best selling author John Locke’s book, How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months, his advice is not to even attempt this with one book.
So my advice to all authors is this :
1. If you are just starting out – think how you can write a series – publishers and readers alike will love you for it
2. If you have written one book and want to sell more copies – write at least two more
3. If your book is out in print only, make sure it’s available for the Kindle too (as it can be then read on all devices)
Note that your books don’t have to be published with the same publisher or a linked sequence of titles – it’s best if they follow a particular theme or logical progression though …
For example, my books flow like this:
Blocks – clear barriers to creativity
Flavours of Thought – understand not all thoughts are the same
Light Bulb Moments – tune into a special class of thoughts that take you on amazing leaps of imagination and creativity
P.S. the fourth book is being crafted right now and it extends the thoughts in these three to a whole other level … watch this space and I can’t wait until Amazon list all four as being Frequently Bought Together 😉
Afterword in 2013 – here is that book Planes of Being and another I didn’t even plan to write called This We Know
P.P.S. Not even two years after I wrote this blog, I find Amazon recommending not just three but five of my books to people via email
by Tom Evans | Jul 22, 2011 | Expanding, Scribing
I am so thrilled to announce that, less than a year since I wrote the original book, Flavours of Thought is now in its Second Edition.
The second edition of course includes all the ancient wisdom in the same contemporary context as the first but now there are some added juicy bits such as:
– Seven brand new Chef’s Special Recipes (as requested by Facebook Fans)
– a brand new section on Practical Floughtology which includes
– how to concoct your own recipes
– how to use the flavours in business with five new recipes
– three special recipes on how to create abundance
The Second Edition is available straight away in the Amazon Kindle Store
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon DE – but in English, any publishers who would like to republish and translate, get in touch
The second edition print version is also available directly for orders placed on CompletelyNovel but will take a few weeks to ripple through the online publishing world – get the print version here
AMAZING DEAL OF THE DAY
If you already have a copy of the first edition and want the new parts of the book, I will email them to you as an ebook absolutely free – yep, for nothing, nada.
All you have to do to keep everything in karmic balance is write a review on Amazon (or any other online book store or site), let me know when it’s up and I will wing it over to you. Can’t say fairer than that !!!
What People Are Saying About It
“It’s brilliant! I love the idea of thinking about thoughts in a way that encourages my intuition, without embroiling me in my intellect.”
“This book is intrinsically simple. Simple to read; simple to understand; simple to apply. Its simplicity is what makes it genius.”
“This book takes personal development it to a different level. No stuffy 50 year old theories that people still hang their hats on. Refreshing, thought provoking and inspirational.”
“I find it absolutely fascinating and I read parts of it every day. It inspires me and is already enabling me to make adjustments and to fine tune areas of my life that are in need.”
“Oh my, you are brilliant with your wit and insight.”
“This is a delightfully simple journey into self development that can be used to build a much larger and more powerful framework. I believe it hints at an even greater innovation for the personal development industry. I thoroughly recommend you read it and judge for yourself.”
“Through gaining an understanding of the flavours in my thought process and applying the recipes, I am now positively dealing with being hurt and rejected and using them to remove frustration and to find my soul path.”
“I have applied recipes to my business, to my writing and to the way I chose to live. I can now see that in every situation, I have a glass half full mentality where before there may have been despair.”
“I am completely blown away by the concept of just 21 flavours creating zillions of recipes to enrich your life. You take our basic thought processes simplify them, map them and then suggest ways recipes to open up new thought process.”
“This is one inspirational, magical and thought changing book that has the power to change your very being.”
“This is a unique, insightful and thoroughly enjoyable read. If there is a more accessible way of accessing and understanding these issues then I have not, as yet, come across it. Tom has opened up a perspective to our thoughts, emotions and behaviour that is insightful and compelling. Thoroughly unique and enjoyable I will certainly be using this book time and again to follow the recipes as given and to create some of my own.”
“Tom’s a master at taking a concept and pushing it … he’s done it simply and accessibly. Readers have no option but to wake up and taste differences in their lives in all manner of ways. My feeling it is a turning point for many readers.”
“Flavours of Thought is so easy to read I hardly knew I was reading it. I ‘woke up’ from it feeling refreshed, calm and ready to embrace my fulfilment.”
“This is a delicious recipe book, filled with fresh ideas for thinking outside of the box. On first pass, I bookmarked several ‘recipes’ that resonated with me quite deeply and on my second read I discovered the richness that comes from combining deceptively simple ideas! If you are looking for a new way to think about your goals, challenges and emotions in light-hearted yet effective way then Flavours of Thought will certainly whet your appetite!”
by Tom Evans | Jun 23, 2011 | Scribing
I am doubly thrilled that my new book, The Art and Science of Light Bulb Moments, has now made it on to the Nook platform just after becoming available on the Kindle.
What’s even more pleasing is how many places my publisher Obooks have made the book available. It’s taken a year but it is definitely worth the wait and it’s a joy just to have been able to write and for all this to happen around me.
& just check out the other places you can find the book
by Tom Evans | Jun 22, 2011 | Scribing
I am so thrilled that my new book, The Art and Science of Light Bulb Moments, has now made it on to the Kindle platform a couple of weeks after it was available in print.
Especially as I have just been reading about how US-author John Locke has been going about selling over 1 million books in a few short months – see my Bookwright blog for details on this.
At the same time, bookings are coming in thick and fast for talks on how to experience light bulb moments on demand – see the schedule here – and contact me if you have a group you’d like me to talk to.
I’ll also be sharing some new about the full workshop programme I am launching in the UK in Autumn and extending worldwide to 2012.
It’s a real testament to the doors writing a book opens to an author … watch this space.
by Tom Evans | May 9, 2011 | Scribing
If you thought Twitter was a fad or a nuisance, let me disavow you of that notion – it is a pretty useful tool for both business and pleasure and it’s here to stay.
For one, I have had direct business solely from Tweets and found the most perfect iPhone app developer from a single Tweet – I think you will agree, that is a pretty useful use of a few seconds of my time.
By osmosis, I’ve learned how to make Twitter work for me and how not to get addicted to it. You would think there’s not too much to it – it’s only 140 characters after all – how hard can that be?
My old guitar teacher told me, “It’s not the notes but the gaps in between.”
Well my world has just been turned upside down and exploded this week after I downloaded the iPhone app version of 140 Characters: a Style Guide for the Short Form by Dom Sagolla – one of Twitter’s progenitors.
I was glued and read it in one sitting.
Not only is the book one of the best manuals you will ever find for using Twitter properly but Dom is one erudite and intelligent chap. His understanding of human language, semantics and communication is outstanding.
I so wish I will be able to write a book as intelligent as this one day.
The iPhone app version of the book is pretty neat as it is embedded with rich hypertext to take you right to the resource, people and example tweets that Dom refers to. You can even interact with the content which incidentally is updated regularly too.
The book is full of brilliant humour (or is that humor) too of how to and how not to Tweet. There are some real corkers and my Tweet stream might become a whole lot more interesting as a result of reading it.
Dom is one Twitter expert who really does know his stuff – he was there from the ground up and user number #009. Once you read this book you will be able to spot the real gurus from the fakes, also rans and wannabees.
His vocabulary is also amazing and I was reaching for my dictionary app more than once.
If you still don’t want to read the book, here’s a quote from the book to summarise its essence.
“Do fewer things better”
The book is a snip at only $4.99 for the iPhone but well worth the $12 or so if you want the print version.
Get the print version on Amazon here …
Get the iPhone app version here …
As a result of reading it, I for one am now not hanging about on my next book – it’s going to come out this year – in print and as an iPhone app in this form as I am inspired now more than ever to do fewer things even better ….
by Tom Evans | Apr 30, 2011 | Scribing
So just 30 days ago, I elected to start the Ultimate Blog Challenge and do a blog a day for 30 days.
Would I do it again? – yes, but only if I have a game plan as I did for this month
Was it worth it? – a definite yes !!
Am I doing it again next month? – a definite no !!!
A Big Thanks to Michele Scism and Michelle Scaffer for coming up with the concept.
In summary, here’s an index of what I’ve posted.
Day 1 : How to experience Moments of Light
Day 2 : Inspiration in Business
Day 3 : The anatomy of a click through
Day 4 : Whole Mind Not-Thinking
Day 5 : What is Love?
Day 6 : Be an Agent of the Infinite
Day 7 : What do you know?
Day 8 : iPadivity
Day 9 : Making Time
Day 10 : eReading
Day 11 : eWriting
Day 12 : ePublishing
Day 13 : Getting in the Zone
Day 14 : The Golden Age of Self-publishing
Day 15 : Whole Brain Thinking
Day 16 : How to Have A Great Week : part #001
Day 17 : How to Have A Great Week : part #002
Day 18 : The Inspirational Breath
Day 19 : Cross Crawling
Day 20 : Mapping your Mind
Day 21 : Food for Thought
Day 22 : Which side are you on?
Day 23 : Something for the Weekend #001
Day 24 : Something for the Weekend #002
Day 25 : Something for the Weekend #003
Day 26 : Fear of Ridicule
Day 27 : Fear of Failure
Day 28 : Fear of the Unknown
Day 29 : Fear of Success
Today – this index … Phew !!!
There are many proud moments in an author’s career like when you finish your first draft, when the first copy of your book arrives in the post or when you get your first review.
I am so thrilled to announce that, less than a year since I wrote the original book, Flavours of Thought is now in its Second Edition.
If you thought Twitter was a fad or a nuisance, let me disavow you of that notion – it is a pretty useful tool for both business and pleasure and it’s here to stay.
So just 30 days ago, I elected to start the Ultimate Blog Challenge and do a blog a day for 30 days.