A Pair of Docks by Jennifer Ellis Preview Release and Giveaway

Happy Monday, everyone! Jo here! Today I'd like to share with you all something awesome we've been working on here at IBGW. I was notified yesterday the book went live on Amazon and here I am, doing some great promotional work for it! Without further ado, I give you A Pair of Docks (The Derivatives of Displacement Book One) by Jennifer Ellis.

Title:  A Pair of Docks (The Derivatives of Displacement Book One)
Author: Jennifer Ellis
Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi Time Travel
Print Length: 230 pages
Purchase Links: Amazon Kindle $2.99 Print $11.48

Synopsis:
What if you could see your future?

Fourteen-year-old Abbey Sinclair likes to spend her afternoons in the physics lab learning about momentum and gravitational pull. But her practical scientific mind is put to the test when her older brother, Simon, discovers a mysterious path of stones that allows them, along with Abbey’s twin, Caleb, to travel back and forth between their world and what appears to be...the future.

Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones who know about the stones, and they soon realize their lives are in danger from a man known only as Mantis. Abbey, Caleb, and Simon must follow a twisting trail of clues that will lead them from their autistic neighbor, Mark, to a strange professor who claims to know the rules of the stones, and to multiple futures—some of whose inhabitants don’t want to stay put.

It will take all of Abbey’s analytical skills to unravel the secrets of the stones, uncover the threads that tie the futures together, thwart Mantis’s plan, and, most importantly, keep her family alive—now and in the future.

A Pair of Docks is an action-adventure for kids and adults that explores Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, parallel universes, time travel and the boundary between science and magic. It is the first novel in the Derivatives of Displacement series. Lovers of fantasy and science fiction will find plenty to like in A Pair of Docks.

Sound awesome?

Here's a peek of the inside:

So, as we always do when we work on a book, we're offering two lucky winners a chance at a printed copy!

Here's the Rafflecopter entry form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to you all!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

The Final Omen - Second Sight Book Four by Heather Topham Wood Info and Giveaway

Hello everyone! Jo here. Today, I'm gonna share with you all some information about a book proofread by IBGW and give you a chance to win a copy of this lovely book. I know you're excited! Strap in and let's go!

Title: The Final Omen - Second Sight Book Four
Author: Heather Topham Wood
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Length: Approx 185 printed pages
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $3.99 B&N Nook $3.99 Smashwords $3.99

Description:
Psychic Kate Edwards had seen her death in a premonition. She was given the opportunity to stop her murder from happening and finally reconnect with her love Detective Jared Corbett. However, fate had different ideas…

Kate finds herself trapped between life and death. Her only companion is Rose Corbett, Jared’s long dead mother. Rose offers answers to many of Kate’s long-awaited questions and alludes to what the future could hold. However, before Kate can finally be happy, she must complete a seemingly impossible task: save Jared from his own tragic fate.

The Final Omen concludes the thrilling Second Sight series.
New Adult Paranormal Romance-Ages 17+ due to language and sexual situations.

If you'd like to read my review of the book, you can check it out over on my blog HERE.

Without further ado, I give you the Rafflecopter widget!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always, the book will be featured on the sidebar of the blog. So, if you miss it now, you can come back and grab it anytime. IBGW means quality! Good luck!

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Sixty Days of Grace by Author Dorothy Ruppert Info and Giveaway

Hello everyone! Jo here. I'd like to take this opportunity to let you all know about an awesome book that was just released and let you participate for a chance to win a copy! INDIE Books Gone Wild was responsible for the proofread on this book and, as always, we're happy to help the author out with a little promotion.

Introducing:
Title: Sixty Days of Grace: Reflections on God's Sufficiency for the Journey
Author: Dorothy Ruppert
Genre: Christian Inspirational
Pages: 136 printed pages
Amazon link: Paperback $10.58
Kindle $3.99

Synopsis from Amazon:
In today's world, women desperately struggle to meet the unrealistic expectations of others and of themselves. Society tells women they can do it all, and yet they instinctively know they do not have the resources to accomplish all the demands placed upon them. Drawing on their own strength is not enough; in order to survive, women must draw on God. Sixty Days of Grace shares sixty stories from author Dorothy Ruppert, who has struggled through life and succeeded, only because of God's grace. This grace is the prevalent theme of the Bible. From beginning to end, the accounts of the lives of biblical figures demonstrate His eternal grace. However, in modern society His grace is often overlooked. There are many challenges women face as daughters of the King living in a broken environment. Ruppert has been there, as mother, grandmother, working woman, and retiree. Thanks to His grace, she found her strength. All women can do the same, with the power of God. It's time to turn away from self-sufficiency and lean on God's everlasting arm, because His grace is sufficient for the journey; His power is made perfect in human weakness.

How awesome does that book sound? I can tell you from personal experience it's an amazing book.

Without further ado, the rafflecopter entry form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Free PDF Checklist for Novels

Hello, everyone! Jo here today. Figured I'd share with you all a little PDF that'll help you improve your writing. It's a handy, downloadable, printable, sharable checklist that includes the following:

• Plot
• Deepening Plot
• Structure
• Deepening Structure
• Character Creation

Bonus: It has little tick-boxes and lines for you to write your thoughts/views on!

Simply follow this link and pick up your copy:
A Novel Checklist

This is part of the huge

I'm sending out to followers.

Go. Download. Enjoy. WRITE ON!

Jo

Borrowed Things

Happy Monday, everyone! Jo here. I was thrilled when I was notified Borrowed Things was finally on sale. The author, Doris Schneider, and I, worked tirelessly on this book to bring you the awesomeness below. As a plus, with all books we work on, I'll be doing a promotion. This time, it's a Rafflecopter giveaway and you'll have a chance to win a printed copy of the book!

Title: Borrowed Things
Author: Doris Schneider
Genre: Southern Women's Fiction
Length: 522 printed pages
Find it on Amazon: $14.20

First, check out the book cover:

Description from Amazon:
Borrowed Things takes place in North Carolina, alternating between Durham and Pearl, a fading town on the Lockwood Folly River. It traces a year in the separate yet symbiotic lives of five characters whose paths cross and ultimately connect. Wishing to reinvent herself, Anne Gray sells her Durham home and the care of a Great Blue Heron to Noah Levinson, who also negotiates for the temporary use of her things and their stories in the desperate hope they will infuse some of Anne’s spirit and resilience into his ailing wife, Elizabeth. Anne finds a new home in the forgotten town of Pearl where she releases the memories of two failed marriages as she sails the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway with a haunted Latino priest and an elderly woman who rides a bicycle and wears No Fear t-shirts. Through Anne’s not-so-divine intervention, Father Paul and old Marjorie unveil their long held secrets, and come face to face with the embodiment of their abandoned hope. Anne is finally forced to come to terms with her past and find the courage to accept or reject the opportunity for a last and lasting love.

Our very own Tia Silverthorne Bach edited this book (back before she joined us here at IBGW). She wrote a review:
"Borrowed Things is Southern women's fiction at its best, capturing your heart within the first few pages. Anne Gray is a rare character, equal parts strength and compassion. Readers will identify with her struggles and lingering questions as they enjoy her exploits and journey toward friendship and love. But most of all, they will find themselves transported into a town rich in memorable characters, intriguing history, and many secrets." ~ Tia Silverthorne Bach, author of Chasing Memories and co-author of the award-winning Depression Cookies.

Now, take a peek inside!

How gorgeous is that?

You'll find the buy link in the sidebar here on the blog.

Now, the Rafflecopter entry form! Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Editing vs Proofreading - Which Service do You Need?

Happy Monday, good people of the page! Jo here! Today, I'd like to go over the difference between an edit and a proofread; including what you should expect from each. These are just a couple of the services we provide here at INDIE Books Gone Wild. If you aren't sure what services you need, this post will help you decide and tell you how to prepare for each one. So grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!

Editing

This is a service where you send your book to someone and they fix basic grammar and construction issues, punctuation, transitions, spelling, inconsistencies, and look to cut your word count. A good editor won't change your voice, they'll make it more legible.

Any editor you choose should give you a sample edit of your first chapter to see if you're a good fit. At IBGW, we use that first chapter to rate the quality of your writing and base our price from there. Why? Because if it doesn't take us as long to edit your book, you won't pay as much. You're paying your editor for their time and knowledge of the English language.

Be sure your editor uses a style guide so you'll know what changes to expect and have a reference.

An inline edit looks something like this:

Inline changes and notes in the sidebar are things you should expect. At IBGW, we strive to make you a better writer during our edits by providing education and noting things you should be watching out for. Every writer makes common errors; but if you know what they are, you're less likely to repeat them if you learn from your mistakes. This, I believe, is something every editor should do.

Proofreading

Different from editing, proofreading is all about looking for good transitions, proper use of punctuation, spelling issues, and redundancy. A proofreader should be able to speed-read your work and highlight issues without going into great detail. Your editor should be catching everything else. Many proofreaders will highlight things your editor may have missed and sling out a comment; but you shouldn't expect that. They're looking to give your manuscript a final once-over before it goes to print. All your T's should be crossed and your I's dotted after your manuscript is returned by a proofreader.

Your editor should never be your proofreader. They're too close to the work by the time the edit is done, and they'll miss things, just like you.

At INDIE Books Gone Wild, we use one person on our team to edit and another to proofread. Proofreading is included in the price of your edit. There's no need to shell out more money for someone else to do it. We even write it up in your contract and book your proofreading for you. That's part of the benefit of working with a team rather than a single person who tries to do it all.

No matter who you choose to work with, make sure you've read something they've written or edited and are comfortable with them as a person. Be sure you can respect their comments when your manuscript is returned. There's nothing worse than questioning every change someone makes. Trust is a huge part of the writer/editor relationship.

As a final note: Regardless of who you work with, be sure to have a contract. If your editor or proofreader balks at the idea of a contract, or won't let you read/look it over before you're expected to sign, run away. A contract is there to protect you both and shouldn't sway power one way or the other. Also, make sure it has an out clause.

I hope this helps you all in some small way.

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Win a copy of Chasing Memories

Hello and happy Friday, good people of the page! Jo here. Today, I bring you a giveaway for Tia Silverthorne Bach's book Chasing Memories (The Tala Prophecy - Book One). Enter the Rafflecopter drawing to get a copy of this great book. It'll be the printed version! Here's a peek inside:

Now, isn't that lovely?

And for the cover:

Because INDIE Books Gone Wild did the editing, cover design, interior layout, and proofread, we're giving a copy away to all those who love our page. Marketing help is just one of the bonuses provided by INDIE Books Gone Wild when we work on your book. Now, how many places can say that?

Without further ado, I give you the rafflecopter entry form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Cover Reveal - Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Hello everyone! Jo here. I'm very excited to bring you a cover reveal for a book edited by INDIE Books Gone Wild. Without further ado, I give you the cover of Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach.

About Chasing Memories (Tala Prophecy, Book 1)

There isn’t another way; not now. The others are coming. I can’t let them have you…

Seventeen-year-old Reagan has a problem: She can’t remember what happened the night her brother was taken. Now, the dreams haunting her from the incident are becoming more intense by the day. All the while, the lines between what’s real and what’s a product of her paranormal-obsessed mind are becoming blurred.

Is she losing her mind or has she just stepped into a world she thought only existed in books?

Caught in a web of worried parents, competing boys, Wiccan relatives, protective amulets, and psychiatrist babble, Reagan must determine the truth before it’s too late.

Expected Publication Date: June 10, 2013

Add Chasing Memories on GoodReads.

Cover design by Jo Michaels.

About the Author

Tia Silverthorne Bach is an avid reader, sometimes runner, involved wife and mother, and rabid grammar hound in addition to being a multi-genre writer. Her three daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She's the award-winning co-author of Depression Cookies, a coming of age story written with her mother. Tia's office is wherever her laptop takes her and any place that's conducive to allowing a wild imagination like hers to flourish.

Please visit her at her blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, GoodReads, and read more about her here on INDIE Books Gone Wild. After all, she's one of our wonderful editors!

Not only did we edit the book, we also formatted it for digital and print, designed the cover, and did the final proofread. Check out this gorgeous interior design that plays well with the fonts on the cover:

It takes a team to publish a book!

I do hope you'll check out Tia's amazing book, Chasing Memories. You won't be sorry you did.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Small but Important -- the Apostrophe

Hello to our readers! It's Tia here with my first blog post for IBGW. The first of many. 

I'm a geek for all things related to words. Without further ado...

Isn’t it amazing how important the smallest of punctuation marks can be?

Consider the apostrophe--small in stature, a simple ’, but huge in importance. After all, an apostrophe either takes the place of missing letters or assigns ownership. It is also used to show multiple letters, such as the student received many A’s on her report card. More on that in a moment.

If Charlie has a dog, it’s Charlie’s dog. The only somewhat confusing aspect to making names possessive… names that end in s. According to AP Style, the newest consensus is to leave off the additional ’s. So it would be Charles’ dog and not Charles’s. However, it is not incorrect to say Charles’s, and that style is favored by Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, although to me it is quite clunky.

In the case of biblical references, everyone seems to agree—Jesus’ and Moses’ is the way to go.

Interestingly, this was a debated enough issue that the Arkansas House of Representatives introduced a bill to clarify the state’s possessive, known as the Arkansas’s Apostrophe Act.

And of course there is the exception of it’s. Since it’s is it is, the possessive of it is its, no apostrophe.

Back to the student that received many A’s on her report card. The A is not A is and it’s not possessive, so why the apostrophe? Because otherwise it is the word As (same problem for the letters I and U which would become Is and Us without an apostrophe).

How big of a deal can a misplaced or missed apostrophe really be?

Let me give you a quick example…

The girls decision meant life would never be the same.

In a story, it’s important for the reader to know if that sentence should read girl’s or girls’. Writers don’t want their readers scratching their head for too long, because then readers disconnect from the story. Never a good thing.

How can anybody remember all these rules, especially ones that the grammar experts disagree on?

That’s just one of the reasons a good editor is important. They do the research and give you their advice. Just as importantly, they make sure it is consistent throughout your work. Your readers will thank you for it.

Tia

The Disappearing Girl - by Heather Topham Wood

Hello, lovely people of the page! Jo here! I'm excited to announce the release of Ms. Heather Topham Wood's book, The Disappearing Girl.

I did the proofread for INDIE Books Gone Wild on this book. All I have to say is: "Wow. What a heartbreaking tale!"

Without further ado, I give you the cover, links, and summary:

Summary:
Kayla Marlowe is slowly vanishing…

Last year, Kayla’s world imploded. Her beloved father died, leaving her alone with a narcissistic mother who is quick to criticize her daughter’s appearance. During her winter break from college, Kayla’s dangerous obsession with losing weight begins.

Kayla feels like her world changes for the better overnight. Being skinny seems to be the key to the happiness she has desperately been seeking. Her mother and friends shower her with compliments, telling her how fantastic she looks. Kayla is starving, but no one knows it.

Cameron Bennett explodes into Kayla’s life. He’s sexy and kind—he has every quality she has been looking for in a guy. As Cameron grows closer to Kayla and learns of how far she’s willing to go to stay thin, he becomes desperate to save her.

Kayla’s struggles with anorexia and bulimia reach a breaking point and she is forced to confront her body image issues in order to survive. She wonders if Cameron could be the one to help heal her from the pain of her past.

***New Adult Contemporary-Ages 17+ due to language and sexual situations.

Kindle version: The Disappearing Girl - $2.99
Print version: The Disappearing Girl - $9.99

I do hope you'll all go check it out. As always, when a book with work by one of us gets published, it gets a link on the sidebar. So if you don't get a chance to check it out today, come on back anytime and grab a copy. You won't be sorry.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Flexing Your Dialogue Muscles

Hello, good people of the page! Today I'm gonna talk a little bit about the writing class I give here on INDIE Books Gone Wild. I call it: Open Critique Services.

Over the last week, I've written posts over on my blog, Jo Michaels ~ Author, that help you flex your dialogue writing muscles. Those are a part of the OCS class I give here. If you'd like to check them out, here's a handy-dandy link for you:
Dialogue Exercises

You can find the links to all fifteen exercises from that page. In open critique, I read the work you've written via the exercises I assign and provide detailed, inline feedback to help you become a better writer. You'll discover your strengths and weaknesses, and learn what to look for when you edit your books, all in just four weeks.

In addition, you get a handy book pack you can keep and reference any time.

So, if you're a beginning writer or know someone who'd like to become a writer but just needs a little education, point them to the Open Critique Class here. I'll be updating the page with an outline of my lesson plan next week.

One of our own, Ms. Tia Silverthorne Bach, participated in the A-Z blog challenge last month. Her theme was literary devices. If you'd like some education on tools you can use to write a better novel, check out her posts over on Depression Cookies. I'm linking you to the letter Z, but you can find the others from there.

We'll also have an announcement soon on the release date for a couple of books we've been working on. One is Heather Topham Wood's book, The Disappearing Girl. The other is Tia's book, Chasing Memories. I hope you'll all come back for that!

Well, I have an inspirational book that needs some editing! So that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

One Heck of a Month

Hey there, happy people of the page! Jo here. It's been one heck of a wonderful month for us at INDIE Books Gone Wild! We're excited to announce the soon publication of Tia Silverthorne Bach's new title: Chasing Memories. We also have a number of upcoming jobs we'll be talking about soon! Don't forget to check the calendar linked at the top of the left sidebar to see if one of us is available for your editing needs.

Remember, it takes a team to publish a book! We'd love to be a part of your team.

Watch the site for updates, a cover reveal, and to see where you can get a copy of Chasing Memories!

What we've done for this title:

• Edited twice
• Proofread (proofreading services are included in the cost of editing, and are done by a separate member of the team, we believe fresh eyes never hurt)
• Cover design (not something we readily offer, but we did on this book)
• Formatted for print (I can't wait to give you a glimpse of the interior; you're gonna love it!)

And, after it's published, we'll help her market by giving her a link on the sidebar, a shout out on the Facebook page, and a cover reveal/synopsis post.

How many places do you get all that for your money? Very few.

In the upcoming weeks, we're going to run a couple of giveaways. Stay tuned to see what you could win!

If you're an author and are thinking of publishing a book soon, fill out our form and see what we can do for you!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

A Hearty welcome

Wow! Our ranks are swelling with the brightest and the boldest. Welcome aboard everyone.

What to Expect

Hello, good people of the page! Jo here! Today, I'm editing the day away. I hope to get done with round two of Ms. Tia Bach's book, Chasing Memories, and get her to press by mid-month! We have a lot to do yet but great planning has been a huge help.

On that note, what does your editor look for? Well, here at IBGW, this is what we look for:

• Sentence construction. We make sure your story flows well and doesn't have off topic sentences or errant commas sprinkled throughout.
• Pronoun usage. This is something a lot of folks struggle with. We make sure every pronoun matches with the previously named person or item.
• Tension. We read your book for tension and note places it could be pumped up a bit.
• Grammar. Yes, We're grammar hounds. We search commonly misused words when we find them and provide you with a reference. You'll know why it was changed.
• Punctuation. We make sure dialogue tags are marked accordingly.
• Consistency. We look for the use of the S on the end of toward, backward, etc... and make sure you're using them the same way throughout. We also check your characters and make sure they're the same people all the way through.
• Conjunctions. This is a big one, believe it or not. Unless you're using a formal speaking/writing style, conjunctions are a must. Writers tend to spell everything out and forget the apostrophes.
• Repetitive words. We replace words used too many times in a sentence or paragraph so your writing stays fresh.
• Improving your writing. We like to educate our writers as we work with them. You'll emerge on the other side of one of our edits with new knowledge and new tools in your writer's box. Plus, the next time you use our services, it'll be less expensive because you won't be making the same mistakes.

When we're done with the second edit, we shoot the manuscript off to another member of IBGW for proofreading. That member will look over the manuscript with an eagle eye and let us know if we missed a period, comma, or misspelled a word.

It takes a team to create a book. Luckily, a team is what we are. Your one-stop-shop for all your editing needs.

Who do you use for your editing? Why not try us out? Fill out our form today and get started on the second step to becoming published. Love your manuscript enough to use the very best!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Time to Welcome Tia Bach

Hello, good people of the page! I'm excited for you all to help me welcome our fourth editor, Ms. Tia Silverthorne Bach, author of Depression Cookies, book reviewer, and long-time editor.

Without further ado, here's her bio:

Hi, my name is Tia Silverthorne Bach. Since I was a little girl, I either had a book or a pen in my hand. Guess the same is still true. Raised by a poet and an engineer, I found an equal love for words and structure. In college, I majored in Business but worked as a technical writer and newsletter editor for IBM. Throughout my career, I wrote and edited company newsletters and marketing materials.

Then, I had my first child and decided to write during the few hours she slept. I convinced my mom to co-author a coming-of-age story with alternating view points, teenage daughter and middle-aged mother. Our award-winning novel, Depression Cookies, debuted years later. All the while, I continued to edit and publish Moms Club newsletters and other materials. My second book, and first young adult piece, will be out by summer 2013 (thanks to the editing talents of the lovely Jo Michaels).

Between books, I started offering my editing services to friends with novels in the works. Thanks to word of mouth, I built my reputation and business. Last year, I edited two books that were indie published: Trinidad Express by James E. Keen, a nonfiction sailing book, and Gifts from a Muse by Lane Schroeder, a poetry collection. In addition, I recently finished editing a collection of short stories, a young adult paranormal novel, and a literary fiction novel. The latter two should be published within the year. An avid reader with varied tastes, I pride myself on finding diamonds in the rough. Few things bring me more joy than helping an author polish his/her piece.

Independent authors are rocking the book world, and I’d love the opportunity to help you take your manuscript from draft to published book. Go Indie!


Here's what Tia's clients are saying:

“Having a book that I'm proud of has given me much pleasure since its publication last summer. It was a great comfort to have Gifts from a Muse in Tia' s professional hands as she worked with me in transforming my manuscript to one that was ready for the publisher. Her calm demeanor and sound suggestions were truly a blessing. I have missed our phone consultations and will definitely request her help in any future publication.” ~ Lane Farmer Schroeder, author of Gifts from a Muse

“Through Tia Bach's work on my book, Borrowed Things, I learned the priceless contributions a good editor can give to an author. She provided formatting and polish that I, as a novice in the world of writing, knew nothing about. She did this with respect for my creativity and sensitivity, and made the book better than it would have been without her skill and objectivity.” ~ Doris Schneider, author of Borrowed Things (process of being published)



Welcome to the team, Tia!

I hope you'll all join me in welcoming Tia. Leave her some comment love.

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Ideas for proofreading your own work before sending it to an editor

Over the last few years, I’ve chatted with other authors and followed them on twitter and their blogs to learn more about the craft.

There are so many ideas on how to self-edit and proofread, so I’m going to share a few with you that have worked well for me. Keep in mind, it’s not a perfect process, and there are still a few minor errors, but around 80 – 90% of mistakes can be caught by using these methods.

These are in the order I usually do them, but you can do them out of order and it would still work.

·         I write my stories in Scrivener, so I first scroll through the entire document and look for anything underlined in red, blue or green. Make the necessary corrections.

·         I switch the document over to Word, and do the same. Sometimes Scrivener and Word disagree on how to spell certain words or on what’s okay and what’s not in terms of grammar. If that happens, then I’ll refer to my two favorite resources: The Elements of Style by William Strunk and The Chicago Manual of Style, 16^th ed. If they don’t have the answers then I turn to online reputable resources like Grammar Girl, for instance. Make the necessary corrections.

·         Let it sit for a week or more if possible. At least 3 days minimum. I can usually get away with this because I have Dory’s memory (sorry, I have kids, so you may find occasional Disney references in my blog posts ;D).

·         Put it into an e-pub and read it out loud on my phone to myself with my laptop in front of me and the story up on Scrivener. I make changes as I read along. If I’m out and about and reading it, I avoid reading it aloud, but I do note changes, highlight and bookmark what I need to fix and then the adjustments are made once I’m home. I think this is the most critical step because I need to see my story the way my readers’ are most likely going to view it. They’ll probably read it on their phones as well. It’s amazing how many mistakes I catch this way, and how I’ll find clunky phrasing or poor dialogue. The flow can be improved because when I’m reading it objectively this way, I’m thinking about how a new reader might take the story and how it might sound to them. I also find weak spots that maybe need more, so new sentences and paragraphs will develop, along with previously wordy ones, limited or eliminated altogether.

·         Let it sit again if possible. A week is good here, too. Even better would be two weeks to a month if I have the time to do this.

·         Reread it again on my phone and make the last few changes required and if possible, this is when I try to keep myself from constructing a whole slew of new sentences or paragraphs, since those might possibly have more mistakes.

Now it should be ready to send to an editor.

I know this might sound extreme, but it’ll save your editor or proofreader from finding minor mistakes you can get rid of on your own, which hopefully means a faster turn-around time for you to get your product back.

Hope this helps. Looking forward to sharing more tips in the future!

Crystal

Our Numbers are Growing

Hello, good people of the page! I'm proud to introduce you to the newest IBGW editor, Estrella Merrill (who prefers to be called Star)! Please take a moment and drop in a comment to welcome Star to the IBGW team. We're excited to have her and her edits are some of the best I've seen. You'll be very satisfied if you choose her to work with you on your manuscript!

My name is Estrella Merrill, but I go by Star. An Arizona resident, I was transplanted from New Jersey. I attended ASU, and graduated with a BS in Nursing. I worked at Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert AZ, as a Clinical Nurse Manager, overseeing  65 beds on two floors and about 45 nurses and nurses aides. Needless to say, the stress got to me, and I'm now doing what I enjoy: writing, and editing works for other writers. I currently have penned 45 stories, all fanfiction, but hope to turn one into the real deal, as it is very personal to me.

I was introduced to fanfiction by my youngest daughter and decided to write some stories myself. It's become an obsession. Along with my own writing, I've had other authors who requested my help with editing. I like to encourage writers, not tear them down. I point out the good features of the story and fold in my opinions on how to make it better; grammatically, and character-wise. I have an eye for dialogue, and can help greatly in that department.

I enjoy most genres especially humor and romance. Mystery is not my cuppa, nor is erotica. Anything else is fair game. Bring it on.

There you have it! Keep your eyes on the blog because I'll be running some awesome contests over the next few weeks!

Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

New Editors on Staff

Hello, good people of the page!

This week, I'll be adding a couple of new editors to the staff here at IBGW. I hope you'll pop on by to help me give them a very warm welcome! I can't wait to introduce you.

We have only the best editors here at INDIE Books Gone Wild and we strive to keep it that way. When you see our logo on a page, that means we've vetted that person and you can hire them with a clean mind and the guarantee you'll get a great edit on your manuscript.

Look for the IBGW logo whenever you consider hiring someone to edit your book.

This logo means quality.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Bogged Down by Social Media

Hello, good people of the page!

As an impromptu surprise, I've created a rather helpful post over on my Jo Michaels blog to help you manage your social media and book advertising.

Since this is a site where we help Indie authors in every way possible, I found it relevant to share here.

Without further ado:

Social Networking Schedule

I hope you all enjoy it! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Dark Premonitions Second Sight Book Three

I'm pretty excited about what I have for you today. Some great screenshots of the book I formatted for Ms. Heather Topham Wood. She won the formatting in a giveaway I did on my author blog not too long ago. With her permission, I'm showing you the front matter of her book and a chapter opener.

You can buy the Kindle version of Dark Premonitions over on Amazon (as of today!) for just $3.49. Cover design isn't mine, but it sure is pretty. Check it out! When the print version goes live, I'll be linking it from the sidebars here on the site.

Now, that's something to write home to mama about! If you're interested in this service, you can find prices on our Print Book Formatting page. If you're ready to contact us, fill out our Contact Form.

Wouldn't you love a book that looks like this?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Welcome our New Editor!

Please help me welcome our new editor to the team: Crystal Lee. She's edited all my books and I can't say enough about how wonderful she is! Never one to mince words, she lets me know when I've repeated something too often, mixed up my words, or made my sentences too difficult to follow (she also rocks at chasing commas).

Visit the About Us page and read more!

Before long, you'll be enjoying posts from her, too!

Also, I may have a new client this week. After the contract is signed, I'll be back to tell you about the amazing author I'll be working with! She's written a Young Adult Paranormal novel and from what I've seen so far, it's rockin'!

I can't wait to share more news about it!

Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo