September 15, 2012 - Welcome to another issue of "Independent Publishing Now" celebrating YOU, our members! 

Summer may be winding down, but there is still much to celebrate. Today, for example is International Dot Day! And, according to Shelf Awareness, more than 15,000 International Dot Day celebrations will take place around the world, encouraging students to make their unique mark on the world through creativity.

How will you make your unique mark on the world this month? September is Shameless Promotion Month, after all AND Subliminal Communications Month (send Lisa your photos!). Oh, and how could I forget, it's also Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month. Have I told you lately that we love you?

If you've discovered a helpful site, found a better way of doing something or have a tip that will save other members time or money, please pass it along and we'll share it on your behalf.

And, as always, if you have a question, remember to give us a call, anytime.  If we don't have the answer, we'll find it for you!

About 150 people turned out for the launches in Camden, N.J., for Turtle Light Press' new poetry title, Nick Virgilio: A Life in Haiku, and approx. 75 at Rutgers University and another 75 at Sacred Heart Church. Turtle Light Press was also featured recently in the mass circulation magazine, Inside Jersey, featuring the new Virgilio book.

Peach Twig Press author Bobbi Kornblit let us know that her title,  Shelter From the Texas Heat has won BEST BOOK in the category of Women's Fiction for the 2012 NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards. The book is also a Recommended Selection for September by a national group, Kathy L. Patrick's Pulpwood Queens Book Club, with over 500 chapters across the country.

Aquila Polonica's newest book, The Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery, by Captain Witold Pilecki (1901-1948), received a glowing review in the New York Times Sunday Book Review on June 24, 2012 (calling it "a historical document of the greatest importance"), and was named a New York Times "Editors' Choice" the following week. The Auschwitz Volunteer is a Featured Selection of the History Book Club, and a Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Military Book Club. The book carries an Introduction by historian and author Norman Davies, and a Foreword from the Chief Rabbi of Poland. This is the first time that Polish Army officer Pilecki's comprehensive report about his nearly three-year secret undercover mission as a prisoner at Auschwitz is being published in English. Pilecki's remarkable mission was intentionally suppressed by the postwar communist regime in Poland for nearly fifty years, and is virtually unknown in the West. The amazing book trailer is on YouTube at: http://bit.ly/AuschwitzVolunteerBookTrailer. It really is amazing!

The year is half over and Constance Dunn, author of Practical Glamour, has already contributed articles and advice to guerrillareads.com, TypeF.com with Tyra Banks, Rebel Magazine, Family Circle, She Knows Parenting, Woman's World Magazine and Prof.net. If that weren't enough, she's spoken at Temple University School of Communications, The new Redondo Beach Public Library and has been a frequent guest on Fox 29 WFLX TV in FL. Her TV appearances included a post-Oscar best and worst rundown of this year's Oscar's with a tutorial on how to increase your ease in formal attire.

Peace in the Heart and Home, written by individual and couples therapist Charlette Mikulka, received ForeWord Reviews' Gold Book of the Year Award this summer in the category of Family and Relationships. The title has also won a Silver IPPY Medal for Parenting and a Bronze Medal for Personal Growth in the Living Now "Books for Better Living" Awards. The book has received endorsements by authorities in the fields the book addresses: stress, neuroscience, mental health, healing trauma, mind-body medicine, intimate relationships, family life and contemplative wisdom.

Grafton and Scratch Publishers' title, Twas The Night Before Christmas, by Pamela McColl was a winner at Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards last month in Santa Barbara, CA. The title was also awarded Best Christian Children's Picture Book and was a Finalist for Top Five Best Children's Picture Book. Her version of the book, Pam says, was edited for the 21st century - Santa doesn't smoke a pipe in this one!

Northwest Ventures Press announced that author Jim Misko broke his previous record for signings at four Costco's and two Barnes & Noble bookstores launching his new novel The Cut of Pride. By diligent preparation and the use of extensive email lists, Jim was able to bring past buyers of his books into all locations, both in the desert where he winters, and in Alaska to start the summer season off with a bang.

   

News You Can Use...

10 Ways to Build a Large, Quality Following On Twitter

5 Instagram Tactics to Increase Social Media Engagement

How can self-published authors get their books into the public library?

The Best (and Worst) Times to Post to Social Media Sites

Industry Notes...

 
Infographic: Referral Traffic from Each Social Media Channel

Google Pushes Pirate Sites Down in the Search Rankings

Has Kindle Killed the Book Cover? How Designers Respond. 

Let us know what great things have happened for you (awards, TV appearances, radio, special mentions, etc.)

Send in those pictures of signings, events and other happenings to Lisa@ibpa-online.org. We're looking forward to hearing from you!