Guest Author Christine Nolfi

Today we are honored to have the wonderful and talented author Christine Nolfi as a guest blogger.   

Christine’s debut novel, Treasure Me http://tinyurl.com/7ttq5lt enjoys a 97% approval rating on GoodReads and many 4- and 5-star reviews on Amazon, including a 5-star rating from Amazon Top Reviewer Betty Dravis. Her next release, The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge, will be available in March.

When you decided to Indie Publish, what was your first step in the process?

I didn’t start out as your typical Indie novelist. I spent several years working with literary agents. Both Random House and NAL expressed interest in my novels. When an offer never materialized, my critique partners urged me to go Indie to build my own readership.

Going in, I knew my debut must stand head and shoulders above many of the independently published books flooding the market. Treasure Me was heavily edited and flawlessly proofed. The plot was fast-paced and amusing. The eBook went live in late April 2011 and I immediately began querying book blogs for review. Those great reviews posted on Amazon, GoodReads and FaceBook drove sales.

Are your books available in print? If so, how did you select a printer for the hard copies?

The paperback of Treasure Me didn’t hit the shelves until November 2011 for the simple reason that I was busy selling my house in Ohio and moving to new digs in South Carolina. Now that I’ve settled in, the process is more organized. I’ll release the paperback version of Tree of Everlasting Knowledge a week after the eBook goes live. All of my upcoming novels will probably appear in tandem—eBook and paperback—to ensure a wider readership and allow for submission to national and international contests.

Who builds my paperbacks? I use Amazon’s CreateSpace, based here in my new hometown of Charleston. Of course, there are several quality publishers to choose from—CreateSpace doesn’t have a lock on the market.

What has worked best to boost sales?

Every time a book blog prints a positive review or invites me to write a post there’s a surge in sales. Not that I’m focused on short-term results. I write contemporary fiction bordering on literary and strive, with every book released, to expand a loyal readership. As any financially secure novelist will tell you, it’s all about building a backlist. I’ll release my third novel, Second Chance Grill, in April.

How has social networking and blogging affected your sales?

Social networking is an important driver of sales. I believe firmly in Good Author Karma and try to give back every day. Other authors will help you succeed if you do the same for them on Twitter, GoodReads, Facebook, Google+ and your blog.

One caveat: As your readership and following grow, social media can get out of hand. Limit your exposure. Know that you can’t respond to every post that mentions you. Always respond to your readers, of course, but fiercely guard your writing hours. You must continue to produce or readers will forget you.

What advice can you lend new Indie Authors?

Don’t publish a novel that’s thin on plot, littered with clichés and poorly edited. If you’re serious about a publishing career, you should be familiar with the superb Stein on Writing by Sol Stein and the equally information Breakout Novelist by Donald Maass. Strunk & White’s Elements of Style and Elements of Grammar should sit on your bookshelf. And if you’ve been writing in a cave, consider joining a critique group. You need the company and feedback of other serious writers to help you achieve your dreams.