COACHING SERVICES FOR AUTHORS
Get personalized assistance to craft your book and release it worldwide!
Yes, I will actually talk to you on a Zoom call.
What is Very Indie Press?
Very Indie Press was established for the sole purpose of helping authors write exceptional books, self-publish them— AND KEEP 100% of their royalties!
When you're ready to publish your book, you have options.
You can:
-
Pitch agents, and hopefully find one within 6 months. Then hope the agent finds a publisher—which can take more months to sometimes years, and then give your book rights away to the publisher—who may take a year or longer to get your book released. You’ll get 15% of the book’s royalties after you pay them back for the $5-$10K advance they give you up front.
-
You can submit to a hybrid publisher and spend anywhere from $5 – $15K to get your book out there. They’ll do everything for you and take only 50% of your net royalties. You’ll have the final say on all changes, but limited ability to make updates. Your book can take up to a year or longer to be released.
OR…
You can SELF-PUBLISH!
Self-publishing sounds complicated, but it’s actually pretty simple if you have a map…
and a coach.
Here’s what you’ll need:
-
an editor
-
a cover designer
-
your formatted manuscript (I can do that for you)
-
an ISBN
-
accounts set up with distributors and—YOUR BANK ACCOUNT to collect royalties by direct deposit
You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to transform your manuscript into a book!
And since you’ll have created your own accounts with every distributor you choose to use, ALL royalties will be deposited directly into your account.
No publisher’s fees, no dividing royalties, and no double-dipping by distributors.
AND you will have direct eyes on your sales.
What is the typical timeline for publication?
Timelines vary depending on where you are in your project, but once you have all the elements for your manuscript in place, you can usually release your book within a few days!
The Process:
01
Initial Free Consultation
We discuss your vision, target audience, and the specific needs of your independent project.
02
Content Development
Refining your manuscript: Are you ready to publish? What else do you need?
03
Design & Formatting
Creating a sophisticated layout and professional typography that elevates your literary work.
04
Setting up for Distribution
Step-by-step guide to upload your book in print and digital formats so anyone, anywhere can find your book and buy it.
05
Launch & Marketing
Tips on writing blurbs and how to use your book's backmatter—the free real estate inside every release.
Want to Publish On Your Own?
This guide contains everything you need to know to self-publish, and where to find it. From editors to ISBNs. Also including:
-
What to look for when choosing a cover or a designer
-
Tips on writing your blurb and choosing categories
-
Extra elements you’ll want to place in the back of your title
-
How to format your manuscript for upload to any or all distributors
-
How royalties are calculated
-
And much more
Feeling frazzled by fiction writing?
Without needing another college degree, painlessly discover how to:
-
Create depth in your novel through the proper use of elements
-
Craft believable characters and generate authentic dialogue
-
Properly pace your story to keep readers turning the pages
-
“Write to market” and still tell your story
Plus, show you how to avoid common mistakes authors make.
Endorsements
“What a pleasure it is to have full control over the publishing process! Once I had my cover and my edited manuscript in hand, Debra showed me–in very clear, easy terms–how to get my novel onto multiple platforms in a matter of days. Best of all, there’s no middleman taking their cut of my hard-earned royalties.
“I subsequently used Debra’s guidance to reissue my debut novel without a publisher. Now in its second edition.
“Win-win-win!”
—Ellen Gelerman
Author of The Librarian's Son, The Hand of Miriam, The Book of Hannah, and Hannah and Her Daughters
“I had the pleasure of working with Deb to turn my paperback book, Hoopspeak, into an Ebook. Deb is an excellent resource armed with her knowledge of self-publishing and formatting software. As a new author, I had no idea how to convert my paperback into an Ebook. Deb told me what to do to prep the document and then she transformed it. Together, we made a few adjustments, and within a couple of hours, I had an Ebook ready for distribution. Deb is passionate about helping authors and has the knowledge of the self-publishing process to back it up.
“I chose to self-publish because I wanted to keep 40-60% of my book sales as royalties vs 10% with traditional publishing. It is worth it to use Deb’s services so you can make more money on your book. When I write my next book, I will not hesitate to go to Deb for guidance!”
—Julia A Weaver, MS. ED
Author of Hoopspeak: The Xs and Os of Leading Through The Language of Basketball
“I’m incredibly fortunate to have been referred to Dr. Debra Blaine. I relied on her editing, coaching, and self-publishing expertise to help me publish my first book across various platforms. As a first-time author, she made the entire process easy to navigate, and I learned so much from her along the way. Dr. Blaine was always available whenever I needed assistance, and I truly appreciate her support.
"I was deeply impressed by her vast knowledge and capabilities—there was nothing she didn’t know. I suppose that’s what happens when you’ve written nine books, as Dr. Blaine has. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her and highly recommend her for all of the services she offers.”
—Daphne Mobley, DVM
Author of The Pet Effect: Healing and Learning Life Lessons from the Pets We Love
“I am a first-time author. Suffice it to say my book was a “work in progress” when I engaged Debra.
“She put in a huge effort to make the book better including changing the sequence of chapters that dramatically improved the opening of the book. What made Debra’s work even more special was she not only acted as an editor, but also used the edits as teaching moments to not only improve this book, but my overall writing. For perspective, in addition to the over 8000 edits, there were over 700 comments – many of which helped me understand what I needed to look out for and improve on in the future.
“It was a pleasure working with Debra, and I highly recommend her.”
—Hugh Schwartz
Author of The Grand Entrance
“I’ve always wanted to write a book about my career, and Debra was instrumental in helping me achieve this! I could not have done it without her guidance, expertise, and encouragement. As two like-minded physicians, we instantly connected; this bond carried me through the writing and publishing process, including when I was exasperated and wanted to give up.
I highly recommend Debra as a writing and publishing coach.”
—Helen Rhodes, MD
Author of The Power to Pivot