How to Shine With Amazon KDP: Publish Your Book, Episode 9

Home > Blog > Create a Book, Tips For Writers > How to Shine With Amazon KDP: Publish Your Book, Episode 9

Nerves. You need steady nerves when you publish a book. 

My book, Youthful Aging Secrets: Live Better For Longer is now published on Amazon, but my nerves are still jangling. There are a lot of moving parts to get right, once you’ve completed your final draft.

During my journey from idea to published book, I realized what I most enjoy writing is narrative nonfiction. This means joining good research with compelling, character-driven storytelling.

Let me give you a quick example from my book, Youthful Aging Secrets. It’s the story of Cliff Young.

The 61-year-old farmer showed up in overalls and work boots.

Instead of lycra, he was wearing long pants with holes cut for ventilation. A hush fell when Cliff went to the registration desk and picked up a race number.

“You gonna race?” one of the competitors called out.

“Yep,” Cliff said.

“In your boots?” the guy continued. People in the crowd chuckled.

Then, a reporter asked him if he thought he could win. “Yep. I’ll give it a go,” Cliff said. He was willing to try anything!

Cliff Young had lined up for one of the world’s most grueling endurance races, the Sydney to Melbourne ultra-marathon which stretches over 875 kilometers.

When the starter gun sounded, the field of fit, young guys breezed past him. The crowd laughed out loud when they saw that Cliff couldn’t run properly. He seemed to shuffle along at a snail’s pace.

In this race, competitors would usually complete the course over five days, running about eighteen hours a day and sleeping for the remaining six. But nobody told Cliff about this. 

When his competitors woke up after the first night, they asked how the “old looney” was doing. “Oh, he’s doing good,” one of the organizers said. “He ran all night and is two hours ahead of you guys.” As you can imagine, this wiped the smile off their faces.

Cliff kept on running with minimal stops, lengthening the lead each day. During the first few days, he fell and injured his shoulder. But Cliff soldiered on.

Cliff’s performance-enhancing diet consisted of Weet-Bix, cold tinned spaghetti, boiled potatoes, egg flips, and pumpkin.

Halfway through the race, the weather turned bad and it started to bucket down. Someone tried to hand Cliff a water-proof jacket, but his shoulder was causing him so much pain that he couldn’t lift his arm to put it on.

Finally, Coleman, the race director, caught up with Cliff and suggested he should have a pain-killing injection in his shoulder. ‘‘He told me where I could stick my needle in no uncertain terms,’’ Coleman recalled. ‘‘Then he just plodded on.’’

How did this race end? Well, to find out, you might have to download a copy of Youthful Aging Secrets...

DO YOU WANT TO RESET YOUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK?

Grab a copy of the Kindle version of my new book, Youthful Aging Secrets (FREE until  July 19th.)  You can read the e-book on any device with the free Kindle app!
CLICK HERE TO GET THE BOOK

Youthful aging 30

The Long Pathway From Concept to Published Book

It’s taken me a little over five months from having the initial idea to seeing my book, Youthful Aging Secrets on Amazon.  

And I’ve written about every step here on WTD to make things easy for you.

First there was the agile development of the book idea. Next, I had to battle the dreaded mid-way slump and find a way to keep myself motivated. 

I had to overcome self-doubt and confusion. And, once the first draft was ready,  I had to master editing. Next, I had to come up with a bestselling book title and write an ‘imperfect’ author bio.

When it came to deciding on the book cover design, I got so confused, I asked some WTD readers for help. And this wonderful group of readers—whom I call the YA Posse—also gave me excellent feedback as beta-readers.

When faced with the last phase of publishing and marketing, I knew I couldn’t find my way through on my own. I bought Chandler Bolts excellent guide, Book Launch.  In chapter 24, Chandler offers a Kindle Book Launch Blueprint which I followed religiously. 

Chandler Bolt suggested publishing my book as an ebook for Kindle,  and as a paperback. This is easy to do with Amazon KDP. The feedback I got from the YA Posse gave me the idea of creating a companion workbook as well. 

What Matters Now

The most important thing now is to get as many downloads of the Kindle version as possible so that the book climbs up the Amazon ranks. For the first four days, the Kindle edition is free. 

Click here to grab Youthful Aging Secrets.

Another crucial factor is getting 5-star reviews on Amazon. I’m praying that readers think my book deserves a top review and take the trouble to write one.

What about YOU?

If you are thinking of writing a book, please don’t delay. Start now! 

It’s a wonderful journey, and the satisfaction when you see your book in print is immense. In fact, I'm just about to start writing the second book in the Youthful Aging Secrets series!

Please download Youthful Aging SecretsYou'll be inspired, and will also help this book on its way. I'll happily do the same for you, when your book is ready!

RECENT POSTS

How To Launch A Writing Career: 10 Tips For Success

Many creatives want to launch a writing career, but taking the steps to do so is a frequent roadblock. The good news is, if you want to launch a writing career and are committed to doing so, you’re likely to succeed.  Of course, the definition of success is...

6 Book Introduction Examples: Helpful Secrets To Compelling Intros

The topic of book introduction examples is vital to dive into due to their influence on readers’ mindset. How a reader feels when he or she starts chapter one and page one of your manuscript impacts how they respond to your writing. When you’ve spent weeks, months, or...

5 Tips To Write Faster: Finish Your Book In Record Time

Did you know that if you want to write faster than the average typist (40 words per minute) there are actionable steps you can take to do so? Whether you are working on typing out your debut novel or have been in the game for years, there’s always an opportunity to...

Vision Boards For Writers: 3 Ways To Achieve Your Dreams

Vision boards are more than just a fun activity to engage in at the start of a new year or season. While vision boards are often designed to be aesthetically pleasing and can be a relaxing activity, they actually can be more helpful to your writing dreams than you...

JOIN OVER 2 MILLION READERS

WANT YOUR NEXT BOOK TO BE A BESTSELLER?

Then you need KDP Rocket – the killer advantage of pro authors.

Related Posts

How To Launch A Writing Career: 10 Tips For Success

How To Launch A Writing Career: 10 Tips For Success

Many creatives want to launch a writing career, but taking the steps to do so is a frequent roadblock. The good news is, if you want to launch a writing career and are committed to doing so, you’re likely to succeed.  Of course, the definition of success is...

About The Author

Mary Jaksch

Mary Jaksch is best known for her exceptional training for writers at WritetoDone.com and for her cutting-edge book, Youthful Aging Secrets. In her “spare” time, Mary is also the brains behind GoodlifeZEN.com, a Zen Master, a mother, and a 5th Degree Black Belt.

Latest Posts

How to Find Freelance Writing Work (2024 Guide)

How to Find Freelance Writing Work (2024 Guide)

Freelance writing is a great way to earn some extra money on the side. But as you may discover once you get a foothold in the industry, it’s more than possible to turn it into a full-time job and lifelong career. There are some hurdles that you have to overcome,...

31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing

31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing

You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. - Jack London No matter how much you love writing, there will always be days when you need inspiration from one muse or another. In fact, I would argue that inspiration is not just a desirable...