Now released - The New Author

Ruby's first release of 2012 is The New Author, a non-fiction self help guide for writers, social media marketers and self-publishers. Many thanks to Jim Williams, author of ten internationally published novels including the Booker Prize nominated Scherzo, for reading my book and writing an engaging foreword.

The New Author is available in paperback and various ebook formats through a wide range of internet stores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords et al (see Ruby's Shop for full details).









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John Baptist practicing his walking on water technique.

As John's preferred MO is drowning he has to perfect his flotation technique. Don't try this at home.

The Baptist available in all ebook formats and paperback. 


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Peril in paperback

Ruby's degenerate crime fiction Peril is now available in paperback via Marble City Publishing.
My pride and joy measures 8", 5" or 0.9", depending how you look at it
http://www.amazon.com/Peril-Ruby-Barnes/dp/1908943033

Anyone who already has the ebook (17,000 copies out there) can get a discount voucher from me by sending an email to ruby[dot]barnes[at]marblecitypublishing[dot]com


If you've enjoyed reading Ruby's blog then please sign up to Ruby's News for freebies, advance review copies of upcoming novels and occasional updates. Thanks!

Ruby’s top ten tips for ebook publishing

1. You’re going to need a good book, one you believe in, one that has your author’s voice. That unique voice communicates your individual talent as a writer.
2. Test your book on honest people before you consider releasing it. Make it the absolute best you can. Don’t regret, be proud.
3. Ready to publish? Forget about it until you’ve considered the next two marketing steps of platform and brand. You can ignore them and still be successful. That will make you into a folklore hero whose name is on everybody’s lips, but they’re few and far between (and I’m not one of them).
4. You need a social networking platform. Ebook readers are internet users. That’s where you need to focus (and make sure you start that ball rolling before launching your ebook).
5. Brand is to an author what location is to real estate. Make your name your brand. Everything you do needs to enhance that brand. Exert caution at this point because, if you do it wrong, retracing your steps is difficult.
6. Now let’s publish. A cover, title and description that tells a potential reader what’s inside is worth reading. A digital manuscript that won’t cause that reader to trip over systemic errors in prose, grammar or format. If you baulk at any of this then pay someone who can do the uncomfortable parts for you (it can be less expensive than you might think). And keep backups and version control for everything that you write.
7. Aim to build a readership that will provide reviews, recommendations and support. Don’t be precious about initial pricing.
8. Leverage your social networking platform to gradually increase exposure of your book. Use subliminal marketing and influence strategies when you enter into the mêlée of the marketplace.
9. Build your brand team. Remember at every step that each virtual friend, follower and reader is your team. Never alienate, even when in receipt of negativity. Radiate positivity and calm confidence. People don’t just read your ebook, they also digest your blog posts, forum comments, tweets, facebook updates, everything that you write on the internet. Those readers read, enjoy and recommend. Word of mouth sells ebooks. This is the key.
10. Are you writing the next book? Never stop writing creatively. Always have a project in the first draft or edit stages. Blogging, tweeting, chatting and whatever is new, all good but you are an author and you must write. Allocate time for making friends and marketing. Ring-fence time for creative writing. Do both, in parallel, with an element of self-discipline. A satisfied reader asks for more. The reader market is effectively infinite and so is their appetite for good books.

You’ll find useful and proven content in the 44,000 words of The New Author by Ruby Barnes to help you with all of these ten tips.

If you've enjoyed reading Ruby's blog then please sign up to Ruby's News for freebies, advance review copies of upcoming novels and occasional updates. Thanks!

It's Read an E-Book Week!

This year I've decided to participate in Read an Ebook Week.
If you head over to Smashwords between 4th and 10th of March, you can grab all kinds of ebooks in all different formsts at discount prices.
Ruby's $2.99 novels are 100% discounted for the week with coupon code RE100
To take advantage of this just click the following links:
Peril Smashwords page
The Baptist Smashwords page