Story Catcher Publishing Expansion: What Is Author “Vetting”?

Opening up for submissions this Fall will be like opening the flood gates. We expect to get a number of different publishing queries because we will offer ways to help writers of picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, young adult books, and specialty books a way to become published authors when they may not have been able to step into the publishing world before.

Maybe it was outside their budget to self-publish properly.

Maybe it was too overwhelming to maneuver their way through all the channels to produce a quality product.

Maybe they are looking for a support team to help them achieve their goal of having a publishing career.

Whatever the reason, writers will be submitting to Story Catcher Publishing looking for a chance to work with someone knowledgeable in the field of publishing to help them share their story with the world.

But we will be looking for someone too.

“Vetting” is when someone investigates someone they potentially want to connect with. Agents, editors, publishers, etc. usually look at a number of factors before deciding to reach out to a writer. Here are some of the places SCP will check for activity…

Google…We will do a Google search of the writer’s name to see what pops up. Do a Google search of either my author name or Story Catcher Publishing, and you will find a long list of articles, images, and ways to find out more about us. Authors we want to work with may not have as many search links as we do, but it will give us a starting point.

Website…It’s one of the best ways to learn more about a writer. If they have a website, and especially a blog, it helps give a better sense of their personality and writing style.

Social Media…We will check if they have a presence in groups like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, etc. If they do, we’ll look at their posts, engagement level, number of followers, etc. to give us an idea of what level of assistance they might need from us for their project. If they don’t, that also tells us how much help they might need in the future.

Other Connections…If a query letter identifies some previous connection between the writer and SCP, we might reach out to those connections to learn more about those writers. We plan on working very hard to assist our authors with their future publishing careers, so the more we know, the better we can help them!

Vetting is a standard industry practice which helps both writers and agents, editors, or publishers better determine the best way to move forward.

Everyone at Story Catcher Publishing is excitedly counting down the days to when we open for submissions, so make sure to come back next week for another update on our expansion…

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Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Want to connect?

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/Story Catcher Publishing

Goodreads: Donna L Martin

Mail: Donna L Martin

c/o Story Catcher Publishing

P O Box 27788

Knoxville, Tn 37927

Story Catcher Publishing Expansion: Author Platform

When Story Catcher Publishing opens for submissions in the Fall in 2023, the writers we will be working with will come to us from one of two groups. One group of writers will have worked on their author platforms before submissions and will be able to show us the strength of their social media networking. The other group of writers will still be learning their way around social media and might need our help once it’s decided to work with them on their project. If you are in that second group or even just don’t know some of those sites out there to promote yourself and your work, here is a brief overview of the major social media platforms to consider:

  1. Author Websites

WordPress.comOver 400 MILLION people use or visit a WordPress website every month. Probably one of the most used website hosting companies, WordPress has a free version that gives authors the ability to set up their own website as well as being able to run their blogs from the same account. There is also an easy way to create a online bookstore on the WordPress site so an author can display their books with purchase links included. You can find a beginner course on learning how to use WordPress by clicking on this linkhttp://www.udemy.com/course/wordpress-for-beginners-course/?utm_sou0rce=bing&utm_medium=udemyads&utm_campaign=BG-Wordpress_la.EN_cc.BE&utm_content=deal4584&utm_term=._ag_1222657107173806.ad_.kw_wordpress+introduction.de_c.dm_.pl_.ti_kwd-76416199681009%3Aloc-4125.li_83573.pd_._&matchtype=e&msclkid=8fce019e9598150d269362656603c11c

Wix.com…Over 180 MILLION people use or visit a Wix website each month. The free version offers website, blogging, and ecommerce support but does have some limitations. Here is a review of the pros/cons of using Wix…http://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/wix-review/

Squarespace.com…Over 4.2 MILLION people use or visit a Squarespace website every month. I don’t know much about this provider but apparently there are enough people using this website host every month to possibly consider using it. Here is a review of the pros/cons of using Squarespace…http://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/squarespace-review/

It may not be as important as to which website provider works best for YOU as long as you work on creating a website so potential readers of your books will be able to find you. YOU have to create a way to promote your author identity to the world.

2. Blogger.com…The website hosts listed above are just a few of the options to host your blog. Blogger.com is the original way to create and maintain a blog. It is used by only 1% of internet users, but still offers a strong basic program for a beginner writer. Here is a review of the pros/cons of using Blogger…http://cybernews.com/best-website-builders/blogger-review/

3. Facebook.com…Over 2.9 BILLION people use or visit a Facebook page every month. While there is some negativity (political, religious, social, etc) on Facebook, there are many, many Facebook groups supporting writers and their books. Here is more information about why you might want to consider creating a Facebook account…http://www.lifewire.com/why-facebook-3486520

4. Twitter.com…Over 396 MILLION people use or visit Twitter every month. I’m slowly building my following on this social site. Twitter readers are different than some of the other sites because they look for frequent, short bursts of information throughout their day. Here is more information about why you might want to consider creating a Twitter account…http://blog.hootsuite.com/twitter-statistics/

5. Instagram.com...Over 500 MILLION people use or visit Instagram every month. I don’t have a huge following on this social site but what writers need to realize is that you don’t have to have thousands of followers on EVERY social site, to have a strong following over ALL sites. Here is more information about why you might want to consider creating an Instagram account…http://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-2021/

6. Pinterest.com…Over 478 MIILLION people use or visit Pinterest every month. I use my Pinterest account to collect possible story ideas, create collections of things that interest me, and connect with my followers on a different level. Here is more information about why you might want to consider creating a Pinterest account…http://www.omnicoreagency.com/pinterest-statistics/

7. Linkedin.com…Over 900 MILLION people use or visit Linkedin every month. This social site, for me, is more about networking and possible job connections. I share my brand and connect with writer groups. Here is more information about why you might want to consider creating a Linkedin account…http://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-statistics-business/

9. YouTube.com…Over 2.5 BILLION people use or watch YouTube videos every month. I am just starting to use this social site and have a couple of book trailers on YouTube, but I have much to learn about how can grow my brand. Here is more information about why you might want to consider creating a YouTube account…http://www.omnicoreagency.com/youtube-statistics/

10. TikTok.com…Over 732 MILLION people use or watch TikTok videos every month. I don’t really use TikTok for Story Catcher Publishing but even then, I managed to pick up some followers who enjoy the videos I share that other creators make. There are opportunities for writers on this social site and ways to grow. Here is more information about why you might want to consider creating a TikTok account…http://www.omnicoreagency.com/tiktok-statistics/

What should newbie writers focus on?

Many new writers get overwhelmed by the fact there are so many social media sites to choose from. You have to know what you want from your author platform. Whatever you choose, CONSISTENCY needs to happen.

Consistently post.

Consistently engage with your audience.

Share bits of your personality and make yourself REAL to people. Then they will become invested in you and your books. Story Catcher Publishing will be checking out our author submissions this Fall and will vet any authors we are interested in possibly working with. If they have a presence on social media, we’ll look at how they consistently engage with their followers. And if they don’t have a presence, then we’ll know how we might be able to help them in the future!

Make sure to come back next week for another update on our expansion…

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Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Want to connect?

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/Story Catcher Publishing

Goodreads: Donna L Martin

Mail: Donna L Martin

c/o Story Catcher Publishing

P O Box 27788

Knoxville, Tn 37927

Story Catcher Publishing Expansion: Manuscript Wishlist

Now that you’ve gotten to meet me and my design team, I thought it might be a good idea to give you a better idea of the types of stories we will be looking for once we open for manuscript submissions this Fall. In each genre we are accepting, there are distinctive plots that grab our attention. Here are examples of the types of stories we’d love to see come across our desks…

PICTURE BOOKS

Books that make us cry.

Books that make us laugh

Books to challenge our imagination.

Books like we’ve never seen before!

CHAPTER BOOKS

Books with mysteries to solve.

Books with strong female characters.

Books that are strangely funny

Books that fire up our imagination.

Books challenging historical events.

Books that blaze a new trail!

YOUNG ADULT

Books to quench our thirst.

Books to fuel our fantasies.

Books yet to be discovered!

There you have just a few examples of the types of books Story Catcher Publishing will be looking for once we open our doors to submissions beginning in the Fall of 2023. It’s time to start polishing up those manuscripts and making sure your stories are ready to take us on a grand adventure!

Check back next week for more exciting news about our upcoming expansion!

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Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Want to connect?

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/Story Catcher Publishing

Goodreads: Donna L Martin

Mail: Donna L Martin

c/o Story Catcher Publishing

P O Box 27788

Knoxville, Tn 37927

Story Catcher Publishing Expansion: Picture Book Submissions

Last week I shared with you how Story Catcher Publishing will be opening up to chapter book and novel submissions beginning in the Fall of this year. Indie authors will have a FABULOUS opportunity to find the support they need to build their future writing careers. If you missed last week’s post, click on the link…http://storycatcherpublishing.com/2023/01/11/story-catcher-publishing-expansion-chapter-book-novel-submissions/

I have dreamed for years of giving back to the KidLit community for all the love and support everyone has shown me. Beginning this Fall, each picture book selected for publishing under the SCP umbrella will reap the following benefits, depending on whether you are a writer in need of an illustrator, or you are a writer/illustrator yourself.

If you’re a writer/illustrator:

  1. A publishing package for picture books will cost only $550 TOTAL! This covers proofreading, ISBN, cover design, formatting, and production set up for both ebook and paperback titles. This will initially be offered to the first 50 titles accepted by Story Catcher Publishing so we can make sure this pricing covers basic industry costs before rolling it out to the general public. After prior cost analysis, it appears this pricing should be viable, but this model needs to be tested in real world applications.
  2. Ebook distribution will be through Amazon KDP. Paperback will be through IngramSpark to ensure availability to 80,000+ online retailers including B&N, Books A Million, Walmart and others.
  3. Payments (via Paypal) will be divided into three installments of $150 due with signed contract, $250 due with completion of cover design, and balance of $150 due with completion of paperback production files. (The industry average for these services ranges anywhere from $1,350 to $6,100 or more depending on who you hire to help you.)
  4. SCP authors will retain 100% royalties to their paperback titles.
  5. SCP authors will also receive FREE access to support covering websites, author platforms, marketing, sales sheets, blogging, author events, etc.
  6. SCP authors will receive FREE promotion through our website, blog, online store, and any SCP events including festivals, contests and giveaways.
  7. If a SCP author should sign with a major literary agency, or a medium to large traditional publishing house where the agent or publisher is interested in re-releasing their existing SCP title, we will amend OUR existing contract and remove the paperback title from our inventory upon proof of a signed contract.

If you’re a writer in need of an illustrator:

  1. A publishing package for picture books will cost only $1100 TOTAL! This covers proofreading, ISBN, cover design, 15 hand-drawn & fully colorized illustrations, formatting, and production set up for both ebook and paperback titles. This will initially be offered to the first 50 titles accepted by Story Catcher Publishing so we can make sure this pricing covers basic industry costs before rolling it out to the general public. After prior cost analysis, it appears this pricing should be viable, but this model needs to be tested in real world applications.
  2. Ebook distribution will be through Amazon KDP. Paperback will be through IngramSpark to ensure availability to 80,000+ online retailers including B&N, Books A Million, Walmart and others.
  3. Payments (via Paypal) will be divided into three installments of $300 due with signed contract, $500 due with completion of cover design & 15 initial b/w illustration sketches, and balance of $300 due with completion of paperback production files. (The industry average for these services ranges anywhere from $5300 to $20,100 or more depending on who you hire to help you.)
  4. SCP authors will retain 100% royalties to their paperback titles.
  5. SCP authors will also receive FREE access to support covering websites, author platforms, marketing, sales sheets, blogging, author events, etc.
  6. SCP authors will receive FREE promotion through our website, blog, online store, and any SCP events including festivals, contests and giveaways.
  7. If a SCP author should sign with a major literary agency, or a medium to large traditional publishing house where the agent or publisher is interested in re-releasing their existing SCP title, we will amend OUR existing contract and remove the paperback title from our inventory upon proof of a signed contract.

It has always been my hope and dream to support other indie writers on THEIR journey to publication. To me, that means not standing in the way of their future, wherever it may take them.

Well, there you have it. The basics of what Story Catcher Publishing will offer picture book writers and writer/illustrators starting this Fall. I will share more updates next week.

I hope you are as excited about the future of Story Catcher Publishing as I am. Any questions, just drop them in the comments below or send me a private message. I want this to be as transparent as possible.

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Fox is set to cook a nice meal until the main ingredient tries to escape! The chase is on as Fox and his friends scurry, hop, and lumber their way to catching those rumbly, tumbly taters. Friendship and teamwork go hand in hand during THE GREAT POTATO RACE!

Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Want to connect?

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/Story Catcher Publishing

Goodreads: Donna L Martin

Mail: Donna L Martin

c/o Story Catcher Publishing

P O Box 27788

Knoxville, Tn 37927

STORY CATCHER PUBLISHING IS GROWING!

Ever since I opened Story Catcher Publishing back in January of 2018, my vision for this company was to offer a trustable way for indie authors to build their writing careers and author platforms to support THEIR vision for their stories.

It hasn’t been easy.

There’s been a lot to learn.

And I’ve made mistakes.

But I’ve never been afraid of hard work and my mother instilled in me a level of determination and stick-to-it-ness that allowed me to go from releasing my first book, LUNADAR: Homeward Bound (my young adult fantasy novel), in 2018…all the way to my latest picture book release, THE GREAT POTATO RACE, in 2022.

It’s been four years of learning, growing, and refining the processes needed to share my stories with a hard-earned audience.

A total of nine books written, edited, illustrated, formatted, cover designed, and sent out into the world so far, with many more lined up for this year and beyond. Shelf space earned in bookstores across the country. Honored that some of those books won multiple awards along the way. Finding my team of cover designers, formatters, and illustrators so that Story Catcher Publishing is fully supported to move into 2023. A lot of growth has happened these past four years, but now I feel ready to realize the BIG DREAM I have thought about every day since 2018…

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Beginning in the fall of 2023 Story Catcher Publishing will be expanding! Over the next few months, I will be finalizing everything in order to be able to offer indie authors a way to earn nearly 100% profit on every one of their books while having the support of an established small press behind them. Submissions will open in the Fall, but in the meantime, I will document the process in this blog so there will be transparency in what Story Catcher Publishing will be offering.

No gimmicks.

No hidden fees

No confusion.

People who know me KNOW of my dream to give back to the Kidlit community that has done so much for me in the past. And people who DON’T know me can ask questions. I’m an open book…;-)

I’m just so excited because THIS will be a new path to publication for Kidlit writers everywhere! And many of the things Story Catcher Publishing will offer probably has never been done before. Why? Because it will be done with future indie authors in mind…NOT for profit for my company…and NOT for “fame” for myself. Purely to help other writers.

Sound intriguing?

I hope I’ve captured your interest. I hope you will check back next Wednesday for the next installment in this journey to the expansion of Story Catcher Publishing.

Are you excited too? I hope so. And I have one question for you…

What is ONE wish you, as an indie writer, would love to see from Story Catcher Publishing that would support YOUR publishing journey?

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Fox is set to cook a nice meal until the main ingredient tries to escape! The chase is on as Fox and his friends scurry, hop, and lumber their way to catching those rumbly, tumbly taters. Friendship and teamwork go hand in hand during THE GREAT POTATO RACE!

Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Want to connect?

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/Story Catcher Publishing

Goodreads: Donna L Martin

Mail: Donna L Martin

c/o Story Catcher Publishing

P O Box 27788

Knoxville, Tn 37927