Five Free Resources for Self-Published Authors

As an independent author, you will have the sole responsibility of getting your work noticed by the public. You can hire a public relations agency to get the word out about your book, but this form of promotion can be costly. If you have the budget then you may want to take this route. Yet, most self-publishing authors have to rely on guerilla campaigning when it comes to marketing and promoting their work.

If you are starting out as an author, getting the consumer to buy your book may take time, because at this stage, you are unknown. However, there are ways in which you can get your name in the public's view. You can write articles, provide excerpts of your work, participate in virtual book tours or allow people to read your work for free. You may ask, "How do I make money if I give away my work without charging a fee?" The answer to that question is simple. You are not really giving away your work but unveiling yourself as a writer. Once your name and writings become a household name, readers are more likely to purchase and spread the word about you and your work.

Following are five free resources for self-published authors, which you might want to explore.

Obooko provides tools for new and established authors to publish their e-books. Your book must be PDF ready. If you are not able to convert your manuscript into a PDF, Obooko provides a list of sites, which will convert your document at no charge. If you allow print download and feedback, readers from around the world can read your book and provide constructive feedback, comments, advice and tips. There is also a star rating system. You may also submit a single short story to test the waters and be eligible for entry into their Obooko Prize Awards. All genres are accepted.

Positively Published Virtual Book Tours will help coordinate your virtual book tours with host sites. Authors can select which sites or blogs that they would like to tour and arrange interviews, chats, guest blogging, giveaways or contests. The site also has forums where authors and readers can come together, calendar of events, book reviews, and marketing tips.

One World Singles Magazine Blog will host your virtual book tour. Presently, they are looking to host authors, who write multicultural, interracial love stories and contemporary romance with a mystery, suspense, thriller, GLBT or an erotica theme, as well as how-to books on dating, romance and relationships.

Public Bookshelf publishes romance books in digital format only. You can only read their books online. Readers can leave comments and rate books. Authors can submit their manuscript and if accepted, they will receive an advance and a percentage of the advertising revenue from ads placed on their page. You can automatically submit your book as a single file in a Microsoft Word .doc. The site will format your book. If you do not have a book cover, they will select a cover design for your book. You can provide a link to the site that sells your book, upload your profile and bio and provide a link to your web page.

AuthorStand allows authors to make their e-books available to readers. Authors must offer at least one writing that readers can download for free. Thereafter, you may sell your work at a price set buy you. You can submit your book in its entirety, offer short stories, chapters, or excerpts in a PDF format only. Your book cover image may be a JPG or PNG file.