Sixteen years ago, I wrote and published my first book. It was a children's book called Just Batty. I was so proud to hold that book in my hands. The illustrations were dreadful, and it had some spelling and grammar errors, but I was selling it.

I was also learning my craft. I found a new illustrator, Jackie Gill, who is terrific and would continue to be my illustrator for several more books. I republished minus the errors. But things had begun to change. Technology was changing, and children...

It's a common complaint I hear from authors all the time. "my book is not selling but it's a great book."

I have to ask what are you doing to help sell your book? Are you just sitting there and hoping someone will stumble upon your listing on Amazon and find your book interesting enough to purchase? That is not how it works. I've said this a million times.

After you publish the hard work begins. I don't care if you are traditionally published or and Independent author you still have to put in...

Most every day I get an email or message on my Facebook page that begins with "how are you doing today?" or "I saw you book today" and the person wants to know what my inspiration was or for me to tell them about me book. I bit into it at first. I was over joyed that someone was interested enough and wanted to know more about me and my books. Along the way I learned that it was all a scam to get me to buy into what ever they were selling.

I'm a poor struggling author with hardly a penny to my...