Biographical Historical Fiction: Why should I read it?

Biographical Historical Fiction - Why should I read it?

If you're looking for a genre that combines history with a fascinating story, look no further than biographical historical fiction!

This genre offers readers a chance to immerse themselves in another time period and learn about real people who lived through incredible events.

Here are just a few of the many reasons to love biographical historical fiction:

-You'll gain a new perspective on history

-You'll be inspired by the stories of real people

-You'll learn about different cultures and time periods

-You'll be transported to another time and place

So if you're looking for a genre that's both educational and entertaining, make sure to check out biographical historical fiction!

Check out 'Joan: put on a happy face' by Carol M Mottershead out in paperback now

Joan: Put on a Happy face: Amazon.co.uk: Mottershead, Carol M: 9798683476625: Books

Chapter 7 The Making of JOAN - So you think it's all over?

So you think it's all over?

So you think it's all over? My Journey Into Authorship has been a fascinating journey so far, I've found it really enjoyable. I never liked history at school, so suddenly finding it interesting was a major surprise! I had thought my work was done, my journey was over, but it was in fact, just the beginning... The next stage was marketing, or the business side of being an author. Marketing Like a lot of people I thought writing my story, turning it into a book, was all it would take - people would buy it -right? No! Friends and family could support me in my efforts. They'd read and write reviews wouldn't they? I'd only have to ask - or so I thought. Unfortunately, family and friends can only support so far. Then comes the time when everyone you know has been exhausted, you need new blood, it's time to reach out to a bigger market. 'Joan - Put on a happy face' is available on over seventeen Amazon sites worldwide alone! Some are under control of Amazon USA and others... I've yet to find out, even now, two years later. My next step was to sign into their kindle select. Amazon sell thousands of kindle device every year. Many of whom have subscriptions to the kindle library of which Amazon has the largest eBook library 'in the world!' WOW! Millions of books worldwide and my book is one of them... it's exciting! I thought I've made it! Unfortunately, being on a shelf doesn't mean anyone will pick it out of millions on offer to read it. I had to think of other ways... Next I decided to try to get my book into local libraries. There was a hitch. I had to join what Kindle Direct Publishing called their 'expanded distribution'. It doesn't cost me anything up front to join their expanded distribution but if any sales come through those points of contact I lose an extra 20% of my royalties but hey, it's worth it if they're doing the work for me and spreading the word - right?

Libraries and shops outside of Amazon shop won't stock books by indie authors. They feel that they're helping the competition. However, Carol does not like to be beaten, there had to be a way round it, and there was. Expanded distribution costs an additional 20% of royalties so instead of 60% and print costs, I get 40% and print costs, which applies to all sales created through ED, not sales on Amazon. KDP sent the details of my book onto their customers shopping lists, the customer, like any other, then had to choose to buy or sell my book; I'm still waiting for that magical day to happen, but I keep hoping, I keep the faith lol! Always looking for ways to get my book read I decided to try local libraries. I thought get copies to the British Library and it would make my book available to all local libraries in the UK! YAYY! No! There are six book depositories in the UK: British, Irish, Welsh, Scottish plus Cambridge and Oxford Libraries, they were all sent and accepted copies of 'Joan-put on a happy face', I thought I'd cracked it, only to find out that the book could only be read on their premises and was never let out to lending libraries! Marketing was becoming frustrating now. I was spending more time marketing than I was writing and I felt like I was batting my head against a brick wall! I sat through a webinar with some local librarians to find out what the craic was. I heard that they don't have the budgets any more to buy new books especially books from unknown indie authors that might sit on shelves unread, so I asked the obvious 'can I donate my book to libraries to be used around the UK?' I thought there'd be only one head office and that would be it - No! Why would they make it that easy? Aarrghh! I was told I would have to write to each individual central library, they'd review the book if I sent them a copy, then decide if they should purchase them for the rest of the library. I wrote to quite a few central libraries, luckily this time most of them do have emails, but not all of them answered.

Persistence reaps its own rewards My book is now held in Thornaby and Middlesbrough Library and Brent Library, others are awaiting orders to be filled. My book is also available as an eBook, Paperback or Hardcover on #Amazon or at Blackwells Waterstones or any good online bookstore.

For budding authors I would just like to say

'Don't give up on your dream!'

Happy reading!

Part 6 The Making of JOAN - The book is writ - now what's to do?

I had written my story, a story I had never in my wildest dreams even think of writing. I'd been driven to put these words on paper night after night like some possessed but now what was I going to do with it?

Send personal manuscripts to any friend or family members who would agree to read it? Did that. Some criticisms were helpful, so were not, but after four times of doing this process of writing and re-writing I was finally happy with the final version. Checked for story content, grammar and finally editing my book was ready to send out to literary agents.

KDP Publishing was not my first choice for publishing my book. I'd already decided that vanity publishing for me was a definite non-starter 'if I can't get someone to believe in my story enough to invest time and money into it, then I wasn't going to pay someone to feed my ego, I didn't want to just be writing for no one to read but myself, friends and family, my book has a story to tell, a message to the world and I want it to be read by many.'

'I want to do it properly' I thought. Find myself a literary agent who would do all the hard work for me;  finding a suitable traditional publisher who was as enthusiastic about my story as I was, someone who could see the potential that I saw in it, and could take on the role of marketing, and yes... pay me for the honour! I am now able to appreciate just how hard marketing a book can be in today's market, with so many people writing books the competition is overwhelming!  How do readers choose a new book to read? What are they looking for? What are their search criteria? I was at a loss! 

After emailing several literary agents, sending them a synopsis of  my story, an elevator pitch aimed to enthuse someone about your book in a few short minutes and the first three chapters then waiting weeks and weeks for a reply only, in the nicest possible way, to be rejected, I finally gave in. 

A fellow author Comedian Lester Crabtree told me about him writing a book during lockdown about the Real Life of a Comedian 'Born To Die' he called it; he introduced me to KDP Publishing, the modern method of publishing your book widely used today.  I was sceptical, but I was prepared to look into what they had to offer... Professionally published book available as an eBook, Audio Book and Paperback all to your own specifications, but under advisement of themselves and best of all NO UPFRONT COSTS TO THE AUTHOR KDP only get paid when a book is sold! 

 'Joan - Put On A Happy Face' by Carol M Mottershead 

was published Sept 2020 with the help of KDP / Amazon. 

I really was unsure about publishing independently. I'd heard some negative stories about doing it yourself, that they were a waste of time, royalties were poor, which at 70% on eBook and 60% less print costs on paperback I don't think that's a bad deal myself! No upfront costs was a definite bonus too! Traditional publishers don't ask upfront costs, if anything they pay you to publish your book and recoup their money from future sales - they take the risks! Vanity publishing was one way I was 'definitely not' going to use - so KDP Publishing it was...

Personally I've found the KDP publishing to be a great help, and they will support you throughout the process of publishing without charging I might add! 

Like many people, I was scared of the technology in case I pressed the wrong buttons! But KDP were supportive... and very quick to reply to my enquiries. Marketing options are available... free promo's or  countdown deals and of course click to view, which personally I don't like the idea but have yet to try it... maybe! 

I'd recommend KDP Publishing to anyone who has written a book and not found a traditional publisher, but not vanity publishing... only my personal choice though. :-)

Having said all that, I do recommend that you check and recheck your writing, or have edited by a professional if grammar, spelling and punctuation aren't your forte lol! To produce a published book that has loads of errors gives independently published books a bad name of being sloppy or of poor quality which will prevent potential buyers from taking a chance on purchasing books of other independent authors, which isn't fair on the rest of us who HAVE bothered to check our work!

I am now a published author! 

And there is no better feeling than the day you see your first book in print! 

It's marvellous!

You can take a 'look inside' courtesy of Amazon or have a read of my author page... 

Whichever you decide - HAPPY READING

And remember what Joan says 'Put on a Happy Face' - KEEP SMILING :-) 

ISBN-13 : 979-8683476625

Joan: Put on a Happy face eBook: Mottershead, Carol M: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store