10 Questions to… Christopher Hoare
We are starting a new project on the blog. The goal of ’10 Questions to…’ is to present promising authors who have chosen to self-publish their books. Our first guest is Christopher Hoare, the author of Visiting Pemberly
About Christopher Hoare
I live with my wife, Shirley, and two shelter dogs, Coco and Emmie, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. As a lad I lived, breathed, and dreamed aeroplanes; I won a place at RAE Farnborough learning to engineer them. But the reality didn’t fit my dream, so I took off into a stint in the army and then away to join the oil circus. Flying objects are tools when they now appear in my writing. I guess that’s the effect of maturity, but I hope, not a constricted, resigned, and unimaginative maturity. The mind still soars, even without wings, and the dream of carrying others to a better future is now on the page.
1. What attracted you to self-publishing?
In this instance I wanted to release a time sensitive novella—honouring the 200th anniversary of the publishing of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. I had no time to wait for decisions from any publisher and XinXii allowed me to have “Visiting Pemberly” running properly within a few days. I expect to use XinXii again to self publish a work that I have recovered the rights to, and feel sure their site will enable me to keep a close control on the new version.
2.What does it mean to you to be an indie-author?
All my prior publications have been with indies…by which I mean small independent publishers. Since over 99% of writers are effectively ‘on their own’ I feel a certain kinship with all of us paddling our own canoes.
3. What are the stumbling blocks on the road to success as an author?
There are many. Perhaps the earliest problem to strike can be called ‘hurry syndrome’ where a new writer is in such a hurry to place their words before readers that they do not have the control over their writing that professionals develop. They neglect to heed good advice about their work and do not take the trouble to have it edited. As a result they have crashed into the venture with something that will only retard their future prospects and give themselves a reputation as being amateurish and unreadable.
4. Have you tried other forms of publishing?
I have previously been published by two royalty paying e-book publishers and have just been contracted by an indie with a strong literary reputation. With care, one can gradually attain better representation as one writes, but it takes time. In my case, 7 years and 6 published novels.
5. How did you learn about XinXii?
A fellow member in a professional writing association sent me a link to see the novellas he had just published with XinXii.
6. What marketing tools do you use to promote your eBooks?
I have used most avenues, from blogs, to blog tours, twitter, to reviewing, and to convention going. Most have been too hard to evaluate, but the promotion I used with XinXii was evaluated promptly because visitor and sales numbers are available online within days.
7.Do you have some tips for fellow indie-authors?
Never publish without working to ensure your project is as excellent in quality as can be humanly achieved. Write diligently and daily until you have amassed a million words and then throw them away to start afresh from the level you have achieved.
8.You are on a lonely island with a solar charger. What eBooks would you have on your eReader?
Since a writer must work on craft above enjoying the reading experience I would probably have the works of fellow critique partners as most of the eBoooks to crit; since one must never neglect one’s own daily writing, there would be work in progress of my own; and then I would need other recent titles in the genre I am working in.
9. Which author would like to have dinner with?
I think it would be a toss up between Jane Austen, J.R.R Tolkien, and Isaac Asimov. But really, only one dinner date? One would want to engage the chosen one for a year.
10. What are your future projects?
I have one SF novel that has been with an indie publisher for a year—if they decide against it I will self publish. My current contract is for something I have not done before—I call it a Regency romance steampunk because I depict a Regency world where steam developments have advanced more than in the real world—and then I have plotted it around the conventions of the Regency marriage mart for a protagonist who must decide between three eligible bachelors.
Christopher Hoare’s Author Page on XinXii:
Christopher Hoare’s blog:
Christopher Hoare on Facebook:
Christopher Hoare on Twitter:
o2 with a separate eBook section “self-publishing/self-publishers”
As one of the first points of contact for self-publishers we work daily on establishing self-publishing in Europe. We are excited about every step in that direction and we are glad to receive support from the eBook shops we work with.
o2 has created a separate section called “self-publishing/self-
http://mobilefun.o2online.de/
Background information: Authors have the opportunity to upload their eBooks to XinXii and publish them on leading eBook shops. The advantages: your eBook is placed on the virtual shelves next to the eBooks written by bestselling authors, with only one registration on XinXii you cover all important eBook shops (which can be selected individually) and receive one financial statement for all shops you have chosen.
You can find more information about publishing with XinXii here: http://www.xinxii.com/gd_cms.php/en?page=publish_en
You can find more information about our partner shops here: http://www.xinxii.com/gd_cms.php?page=distribution_en
XinXii with a new distribution channel : o2 customers can now download self-published eBooks
Telefónica Germany operates a mobile phone network under the brand o2 – the company is the fourth largest mobile network operator in Germany in terms of subscribers. o2 customers have access to numerous download options suitable for mobile phones – music, games as well as eBooks.
o2 Apps and Entertainment online: http://www.o2online.de/more/mobile-services/apps-entertainment/
News from the XinXii distribution team
We would like to welcome Matthias as a new member of our distribution team. Matthias has studied Applied Literary Studies in Bochum and has been involved in the production of eBooks for several years. He is interested in all forms of cultural work, especially literature, photography and theater.
He would support us in dealing with the enormous number of eBooks which need to be converted and delivered. This issue would be resolved in the next weeks, so the submissions can be processed in 1-2 days as usual. At the moment we need more than 14 days to deliver the eBooks which is a very long period of time. We would like to apologize for the inconvenience! With Matthias on board we are on the right course. Thank you for your patience!
XinXii Enters the Russian Market
Berlin, 03.12.2012 –XinXii, a leading self-publishing and distribution platform of eBooks, continues its expansion and officially launches its Russian version today. Thus the company answers the needs of all Russian-speaking authors who have previously used the self-publishing platform in English. XinXii is the first platform of its kind on the Russian market.
„Russia is a very interesting market for self-publishing due to its culture and size“, says Dr. Andrea Schober, founder and CEO of XinXii. „The potential lies not just in the fact that we offer indie authors and self-publishers in Russia an unprecedented access to new opportunities and leading international eBook shops, but also an engine of exciting development. We are glad that we would be able to transfer the increasingly popular and successful model of self-publishing to Russia.”
With XinXii’s entry to the Russian market, we are systematically implementing our goal to promote self-publishing in Europe and support the distribution of quality indie literature. Thus XinXii further expands its position as the leading digital self-publishing and distribution platform in Europe.
The Russian version is available at http://www.xinxii.com/ru.
All in one with XinXii
XinXii was founded in 2008 with the aim to empower writers and provide them with the opportunity to publish their works of art instantly. At XinXii, we believe that artists should not be confined to limits. That’s why we created a fair platform for indie authors and publishers – authors are the ones who fix the price and decide on the format and layout of the eBook.
You can have it all! XinXii is the German pioneer in self-publishing. In addition to being Europe’s leading digital self-publishing and distribution-platform, XinXii distributes to international retailers. A single XinXii account gives indie authors full control over the distribution of their eBooks – you decide whether to sell your eBook on your own XinXii Author Page - or additionally on XinXii’s continuously growing number of distribution channels.
You can choose among Amazon Kindle Stores, Barnes & Noble’s online shop, Casa del Libro – the leading Spanish bookseller chain, Hugendubel – one of the leading companies in the German-speaking book market, the iBookstore, Kobo – a global eBook retailer, Weltbild – one of the largest Internet, book and media retail companies in Europe.
We are constantly expanding the list of distribution channels. Stay tuned.
Publishing with us is that easy:
1. Select your preferred distribution channels
At XinXii, you have the choice: In step 1 you click the “Publish” tab and decide, whether to still sell your publication on your XinXii author page, or to let us also distribute your eBook to major international eBook retailers – the ones you have chosen. With XinXii you have unparalleled market reach – for free.
2. Create an account and set up your author page
You now fill in the provided fields: category, title, summary, pages, keywords, your profile etc., enter the sales price and upload your eBook (in one or multiple formats).
3. Sell your book around the world
After having finished step 2, your eBook is available on your XinXii author page. If you have decided to distribute your eBook through us (see step 1), we will now go ahead and take care of the conversion and the shipment. You can modify your entries on XinXii and check your sales reports at any time.
iBookstore reaches Latin America: XinXii distributes to 18 additional countries
At the iPad Mini launch event, Apple officially announced the fantastic news: the iBookstore expands to Latin America and New Zealand.
This is not only exciting for the readers who live there but also for all self-publishers. We bring our eBooks to the shelves of 18 additional iBookstores: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela.
All indie authors, who would like to distribute their eBooks to the iBookstore through XinXii, would have their titles distributed to all iBookstores. All eBooks, which have already been distributed through us, would be added to the new 18 iBookstores.
Amazon goes to India: Great chance for English eBooks
For those who want to explore new markets, there is a great opportunity to do so – India. Amazon announced the launch of its Kindle store in India.
XinXii distributes eBooks to the India Kindle store
Authors who distribute their eBooks to Amazon through XinXii would automatically have their titles available on the India Kindle store. The price and the required data remain identical to the ones of Amazon.com.
With population of more than 1.2 billion people, India is the second biggest English speaking community in the world with more than 125 million English speaking people – a great potential for authors who publish their eBooks in English.
Attention: The key to the Indian market might be the price of the eBook. Authors who want to sell their books successfully should have an idea of the average book price in India which is considerably lower compared to our prices. With a price of 2-3 $ you have more chances to sell your eBooks than with one over 5$.
Generally, indie authors at the start of their careers should not concentrate so much on the price but put efforts to attract readers’ interest and use the global coverage in order to build an audience. When their eBooks are offered on leading international shops, the chance to reach new readers is greatly increased.
Good eBooks speak for themselves, use this new distribution channel, let your eBook travel around the world – and with some luck and targeted marketing campaigns you would find new readers in other countries!
Our tips
- Translate your eBook to English and use the chance to publish it on one of the biggest markets in the world and thus to reach new readers – in India.
- Identify Indian blogs about eBooks and offer a free download of a review copy through a coupon code.
Further information
The official press release of Amazon
More information about our distribution channels
Tips for suitable translators and links to Indian blogs are welcome!
XinXii is and remains a DRM-Free zone
You have bought an eBook and would like to read it on a device of your choice? Attention: not all eBooks could be used on all reading devices!
The trap is called “DRM”. Most of the publishers and providers tried to use this protection in order to prevent unauthorized distribution of the eBooks, thus causing anger among the readers – so they have been increasingly taking a stand against it. Among the opponents are the science fiction publishing house Tor Books, the fiction publishers Carl Hanser, Gmeiner and Bastei Lübbe and the non-fiction publisher O’Reilly. We have also decided to stand against DRM: XinXii is “ DRM-free” and supports the initiative of the same name of the Free Software Foundation.
DRM – or: Rights and Restrictions
„DRM“ (Digital Rights Management) is a method with which the use and distribution of digital media is controlled; mainly DRM is applied to movies, music and eBooks (more information about the technical background can be found here) – primarily through binding the data format with the reading device or requesting a registration or authentication process for validation of the book purchase’s legitimacy.
Certailnly, the DRM brings considerable restrictions for the buyer in the legal use of the eBook: Among the most significant disadvantages of the DRM protected eBooks are:
- Restriction: DRM protected eBooks could not be read on all reading devices per se, since not every reading device is compatible with the DRM protection set by the publisher or the provider.
- Incompatibility: DRM protected eBooks could not be transferred or added to other reading devices per se.
- Constraint in the usage could be distinctive, for example there is a copy prohibition (prohibition to make a backup copy, limitations of the number of copies, printout not possible).
It is not a secret: DRM can be “circumvented” – relatively easy by those people who in the first place create illegal distribution. And not least- with DRM protected eBooks you do not know whether you can transfer the eBook to your new device.
The campaign „DRM-Free“
The campaign „DRM-Free“ is an initiative of the Free Software Foundation, which commits to unrestricted and free access to digital content with the following note: „Individuals, companies and organizations have come with the realisation that DRM constitutes an unnecessary restriction”. The FSF has introduced a label on its website „Defective by Design“ which can serve those providers who have renounced copy protection and offer their users DRM-free content.
The label indicates that DRM-free content is offered. So far it was hard for the users to find out (before the purchase) the use restrictions that the eBook is subject to, since this information was not available in full scope or easily recognizable on the eBook shops.
All authors and readers, who would like to express their opinion against DRM, can support the initiative and receive here the source code of the official logo for their blog or website.
XinXii remains a DRM-Free zone – for more user-friendliness
We know from our own experience with various data formats and reading devices that DRM is a constant annoyance. We support the campaign because we would like to guarantee all XinXii users an easy access as well as unrestricted usage of their purchased eBooks, meaning that a legitimately acquired eBook could be read on any device without additional authentication.
Here you can find a list of providers and companies which participate in the campaign and you can download DRM free data with them.
Enjoy the DRM-free reading!
More information about the campaign:
Why the death of DRM would be good news for readers, writers and publishers?
What is your opinion on the topic?
Spain raises eBook value added tax (VAT) to 21%
No good news for the eBook market: A new tax rate for eBooks enters into force on the 1st of September 2012 in Spain; as a result of the economic crisis it would be raised from 18% to 21%.
The increase does not only affect eBooks, but also all goods that do not benefit from a reduced tax rate (in other words printed books maintain a VAT of 4%).
XinXii authors who distribute their eBooks on Casa del Libro (www.casadellibro.com) through us would not be affected by the changes, since 3% would be taken from us.
We hope that the increase of the VAT would not reduce the pleasure of reading digital texts in Spain!
