| AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
Richard Ridley, BookSurge Publishing Consultant and Successful Self-Published Author, Wins the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Award
 Working as a publishing consultant for BookSurge, Richard Ridley practices what he preaches. He speaks to authors from his own experience as a self-published author with BookSurge.
Writing for more than 20 years, Richard admits to having more ups than downs in his writing career. Like many other writers, he tried to take the traditional publishing route, but found himself at the mercy of a system that told him his work wasn't ‘good enough’ to get published.
Determined not to let rejection stop him from sharing his talent as a storyteller, he explored other options. When he found BookSurge, the company connection to Amazon made him consider self-publishing and a new career. Having been involved in the publishing industry as a writer, the role as publishing consultant suited him perfectly. After guiding other authors through BookSurge’s process, he chose to self-publish his first work, The Takers, Book One of the Oz Chronicles, through his employer.
To support his writing efforts, Ridley has pursued a wide variety of marketing techniques to expose readers to his books, to different degrees of success. Most notably, he submitted The Takers, as well as its sequel, Délon City, for several book awards,. In 2006, Richard received the Independent Publisher “IPPY” Award in the Horror Category and, more recently, first place in the Writer’s Digest 15th Annual International Self-Published Book Award in the middle reader category. When considering for which awards to apply, he recommends going to resources that you know, trust, and use, as sending each judge a copy of your book can get quite expensive. After that? “Just forget about it,” he says. “It’s just a waiting game after that point.”
While he waits, Richard uses an assortment of internet resources to build his audience and promote The Oz Chronicles series. He hosts a self-designed book trailer on his website that adds a dynamic element to his storytelling and is now listed on YouTube with over one thousand viewings thus far. He is also a frequent contributor to several weblogs, including his own blog, and plans for a Podio reading of his book chapters in the near future. As he works on the third title in his series, Richard emails frequently with fans to give them updates and create buzz for Oz Griffin’s next adventure, which he says “breaks every literary rule you’re supposed to follow.” If the positive critical reception of his first two titles is any indication of his success, his third book is sure to keep his readers at the edge of their seats.
Read up on other successful BookSurge authors.
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