Confessions of a self-published author..

Check out Jeff’s post over on his blog about walking through a bookstore.

“Really?!” I think. “This book gets shelf space and featured and even published.. while mine doesn’t even make it into the store? I KNOW mine is more helpful, valuable and better written…” And the perplexing thoughts continue. And then I walk by (on the way to the bathroom) the three ENTIRE SHELVES of manga.

Happy book birthday!

The book turned one on December 18, 2013! One year of being in publication. I’ve learned so much about the publishing process and being an author over the past year. I am grateful for all of your help and support.

Self-publishing a book has a lot of rewards, but it’s also a lot of work. I couldn’t have done it without each retweet, recommendation, referral and review. Please keep them coming!

I’m excited about 2014 as I begin work on a new project. I’ll keep you updated! Make sure to follow me on Twitter both at @supercentsavior (book account) and @journeyguy (personal account).

Happy New Year!

Book signing in Roanoke

book-signing3

I hope you’ll help me spread the word about the next book signing. It’s in Roanoke at Lifeway Christian Store. (click for map) I’ll be there from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

The book will be celebrating its first birthday on December 18, and it makes a great Christmas gift.

Book drop

It’s honestly a little surreal to know a New York Times best-selling author, much less be friends with one. Kiera Cass is the author of The Selection, The Elite and not-yet-released The One. She and her husband Callaway are leaders in our church, and recently Kiera produced a video for Staff Appreciation month that helped promote my book Super Center Savior. Our church’s Staff Support team (on which Kiera serves) identified that as a way to demonstrate their encouragement to me. It was a huge encouragement.

Their idea was to sponsor a book drop in which they left copies of Super Center Savior all over town in unusual places with a little note in the book that explained it was a gift and that it was hoped that whoever picked it up would enjoy it.

Thanks to our Staff Support Team and Kiera for starring in, producing, filming and editing Book Drop.

GoodReads Giveaway

From midnight Thursday, September 26 to midnight Monday, September 30, enter to win one of 10 copies of Super Center Savior. Reviews and feedback are encouraged.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Super Center Savior by Jeff  Noble

Super Center Savior

by Jeff Noble

Giveaway ends September 30, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Author interview by Michael Kelley

I’m grateful to author, speaker and Lifeway leader Michael Kelley for opting an interview with me on his blog, Forward Progress.

Below is my response to his question, “Explain the title of the book. Why do you call Jesus a super center Savior?”

Great question. First of all, the message of the book is that life is “super when centered on the Savior.” The title of the book is intended to communicate two things:
1. Our society is consumed with consumerism. It’s best evident in the presence of retail super centers that dot the landscape. We love our stores big, with lots of options, full of shiny new things. We want to be able to buy our underwear and our lettuce in the same place. We’re addicted to convenience.
2. Our society needs a Savior. We cannot meet our needs by buying our way out. The book is a comparative analogy of the church and Walmart that is both thought-provoking and playful. Its audience is Christians and church leaders who have allowed ministry to become mundane and have lost the joy of living in-between Sundays for the glory of God.

Stop by his blog and read the whole interview and help spread the word about Super Center Savior.

Michael has a new book coming out in September called Boring: Finding an Ordinary God in an Extraordinary Life. Can’t wait to read it!

Fanatical support

In the chapter entitled Customer Service:

We forget that we were once customers in need of “service.” We’ve become the entitled employees, worried about our benefits and paychecks. We need to remember God’s fanatical support that brought us to Himself and serve others with the hope He offered us. Let’s show the world what real love looks like. It’s self-sacrificing. It’s tangible. It goes the distance… just like Jesus did.

First review on the new site BookLikes

A new book sharing and blogging site called BookLikes is live. It offers some promising new features that folks may want to check out. If you don’t like the fact that Amazon is snapping up sites like Shelfari and GoodReads, BookLikes may be a great place for you.

Many thanks to “so many books, so little time” for writing a nice, brief review on Booklikes. Here’s an excerpt:

The sad fact is, as Jeff pointed out, that our communitites would be impacted more by the closing of Wal-Mart than by the closing of a church.  The book was witty and easy to relate to.

Share, spread, RT – why it works

I get teased occasionally by how my Facebook page and Twitter account regularly are used for “pimping” the book. I always feel funny about it, honestly.

My intent is not to “preach to the choir.” I know (or hope) that most of my friends, family and church members have bought a book. What self-published authors (or any creative who has produced without the help of an agent) needs is HELP. When I post on Facebook or tweet, the strategy is not just to reach a random person from my own account. The hope is that YOU will repost, share or retweet (RT) from your account. That’s how the word spreads.

Take for example Facebook’s new administrative reporting. They recently changed their coding so that you could see how a post is viewed: either as “Organic” or “Viral.” Here are their definitions for each:

  • Organic reach: The number of unique people who saw this post in News Feed, ticker or on your Page.
  • Viral reach: The number of unique people who saw this post from a story published by a friend. These stories can include liking, commenting or sharing your post, answering a question or responding to an event. (Source)

Here’s proof:

viral-vs-organic

 

In one post above on the left (dated April 24), I explicitly asked people to share the link. Several people copied the link and made their own post. Two other people shared the link by clicking the “Share.” (See the “2”?) The post on the right (dated March 28) was simply a request to review the book on online websites, so it wasn’t shared or reposted by anyone. Notice the Viral reach of the one post compared to the other.

What does that mean?

It means that when YOU repost, share, retweet, it HELPS. It gets my content beyond my small circle of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter into your small circle. All those circles of influence add up.

It’s a simple and powerful way to help promote for an author, musician or other creative. So the next time you read a post or tweet, take a few extra seconds, and lend your digital influence.

For more reading about Facebook’s Viral vs Organic methodology, check out this entry from Savvy Blogging.