Could there be a harder way to go about self-publishing?

OK, so this book self-publishing plan is taking a little longer than I expected. If ever there was a hard way to go about self publishing - I think I picked them all!

Not to worry - I have got it now and it actually appears fairly easy to go about this self-publishing business. I will prove this fact by having my book online and ready for sale in a matter of weeks. The traditional hard copy version will follow.

What is the big secret? This may surprise you, but I carried the thoughts that this process would be difficult. A universal law is: you get what you think about. Your mind wants to prove you right, so I was finding it a difficult process. As soon as I changed my limiting belief to an empowering belief that self publishing was really an easy process - it became easy! All the things I needed fell into place. Told you earlier I was learning a lot!

I have lots of work ahead as I am looking at the things I need to do to market it too - but now it looks easy! Want to see my list to do? Here it is ............

- finish the back cover
- finish the cartooning
- create offers to be placed in the back of the book
- put the book into a PDF file
- pick the internet order system to carry my eBook
- get my ISBN (don't ask - I really complicated this one)
- research publishers
- make contacts for joint venture partnerships for book promotion
- create another eBook that I can give away free through my joint venture partnerships
- get my business cards and bookmarks printed (my daughter has designed them)
- create my link logo and write up description for website sharing
- decide which affiliate program I will use to help market my book
- write out my marketing calendar
- write articles to submit to online magazines
- write my press releases
- plan a monthly online newsletter that people can subscribe to

You see, now it is just a step by step process. How easy is that?

US politics effect foreigners in Mexico

The debate is hot right now as the US considers a crackdown on illegal immigrants within their country. Where are these illegal immigrants coming from? Mexico.

They call it: the border war. Will walls between the US and Mexico really be built? Will illegal immigrants be allowed to stay to do what US officials consider the menial labor jobs? Who has seen the movie, "A Day Without Mexicans?" What a mess.

Does this have an effect on a foreigner living in Mexico? Well, let's just say I am glad our working pemits called FM3's are not up for renewal. Immigration tends to take a fairly retaliatory stance when they feel their citizens are being treated unfairly by another country. My family and I are Canadian, but often all foreigners will get penalized. As often happens anger can get carried away.

Now understand, foreigners who are here in Mexico legally really have nothing to worry about; but that does not stop Mexican officials from sometimes adding a few more hoops for you to jump through if you do need to deal with immigration during a time like this.

I don't have a solution to this challenge. I can see both sides and understand both sides. I do not envy the jobs of the politicians.

Now if Mexico could only show all its citizens the wealth they have right in their own country maybe we would not have this problem.

PS. My book on living in Mexico is almost ready to go up online. I'll keep you posted.

I like to move it, move it!

Whenever I feel like stopping my efforts, I just think of the cute song from the movie Madagascar - I like to move it, move it! It reminds me in a fun way to keep moving to make the things I want to happen, happen. I think I'll play the song again and see which direction I am inspired to move and what happens.

P.S. All the revisions I wanted to make are in to my website designer. Now all I need is a finished book!

Websites with free information are a gold mine!

This is the best ride ever! Which means life feels incredible to me and I don't even have a book fully published yet!

In the quest to self-publish my book I am learning so much - I am so happy I chose to make myself a student. The more I learn, the more excited I get and that excitement gives me the fuel to continue my efforts - because believe it or not, it is sometimes a challenge to get the things you know you need to do - done.

Since I set my goal to self-publish my book, I have subscribed to free e-mail newsletters and called into free teleconferences. With the information received, I feel more empowered then ever. I have even purchased a few online books to help guide my marketing and publishing efforts.

I have learned there is great value in buying the things you need to support your efforts. I also now know the importance of hiring people who have the expertise to do things more professionally, and more quickly than I can.

The following are a few excellent websites that have provided me with the inspiration, newsletters, conference calls, books and information I have found invaluable. Usually when you subscribe to a free e-course or free newsletter they will inform you of free conference calls too.

www.parapublishing.com Dan Poynter's site - He wrote the Self Publishing Manual.
www.mrfire.com Joe Vitale's site - Wow marketing and writing! I now have 2 of his ebooks and on occassion he does excellent free conference calls.
www.dankennedy.com excellent marketing as well with free e-courses, newsletters, and free conference calls.
http://www.everythingyoushouldknow.com/ Arielle Ford's site - with a free newsletter and conference calls and information.

I also have received great information from Steve Harrison and Dan Janal.

On a general life improvemant level; there is Debbie Ford, Anisa Aven and Stacey Mayo's site www.balancedliving.com - she is known as the Dream Queen.

Life is an incredible journey and I am really excited about it, and just wait until my book comes out!

P.S. My book cover is ready and you can see it soon on my almost completed website!

Patience is a virtue?

My Webster dictionary defines a virtue as - general moral excellence. Well maybe having good morals is enough and I don't need to pressure myself to strive for excellence?

I talk about patience, as I seem to need to continually work on it in my life. I must be striving to work on patience very hard, as even more of it is needed living in Mexico. I also am finding a need for it now, as I work on getting my book self- published.

I started just over a month ago to put all the pieces together to get my book, that is on my adventures of living in Mexico, self- published.

The update? Well, the website is about finished and waiting for the book and its cover. The book has been edited and is currently being layed out as an e-book. The cover just needs a few minor changes before I can put it on the site and use it for my business cards. The cartooning for inside the book is in process ( I should have gotten someone on that sooner). My internet marketing school has been going well and I have several good marketing pieces ( I think) already created. Once the book is on my website, I then need to get it in paperback form. Once I am done all this, I will be virtually an expert on book self publishing! Yes, right.

However, I find I am growing anxious and excited. I am not totally ready marketing wise for the book to be done; but I really want it all finished now! Did I say now?!?

What I need to concentrate on is: I am on my way to having it finished and I work on it every day. Every day I do; not just one thing, but several things toward my goal. It will soon be ready for sale.

Yep, patience is a virtue.

P.S. That e-book is still coming soon!