Susan Smith Thompson

I’ve “met” Alyice on different lists that we belong to and I’ve spent lots of time wandering through her website, The Dabbling Mum. She’s on a virtual blog tour promoting her latest e-book. You can find other blogs that’s she’s visited on her website.

Once you’ve come up with an idea, do a search online for your topic. When you do an Internet search you’ll be able to see how much free information there is, how easily (or not) it is to get information on your subject, and what’s missing.

Then visit online bookstores to see what books have already been written on your subject. Once you have several titles written down, visit the local bookstore or library and browse those books. Often, by simply browsing books written by other authors, you’ll discover a pattern. You’ll be able to determine what’s been covered to death and what’s missing. The “what’s missing” part is what you want to capitalize on.

2.  What separates your e-book from all the other e-books on writing e-books?

I tend to take a step-by-step approach to writing. I take you through the “why should I write an e-book instead of finding a print publisher” scenarios, I discuss what hasn’t and what does work for me, and I lay it all out on the line. I’ve been selling e-books successfully since 1999, and I wrote my book from a hands-on approach. I don’t want to just sell another e-book, I want to help others do the same. While I provide the information necessary for writing an e-book that sells, I cannot promise you’ll sell a ton of e-books because I’m cannot guarantee you’ll do the necessary marketing needed to increase sales.

3.  What kinds of questions are people asking during the follow up mentoring period?

The first thing I hear from those who take the mentoring sessions is, “you’ve covered everything in the book, but I am concerned about my topic of choice.” When I ask what concerns them, it usually has to do with outlining the book. They’ve done the research, they’ve given me an overview of what they’ve learned, and then they want me to help them come up with a brief outline for the book. I usually tell them start with this, then in a chronological manner include this, this, and that. They then take my suggestions and create a more in-depth outline and begin writing their books.

Sometimes, I’ll get someone who wants help coming up with ideas to put on a new website, that will help sell his/her book.

4. What’s the one thing you’d like people to know about writing and publishing e-books?

I actually have a few pointers I’d like to share:

1. You cannot write a e-book in one month and expect it to be of high enough quality. Most e-books written in the time span of one month are written poorly, don’t have enough meat to sustain the reader, and quickly fizzle out.
2. If you want your e-book to sell for many months, and quite possibly years, you need to take the time to write a good book.
3. Be unique.
4. Don’t steal someone else’s work, rearrange a few words and call it your own.
5. Don’t write about a topic that readers can easily find online for free.
6. Don’t write about a topic you know nothing about unless you are willing to take a hands-on approach to discover the real secrets and then share those secrets in your book.

You can visit Alyice Edrich at The Dabbling Mum to order a copy of her e-book, Tid-Bits For Making Money With E-books, today!