Tooting One's Own Horn!

G'Day, eh! How're you this fine day? You're looking well. Sidle over to the coffeepot and fill your mug. Then, multitask your way to the tray of virtual treats and wrestle one of those mega muffins onto your plate. Now...bring it all over here and sit yourself down as I tell you about a little spare time project of mine...writing for publication by Smashwords.

What the heck is Smashwords? I'm glad you asked!

If you are an aspiring writer, Smashwords is a non-traditional way to get your book published as an e-book for all the world to read. They will publish your work for free. Of course, they take a cut on any sale but then so would any other distributor, eh. They have a Standard Catalogue and a Premium Catalogue. Once your book is accepted into their Premium Catalogue, Smashwords automatically distributes it to major online retailers such as Apple (distribution to iBookstores in 32 countries), Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, WH Smith in the UK and FNAC (both powered by Kobo), the Diesel eBook Store,  eBooks Eros (operated by Diesel), Baker & Taylor (Blio and the Axis360 library service), Page Foundry (operates retail sites Inktera.com and Versent.com; operates Android ebook store apps for Cricket Wireless and Asus), and other distribution outlets coming soon. I just got the good news yesterday that two of my books have been accepted into the Premium Catalogue at Smashwords.

When I was in Toronto this year and the one before and riding the subway, I saw how many people have taken to using mobile e-readers. Then, a couple months ago, I came across Smashwords and have spent the past month or so formatting and reformatting  and re-reformatting my two books to Smashword's requirements.  Yesterday, I checked my dashboard, as I do everyday, expecting yet another request for re-re-reformatting but lo and behold, instead, both books have been accepted into their premium catalogue! So..Toot! Toot! Toot, eh!

 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages    by Robert Taylor
Price: $5.99 USD. 46840 words. Published on September 15, 2012. Nonfiction.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a guide to learning more than 24 ESL Methodologies and Teaching Techniques. It is ideal for new or aspiring teachers of English as a Second Language – particularly for those who want to teach overseas where there is a huge need for English teachers with TESOL training. 

Teaching English to Young Learners    by Robert Taylor
Price: $5.99 USD. 55380 words. Published on September 23, 2012. Nonfiction.
In this book, you will learn a wide variety of techniques and strategies for teaching children from ages 4-11. It includes lesson plans, games and activities for teaching English to children whose first language is other than English - at kindergarten and early primary grade levels. It combines elements of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and teaching children a second language.

Look for them where you buy your favourite e-books!

Who designed your totally excellent covers, eh, Bob? Blush...why, I did. Toot! Toot!

The next book I'll be publishing on Smashwords is a 24-chapter story for teachers to encourage their second-language learners to read in class. Chapters are short - intended to be read aloud or silently in class in about 15-20 minutes followed by a discussion and exercises. There will be a package of vocabulary, exercises and activities teachers can download. I actually wrote this for a class a number of years ago. Now that I have been through the formatting process at Smashwords a couple times, rewriting it to their specifications should be a piece of cake...or a humongous muffin even! Watch for 'Urfus to the Rescue!' coming soon to an e-reader near you! Toot! Toot!

See ya, eh!

Bob