Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a relatively new author, but I’ve written ten books. The content has varied over several niches. Since I served for years as a full-time pastor, I have written FREE INDEED and THE MEANING OF THE CROSS for those who need some insight into these areas. I’ve also written two books having to do with healthy weight loss. More recently, I’ve been writing about self-publishing, trying help other new authors learn from my own efforts.
Writing is like a hobby because I love doing it. Since I’m retired, I spend a great deal of time reading and writing. I also stay in contact with dozens of other authors who try to help one another. I advise that for anyone who is seeking to become an author.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book is called BOOK REVIEWS THAT SELL: DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF GETTING A BOATLOAD OF GREAT REVIEWS!
My first several books still have very few reviews. Only recently have I come to realize how very important it is to have more than the minimum of five to ten reviews before trying to promote the book’s sales I needed to better understand the process. Most readers have never written a review. Very few understand how much reviews mean to an author – both as encouragement and as a way to help others see what the book has to offer. Authors need to become more proactive in seeking reviews, but Amazon has become very strict about them. In fact, they have removed thousands of reviews over the past year. The reason is simple. Many reviews are fakes. Some authors buy them from sites that sell reviews. Other authors do “review swaps.” Many other methods of getting reviews are also violations of the Amazon Terms of Service. That’s why I present a simple approach to get good quality reviews that will be accepted by Amazon and other online sites. It is simple, but not easy. It does take work, but I do give clear instructions about this approach.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in short bursts. I use Scrivener authoring software. It allows me to research and organize material over time. I do try to write about 1000 words per day in addition to writing lots of reviews and helping other authors.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The most influential have been Steve Scott and Ian Stables. If you read their books, you’ll see how very different they are, but both are easy to read and understand. That is my goal. I want to provide good information, but I want readers to be able to apply it right away.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on three books at the moment. One is BOOK DESCRIPTIONS THAT SELL. It will help authors create effective book descriptions for use in Amazon and on the back covers of paperbacks.
The next book is INTERMITTENT FASTING, a book about the benefits and techniques of this approach to fasting. Many widely recognized studies have been done to demonstrate the science behind it. I will include some of that to convince readers to give it a try. Although it does help with weight loss, it has many other advantages including brain health, aging, and overcoming several diseases.
The third book is called QUICK EBOOKS: WRITING A SIMPLE NONFICTION BOOK IN SEVEN DAYS! This will teach how to go through an organized process to write short, profitable books. I will be giving step-by-step guidance about what to do each of the seven days. Someone who wants to write longer books could adapt it easily by spending a week for each step instead of a day. For those who are really busy with kids, career, and other responsibilities, they could even stretch it to one month for each step. Although I hope to keep the book short, it will be like a condensed writing course. Unlike my other books about self-publishing, I will not include lots of links to videos and other resources within the text of the book. I will give those as a separate, downloadable report.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have used social media like Facebook and Twitter a great deal. I’m just now expanding to use sites like Awesomegang, Buck Books, and others. I have also been developing a newsletter to help other authors sell their books, but that also helps me promote some of my own.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start writing every day. Pick a subject area that interests you. Create a blog on wordpress.com. Then, read from several sources about that subject every day. Then, write! Write at least 250 words each day. Try to make that grow to 1,000 words per day. You will learn about your subject, but you’ll also improve your writing abilities.
What are you reading now?
Oh, my! I am reading several books at once. They are all about writing and self-publishing. One is Nine Day Novel-Self-Editing: Self Editing For Fiction Writers by Steve Windsor and Lise Cartwright. I hope to write my first novel later this year, so I’m reading some about it.
The next book is How to Make a Living with Your Writing by Joanna Penn. Let’s face it, you can’t have best-sellers without learning how to sell more and more.
The last one is
What’s next for you as a writer?
I really would love to perfect skills more so that I could become a coach and trainer for authors, even those with some experience. I suspect that it will take some time to reach that goal, but it would be very satisfying.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Obviously, I would want to take my Bible.
I would also want a good survival book, but I’ve never read one.
I would also want a blank book to write in.
Author Websites and Profiles
Dr. Gary Webb Website
Dr. Gary Webb Amazon Profile
Dr. Gary Webb’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account