Paul Karvanis’ Post

(And here you see a publisher in his natural habitat) After babbling in my last post about Mamati Market, as a little boy about his first crush, I now like to talk to you about my other ‘crush,’ so to speak. As I don’t want to bet only on one horse when it comes to fulfilling my dream, of becoming a working-while-traveling dude. Therefore, the other project I’m working on is Mamati Media, an all-round media company. But lazy as I am, I am just focusing on two pillars:  - Buying, selling, developing and managing websites. - Publisher of books, ebooks and audiobooks. And again, I LOVE working on this. Making websites is something I have already done for many, many years, and I can go all crazy with my creative ideas for it. There are so many options and possibilities to make beautiful websites nowadays. And if I don’t like my websites anymore, for whatever reason, I now have the option to sell them, very easily, on my own platform Mamati Market.  Yay! But, especially for all the ladies, we are also working on a very romantic novel at the moment.  As all my ex-girlfriends already know, I can be SOOOO incredibly romantic...            NOT! But maybe our soon-to-be-released novel can show me some nifty inside information on this topic. Who knows. But the most fun I have worked on lately is our series of children’s books, about a 10-year-old little girl called Melody, who is a Private Investigator!?! And we are editing the first audiobook, as-we-speak!   And I have no idea why we started with audiobooks first for this Melody series. But it just went this way, so okay. Audiobooks it is, then. Of course, as you already guessed, all these books will also be available on Mamati Market. And here’s the good news: for everybody who is curious about these books, we will give away free copies!!  Are we that nuts?? Yes, we are!! So again, Yay! Now, let me see some hands who would like to get a free copy…

BEING A JERK I love to listen to books, currently known as “audiobooks”. It was a rocky romance. I am a diehard old school reader of books, and the concept of audiobooks was subversive. But I fell for listening to the whole John Le Carre Smiley spy series. (They remind me of “radio novellas”. Dramatized soap operas on the radio. My grandmother and her housekeeper listened to them while doing the day’s ironing. Great memories!) Since my subjugation to audiobooks, I listen to Audible 3 to 4 books per month. It can be quite expensive, but well worth it. Currently I am listening to “Discover Your True North” by Bill George. The author relies on real-life accounts of CEO’s and professionals who have overcome challenges in their careers. I crave motivation; I desperately need it because a solopreneur in my line of business (Academic Coaching in a private practice) can become easily isolated and overthink plenty. These accounts give me solace as I hear how these go-getters conquered many Everests. One of these accounts is that of Tad Piper, CEO of Tad Piper Capital Management. In the early 1990’s interest rates plummeted and returns for clients sank. Lawsuits galore hit the firm because clients claimed the investment tools their money had been placed in had been described as “conservative” which means minimal fluctuation because of market conditions. He had used complex derivatives (find an investment professional who can explain what these are and how they work, and you have found the holy grail; very unlikely) The firm’s reputation was in shambles after 99 years. Its financial stance was wrecked. As CEO, his company was in serious jeopardy. His strategy? He and his wife invited his leadership team along with their spouses. During the meeting, Tad and his wife shared how concerned they were, how scared and confused they were. He showed he was vulnerable. Which in the age of “I am a maverick” does sound insane. Most overachievers would hunker down and find a way out on their own and be the hero of the hour. Truthfully, real leaders know they never do anything alone. True genius comes from team effort. “The top is very lonely” is just a misguided, dangerous image of success. Success is a collection of hit and miss experiences, shared with trusted colleagues, family members and friends. Jerks are always left to drown on their own. I am committed to not being a jerk. 

Discover the essence of fighting for survival while retaining your individuality and embracing the journey. Though no one can ensure a favorable future or guarantee outcomes, staying mentally focused and maintaining a realistic perspective will maximize your chances of triumph. . Grab your copy now: https://amzn.to/3YRL0qu . #authors #writers #books #thesuitlessceo #donaldwilliams #authorlife #reading #book #readers #booklover #business #work #sharktank #entrepreneur #work #jobs

New blog! This one is work-related. :) #audiobooks #Narration "As narrators, we’re all concerned that our last audiobook gig will really be the last. In an earlier article, I talked about some tips to get you re-hired for an audiobook. Here are things that make it tougher to get rehired..." https://lnkd.in/gYXUbtyM

Sooooo, it's been a minute since I was last here. How's everybody doing these days? Life got busy and LinkedIn got left behind. The break did me good, though... Anyway, let's talk about reading. As in books. Or ebooks. Or even audiobooks, if you prefer. I am a writer. Writers need to read. It's a filling of the well. Ideas and words go out with the writing. New ideas and words come in with the reading. I read every day. It's one of my "simple pleasures" in Life. And yes, I read more than one book at a time. And no, they aren't all "business" or "writing" books. I sometimes re-read titles I haven't read in a year or two. Many times, a good book will have such depth that you can approach it over and over again and still find something new within. You're at a different place, with a different mindset, and different experiences behind you since you read it last. And then there are those that are simply previous joys experienced anew, like reuniting with an old friend. And so it is with my summer reading. Old and new friends alike. Here's my current list: *Enchantment by Katherine May - anyone wanting to avoid overwhelm or cure their case of burnout needs to read this one. *Molokai'i by Alan Bennet AND The Colony by John Tayman - a novel and a nonfiction title both about the leper colony on Molokai'i, something I know little about. *The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg- A visit with an old friend. *The Miracle Morning for Writers by Honoree Corder and Steve Scott - Getting back to those good habits that went out the window during the pandemic and the whirlwind that came after. (I forgot about this book and then found it again during a Kindle cleanout. More on that later...) What's on your list? *WritingLife *ContentWriter *GoodBooks *WritersRead

Bonus article this week since I'm nursing my voice and writing while not in the booth. Tips to creating characters for audiobook narration! Also, there might be some ideas in here for writers to consider when creating dialogue. 

Dear Indie Writer Old Story: Audiobooks are too expensive I can’t possibly afford to have one done right now. Reality: This depends on many factors. Depending upon your publishing/review nbrs there are a lot of narrators that would love to work w/you. A lot of us have started becoming business savvy & are opening limited slots to work on projects we love with writers we admire. Royalty Share means No upfront cost to you. You & your narrator share the Audiobook Royalties. Old Story: Virtual Voice is a way for me to bring my work to audio without the cost. Reality: Look at the reviews for other books in your genre that were done via Virtual Voice. They’re awful. You’ve put your heart & soul into writing your book why not work with a narrator who will put their heart & soul into telling your story? AI can do a LOT of things. AI cannot do Heart & Soul. Old Story: It’s all I can do to keep up with the publishing landscape I can’t take on something else right now. Reality: If you get the right narrator all you have to do is ask & we can guide you through everything. There’s something magical that happens when a writer & a narrator work together. Narrators strive for that moment when you, the writer hears your characters brought to life. Writers & Narrators are the same. We both love creating worlds. Why should we let outside forces get in the way of our creations? Or try to make us fear scarcity. I firmly believe that if we continue to focus on our work, if we hold on to our belief in the world’s need for human connection, that together, Writers & Narrators can lift each other up! Reach out if you'd like a chat. No obligation. I'll help you look at your nbrs & together we can discuss whether RS or PFH would be best for your book. Join me & let's flood the market with empowered writers & narrators doing gorgeous work! www.danielaacitelli.com #indiewriter #indiewriters #thrillerwriters #thrillerbooks #thrilleraudiobooks #audiobooknarrator #audiobooknarrators #AI #Virtualvoice