Keep The Love Of Real Music Alive For Children

It is not oft, nay, indeed it is very rare for this blog to directly ask for anything, other than perhaps consideration of this author's work.

Asking for money, and yes it a monetary request that follows, not for me, you understand. It's just not very English, is it. One stumbles a little when having to ask for a pound or two for some luncheon.

But, as someone who likes to help others, I have just written a Kickstarter pitch in which a very talented piano teacher is seeking funding to buy a Steinway piano upon which to teach his pupils.

Not being a pianist myself, although I can strum the guitar, I can imagine the awe and excitement children would feel when given the chance to learn on what clearly is such a wonderful instrument.

So if you, my reader, feel strongly about giving children the chance to learn piano on the best available instrument, please consider lending your fiscal backing to this campaign by clicking this link.

#SteinwayForStudents

The piano teacher is offering some pretty good rewards for those who support him.
So help him aim big, aim high, and get those children off their iPads and onto a smart Steinway.

The Best Self Publishing Book Platforms 2018

Cue big drums, red carpets, tuxedos and champagne. It's awards season again on the Jon Lymon blog.
And this year, as last year, it's a two horse race in terms of which platform for self-published books has performed the best.

RUNNER-UP: SMASHWORDS
A better performance than in 2017, but you can't help feeling that, as with all these self-publishing platforms, there's just going to be more and more and more books up for sale, but about the same number of eyes prepared to read them. But I like that anyone can upload pretty much anything, and there are sales promotions on Smashwords where you can sell your ebooks for free and hopefully attract new readers.

WINNER: AMAZON
For the 4th year in a row, Amazon has proved to be the best platform for selling books, although it's getting harder to get readers to leave reviews, despite the follow-up emails Amazon sends. My new book A Big Bluff And Some Green Stuff fared fairly well, and with the promise of a new look KDP platform and dashboard for 2019, it's hard to see anyone knocking Amazon off its perch.

Happy New Year.


PREVIOUS WINNERS:
2014 Smashwords
2015 Amazon
2016 Amazon
2017 Amazon

The Christmas Book That's Not For Christmas

Chances are, when you read this attempt to sell more copies of this Christmas book for children, it will not be Christmas. Not even nearly Christmas, or just gone Christmas. It could be the start of February, the middle of summer, or the end of October. Good. Because they are the times when this Christmas kids' book is designed to be read.

In fact, probably the worst time to read this book about Christmas, is Christmas.
Why? Well, not wanting to give too much away, it's all about finding the spirit of Christmas all throughout the year (aaaaaaahhhh).


Yes, a wonderfully worthy concept, I'm sure you'll agree. If not, here are a few other reasons to buy this book about Xmas:
* It says Christmas on the front, and a few times inside. That very word is enough to raise a smile. I just said it and I'm smiling.
* It won't take you until next Christmas to finish it
* You don't have to save up until next Christmas to buy it
* It rhymes, although there aren't many words that rhyme with Christmas
* It is one of the few children's Christmas books that can be read any time of year. So when your child tells you what they want for Christmas in February, give them this.
* It's a book that's about Christmas, not for Christmas.
* The Christmassy pictures therein have been drawn and coloured by a child - well, that's what it looks like


Thanks for reading, And if it does happen to be Christmas when you're reading this, well, happy Christmas.
(Smiles)

You can buy it here