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First Steps Publishing

Oregon Coast Publishing : For Authors Seeking a Solid Foundation

Jeremy Soldevilla

Even JK Rowling Needs a Good Publicist

January 16, 2020 by Jeremy Soldevilla Leave a Comment

If you’re not JK Rowling, there’s work to be done

If your book received “withering reviews” that included an assessment like, “so willfully banal, so depressingly clichéd” you’d never sell any copies, right?

Unfortunately, writers with gold-plated names like JK Rowling can overcome such a New York Times review (it was of one of her post-Harry Potter novels, “The Casual Vacancy”). According to this article it still sold more than 1.3 million copies and was the No. 1 best-selling hardcover fiction book of 2012.

So, unless your name is JR Rowling and your readers aren’t looking too closely at the cover, there’s a lot of work to be done to get book sales rolling.

The behind-the-scenes work to create a platform prior to publishing your book is almost as much work as the writing itself.

LULU.com offers a great, step-by-step guide to publicity and marketing, including working with related blogs two months before publication and planning a “cover reveal.” Interestingly, it says little about sending out advance copies for reviews.

And if you’re querying agents, your online presence is important, according to the Write Life 2013 survey. So think about showcasing your expertise in your subject matter or providing evidence of an audience (yes, prior to publishing). It’s all about your platform, which is well-described in this blog post by Rashelle Gardner.

Later, Rowling published “The Cuckoo’s Calling” under a male pen name (Robert Galbraith) and the book sold only modestly until she was unveiled as the true author. It had done about $50,000 in sales, prompting the NY Times writer to comment:

‘What’s clear is that without the aura of celebrity, “The Cuckoos’ Calling” would have been just another work of debut crime fiction. Its author might have gotten a modest TV deal, and maybe another book contract, while working another job to make ends meet.’ 

Published with permission. Alison O’Leary is a book publicist who can be reached on LinkedIn.


Guest post by book publicist, Alison O’Leary. Originally Published Jan 9, 2014 on ChristopherMatthewsPub.com

Filed Under: Marketing & Promotion, Publishing & Marketing, Self Publishing Authors Tagged With: advertising, author brand, marketing, promotion, publicist, publicity

Raison d’ Etre by Jeremy Soldevilla

January 14, 2018 by Jeremy Soldevilla Leave a Comment

Their Creek by Jeremy Soldevilla
Their Creek by Jeremy Soldevilla

by Jeremy Soldevilla | CMP

I’ve always loved books and I’ve always loved writing. That’s why I became an English Literature major at Boston University and why I spent the next 40+ years in the publishing industry, why I started writing novels and why I started one of the first hybrid publishing operations.

I’ve worked in senior positions for some of the largest publishers in the U.S. and England, publishing professional references, college texts, academic journals, scientific books and trade titles. In the process, I’ve come across writers good, bad and ugly. It’s the hopefuls, the wannabes, that I’ve been attracted to. Once anyone discovers you know something about publishing, the flood of questions begins. I won’t give examples here because we’ve all been inundated with them.The queries always start with “I’ve always wanted to write a book,” or “I’ve got this book I’ve been working on, and . . . ,” or “My friend/sister/neighbor/ has this book . . .”  And then the questions begin, seeking the secret to becoming that coveted honor: A Published Author.

I’ve broken the hearts of the bad and uglies by rejecting their work. But I’ve always tried to let them down gently, giving some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel with suggestions for finding editorial help, books on writing and sometimes the stiff slap of reality that they need.

It’s the good, not great, but good writers that I am drawn to. Those people who have the basic abilities to write well, tell a compelling story, a witty story or an inspirational story that can move a reader. The writer who, though far from perfect (is there such a creature?), has some writing that deserves to be shared, to be read, to be enjoyed. It’s these writers that I want to be the champion for. Give them a chance in an industry that is too often too quick to dismiss or ignore their nascent talent. The ones who need some nurturing, a helpful hand, an encouraging word. And who, with that help, begin to blossom into not just a scribbler, but a bona fide author.

In writing my own books, I’ve experienced the soul-crushing rejection of my work by agents and publishers, as well as the insulting lack of any response at all to the scores of queries I’ve submitted. And I get it. I know personally the editor’s need to give cursory glances to submissions, eager to find the quickest reason to reject a manuscript and move on to the next one in the towering sysyphusianstack of writings on their desks or in their email.

But somewhere in that pile there is a seed that with some sunlight and watering can evolve into a beautiful plant if just given some time and healthy soil in which to grow. Okay, that analogy is a little flowery, but you get my point. And that’s where I like to step in.

Having basic writing skills is not enough to become published. One needs to learn the craft of writing, and that only comes with years of practice, learning and studying. We as publishers can facilitate that education, and it is our responsibility as the gatekeepers of literature to encourage and show the way to those who truly have the goods. The goods not necessarily to produce the next best-seller, but the goods to hone their craft to produce work that moves, educates and entertains others in a unique and/or meaningful way.

The big New York houses have to meet untenable sales goals, and for that reason, they must reject all but a minute fraction of the work sent to them. And that’s as it should be, I suppose. But in the process, many worthy manuscripts are overlooked, and the humble writer who has put his or her heart and soul into their story has their dreams and talent quashed. I, for one, am honored to ferret those hopefuls out and give them the chance they deserve.

I have a quote from Richard Bach posted above my desk that reads: “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”


Jeremy Soldevilla

Jeremy Soldevilla was the founder of Christopher Matthews Publishing. (1948-2018)

Filed Under: Publishing & Marketing Tagged With: getting published, hybrid publisher, hybrid publishing, Jeremy Soldevilla, self-publishing

10 Tips for Selling Books at Book Fairs and Conventions

March 24, 2017 by Jeremy Soldevilla Leave a Comment

The following article by Terry Cordingley contains great information for anyone planning on exhibiting their books.

The 10 Commandments of Selling Books at Book Fairs, Conventions, and Festivals

1. Register for the event as early as possible.

• Contact the event organizer.
• Find out the cost of the booth or registration.
• Register for the event and inform your marketing representative.

2.  Spread the word about your appearance at the event.

  • Online newspapers free event calendar listings
  • Free online listing at Craig’s List http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html
  • E-mail invitations to your address book
  • Church bulletin
  • Split the cost of the booth with another author, if festival organizers allow booth-sharing.
  • Decorate the booth with a banner and tabletop posters announcing that the author is available to sign copies of books.  Make the booth as attractive as possible!

3. Establish a family member or friend to help you during the event.

4. Be prepared with conversation starters.

  • Have a one-minute pitch ready to go that tells people who you are and what your book is about.  Practice it so that it seems natural and not forced.
    • “How did you hear about the event?”
    • “Are you an avid reader?”
    • “Do you live in the area?”

5. Have a guest-book on your table for people to sign their name and e-mail address.

  • By doing this at every event, you can create a large mailing list for e-blasts or newsletters about your book.

6. Practice good booth etiquette.

  • If you are sharing a booth, be considerate and polite to your fellow authors.
  • Don’t complain to your fellow authors if the event isn’t going well and you aren’t selling many books.  Attitude is contagious!
  • Work out ahead of time how you will approach customers at the booth so you aren’t overwhelming them and pressuring them to buy books.
  • Be friendly and approachable.
  • Don’t just sit at the booth and wait for people to come to you.  Engage passersby in conversation and offer them any giveaways you may have.  Use the opportunity to tell them about your book.

7. Arrive early, allowing plenty of time to set up for the event.

Items you will need for your booth:

  • Books. You will need to determine how many books you will need to have available for the event.  You can always keep extra copies in your car, if needed.
  • Giveaways. Just like at trade shows, attendees are always looking for free items.  Have a supply of bookmarks, business cards and push cards on hand to help promote your book if people don’t buy a copy on the spot.
  • Décor. Most festivals will give you a table and a chair, and not much else.  Find out if you’ll need table coverings, a tent or awning (if an outdoor event), or a power supply for any video or audio needs you may have.  Also make sure you have pens and posters to advertise who you are and why you are there, preferably with a photo of your book cover on it.  You may even want to have a banner made for your book that you can re-use at future events.  You’re only limited by your imagination.

8. Have book ordering information available in case you run out of books.

  • Business cards and push cards can be used for this purpose.

9. Send a thank-you card to the organizer after the event.

  • If the event was especially successful, send a letter of commendation to the event organizer. They may ask you to be a featured author next year.

10. Book early for next year’s event.

For more information about book marketing and promotion, read Terry’s Cordingley’s self-titled blog at http://terrycordingley.blogspot.com.

 

Originally Published March 24, 2017 on ChristopherMatthewsPub.com. Christopher Matthews Publishing is a division of First Steps Publishing.

Filed Under: Self Publishing Authors Tagged With: book fair, conventions, marketing tip, self-publishing

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