Print sales were up in 2015, self-published authors continued their ongoing momentum, and quirky trends like adult coloring books had a surprising industry effect. So what does 2016 have in store? Here are my ten book marketing and publishing industry predictions for the year ahead. … [Read more...]
Can I Self-Publish My Book and Then Sell it to a Commercial Publisher?
Many writers believe that by self-publishing a book, they make it more attractive to a commercial publisher than a mere manuscript. I suspect this is because they believe that a publisher will be impressed by the sight of an actual, published book. The sad fact is that this is not the case. Publishers are not in the business of buying books. They are in the business of … [Read more...]
What is a Trade Journal?
Question: Why should I read trade journals? Where does a writer find trade journals with publishing news? Answer: You may be wondering, "What in the world is a trade journal?" To newcomers, publishing is almost like a secret society where there are code words and unwritten expectations about what to submit to magazines and how to submit your material to publishers. … [Read more...]
5 Tips to Prepare for Book Trade Shows
Whether you’re attending the London Book Fair this month, Book Expo America in June or visiting a regional trade show, preparing for the event ahead of time will ensure a smooth (and fruitful) experience. 1) Establish your goals for attending—Are you just looking to network? Exploring publishing options? Do you need a graphic designer? Researching distributors? Contemplating … [Read more...]
What Makes a Best Seller?
According to Merriam-Webster, a best seller is an article (as a book) whose sales are among the highest of its class. Often, best sellers are broken into categories based on genre (nonfiction, fiction, cookbooks, business). The most recognized best seller list is the New York Times Best Sellers list. Other lists include USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Amazon. To … [Read more...]
Why can’t the editor give me some feedback?
Question: I keep getting form rejection letters. Why don't editors give me the facts and what can I do about it? Answer: In the magazine and book world, rejection comes for many reasons. Sometimes it is the quality of the material from the writer. In the book area, it might be a good idea that needs more development or more explanation. I've learned from acquisitions … [Read more...]
Attend an International Book Exhibit this Year
To get a fair share of readers for your book, you don’t just need to write a good piece of content, but you must be adroit in the area of book marketing too. If you want mass readership for your creation, sitting at home and wishing that people should buy your book won’t work. Book authors are thinkers and writers. Hence, most of them are likely to be an introverted … [Read more...]
32 Book Awards Authors Should Pursue for 2013
“Do book awards matter?” YES!! As a book publicist I am here to inform you that yes, they absolutely do matter! In fact, one of my clients won the prestigious Los Angeles Book Festival award. That then led to a flurry of media interest, which subsequently led to a major New York agent deciding to represent the book and pitch it to all the major publishing houses. Deals are … [Read more...]
The Facts of Publishing Life
Every year I see a flood of emails and calls from authors and would-be publishers. 2013 is off to a rollicking start. For the first time, I got a call from a guy who said he had a manuscript written in longhand. In pencil. And it wasn't finished. And he didn't know what it was (he couldn't even tell me if it was fiction or non-). So the prize for strangest phone call is already … [Read more...]
Why All Books Should Be Non-Returnable
Bookstores have a long history of ordering too many books and then returning them for a credit, often damaged and at the expense of the publisher or self-published author. At other times, the books are simply destroyed (or sold to a big salvage bookstore), again, at the expense of the publisher or self-published author. It is my strong opinion that bookstores, like other … [Read more...]