By Wendy Lawton
Wanna see a writer stand frozen with that deer-in-the-headlights look? Just ask them this question: “So. . . what’s your novel about?”
Here’s a list of the WRONG things to answer:
- An issue— “My book is
Marketing & Publicity
Why Book Pre-Orders Matter
Publishers will tell you that one of the best ways to build momentum for your upcoming book is to encourage pre-orders from readers. What’s the big deal about pre-orders?
Pre-orders are stockpiled and then counted officially as sales the first
…
Reading Groups and Why We Love Them
Writers, for the most part, are readers. And that means they have two reasons to feel fondness for reading groups: as a grand place to connect with fellow readers and discuss a book; as an author who knows connecting with …
Social Media Exhaustion: 9 Ways to Cope
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Sitting in for Rachelle Gardner
How do you deal with social media exhaustion?
By Airman 1st Class Devin N. Boyer [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsIf you’ve been working to promote yourself, build a platform, keep current …
Focus on Velocity Rather Than Sales Numbers
by Janet Kobobel Grant
We all care about how many copies our book sells, right? But who among us is thinking about sales velocity?
Velocity is created when you emphasize garnering significant sales for the day (or week) the book …
Why Write a Book Review?
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Sitting in for the traveling Rachelle Gardner.
Why do writers always want readers to write a book review?
What difference does it make?
A lot.
Here are four reasons why you’ll do a writer a favor if
…
Keeping Your Agent Informed
blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
Literary agents and agencies are not one-size-fits-all…not that anything bearing that label ever truly is.
We share common ground. We differ in specialities, connections, level of hands-on or hands-off involvement in our client’s projects, and approaches to …
Platform–A Snarky Commentary
By Wendy Lawton
Okay, confession time: Here at Books & Such I’m known as the platform denier. The skeptic. Card-carrying member of the Book Marketing Flat Earth Society. Yes, I know that an author’s platform can be a powerful thing, …
What to Ask Your Marketing Team
by Janet Kobobel Grant
Most authors–sometimes even established authors–don’t know what to ask their marketing team. We’re talking about the people who will promote your book.
One of my clients, Judy Douglass, is headed to a visit with her publishing …
Marketers and Publicists: What’s the Difference
by Janet Kobobel Grant
An aspect of publishing that’s often a puzzle to authors is the difference between marketers and publicists. Since you’ll encounter both when it’s time to start promoting your book, understanding the difference can help you to …