Guest Blogger, Patti Davis, Author

To listen to Patti’s interview on the show: http://bit.ly/Zc4lk7

One thing that every writer longs for is a chance to put their work out into the world. For too long, the only way to accomplish this was to try and get a literary agent (which can include groveling, begging, and bouts of fervent praying) and then – if one does manage to get an agent – moving on to step two. The big step: hoping a publisher will agree that the book should indeed be put out into the world. This can include groveling, begging, and making compromises that often scrape away at the essence of one’s work.

With the three completed novels on my computer, I never got to step two. The books were shopped around, got good feedback, but no takers. My past preceded me – Ronald Reagan’s daughter who had written extensively about various aspects of her family life. She’s written fiction? Well, we don’t know what to do with that.

One day I realized no publisher was ever going to say yes to my fiction, and I could get to the end of my life with all these unpublished novels on my computer. Trust me, no one dreams of being a posthumously published author.

I had been paying more and more attention to Amazon’s self-publishing branch, which consists of Kindle Direct Publishing and CreateSpace. I really took notice when Amanda Hocking made news for her success as a self-published author. I had doubts about my ability to navigate my way through the online world, as I would have to publicize my work myself, after I up-loaded my book to KDP (this sounded very daunting to me.) But the alternative was worse – never putting my work out there. I chose, as my first self-published book, my novel Till Human Voices Wake Us, about two sisters-in-law who unexpectedly fall in love after one of them loses her son in a swimming pool accident. I began writing it twelve years ago.

There are other sites that make self-publishing available. But personally, I thought if I’m going to do this, I should go to the top of the mountain. Let’s face it, Amazon is huge, so why look elsewhere? My first challenge was finding an illustrator to do the book cover. I had a very specific image in mind and I started hunting on-line for e-book illustrators. I found Donna Casey (Digital Donna) who did exactly what I envisioned – even better than I envisioned it.

I then took a deep breath and watched KDP’s on-line tutorial about uploading your book. Actually I watched it twice…I’m a slow learner. I can do this! I thought. And I did. When I hit the publish button, I felt like I had just stepped into a world of new possibilities. I was suddenly in control of my own literary career. I didn’t have to answer to anyone else. I would have to work terribly hard to promote my novel, but I was happy to plunge into a new adventure.

I have to say, Amazon has made what seemed like a daunting task easy. I’m looking ahead now to which novel I will put out next on KDP and CreateSpace. Someone said to me, “If your novel does well, a traditional publisher might want to buy it.”

My response: “Why would I want to go backward?”

Guest Blogger, Rochelle Weinstein, Author, Blogger, Speaker www.RochelleWeinstein.com

To listen to Rochelle’s interview on the show: http://bit.ly/Zj5Ee0

When I wrote my first novel many years ago, the publishing world was going through a period of rapid growth and change. Still, first-time authors faced numerous obstacles getting their books into print. Self-publishing was relatively new, and authors were ambivalent about the non-traditional road. Enter CreateSpace and KDP. Amongst numerous self-publishing houses, I quickly became convinced that entrusting my firstborn to Amazon’s influential and far-reaching publishing arm was the best option.

As a wife, mother, author, blogger, and volunteer, it was crucial for me to find a publisher who would balance the chaos in a simple, flexible package. CreateSpace provided an easy-to-navigate dashboard with an a la carte menu for editing, formatting, designing, distributing, and marketing my work.

The ease at which CreateSpace piloted my book release and eventual Kindle conversion were impressive. However, it wasn’t until some time later that I came to realize its true value. When my novel debuted last year, I never imagined I would be faced with my mother’s eighteen month battle with pancreatic cancer. I had to quickly prioritize and juggle. When she passed away in December 2012, all things book related came to an immediate halt. The DIY approach afforded me the freedom and flexibility I needed to sustain myself through an awful period. By taking the non-traditional approach, deadlines were self-imposed, not imposed, and I could write and market my book at my own personal pace.

When I meet with writers or book clubs, the most common statement is: “I also want to write a book.” I often tell aspiring writers to do just that—write their book—although the next piece of advice I offer is this: have a clearly defined goal. It may seem like a simple answer. It’s not. We are all unique and our needs and expectations complex. What is it you want out of the book experience? Be honest. Sometimes that’s the tricky part. Do you have a secret desire to be famous and travel the world? Are your expectations realistic? Or do you merely want to touch someone’s life with your words? The answer to this question is one that has the potential to strategically pave your next steps.

Writing the book is the easy part. After setting 85,000 or so words onto the page (in pitch perfect form) you will have to face the most difficult part of being an author—marketing. In today’s booming book world, some sales tactics are obvious: set up social media linking your book and website; exploit your friends, family, and business networks; get yourself out there through organizations media, and institutions that target your niche; utilize the free on-line forums that DIY companies like CreateSpace and KDP offer; increase distribution through relationship building with libraries, independent bookstores, etc. Then get creative. Really creative. Think grass roots. Think outside the traditional box.

Know your hook. What’s your elevator pitch? Try to sell your book in one succinct, appealing sentence. This one line, when intriguing enough, has the capacity to sell many books. Exploit that hook. Who does it target? Is it a beachside romance? Find a boutique hotel to sell your books in their gift shop. Is your book worthy of book club discussion? Make yourself available. Is your school or religious organization having a fundraiser? Offer an evening with the author as an auction item. Find book conventions around the globe. Offer promo pieces (book discounts or bookmarks) for swag bags. Leave your book on an airplane the next time you fly. Drop business cards with your book’s hook wherever you can. Plan unique contests and giveaways. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for a favor.

And most importantly, after all is said and done, pay it forward to the next guy.

By Guest Blogger Michaela Hamilton, Executive Editor of Kensington Publishing

http://www.KensingtonBooks.com

Click Here to listen this interview any time after 9:00 am EST Tuesday July 26th, 2011 on the WomensRadio Network

Murder!  Mayhem!  Danger!  Action!  What makes a thriller exciting?  All of those elements—plus a certain magic called storytelling.  At Kensington we are proud to offer commercial fiction at its best.  We welcome the chance to present new authors to the suspense community.  Most of our submissions come through literary agents who understand the types of books that work best for us.  Serial-killer thrillers, political thrillers, romantic suspense, paranormal suspense, international intrigue and espionage, and cute cozy mysteries are some of the genres that we are eager to consider.

Kensington supports organizations such as Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Malice Domestic, American Society of Journalists and Authors, and other groups devoted to helping writers realize their publishing dreams.  Conferences such as ThrillerFest and Bouchercon give writers the chance to interact with editors, agents, fans, and fellow authors.  Local writers’ conferences offer excellent opportunities as well. Through workshops, panels, pitch sessions, parties, and just-plain hanging out together, writers have a chance to make contact with professionals who share their passion for high-level suspense.

If you are a first-time author, you’ll need to polish your pitch so you can make your book sound irresistible in less than thirty seconds.  It’s useful to position your book in terms of successful books or films.  “Grisham meets Ludlum on Wall Street” was one of the best positioning lines I’ve ever heard.  I couldn’t wait to read that novel!

Think of the reader who will buy your book in a bookstore.  What other titles will that reader have on his or her bookshelf?  Sure, your writing is highly original.  But publishers need to be able to identify a market for it.  Is it hard-boiled or cozy?  Deeply psychological or more adventure-driven?  Are you writing for male or female readers, or both?  Be clear about your audience so that an editor or agent can quickly grasp your book’s potential.

At Kensington we welcome queries from authors via email.  The submissions guidelines are posted on our website, www.kensingtonbooks.com.   Your query should clearly position your book as to category and audience.  Give a one-paragraph plot overview and one-paragraph bio, including your membership in writers’ organizations, attendance of conferences, and your personal marketing plan for your book.

So bring on the serial killers and their victims; the greedy schemers and the clever clue-followers; the forensic experts, the detectives, the heroes and villains who make us turn pages with joy.  The world of book-lovers opens its doors to writers who can thrill us, page after page.

And speaking of page-turners:  here’s a contest you won’t want to miss.  Kensington will give away five free ARC’s (Advance Reader’s Copies) of SERIAL, the sensational new thriller from New York Times bestselling author John Lutz, due in bookstores in August.  To enter, send us your tweet telling us why you’d like to be among the first people to read SERIAL.  Five winners will be chosen at random.  Tweet us at @kensingtonbooks with the #serial hashtag.

By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio

www.yourbookisyourhook.com

Click Here to listen this interview any time after 9:00 am EST Tuesday July 12th, 2011 on the WomensRadio Network

Jane von Mehren, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Trade Paperbacks for the Random House Publishing Group, and Ellen Sussman, the San Francisco Chronicle best-selling author, will appear as guests on the Your Book Is Your Hook! Show on WomensRadio.com.

Ms. von Mehren will discuss the types of books she publishes, how she finds her authors, and what constitutes a good pitch for a book. She’ll also share her perspective of digital books and the future of the book publishing industry. Ms. Sussman will talk about her latest book, FRENCH LESSSONS, and share how she got published and how she’s using her book as her hook. She’ll also discuss how she did her research for the story which takes place in Paris and share advice for writers who want to write and publish a fiction story that parallels their own lives in today’s publishing world.

NEW YORK, NY (July 12th – July 18th, 2011): Jane von Mehren, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Trade Paperbacks for the Random House Publishing Group, will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about the types of books she publishes, how she finds her authors, and advice for a new writer who wants to get published in today’s publishing industry.

Ms. von Mehren will also discuss what comprises a great pitch for a book that would engage her. She’ll also share her perspective of digital books and the future of the book publishing industry.

Ellen Sussman, the San Francisco Chronicle best-selling author, will discuss with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov how and why she wrote her latest book, FRENCH LESSONS. She’ll also talk about how she got published and how she’s using her book as her hook. Ms. Sussman will also talk about how her relationship with her agent supports her writing career, how she did her research for this book which takes place in Paris, and how writing stories similar to her personal experiences affect her and her marriage. She’ll also share advice with writers who want to write and publish a fiction story that parallels their own lives in today’s publishing world.

Host Jennifer S. Wilkov will discuss why research is the key to your writing and publishing career during her Education Corner segment during the show.

Click Here to Listen Now: http://bit.ly/pO5jXp

If you have questions about any of these interviews or the education corner topic included in the show, please put them here in this discussion thread and I’d be happy to answer them.

By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio

The Literary Agent Matchmaker™

www.yourbookisyourhook.com

As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences.  Today let’s talk about why social media matters for writers in all genres.

In today’s world, finding an audience of readers for your book can feel like a daunting task. Picking them up through social media may feel like an even bigger one!

Although it may seem on the surface as a questionable use of your time and resources, in today’s publishing world it is an absolute must.

Agents, publishers, booksellers, speaking bureaus and readers want to know that you have a social media presence before they partner with you – whether you are writing fiction, nonfiction or a children’s book. The more people you are connected with, the more potential you have to push your book out to them and those they know.

Never underestimate the power of a network. It is a surefire way to attract interest in your platform and project.

In fact, some publishers have mandated that they will no longer publish writers who haven’t made the effort to establish and build up their social media platforms on Twitter and Facebook. Another fact: Aaron Patterson, the Publisher at Stone House Ink who was my guest on the show last week, has a policy for turning away writers unless they have a solid social media platform in place.

In a recent post last week on the digital blog FuturEbook from Europe in association with The Bookseller, Steve Emecz of MX Publishing in the UK stated that unless an author will have a blog, Twitter account and a fully fledged eCommerce site, they won’t be considering their manuscript.

Emecz says, “Well, it’s simple risk management for us in a very fast changing and risky industry. If we look at our authors that have blogs they sell more books. The ones that provide content for Twitter – sell more books. The ones that are active on Facebook – sell more books. See a pattern here? Yes, of course we have one or two inactive authors whose books are so good they sell well anyway, but that’s less than one in ten – and how on earth do you tell that up front…..” (Read more of his article on FuturEbook HERE).

In today’s publishing world with so many facets of the industry now going digital, when you have a social media presence, you have built-in communities to market your books to. They find you electronically and they can instantly purchase what you’ve written and read it electronically.

Social media matters to a bookseller too. If you’re going to do an event, who will come? How will you let them know you’ll be doing an event at their store? When you post the event, it’s a great opportunity for you to support the bookseller through your tweets and posts to your followers. When you write about it on your blog and post pictures from the event, you create links back to the bookseller to help them get the word out about their store.

For readers, social media sites are a means of connecting with the author, no matter where you may be. Readers follow authors on Twitter and read their wall posts on Facebook to keep up to date with their latest releases, book tours, blog tours, media appearances and other opportunities they may have to connect. They also read their blogs for upcoming releases, insights and other related information about their favorite characters and writer.

For speaker bureaus, it’s important for you to have a full blown platform online so that when you appear offline you can be promoted by those in the audience who may choose to tweet on Twitter and post on Facebook about your speech. When you have an account on these sites, it’s easy to tag you in their messages to further push you and your speaking platform out to their followers When you have a blog, you can further support events you’ll be speaking at by featuring videos and other posts about your appearances for your fans and followers to see. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase what you can do as a speaker at an event.

For all of these businesses, your ability to partner with them from a marketing perspective is incredibly important. The greater the presence you have in the mind of those they want to reach with their businesses, the more attractive you become as a business partner for them.

You see, your book really is your hook to so much more than just a place on the bookshelf. It has the potential to capture the hearts and minds of your readers and create a place to connect with them – virtually. It also provides wonderful opportunities to find so many ways to expand your writing career with the publishing houses who are only interested in those writers who are extending their platforms into new media to support the ever-changing book industry and the readers in the marketplace.

If you’re on the fence about whether social media should be a vital part of the marketing platform for your career, jump on the bandwagon and set up your social media stream today. You can’t start too early in your writing career and it’s never too late to start!

Jennifer’s show can be heard every week on Tuesday mornings at 9am when it is broadcast on WomensRadio.com and syndicated on Google News and Live365.com. Each show is archived for replay listeners in different time zones and countries.

For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.

By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com

Click Here to listen this interview any time after 9:00 am EST Tuesday June 21st, 2011 on the WomensRadio Network

Aaron Patterson, #1 Amazon Kindle best-selling author and the Publisher of Stone House Ink and StoneGate Ink publishing houses, will appear as a guest on the Your Book Is Your Hook! Show on WomensRadio.com. Mr. Patterson will discuss why he created his two publishing houses, why he publishes “clean fiction,” and what he’s looking for in the writers he chooses to publish. He’ll also share his perspectives on the importance of social media for writers and the future of the book publishing industry.

Mr. Patterson will also talk about his best-selling WJA Series as well as his new teen thriller, his first, entitled AIREL. Patterson will reveal how he’s using his books as his hook and share advice about what makes new writers successful in today’s writing and publishing marketplace.

NEW YORK, NY (June 21st – June 27th, 2011): Aaron Patterson, the Publisher of Stone House Ink and StoneGate Ink publishing houses, will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about why and when he decided to create his publishing houses and the distinct qualifications he looks for when choosing the authors he’s willing to publish. He’ll also discuss why he publishes “clean fiction” and the difference between the processes for how writers can submit to the two publishing houses.

He’ll also talk about why a marketing platform is essential for fiction writers, not just nonfiction writers, and the important role social media plays in book sales. He’ll also share his perspective of the future of the publishing industry.

In his second interview on the show, Aaron Patterson, a #1 Amazon Kindle best-selling author, will talk about his best-selling WJA series and his new teen thriller, his first, entitled AIREL. Mr. Patterson will also discuss his passion for writing and why you don’t have to be a master at grammar and spelling to write a bestseller. He’ll also share advice for new writers about what it takes to create a successful thriller book and writing career.

Host Jennifer S. Wilkov will discuss the importance of knowing the personality and purpose of a publisher during her Education Corner segment during the show.

Click Here to Listen Now: http://bit.ly/il8jvp

If you have questions about any of these interviews or the education corner topic included in the show, please put them here in this discussion thread and I’d be happy to answer them.

By Guest Blogger Aaron Patterson
#1 Amazon Kindle Best-Selling Author & the Publisher at Stone House Ink & StoneGate Ink

Click Here to listen this interview any time after 9:00 am EST Tuesday June 21st, 2011 on the WomensRadio Network

Books. eBooks. Audio Books.

I love books, or shall I say I love stories. I used to read three books a day when I was a kid. I love the stories, the danger, the exciting places I can go in a book. But what of the paper, the sound, the smell of a book? What is going to happen to books with the digital revolution?

I ask this with a smile and a heavy heart. I know where it is going and part of me is sad and the other part is excited. The sad part is because I like a book. I grew up reading them, and they are going away. Paper and ink are giving away to the eBook.

Are we really losing them? No, it is just changing. The excited part of me sees the cool ways we can now read stories. How we can have links and video and cram 3,000 books in a small device. How I can listen to an audio book on the same reader I can read a novel on. It all comes down to content. A story is a story no matter how it is consumed. I love story, so give me my story. I don’t care how it comes to me, in a sound over the radio or on an eReader or in a paper form.

With eBooks, I as an author can reach so many more people so much faster. I can build a fan base and make a living as an author, where even five years ago this would have been a crazy thought. I do not have to go to a book signing or travel across the country to sell books. I can do it all from my laptop. Through social media like Twitter and Facebook.

What does this mean for a bookstore?

They will shrink and turn into small specialty shops. The first editions, the signed copies, and the cream of the crop.  The really good books, the classics, will be in bookstores. The price will go up and most of the new books will be published only as eBooks or print on demand publishing houses.

Is this a good thing?

Think of how many trees we will save. Think of the books that are pulped every year. If the average reader knew how many books are burned or thrown away each year, it would start a riot. Think of the cost savings. eBooks are forever, do not get old or tear, do not yellow or get lost. Is this good or the end of books? Who knows? All I know is, no matter what, the real story will never die.

Aaron Patterson

Blog: www.TheWorstBookEver.blogspot.com
Twitter: Mstersmith
Facebook: Aaron Patterson
Website: www.StoneHouseInk.net

Books:
Sweet Dreams
Dream On
Airel
19 (Digital Short)
The Craigslist Killer (Digital Short)
The eBook on eBooks (Digital Short)

By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
The Literary Agent Matchmaker™
www.yourbookisyourhook.com

As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences.  Today let’s talk about the personality and purpose of a publisher.

Similar to literary agencies, each publisher has particular books and genres they prefer to produce and publish. Some may have several imprints under which they publish a variety of books and others may only have one publishing company.

Each publisher and editor of a publishing house or imprint chooses which books they will publish. Similar to literary agents, this is a business decision – one in which the publisher or editor is scrutinizing the project for a viable return on their significant investment of manpower and money required to produce and distribute the book.

Some publishers may publish hundreds of books a year; others may publish ten or less. Either way, what they choose to publish and their mandate for projects may stay the same or it may change. They may add imprints that are dedicated to particular genres of books to brand that imprint by its particular title selections and expand their publishing portfolio.

If you are interested in the larger publishing houses, do some research and find out which imprints represent your book’s genre in the Hachette Book Group, Simon & Schuster, Random House, Harper Collins, Harlequin and other large publishers. The more you know about the industry, the better your experience will be as an author and as a partner with your literary agent.

If you are interested in ebook publishing, get to know the options you have with each company that produces ebooks and understand what distribution they support for your book as well as the other services they provide.

If you are going to independently publish or self-publish your book, determine which company you want to work with or if you want to create a publishing company or imprint of your own.

This week’s guest, Aaron Patterson, built his own publishing companies, Stone House Ink and StoneGate Ink, to not only publish his books but to also publish those of other writers. With his two companies, he offers two opportunities for writers to be published by him. Stone House Ink is open to the public and writers and literary agents can submit projects for consideration. He also cleverly created a separate company, StoneGate Ink, that requires a referral from either an author who has been published by of one of his companies or a literary agent referral. No other writers are considered for publication by that company.

When I published my first book, Dating Your Money: How to Build a Long-Lasting Relationship with Your Money in 8 Easy Steps, I also built my own publishing house called E.S.P. Press Corp. I published four books of mine including those in the Dating Your Money series and then other people started asking me to publish their books. I made a conscious decision not to publish other people’s books and I also decided after publishing four books that I wanted someone else to publish my books too.

Being a publisher requires a keen eye for quality, attention to detail and a good business sense. It can be all-encompassing, leaving very little room for much of anything else. A high percentage of the books that are published, even by the big houses, fail to sell enough copies to recoup the initial investment made by the publisher. Making a decision to be at the helm of a ship that requires you to keep up with the industry changes and practices and also take on a great deal of risk may not be right for you. For others, it may make perfect sense.

In this day and age of consolidation and also expansion in the field of book publishing, writers have many choices about which ways they want to be published. Whether you choose to pursue a literary agent and the larger publishing companies or whether you decide that a small press or that self-publishing is better for your project, understand that whoever publishes your book will become a business partner. Get to know more about the company you publish with and read their contract completely. Discuss the contract with an intellectual property attorney and ask him or her to read the publishing contract with you. You also can use the resources to do this that may be provided by your membership in the National Writers Union, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and several other writers’ organizations who may offer a contract review service.

Nowadays, there are plenty of stories about publishers who have gone bankrupt and others who have promised to publish books that never make it to the shelf. Some of my past guests on my show have talked about the repercussions of experiences like these during their interviews and shared what they had to do to resurrect and reclaim their books.

Do your homework first and learn all that you can about a publisher before you work with them. Big or small, search the Internet and look up their catalog of books published. See if there are any industry news stories you’d want to be aware of regarding that publisher so you can discuss these with your agent or with the publisher directly.

Because your book is your hook, you want to protect your project and partner with the right publisher for it. In the end, whether you have a literary agent or not, it is you who partners with the publishing house and editor with your work. So be a wise business professional and understand the fine print, purpose and industry position of prospective partners before you sign away your project to just any publisher.

Jennifer’s show can be heard every week on Tuesday mornings at 9am when it is broadcast on WomensRadio.com and syndicated on Google News and Live365.com. Each show is archived for replay listeners in different time zones and countries.

For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.

By Guest Blogger John Kilcullen
Creator & Original Publisher of the …For Dummies Books, Executive Chairman of Fast Pencil & CEO of Brand Revolution LLC

Click Here to listen this interview any time after 9:00 am EST Tuesday June 14th, 2011 on the WomensRadio Network

I enjoy talking about the book biz.  Over the course of 17 summers I shared a ton of stories and publishing strategies in my lectures at the Stanford Professional Publishing Course. I got as much out of it as I put into it.

Part of the fun was to intellectually challenge participants:  Why not dare to be different? Why not lead instead of follow?

The questions (for publishers and authors) continued:  Do you have a carpe diem culture or an analysis-paralysis operating philosophy? Do you follow a “done is better than perfect” credo? Are you constantly experimenting and tinkering? Are you spending enough time living inside the hearts and heads of your customers and qualified prospects?

Winding down:  Are you in the products business or in the service business? Is customer service an obsession or a necessary evil? Are you converting nameless, faceless book buyers into customers you know a lot about? Is the publication of the book the celebratory end of the process or the beginning of a lifelong relationship with customers?

At times, there was radio silence. Often, we engaged in a spirited discussion about this crazy business we call publishing.

Today, I feel like I did when I was at the Frankfurt Book Fair when the wall was coming down …. Some people were clinging to the past as if they were holding on to the railings of the Titanic. Others bravely supported the winds of change. Those same feelings were evident last month when I walked the aisles of Book Expo America.

My advice to today’s aspiring authors and to publishing professionals alike:  If you can’t predict the future, invent it! Embrace ambiguity. Make change your friend. Build your digital/mobile/social DNA. Be open to new partnerships. Build a direct to consumer customer data base. Mine it regularly.

Apple’s famous advertising campaign summed it up best:  ”Think Different.” I would add … “Act Differently, too!”

Almost 20 years ago I defied conventional wisdom and published the first For Dummies book. Time and time again, we would sign, launch and market another bestselling title by first time authors, great “explainers” and sometimes even celebrities. Together, for 10 consecutive years, we created a dominant, how-to brand supported by a great authorial-editorial-marketing services team. I understand – and implemented – a consistent brand architecture driving brand preference (measured in repeat foot traffic and recurring revenue streams). Those early branding and publishing decisions continue to deliver value to this day.

Most importantly, we understood that our best brand ambassadors (now numbering 250 million) were our customers. Treat them right and they will reward you with their purchases and their evangelism … a powerful combination.

Let me know of your branding and serial success stories. Ping me at johnkilcullen@yahoo.com.  If you are an aspiring author with any question, don’t hesitate to ping me as well.

Carpe diem!

By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
The Literary Agent Matchmaker™
www.yourbookisyourhook.com

As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences.  Today let’s talk about book covers and brand identity.

Even though the saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover, when you establish a unique look for your book’s cover it can actually become your hook!

For years, designers and publishers have gone for looks that will be consistent with the book’s content and encourage interest in the book itself.

There’s a whole lot of “real estate” on a book cover so think twice about how you’lll use this asset wisely.

A book cover is comprised of the front cover, the back cover and the spine. You may be thinking, “Jennifer, this is elementary!” And you’d be right, but these components deserve careful consideration, especially in the current day and age of publishing.

For hardcovers and paperbacks, the attraction starts with the front cover OR spine. If a book is put on the shelf with its spine facing out, you are limited to this itsy, bitsy amount of space to make a first impression on the buyer and reader. If you are fortunate to have your book face out on the shelf, then the front cover is your ticket to attracting the reader’s eye.

For the same book, if it is an ebook or if it is included in an online booksellers’ inventory, the front cover is your key to success since this is what the browsing reader who is looking for a great book will see.

The back cover, while effective in the physical bookseller where the consumer can pick up the book and turn it over, loses its value when it comes to the electronic world we live in.
Now I’m not saying that the back cover of your book is worthless. Hardly! The copy that you would use on your back cover – the text – is very valuable indeed. This is where you may include a synopsis, praise or bullet points about the contents of the book and story inside.

Book covers tend to house the brand identity of a writer’s work. Book brands that have multiple authors use book cover design to distinguish their books from others while keeping their presentation consistent to the consumer.

Today’s guest, John Kilcullen, was one of the key people behind the effective branding strategy of the …For Dummies books. While these books have different authors, the book brand itself is easily identifiable by its bright yellow color and its title on the chalkboard cover image. The icon of the Dummies guy is also just that – a recognizable icon that conjures up the brand identity of the …For Dummies books.

Other books like the …For Dummies books including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to… books which use orange, white and blue colors on their covers and which are published by Alpha and the …An Hour A Day social media  and Internet-oriented books published by Sybex which have all developed a consistent, repeated design for their books that is recognizable to the purchaser as a reliable resource.

The funny thing about consistency in the look of your books is that this subtly conveys to the reader that if they enjoyed reading a previous book in the same series, they can be assured that the next one they buy will be just as good and provide a similar structure.

Now if you’re thinking this type of book cover and brand identity is only for nonfiction how-to books like these – think again.

Fiction books in a series and that are by a particular author have clear brand identities too. Oftentimes, the book covers will include a font type for the name of the author and the book title in certain positions so that each cover reflects the “brand” for that author. Take authors like James Patterson, David Baldacci, Patricia Cornwell, Clive Cussler and John Grisham. While the pictures on their book covers differ from book to book to reflect the image relevant to the story inside, the position of the book title and their names as authors of the books appear in the same places so as to provide a brand identity.

This also occurs in romance novels and their popular authors like Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts, Robyn Carr, Jude Deveraux, Linda Howard and Julie Garwood. In Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series, the pictures and the colors of each book may be different; however, it’s easy to distinguish these books and the series by Debbie’s name which appears prominently and in the same font on each book.

For you children’s authors, keep this strategy in mind for your books too! Dr. Seuss had his name prominently appear in the same font type and branding on all of his books that were produced with bright book covers and characters of all shapes and sizes. When his name appears on the book, parents know they can rely on a great reading experience for their young ones.

When you think about your books and how and where they will appear to a reader – whether it’s on the shelf of a physical bookseller, online at an Internet website or in an ereader catalogue, or at the library in your local city – be cognizant that your book cover can also be an important hook for your book!

Jennifer’s show can be heard every week on Tuesday mornings at 9am when it is broadcast on WomensRadio.com and syndicated on Google News and Live365.com. Each show is archived for replay listeners in different time zones and countries.

For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.