Paid Book Reviews: The Pros and Cons
Paid Book Reviews: Are They Worth It or Not? Paid book reviews are a growing topic of conversation in the publishing industry. Also, many first-time authors are surprised to learn they can pay for reviews. While in years past, paid reviews were considered taboo and unprofessional, it is less and less the case. Increasingly, paid […]
Authors: How to Make Your Publishing Contract Work For You
by Denise Gibbon, Publishing Consultant and Attorney at Law, Above the Dotted Line Though most authors would laugh at the thought, a story and a publishing contract have a lot in common. Just as a story includes fictional or true-life characters, setting, plot, and conflict, a contract has all the same elements. In the legal world, we disguise […]
How to Get Your Book into Your Local Bookstore
by Kit Little, New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association staffer and Marketing Director Towne Book Center & Café in Collegeville, PA Congratulations on your book! Now, how do you get it into your local bookstore… One of the wonderful things about our current literary atmosphere is that independent publishers and authors have opportunities they have never […]
From the front lines: a Simon & Schuster sales rep helps sell your book
by Tim Hepp, Sales Manager at Simon & Schuster Hello authors, my name is Tim Hepp and I have a confession to make: I am the guy that could potentially make or break your book. As a veteran sales rep with over 30 years of experience, 25 of them working for Simon & Schuster, I […]
Submitting Your Article to a Magazine in Four Easy Steps
By JoEllen Taylor, FirstEditing So you’ve written the perfect article on…whatever…and you’re ready to submit it for publication. But wait—how do you go about article submission? What secret codes must be cracked, what publishing gods appeased, in order for your article to see print? It’s not as mysterious a process as you’d think; in fact, […]
5 Surefire Tips for Choosing the Best Book Publicist or Book Marketing Firm
Not surprisingly, I think Smith Publicity is one of the best book marketing agencies in the industry. However, this doesn’t mean I think we are the perfect fit for every author. Part of the meaning of our very simple mission statement, “Make Good Things Happen for Authors,” is that we always want to make sure […]
5 Ways Book Clubs Can Boost Book Sales
by Shari Stauch Book clubs can be a defining moment in any author’s career because they often spark significant sales. The success of any book is accelerated if book clubs like it and begin spreading the news. To professional book marketers, publishers, and seasoned authors, they are highly regarded influencers — and it’s why book […]
5 Things Literary Agents Wished Every Writer Knew
by Laura Rothschild and Sandra O’Donnell, literary agents, RO Literary The 5 Things Agents Wished Every Author Knew As agents, we want your book to be a huge success. We really do. Our job is to sell your book to prospective publishers, and part of selling your book is selling you. Here are the top […]
Boost Your Book Marketing Brainstorm
When it comes to book marketing—or any kind of marketing, really—the brainstorming session plays a critical role in strategy development, campaign direction, and overall efficiency and effectiveness. At Smith Publicity, we review all angles of our clients’ materials—their book, message, background, personality, and our ever-important author questionnaire—before we even sit down at the brainstorming table. […]
What Publishers Want to Know About Your Book
By Greenleaf Book Group Publishing is a business. In order for publishers (and authors) to make money, they need to sell books. So, when publishers look at a project they ask themselves: What is the market for this? Who would be interested? How many people comprise that segment of the population? How often do they buy […]