Literary Agent Provides 5 Publicity Keys and More

Welcome to another edition of Publishing and Publicity for Smart People, The Column.  We always provide a host of informative interviews designed to improve your book marketing ability. This year we have had an all-star line of guests from publicity to movie scouting and distribution to expert web strategist.  If you have missed any of the interviews or podcasts please visit our book marketing professional website. Today’s guest is Lynn Wiese Sneyd owner of LWS Literary Services. 

Leon: Tell us a little about you, hobbies and family.

Wiese-Sneyd: I’m the owner of LWS Literary Services. Previously I worked for a public relations firm as their book publicist. I also worked for Barnes & Noble as the community relation’s manager, and before that as a freelance writer. My book, Holistic Parenting, was published in 2000 by Keats (an imprint of McGraw-Hill). I was the co-author of two other books, Healthy Solutions, winner of the AZ Book Award, and also How Happy Families Happen.

I’ve lived in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, AZ for the past 16 years, coming to it via the Midwest. This fall, my husband and I transitioned into an empty nest, with both our daughters now in college.

Leon: How did you begin your writing journey? (Or business if it applies)

Wiese-Sneyd: I was an English major in college and always wanted to write, but stepped into the world of financial sales for 12 years. Finally, the urge to write took over and I started a freelance writing business. That path twisted and turned and led me into book writing and publishing, and then into book publicity.

Leon: What audience (or clients) do you want to reach?

Wiese-Sneyd: I work with authors from the beginning of the book writing process to the end. Translated that means I write query letters and book proposals, do agent and publisher searches, edit manuscripts, and then do publicity and marketing. Right now I even have a ghostwriting project.

Leon: What are the most effective ways you have promoted your book or business?

Wiese-Sneyd: Speaking at writing conferences has been very positive, as has doing workshops locally.

Leon: What ways have you used social media?

Wiese-Sneyd: I have a Facebook Page, Twitter account, and blog, but have not been very consistent in using any of them, mostly due to time constraints. Should the doorbell stop ringing and I need to generate additional business, I would use it more. I encourage all my clients to engage in social media marketing as much as possible.

Leon: What is the importance of tools like Twitter, Facebook, SEO, Web Optimization, Wiese-Sneyd: Blogging, Podcasting, etc. to author promotions?

It’s so important. These are great tools for getting an author, his/her message, and book out to the reading public. I wish all of these had been around when my book was published back in 2000. But alas, it wasn’t.

Leon: What are 5 things you feel every author should know about book marketing?

Wiese-Sneyd: The 5 “P’s”

1. Present yourself professionally every step of the way – via your website, in person, etc.
2. Write effective geared to the person you are pitching.
3. Do at least two things everyday to market your book.
4. Persist for 1 year, 2 years, maybe even 3 years.
5. Study the art of book marketing.

Leon: What are 5 things you want the audience to know about the importance of your business?

Wiese-Sneyd:

1. Without publicity, your book will sit in the dark without readers.
2. A good editor is a writer’s best friend.
3. As an author, you have three things to present to the public: your book, your message and you. How you present those three things is key to marketing.
4. A query letter is key to attracting an agent and publisher. It has to sizzle and sing in a condensed space.
5. No one gets published or famous without a team of people behind them.

Leon: How would you like to be contacted for people to purchase your book or service?

Wiese-Sneyd: Through my website.

Leon: Please give our authors a closing word of encouragement.

Wiese-Sneyd: Take the time to learn the craft of writing and the business side of writing. These are two disparate areas, but they are both areas in which writers need to be proficient. These, and a double dose of persistence – no, make that at triple or quadruple dose – will get you published and noticed. 

Linda Leon

Media specialist and book marketing professional

c2012