For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers
What's Your Biggest Challenge with Your Book?
I'd be interested to learn what authors/publishers on this network think their biggest challenges are with their book. I wonder if there's any common, pervasive challenge we all face.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by albertasequeira on
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Sara,
You have a great topic with obesity. That can fly on a lot of shows. So can mine with alcoholism..but it's the audience we need to find, especially me.
I read on this site about a year ago, ( I forgot who suggested it) that we need to forget depending on bookstores with signings and go "WHERE" our audience is.
I found that with the Catholic Woman's Ministry. I sold a box of books (32) and I get paid. I go to their Boston Chapter on Dec. 12th. I hope I do as well as the Providence, RI one.
I also listen to Steve Harrison with the telephone seminars and an author on his event said to read magazine or internet articles and comment on the subject that is written. Yesterday, I saw an article on a university in KS that is running a study on the college students with this problem of alcoholism.
I took a chance and wrote to the university to get the woman's name who is running the study. (I haven't heard back as of yet). I wanted to see if I could add ideas from losing a husband and daughter from this horrible, worldwide disease, and what I would have changed.
Today, I hit a journalist college in the UK on the internet. I got brave again and wrote to the administration office. Gave my info and asked if they would consider a student to do an interview with me about my loses and the topic of alcoholism through phones calls or emails. Now I wait.
Maybe I won't hear from any. I think it was Steve who said to do "something" every day to get noticed.
It's a very frustrating job marketing and getting hoping someone is interested in our books or talent. I also heard to sell yourself and not worry about your book. People want to know that you know your subject and what you are talking about. Sometimes I do wonder, What am I doing? I'm banging my head against a wall. Then two days later, I'm gun ho again on the internet searching sites and people.
Who knows, maybe I'll be at the right place at the right time!
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Permalink Reply by J. Steve Miller on
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On Speaking to Sell Books,
Alberta and Sara, we should probably study up a bit more (probably A LOT more) on developing speaking opportunities. I haven't been able to speak a lot over the past 15 years because of family commitments (caring for first wife for 4 years as she died from cancer; raising my four boys on my own, remarrying and adding 3 boys to the mix, now helping my mom care for my 103-year-old grandmom next door.) Bottom line: I'm tied down and don't get beyond the cul-de-sac much.
But when my wife and kids can pitch in and help, I've been speaking more lately. Last month, did a church youth retreat. They paid an honorarium, plus bought 33 of my books at a discount. Interacted (free) at a theological discussion group (they'd all bought and read one of my books in preparation). I spoke at a writers conference and was surprised that, although my book wasn't on the topic of my seminar, several bought books.
In January I'm speaking to a teen leadership group of about 20 students through a local chamber a commerce and the next month will speak to about 20 businessmen there. The chamber will do press releases for the events, put my bio in their brochures and websites for the entire year, send out reminders to their list of members, etc.
At this point, these are small opportunities, but probably just what I need to develop my presentations - learn what they laugh at, what they like to discuss, etc.
I developed my ability to speak in my early years, but never gave much thought to "the business of speaking." I'm finding things like: 1) If they weren't given a book for the event, put one in front of them to leaf through as I speak. Many will see it's value and want to keep it, thus buying it after the event. (Perhaps, Psychologically, it's harder to part with something you have in hand than to purchase something you see in the distance.) 2) Have them write comments on my seminar and turn them in. Not only does it sharpen my effectiveness, but I get blurbs to put on my speaker page on my site. 3) Have them also write down any other venues that might want me to speak. 4) Ask the promoter of each event, "If you were me, and you wanted do more speaking, who should I contact and how should I go about it?"
On topics like obesity (Sara), alcoholism (Alberta) and money (me), if we can give a decent presentation, we should be able to speak regularly. Right now, thousands of schools, chambers of commerces, churches and special interest groups are trying to fill their speaker schedule for 2010. (Many will put it off and fill spots a month in advance.) Surely, over time, we can make the contacts and learn the ropes and get the blurbs that will allow us to serve people and sell our books in these venues.
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I'm excited to speak next Saturday at the Catholic Woman's Ministry. I'll be asking if they know of anyone else in the Chapters that would be interested in my talks. I never thought of the Chambers of Commerces but someone else mentioned it.
I have a school wanting me to speak next year. My husband, Al, and I want to get a Power Point going. I've invited a few people who have had a drinking problem for the kids to relate to. Hopefully by next Fall, we'll be comfortable on running one. The school is willing to pay but hasn't said what amount.
I'm really looking forward to getting my sequel out, hopefully, by July of 2010 and I'm concentrating on getting talks.
I'm drained writing about losing my dad, husband and daughter. Next book will be short, fiction stories.
I thought I was busy but you are lucky to be breathing!
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Alberta,
I don't remember getting more replies after that first day, although I may have. Do remember to follow-up on those books you've sent out. After about a week, you might e-mail or call to make sure they received it (sometimes books get lost in mail rooms.) Then, if you don't see that they've done anything in a month or so, you might send a reminder. Everybody I know in publicity talks about the necessity of follow-up.
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Thanks, Steve,
I will do that.
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Permalink Reply by Cynthia Vespia on
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I'd like to jump in on this...I'm recently having a helluva time actually WRITING the damn thing! Having too many balls in the air, that's always my biggest challenge. For some reason I keep allowing everything else in my life to take precedence. That's a big no-no.
CYNTHIA VESPIA
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Permalink Reply by David Pyle on
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I assumed that Advertising and Marketing would be my largest roadblock. Writing in some cubbyhole over a period of months, while doing research and juggling a family was a piece of cake. Editing was work, but rewarding. I found a publisher for my novel - Between Life and Death (shameless plug).
I happily began an advertising campaign online, which was part of my previous occupation as an internet consultant. Within about three weeks, I was showing up at the top of Google searches.
Then came my waterloo - The one thing as a new author I never expected: The price of my fiction paperback novel was horrendously overpriced.
All the advertising in the world cannot undo a product that is roughly twice the going market price.
Their business model was selling to authors and I had been completely blindsided.
Now, what do I do?
* I found that I'm not without options - There's always the court system, but that is messy and would only hurt me.
* I can play their game - Incorporate and get a substantial discount and warehouse / broker my own book,
* OR be creative and get an established reputable distributor to do that for me.
This can paralyze some writers and I was no exception, but I'm back in the saddle and actively pursuing option #3.
Caveat Auctor
So... Know your Publisher and know your Literary Agent.
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Permalink Reply by Joel Friedlander on
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David,
Would you share with others which company it was that got you into this mess, so they might avoid the same fate?
Have you considered getting your own ISBN and moving the book elsewhere, or does your contract preclude that?
I'm thinking you may have problems getting a distributor under your current situation.
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Hey Joel,
First let me say that I accept the responsibility for not doing more research and got impatient while looking for a literary agent. The contract that I'm stuck with is for six more years and is with PublishAmerica. Again, I will say that my ties to them were the result of false and carefully worded advertising, but nevertheless, I signed...
Since then I found page after page after page of complaints of others with the same malady.
Because an author is considered a business, the Maryland Atty General will not pursue, the BBB of Maryland is powerless and the contract stipulates that any litigation must be addressed locally to Maryland.
Please don't let this turn into yet another threaded discussion about PublishAmerica, they are not worth the time and effort to discuss other than to warn others to stay away.
I also believe that there is a Higher Power that takes care of people that do this type of wrong to so many people.
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Thanks David, I appreciate your openness. I have no interest in bashing PA or anyone else, to be honest, but flagposts like yours really are the only way to help other unsuspecting authors from falling into the same situation. If nothing else, we can attempt to educate.
I had a client in a similar predicament a number of years ago. Due to a disagreement, the rights to his book were completely tied up. His solution? He re-wrote the book and published under a different title, selling it to a major publisher.
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Been there, done it, David. With the same company. Another author told me about them and I went. Preditors and Editors site had their record. I'm into my third year with them.
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I should add to this, David.
Find your audience. My memoir has a spiritual twist with a story on my father, Brigadier General, Albert L. Gramm.
Get the right location to talk about your books and PA won't stop you.
I'll let you know how I make out with sales afterespeaking to 125 Catholic Woman at their Ministry Saturday.
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