The Next Step

A lot has transpired since my previous post. I will now be more disciplined in updating every friday as I am now in the beginning of the marketing stages of this process. I went through the book again, approving and disapproving of the editor's changes and resubmitted it for the last time. This is the cast off! Goodbye editorial department.
  I am having an absolute blast with this new area of becoming an author. Despite the nature of the brunt of the work being introverted, I am really a people person and love both what I do and talking about it. I spent a while at my local bookstore, looking through and purchasing some books on marketing a print on demand book like mine and it is just one more example of questions answered that I didn't even know to ask. Reviews would be the center of those questions. As it turns out, reviews are the epicenter of book marketing. Because you can't judge a book by its cover, you have to trust the experts and their opinions. Being a novice author, I have to write queries and essentially show off while asking favors at the same time. Be sure to check out the shout-outs page for more names in the near future.
  Aside from finding solid reviewers, I am also looking toward actual customers and environments to market myself as an author, my message as a writer, and of course the book itself. To do this I am traveling to public libraries first to find groups that meet there who have need of guest speakers. Turns out, the Manchester, NH, Public Library has monthly local author meetings. This gives a scheduled local author the opportunity to make a presentation, do a book signing, or run a workshop. In  October I plan to make full use of this opportunity.
  Given the current exciting pace of my work, there will be much more to report on in the coming weeks. So until next friday!

Editing and Marketing

Well, this is it... deep breaths now... the book has gone into editing, after that it goes right into production. It looks like the editing is going to take up to 4 weeks, then another month or so to be in full print. In the meantime, I will have my hands full with developing a marketing plan. I plan to start with small networks like my hometown to see what it has to offer. Perhaps the surrounding high schools would like to have a copy of a local author's book in their libraries? At any rate I am going to start sniffing around the local libraries in the area. I will also take this time to get to know some local bookstore owners/franchisees. Hopefully I will have some new names up on the shout-out page.

There is a bookstore in Maine and a local chain called Toadstool Bookstores I intend to check out. I also found out that Barnes and Noble are locally owned and the franchisees maintain a lot of sway over what books they carry. We shall see I suppose.

With a winning marketing plan, I will qualify for Iuniverse's rising star award. They will pitch the book for me to large retailers like Borders and Barnes and Noble. However, I cannot depend on the talents of others wholly. I only hope that the rising star award opens doors for me as a credible author. Then I should be able to reach more people with my work.

It is important to think outside the box in times like these. While Barnes and Noble and Borders are an irreplaceable ally in selling a book, there are other outlets for marketing. For instance, Target has a "New Authors" section, and the NH RV show, at which I volunteered last year, strews select books inside of their RVs. I made a few solid contacts last year, I'm sure I will find out.

I still recall looking upon a blank Microsoft Word page years ago, with a story inside of me waiting to fly into my computer. Now, with my sequel, I am starting that process again and finding a nostalgic lust for the fabrication of new material. I'll be sure to update again when I hear more news.

If anyone has any tips or angles I should look at in considering the marketing of this book, please don't hesitate to become a member and make a post.

Editor's Choice Award

As many of you already know, I am self publishing my first book. Iuniverse is the publisher I have selected, they are the largest agency of their kind in America, with more than 600 submissions monthly. Now, this is not a traditional publisher, and doesn't always see the quality of writing that a typical publisher does, but I believe those passionate about writing who simply can't find an agent or chose time over money are plenty talented.

Out of these many submissions, only a few are privy to an award system, based on the marketability of the individual and their skill as novice novelists. On April 8th, 2011, I received their Editor's Choice award, meaning that some high standard editor (whom I have not met yet, but will soon for sure, mark my words) really sees potential in my manuscript.

I am skeptical of its prestige, but I believe any recognition my manuscript receives before being in print is positive, no matter how meager. This is not the end of the road. I still have changes to make in the manuscript, and after it is tucked away in the editor's briefcase, I will be going for a second award, the Rising Star. This falls on me as a person versus my storytelling talent. This award is attained through meticulous business planning. This is essentially a business plan for my career as an author. As modest as I like to be about business, when it comes to innovation and market tactics, I am a quick study of, have a degree in, and am damn good with management. As always, thank you all for reading.