Do You Read The Labels?

I'm sure that, if you are like most consumers, you generally read the labels on items before making a purchase.  On food items, a label may not only list the ingredients but instructions on how the food should be properly prepared.  A clothing label will list the fibers the item is comprised of as well as how to care for it.  Labels are everywhere and on most everything.  But, did you ever stop to think that books have labels, too?   They are better known as book jackets or covers.

Book covers serve as the 'label' that readers will use when deciding whether or not to buy your book.  As with most other products, the more attractive the label, the more appealing it will be to the consumer.   What artwork or photo is on the front cover of your book?  Is it brightly colored, does it contain bold lettering, or does it give a clue as to what the story might be about?   Besides listing the title and author's name, the front cover should stand out enough to create a desire for the reader to pick it up to learn more.  A dull, drab cover or one that is a 'cookie cutter' of others won't hold the same appeal as something unique.

Now that you've created an interest with the front cover, will the back cover do the same?  Will the book 'blurb' and author bio cause the customer to want to read what's inside?  The best blurbs are those which accurately describe the plotline of the story without giving too much away.  They 'tease' the reader with information just enticing enough to make them want to know the rest of the story.  One or two paragraphs is really all you will need for a good book blurb.  The same holds true for an author bio--the reader wants to know a little about you--not your entire life's story!  One or two paragraphs, along with a current picture (if you desire) will generally suffice.

It's been said that books shouldn't be judged by their covers, but in reality, they are.  Be sure yours is one that will not only attract the customer, but the sale as well!  Happy writing!

The UN-truths of Self-Publishing

One of the biggest, and probably most difficult, decisions for an author is whether or not to self-publish. Unfortunately, there are still many in the literary world who feel that self-published works are sub-standard and that the writers of these works will never achieve any sort of success. As an award-winning, self-published author with sales in the thousands and an ever-growing fan base, I'm here to tell you that much of what you are hearing from these sources simply isn't true. While I always encourage an aspiring writer to choose the path to publication that best suits his/her situation and desires, I would like to help those still in the decision-making process by debugging some of the un-truths about self-publishing.

UN-TRUTH: Self-published works are primarily poorly edited, sub-standard pieces of literature.
TRUTH: While there will always be some authors who do publish poorly edited material(and make a bad name for the rest of us!), it is by no means the norm for self-published works. Most self-published authors spend their hard-earned money to hire professional editors who will examine their works with a fine-toothed comb. Some go through two or three complete edits--including rewrites, deletions, and self-edits--before submitting their manuscripts for publication. Yes, it is true that an occasional error will go unnoticed and wind up in print, but I have witnessed this in traditional works as well. After all, editors are only human!

UN-TRUTH: A self-published author will never sell more than a few copies of his/her book.
TRUTH: I personally know many SP authors, myself included, who have sold thousands of copies of their books, and not just to family and friends! Knowing one's niche market, a willingness to participate in book signing opportunities, and having the dedication to regularly market the work will go a long way in gaining a strong reader base and book sales.

UN-TRUTH: Self-published books don't have a wide distribution.
TRUTH: Many self-publishing companies offer their authors distribution through thousands of online outlets as well as availability through Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and Bowker's. Authors who choose not to go through a SP company can still gain wide distribution by signing up with various online outlets. Query letters, phone calls, or better yet, personal visits to libraries and book stores are often all it takes to gain a spot for your book on their shelves. My books are distributed worldwide and can be ordered through 25,000 online retailers. They are also available in many libraries and book stores, including some stores in a national chain.

UN-TRUTH: Self-published authors can't get reviews, awards, or recognition for their works. TRUTH: There are now many online review sites and publications who cater primarily to self-published books. ForeWord Magazine is one of them, and I have two awards through their Book of The Year contest. Several contests invite and encourage self-published authors to participate, including USA Book News. Many self-published authors have had their works turned into movies--"Legally Blonde" by Amanda Brown (published by 1st Books (now Authorhouse)) is one of them. Again, a willingness to seek out and participate goes a long way to getting there!

UN-TRUTH: Authors self-publish only because they can't get a traditional contract.
TRUTH: Authors self-publish for many reasons, and rarely, if ever, is it simply because they are unable to get a contract. Some of the reasons I have heard for self-publishing include, but aren't limited to: a desire to get the work to market quickly; desire to retain all rights to the manuscript; complete control of content, word/page count, etc.; ability to work on one's own schedule (no deadlines); and freedom to market in the manner of one's own choosing. Also, many SP authors who have gone on to land traditional contracts--John Grisham, Christopher Paolini, and Nicholas Sparks, to name a few.

UN-TRUTH: Traditionally published authors make higher royalties on per-book sales than SP authors.
TRUTH: In many instances, it is the other way around! While royalties will largely depend on one's publisher, sales volume, etc., I know many TP writers who make significantly less per book sold than some of my SP friends, including myself. (Six or seven cents per book sold (TP) as opposed to a few dollars per book or more(SP))  Again, this depends largely on the publisher and the contract they've established with the writer.

Again, choosing a publishing format is a personal choice.  Before making a decision, be sure to thoroughly research all the options available to you.  I hope this post has helped you on your path to that decision! Happy writing!

Can You Relate?

I have a confession to make. I'm in love with a man who isn't my husband. It started off innocently enough; we met one morning almost eight years ago over a bowl of Corn Flakes and a cup of Lipton decaf tea. As I sat alone with him in the dim glow of the computer screen, he promised me a future I had never imagined was possible. He told me that if I would only believe in him--if I would only allow him into my heart--that he'd be with me forever. That was all it took. My life changed that day, and I've never looked back. He's become such a part of me that I could never imagine life without him. The best part is, my husband knows about our relationship; in fact, he encourages it. How can one woman be so lucky?

Now, before you get your feathers in an uproar, I'm really NOT cheating on my husband. The man I'm referring to is the hero of my Forever Love Series, Mitch Tarrington. On that fateful day in September, 2004, I was introduced to Mitch, his future wife, Dana, and a cast of their family and friends through what I describe as divine intervention. Like my own children, I was given the responsibility of breathing life into them, of shaping their personalities, of making them who they are and playing a role in who they are to become. I speak to them, I scold them, I laugh and cry with them. They are a part of me and I am a part of them. They fill my life with an indescribable joy that only another writer would understand. After all, it's a writer's duty to know his characters so intimately that they become like real people to him. Only then can he make them appear as real people to his readers. I've spoken to many aspiring writers about the importance of creating credible characters who will jump off the page and into the hearts and minds of their readers. The author has to understand how each character thinks, feels, reacts to situations, his likes and dislikes, what makes him happy, sad, angry, or afraid. He has to know how each character walks and talks, what he likes to eat, his favorite passtime and occupation. Just like a family member or good friend, the author must know the characters intimately. Once he does, he will be able to write them into his story with such passion and accuracy that readers will love them just as much as he does, and will continue to read his works for years to come.

Write What You Know--or Not?

One piece of advice I'm sure every writer has heard--and possibly followed--is "write what you know." I always thought it made sense until I recently read a different take on the subject in "The Writer's Idea Book" by Jack Heffron. Mr. Heffron tells the story of a good friend who was determined to become a writer upon retiring from a big-city police force. His 30+ years on the beat had given him the edge to write crime stories--or so he thought. His stories, while filled with technical jargon and the ins and outs of police work, were dull and lacking in plot and character. Upon seeking advice from Mr. Heffron on how to bring more life into his work, the conversation somehow drifted to a collection of beer memorabilia that littered his home. Noticing the light in his eyes and the passion with which he discussed those items, Mr. Heffron advised him to stop with the crime stories and start with the beer(writing about it, that is!) It became obvious that, while he knew a ton about being a cop, it was something he no longer enjoyed or held a passion for. Once he began to write about a subject that held an interest for him, he went on to publish with several prestigious trade magazines.

The point of the story is this, as Mr. Heffron puts it: "Too often we choose to write about what we think others will like, or what's hot in the marketplace. If writing about something feels like a guilty pleasure, you're on the right track." He goes on to say that we should forget about writing strictly about what we know, and write about what we like. (and if what you know and what you like are one in the same, even better!) The more I thought about it, the more I agreed. When you're excited and interested in what you are writing about, it will show on the page. Your passion will come through in the scenes and breathe life into your characters. Not only will you produce a work you can be proud of, but you'll also produce a work that your readers will love. Happy writing!

"To Thine Own Self, Be True"

Would you compromise your personal values in order to sell books? Would you allow an editor or book critic to cause you to change your writing "voice"? Would you hide behind a pen name in order to write material you would be embarrassed for your friends and family to know you were associated with? Would you mimic the styles of other writers just to land a publishing deal, even if it wasn't a style or genre you felt comfortable with?

While I'm not here to judge anyone, I must honestly say that I hope you answered no to the above questions. As authors, we all want to enjoy some level of success with our work and build a substantial fan base of readers. Some of us might like to be associated with big-name traditional publishers or see our books on the NY Times bestseller list. Some of us may even want to land positions writing for major magazines or see our names rolling with the credits at the theater or on TV. Goals are great, and it is my sincere belief that all dreams are worth pursuing. But if reaching those goals or fulfilling those dreams means giving up who you really are to "go along with the crowd," then I must ask, is it really worth it?

I believe that we as writers need to stay true to who we are and what we stand for. Each of us has been blessed with a unique and wonderful gift that we can share freely. We have the potential to change lives and bring joy into the hearts of hundreds, even thousands, of people simply by placing words on paper. Along with this gift comes our own unique areas of talent and our own ways of delivering those words to the readers. Whatever your genre, whatever the level of intensity you want to give to the story, whether you write in first or third person(or both!),fiction, non-fiction, etc., make it your own. Develop and keep your own voice. Do what you feel comfortable with and what your heart tells you is right. Don't give in to the pressure to follow the crowd. Don't be a cookie cutter author just to get sales or land a contract. Stay true to yourself and what you believe in, and don't let anyone take that away from you. It's then, I believe, that you will find the true success you have been looking for. Here's wishing you all the best!

Pushy or Passionate?

I recently took part in a lively discussion with other authors about the fine art of self-promotion. For most authors, and especially for those of us who are independently published, sharing information about your work with those around you is a must if you have any hope of selling books or securing personal appearances. There is nothing wrong with 'tooting your own horn,' but how do you know when you've crossed the line between passionate and pushy?

Let's take the example of a used car salesman my husband and I dealt with several months ago. "Bill" was a really nice guy and worked for a reputable local dealership. After expressing a slight interest in one of his vehicles, Bill made it a point to call our home at least four times a day--every day--for over two months. Even after expressing that we would call him if we decided to make a purchase, he persisted. Sadly, Bill's attitude pushed us right into the showroom of another dealership and into an entirely different vehicle. Had Bill backed down and let us take the time we needed without making us feel pressured, he may have gotten our sale.

Now, don't get me wrong--I fully understand that Bill was only trying to drum up business, and he needs to make money like anyone else. But allowing your customers--or in our case, readers--to take the lead does wonders for gaining trust and gaining sales and referrals. My rule of thumb is this: If the conversation is going well and the conditions are appropriate to do so (i.e. I'd never try to get business at someone's funeral!),I will casually mention that I am an author. Then, if the other party expresses further interest, I will expound on my work and offer a brochure. I never ask for any information from them unless we have discussed the possibility of a personal appearance--then I would need an email or phone number to follow up. Even in that instance, I am careful to contact them only a few times, and always ask that they follow up with me if they are still interested and at their convenience.

Keep this thought in mind--when you are sharing your work with others, be passionate. Create a burning desire within them to know more, and then, back off. Give them time to respond on their own, and chances are, you'll be more than pleased with the results. Good luck!

Paying It Forward

As an accomplished author with two published novels under my belt, I'm often sought out by new or aspiring writers for advice on how to break into the literary world. In my seven years of writing, never once have I refused to share my "secrets" with anyone nor have I hesitated to discuss topics that may be beneficial in helping them down the road to publication. I delight in seeing new authors succeed, and as the "older, more knowledgeable" one, I actually feel, in many instances, that I owe it to them. After all, I didn't get to where I am without the help of others who had forged the path ahead of me. Why should I expect anyone else to do it?

Sadly enough, despite my own willingness to share with my fellow authors, many in the field don't feel the same way. More than once I have been refused the privilege of gaining insight that might help further my career simply because someone chose to be selfish. I've encountered blank stares (read as, "I have no idea what you're talking about"), the silent treatment ("Sorry, my computer/phone stopped working and I also moved so I never got your messages"), or the person simply skirts around the issue and gives an answer/advice that has nothing to do with what I had originally asked. I have to believe these people are afraid that,if they help me, I will somehow take away from their success. If I happen to know the name of a book store contact that they use, will this disable them from returning to that store? If they tell me how to become a presenter at a conference they are speaking at, are they afraid I'll "steal the spotlight" from their presentation? I just don't get it.

In my opinion, we as writers have a common bond and the ultimate goal of each of us is to succeed at the art, whether that means landing a contract with a big-name publisher, selling thousands of books, or simply getting our name in print. We need to stick together, to help each other out, and to cheer each others' successes. Remember, you were once in that person's shoes--if someone helped you, I say, pay it forward.