Writing and Publishing News from

I love it when I get an email announcing that a review of one of my books has been posted. This week, so far, it has happened twice!

Mary Lewis at Virtual Wordsmith wrote a great review beneath the largest image I’ve ever seen of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. See this phenomenon and read the super review at http://virtualwordsmith.blogstop.com

She also posts my interview with her at http://blogstopbooktours.wordpress.com/blog

Thank you, Mary.

Dawn Copeman, the new newsletter editor for Moira Allen’s Writing-World.com and editor of the Newbie-Writers Newsletter, sent me a copy of her review of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. It’s spectacular. She refers to my book in the first sentence as “dynamite!” Her great review will be posted at her website soon. I’ll let you know when it’s up. It already went out in the Newbie Writer Newsletter—in case any of you receive it. You might want to check out Dawn’s site for newbies at http://www.newbie-writers.com

As I understand it, it’s a work in progress, so visit often. Thank you, Dawn, for all that you do at Writing-World and with your Newbie Writers.

Interview Techniques
Have you ever been interviewed on behalf of your book? Do you know what you would say? How would you respond to sensitive questions? What do you want others to know about you and your project? What message do you want to leave with readers?

Here are my tips for participating in an interview:

First, how do you get an interview? Sometimes people will seek you out, but most often, especially when your book is new, you must be proactive in locating interview opportunities.

• Search out sites, newsletters and magazines that post/publish interviews with authors and other professionals in your topic/genre. Google Alerts can help you with this task as this service notifies you when there’s something new on the web related to your topic/genre. http://www.google.com/alerts

For a face-to-face interview

• Before seeking out interview opportunities, hone your communication skills. I recommend joining a local Toastmasters Club. http://www.toastmasters.org for one near you.

• Come prepared to be photographed or bring your professional photo with you.

• Choose your words carefully, some interviewers actually include every “um” and “er” you utter. Truly, it happened to me once. And believe me, this does not make for a very good presentation.

• Break those bad habits such as the overuse of words and phrases—“clearly,” “apparently,” “you know” and so forth.

• Learn to think on your feet. This is something you can practice with friends.

• Be real. Speak from your knowledge base, but also from your heart.

• Keep your audience in mind throughout the interview.

• What if you are asked a sensitive question—something you’d rather not answer? Fake it—just use that question as a segue into an area you are comfortable talking about. For example, you’re asked, “Your book focuses on childhood abuse, is this something that you experienced firsthand?” If your parents are still alive and you aren’t ready to reveal your personal story, simply say, “Millions of children each year suffer abuse at the hands of people they trust. It’s more common than you think.” And then go into one of the stories from your book, perhaps, or share a story from your files as a social worker.

Email interviews are popular these days. The interviewer will send you a list of questions (hopefully, after studying a little about you) and you can respond at your leisure. The beauty of the email interview is that you can change your mind in midstream of an interview question and no one is the wiser. For an email interview:

• Respond in a timely manner. I can’t tell you how many people cheat themselves out of interview opportunities for the SPAWN Market Update because they don’t respond promptly. Soon they forget the request and/or just never get around to it. If you put off responding to interview questions until you finally forget about the opportunity, you are the one who loses.

• Respond to the questions when you are fresh and then go back over your responses after letting them sit for a while.

• Think about your audience while responding. Are they mostly professionals related to your topic or newbies? Are they involved in your topic daily or on occasion? Do most of them seek a career in this field or are they just curious about it? Find out who your audience is and speak to them.

• When you’re asked to describe your typical day, this generally means with regard to your topic. If you’re a fitness expert, for example, with a book on fitness, your audience is interested in how you stay fit. Maybe yours is novel or a children’s book and your audience is made up mostly of new writers of novels or children’s books, they probably want to know how you schedule your day to include time for writing. They want to know how you write amidst chaos or clutter and what techniques you use throughout your day for inspiration.

• When you’re asked what led to you writing this book, your audience probably wants to be able to relate to your story. They want to be able to say, “If he came from an uneducated family and succeeded as a writer, I can, too.” Or “If she can write a book while working fulltime and raising a family, why can’t I?”

• Always give more than you’re asked for. Give more than a one sentence answer to the question, “What would you advise others who would like to earn an advanced degree (or learn to skydive or become fit)?” The more you offer, the more apt the reader is to purchase your book.

Being interviewed is an interesting process. I always learn something about myself: my habits, my inspirations, my motivation, when I respond to interview questions.

If you need more information about any aspect of writing, finding a publisher for and/or marketing your book, please read this multiple 5-star rated book which, as you can see, is quite well-received by my peers: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Yes, the topic of today’s blog is the workshop, but first…

As I said, while I’ve been reporting some of what others are saying and doing and threatening to do, with regard to the Amazon/BookSurge situation, I haven’t felt comfortable making a statement personally or through SPAWN until I read the original statement from Amazon. Well, we found the “letter” that has created so much anger. You can read it, too, right here:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-printondemand

Please share your comments with us: PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Your Workshop Topic
If your book is a how-to, self-help or informational book, for example, you are probably an expert or, at least, well-versed in your field. Design workshops and other presentations related to your topic. I’ve promoted my local history books for years by going out and speaking on aspects of the local history. I speak and conduct workshops related to writing and publishing as a means of gaining exposure for my books on these topics. I know authors who conduct demonstrations and give presentations on topics related to gardening, cooking, relationships, budgeting, meditation, training rescue dogs, identifying wildflowers, art and many others.

Generally, you will pare down your book topic—choose a chapter or concept to focus on when planning a talk or workshop. Instead of trying to share the entire history of the Ojai Valley with a group in 30 or 60 minutes, I might talk about the earliest settlers, the events that led up to establishing the town, early businesses in the valley or the history of the school system, for example. If you’re promoting your memoir, share just one aspect of your story and give it depth, meaning and interest by learning some storytelling skills.

If your book is fiction or a children’s book, you can read from the book, but I think you connect better with an audience if you tell your story. If you aren’t a natural storyteller, join a storyteller organization and get plenty of practice.

For fiction, you might devise a workshop related to writing a book like yours or how to conduct research for a historical novel, for example.

Is it a Workshop, Demonstration or Talk?
What is the difference between a workshop, seminar, demonstration, presentation or plain old talk? Actually, you’ll see some of these words used interchangeably and, in my opinion, erroneously so. A workshop is an educational seminar, which might or might not involve audience participation. A seminar is a form of academic instruction where the group focuses on a particular subject and everyone participates. Conference organizers will refer to a plain old lecture as a workshop. When you are asked to a workshop or seminar on a complex subject in a 30 or 60 minute session, you know that you won’t have time for much hands on work or audience participation. If they want you to conduct a 3-hour program, you can follow a seminar or workshop plan and involve your audience/students.

How Do You Get These Gigs?
I always advise starting locally. Ask the program director for your church or a club you belong to or somewhere else where you will feel comfortable getting your feet wet as a presenter. Get a list of your local civic organizations from the Chamber of Commerce and contact the program directors. Contact appropriate organizations and businesses related to your topic/theme of your book. Reach out beyond your city, county and state and seek out scheduled conferences related to your topic through http://www.allconferences.com and Shaw’s Guide at http://www.shawguides.com

Create your own opportunities. You no doubt have resource lists and access to resource lists related to your topic/genre. Tap into these and create opportunities to promote your book. For example, if your book features using intuition in the workplace, contact corporate leaders with a proposal for your program.

What if You Are Afraid of Public Speaking?
It’s not unusual for writers to be meek promoters. If this describes you, you have two choices: forget about personal presentations and chance losing out on thousands of book sales or hone your speaking skills. I recommend the latter. I further recommend that you join a Toastmasters Club NOW. Go to http://www.toastmasters.org to find a club near you. You won’t regret this decision.

And before you venture out to speak on behalf of your book, and particularly before you start writing that book, read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I write about a lot of different writing/publishing-related topics in this blog and in the various articles you see published all over the web and in the mags and newsletters you read. You’ll find most of these subject in more detail in this comprehensive book. It’s one of those books that you will refer to often, so buy it, read it and then keep it close at hand. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

What are your publishing assumptions? Until you spend some time within the publishing realm, studying the industry and how it works and listening to those who have gone before you, there are certain things that you will probably assume to be true.

I consider myself a bubble burster. I go around bursting bubbles for hopeful authors who believe the following:

*All I have to do is create a magnificent manuscript and publishers will come knocking at my door.

*Once published, the publisher will promote my book. All I have to do is concentrate on writing my sequel.

*If I decide to go with a fee-based POD “self-publishing” company, I can pay them to promote my book. They have some wonderful programs featuring sending out press releases, etc. And if I give them an additional $800, my book becomes returnable and they will place it in every major bookstore in the nation.

*If I self-publish (establish my own publishing company), all I have to do is a 6 or 8 month blast of promotion and my book will keep selling for evermore.

Here I come with my bubble popping needle. The truth is that no matter which publishing option you choose (and believe me, you do have options), you—the author—are responsible for promoting your book. And you are the best person to promote your book, by the way. No one else really cares as much about your book as you do. Isn’t that right? No one else has that intimate connection with your book.

Here’s another tidbit that many authors don’t want to hear: Your book will sell only for as long as you are willing to promote it. Stop promoting it and sales will likely diminish.

You’ve heard (read) me talk about the enormous competition for authors and publishers. It has come to the point where we must scramble for every sale. Of course, you have options when it comes to promoting your book, too. There are bold promotional activities and some designed for the bashful promoter (you’ll find articles posted at my website for all types of authors). You can hire a publicist—but expect to be kept very busy traveling around and talking about your book. Or you can sit back and complain that no one will buy your book. It’s all up to you.

Authorship is more than coming up with a book idea and then putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. It involves a commitment to the business side of publishing and this is true whether you are seeking publication by a traditional royalty publisher, decide to self-publish (establish your own company) or go with a fee-based POD “self-publishing” service.

If you are thinking about writing a book, consider the type of promotional activities you will pursue. If you already have a published book, hat type of promotional activities are you going to pursue this week?

For more on this and many other topics related to writing, publishing and promoting your book, visit my website: http://www.matilijapress.com Read some of the articles I’ve posted there.

Read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book—no one I have spoken with after reading this book has regretted spending time with it. You won’t, either. And no one wants to loan this book out because they want it at hand at all times to reference http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

I spent a good part of the day yesterday spreading the word about my new ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit; a book designed to help you heal your publishing mistakes and breathe new life into your faltering or failing book. This book features a system similar to preparing a book proposal only in reverse. If you didn’t write a book proposal before you produced your book, perhaps you are regretting that decision. But it might not be too late. Buy this ebook (it’s only $5.95) and learn how to repair your promotions program or your book itself. http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html

This ebook had its first review. Joe Wikert at Joe Wikert’s Publishing 2020 Blog highly recommends this little ebook. He said. “The tips on this (his own) blog are generally aimed at authors who are writing new book proposals or at the early stage of their manuscript development. But how about all those books that are already published and not selling very well? Where can an author find tips on how to fix the book after it’s already out?”

He continues, “I used to think there was no good answer to either of those questions…until I discovered a 27-page ebook called The Author’s Repair Kit by Patricia Fry.” He goes on to say that The Author’s Repair Kit is loaded with the type of tough questions you need to ask yourself to help make the best book possible.” Read the entire review and leave comments at http://jwikert.typepad.com/the_average_joe/2008/04/the-authors-rep.html

And Fran Silverman, in her recent edition of Book Promotion Newsletter, mentioned this new ebook. Look for my bio under my feature article, 8 Ways to Build Your Author Platform. Sign up for this newsletter at http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com Contact Fran at franalive@optonline.net.

The month is getting away from me. SPAWN will have two booths at the big Los Angeles Times Festival of Books April 26-27. So I’ve been busy preparing our participating members and myself for the event. If you’re in the area or UCLA, be sure to come by and see us. We’re holding down booth number 142. Meet some of our SPAWN members and take a look at their wide array of published books. We’ll also be handing out our SPAWN Catalog of Members’ Books and Services.

April 29, I’m participating in a workshop with Mary Embree in Ventura, CA. The topic is Research and Interviewing Techniques for Authors and Freelance Writers. Let me know if you want more information on this activity. I’ll have copies of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book on hand for sale.

And in early May, I’m flying out to Baltimore for a Writers’ Conference where I’ll be speaking on writing a book proposal in 8 easy steps. Are there any Baltimore residents out there? Check out this opportunity at http://www.marylandwriters.org/conferences.html

I’m in the negotiation stages of setting up a gig in Panama City, Florida for September. Let me know if you live in that area. Have any of you participated in a writers’ conference in Panama City before? I’d like to hear from you. Mike Lister is the organizer.

I submitted 5 articles to writing/publishing-related newsletters and magazines yesterday and had 3 of them accepted on the spot.

What are you doing to promote your book these days? Have you discovered any unique methods you’d like to share? I’m all ears—well, eyes. PLFry620@yahoo.com.

The Atlanta Spring Book Show is over for another year. I applaud the organizers for a job well done, especially in light of the unexpected tornado that caused a change of venue two weeks before the event. I taught a 3-hour seminar on how to write a book proposal. I think it went well. It seemed to be very well-received. I also spoke Saturday afternoon on the two secrets to publishing success. The turn out was lower than previous years and they say that was due to competing events that weekend for writers and authors. A shame. The rain may have kept others away.

I had occasion this weekend to meet writers and authors I’ve only known via the Internet. Three seminar/speech attendees follow my blog. It was great to meet them. I met two long-time SPAWN members. SPAWN, for those visitors who don’t know, is Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network. http://www.spawn.org I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Bobbie Christmas, author, editor and regular contributor to SPAWNews. She was presenting a seminar at the Spring Book Show on Saturday, as well. Sandra Cropsey, SPAWN member from near Atlanta and the author of Who’s There, a new hysterical novel. (Yes, not historical, hysterical), came up to the Hilton Atlanta after a daylong book signing for her book and we discussed our careers and publishing in general for a few hours. Such a delight.

I’m in Nashville now, preparing for a book signing and workshop at Borders West End tonight. I got involved with an online Meet Up Group in Atlanta and learned that there are 28 writers signed up to attend my gig tonight. I personally know of a few others, so we may have a very good turn out tonight. I’m not counting on it, though. Weather, tornado threats, a bad day at work, writing deadlines, family pressures and all sorts of things can keep people from these events. It will be what it will be. And I’m certainly looking forward to it.

Since I’m in traveling mode this week, I thought I’d use this as a theme for my blog entry today. “Travel With Your Book and Travel Because of Your Book.” What does this mean?

Promoting/marketing your book doesn’t mean staying static. Of course, with the Internet, you can promote far and wide without going anywhere, but there’s some marketing that you just can’t do from afar. If you want to place your book in bookstores, gift shops, specialty shops and so forth, this is best accomplished by making in-person visits.

So I’m suggesting taking your book with you when you travel. Take time to stop in at appropriate outlets. Arrive prepared to show the proprietor a copy of your book, have a blank invoice in your briefcase and an offer in mind. Most bookstore owners adhere to a 60/40 split, for example. If they purchase in quantity, they may ask for and you may be willing to give a deeper discount. But this is only for books sold outright. If it’s a consignment agreement (they pay you only after the books are sold), I would not offer a quantity discount. Some consignment agreements require that the bookseller (or retailer) pay once all of the books have been sold. Or you can ask to be paid each month for those books that have sold that month.

Once you establish a rapport with a retailer and they are selling your books regularly, he will probably pay your invoice within 30 days of your delivery/shipment.

Now, you can also travel in order to sell books. Plan trips to certain areas where your books might sell well. Map out those stores and shops where you’d like to have your books and head out for a weekend or weeklong promotional trip. I find that it’s wise to call or email ahead to make sure the manager or book buyer is there. Otherwise, leave a copy of your book with the clerk and follow up with the manager later.

By the way, when I suggest visiting bookstores with your book, I’m not talking about the mega bookstores, necessarily. There are numerous independent bookstores, specialty shops and other retail stores whose managers/owners will be thrilled to carry your books. But don’t expect your books to sell simply because they are on the shelves in half dozen stores in this region. You must let people know it’s there–that it exists.

While you’re touring with your book, set up book signings, speeches, radio interviews, demonstrations, workshops and other events and activities to get exposure for your book in the area where it will be selling. Once you get home, continue this exposure in those areas by sending press releases to local newspapers, notifying clubs and organizations related to your genre and topic and so forth. Continue writing articles/stories in your genre/topic for publication to develop additional name recognition.

And remember, if you need additional assistance with marketing, promotion, publishing and/or writing your book, order your copy of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book today. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

I planned to just say Happy Easter this morning before exiting to the kitchen. I’m preparing brunch for 25+ family members who will arrive in about 5 hours. But, as often happens, a topic occurred to me the minute I sat down in front of the computer.

As you know, I’m leaving in a few days to speak to authors in Atlanta and Nashville. I present a dozen or so workshops and speeches every year at various venues throughout the U.S. I’ve done 7 speeches since late January. People sometimes ask me, “How did they find out about you in Baltimore or Seattle or Nashville?”

The internet certainly helps with exposure. I do receive invitations, but not without a lot of effort on my part toward becoming known in the right circles. Mostly, however, I solicit invitations. If you want to go out and speak to your book’s target audience, try some of the following ideas:

• Locate upcoming seminars/conferences in your topic or genre and contact the organizers with your credentials and a description of your speech. You’ll find conferences on a variety of topics at: http://www.allconferences.com or do a web search using keywords related to your topic or genre: cooking + shows (or conventions), fantasy + conferences, gardening + seminars, etc.

• Send complimentary packages to key organizations or industry leaders related to your topic or genre. For a history book or even historical fiction, this could be banks or other solid institutions seeking an entertaining program for a conference or meeting. For a book related to getting the sale or an emotional issue within the corporate world, for example, contact company heads throughout the U.S. Include in your package, your book, your brochure or other promo material, your resume/bio and an outline of your suggested program. Follow up by phone.

• Contact resorts and cruise ship lines. You may get a gig presenting your program to the guests.

• Don’t forget about your local civic clubs. The Chamber of Commerce should have a list of all organizations. Contact the program chair and tell them about your program.

• Consider appropriate shops and stores as venues for your presentation. Garden shops, pet stores, gift shops, feed barns, automotive stores, wine establishments, health food stores, etc.

• Churches sometimes sponsor workshops. Can you offer congregations tips on budgeting, writing, storytelling, healthy eating, suicide prevention, recovery from emotional problems, etc?

While, certainly, if you get word out about your book and your great program or workshop, industry leaders, conference organizers, store owners, etc. will come looking for you. But you’ll get more action if you present yourself to them—let them know you are available and that you have a polished presentation.

For more about your job as book promoter and how to hone your speaking skills, read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

And if you’d like to have me come and speak to your writers’ or authors’ group, just contact me at plfry620@yahoo.com

Oh yes and Happy Easter everyone!

I don’t have much time to spend with you this morning. I have to prepare for a presentation at a local writers group meeting today and then I’m having lunch with one of my favorite clients. I must allow time for my walk so I can rehearse my speech for the upcoming Atlanta and Nashville gigs. (Learn more about these events at my site: http://www.matilijapress.com/activities.htm )

I spent my usual blogging time, between 5 and 6 a.m., responding to interview questions for Dan Shaurette’s blog. I found Dan through one of my Google Alerts some weeks back. I noticed that he interviews authors and he also recommends books for authors. I wanted him to know about me, my work and my books, so I contacted him. This resulted in an invitation to send my book The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book to him and an online interview.

There are two lessons in this for authors: Keep a constant look out for promotional opportunities and act on them.

Once you get an interview, respond to the questions in the way that speaks the message you want spoken. What do you want readers (or listeners) to walk away with? Most likely, you want them to purchase your book. And many will if you convince them that you are credible, that your book is informative, useful and/or entertaining. One way to be convincing is to do more showing than telling. Avoid telling how great your book is. Instead, demonstrate it through anecdotes, for example.

I will give you the link to the interview as soon as it is posted. Oh and Dan Shaurette also wrote a review for my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. It’s an amazing review—very well done. I love it when a reviewer actually captures my concept for my book.

I finished writing my latest ebook. It will be posted soon. The final title is The Author’s Repair Kit: Heal Your Publishing Mistakes and Breathe New Life Into Your Book.

I’m here if you have any questions or comments: PLFry620@yahoo.com