Writing and Publishing News from

I’m behind on my blog entries, yard work, doing my nails and writing thank you notes for my birthday gifts/cards, but I’m right on schedule with other areas of my life. Very few of our homegrown peaches have dropped to the ground this year. We’ve been diligent in our quest to pick and use all (estimated) 20 or 30 dozen peaches from our little tree this summer. I’ve managed to share in the responsibility of helping my mom out since her hip replacement surgery a month ago, I’ve done some work for clients AND I’ve finished The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book revision. Moving right along.

The book is refreshed, updated and even more valuable than the original version—which earned dozens of 5-star reviews, by the way. I actually added over 100 new and updated resources, concepts, tips and techniques to the revision. the book has expanded by about 30 pages. The cover will have a slightly refined new look. All that’s left to do is to finalize the front matter and the index and wait for the proof-reader’s comments. We should have the revision in hand by late August or early September.

Once the book is with the printer, I’ll send out notices announcing my prepublication discount offer. Do you want to be notified? Let me know: plfry620@yahoo.com.

I’m speaking to a group of authors at the West Coast Author Premiere at the Side Car Restaurant in Ventura, CA Friday night (July 20) and I’ll be handing out a new, one-of-a-kind article to all in attendance. Let me know if you want a copy of this article, which will be published somewhere—I just haven’t decided where, yet. The article is called, The Post-Publication Book Proposal.

Many authors neglect to write a book proposal first. A book proposal is so important to the success of a book that I’m suggesting authors write a book proposal even after their book is produced and I’ll provide a formula for how to do this. Why write a book proposal after the barn door is closed?

• To more appropriately identify your target audience. (If your book sales are slow, it could be that you are trying to reach the wrong audience.)
• To discover how to reach this audience.
• To build promotion into the book. (If you used POD technology to produce your book, you could actually make some vital changes during the next printing OR maybe you’re unaware of hooks already built into your book that you can use in your promotional efforts.)
• To create a realistic promotional plan.
• To continue to build your platform.

I know you won’t want to miss this article. Contact me and I’ll send it to you hot off the press in a day or so.

For now, I’m off to pick more peaches.

Visit my Web site at http://www.matilijapress.com Buy some of my wonderfully useful, enjoyable books. Have you read about my experiences working with a hypnotherapist who used past-life regression therapy with his clients? Fascinating. That’s Quest for Truth. All of my writing/publishing-related books are solid, useful and important to your success. If you need an editor, contact me. I’ll have more time once the peach harvest is over.

Happy summer!

Patricia Fry’s blog

Call it popularity, prominence, visibility or expertise. In publishing, it’s what you need in order to succeed.

How many people will rush out to buy your book as soon as it lands in Borders and B&N? Why would anyone choose your novel, cookbook, poetry, children’s story or self-help book over the competition? Before you produce that book, you really must answer these questions. If you can’t come up with answers, I suggest that you start creating some. How?

Even before writing the book, if you don’t have a following, start attracting one. If your name is not known in your field or genre, take steps to become known. If you are not already an expert or authority, begin the process of establishing yourself as such.

Start now, building your platform.

Don’t suddenly emerge from your writing cave into the bright lights of publishing with a manuscript and hope to get it produced. Publishers, today, care more about what you can bring to the promotional table than whether you’ve dotted all of your i’s and crossed all of your t’s. What is a hopeful author to do? Take your responsibility as promoter as seriously as you do the task of writing an excellent book. Here are some tips:

• Write about what you know. This long-held rule is even more important now because your expertise in the topic and your visibility can mean a big difference in sales.
• If you are not known in the subject or genre of your book, take steps to become known before you attempt to publish. Build a web site, start a blog, present workshops and circulate a newsletter, for example.
• Launch or become involved in an organization related to the topic or genre of your book—a poetry association, a national medical support group, a therapy dog organization or a major horror/thriller web site, for example.
• Make news and report it. Start a charity or a contest related to the theme of your book. If your novel features a child with Downs syndrome, create an annual fundraiser for the National Downs Syndrome Society, for example.
• Write articles on your topic or stories in your genre for appropriate magazines, ezines and web sites.

For more about establishing your platform, book promotion, locating and working with an agent/publisher, how to get your book into major bookstores, distribution, etc. read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com

Sign up for Patricia Fry’s Courses on Demand. Choose from courses on self-publishing, article-writing and writing a book proposal. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

Hooray! You’ve been published. This afternoon, you and the kids will make a trip downtown just to look at your beautiful book on the shelf at your local Barnes and Noble. What a sight!! There it is; your book all shiny and new, tempting customers to choose it for their next great read.

You watch as browsers walk toward that shelf—the shelf where your book sits waiting to be taken home. No one picks it up. They don’t even seem to notice. How could they not? It’s the only book you see.

Fast forward: It’s now eight months later. You walk into the bookstore and your book is gone. “Wow, all six copies have sold. That’s great.” And you rush over to the manager to remind him to order more.

“No, they didn’t sell,” he tells you. “We had to return those books to the publisher.”

What went wrong? You were one of the fortunate few who actually had the experience of seeing your books shelved in a major bookstore, but now the excitement is over. Your window of opportunity is gone. Your books have been shipped back to the publisher… unsold.

This scenario occurs more often than you might think. Books are returnable, you know. In this hugely competitive publishing climate, the mega-bookstores won’t keep books on the shelves if they are not selling. What to do? In 3 words: SELL THOSE BOOKS!

News flash: You, the author, are responsible for promoting your book whether it is self-published, produced by a traditional royalty publisher or you go with a fee-based, subsidy-type publishing service. It is up to you to let the world—or at least those people within your target audience—know about your book and entice them to buy it. How?

Let me count the ways. In fact, there are as many ways to promote a book as there are books. People often ask me, “What is your most successful promotional activity.” I have to respond that it depends on the book. I use different promotional tactics for my local history book than I do my writing/publishing-related books, for example. I have a different audience for my Hawaiian luau book than I do my metaphysical book. So the first two things you need to do are to determine your target audience and discover where they are. Next, figure out the best way to reach them.

Using my own book topics, let me offer up some of my own promotional ideas.

1: For the local history books, here’s what I’ve done,
–Submitted a press kit to the local newspapers and followed-up until someone agreed to write my story or review my book.
–Arranged to speak locally; service clubs, schools, historical societies, other organizations.
–Placed my books in independent bookstores, museum gift shops, touristy stores and major hotel shops.
–Donated a few books to the local library and school district, making sure to include an order form. In both cases, they placed large orders.
–Donated books for fundraiser, etc. where my book got good exposure.
–Got involved in programs and projects related to local history.

2: For my writing/publishing-related books, I did the following,
–Solicited reviews/interviews in all appropriate mags, newsletters and Web sites.
–Gave presentations at writers/publishers conferences, club meetings, etc.
–Submitted articles to appropriate mags, newsletters, sites, etc.
–Participated in appropriate online forums.
–Appeared on radio and TV shows locally and nation-wide.
–Participate in book festivals.
–Got involved in programs, projects, sites, organizations related to writing/publishing.
–Contacted libraries nationwide and suggest they purchase this book.

3: For my book on how to present a Hawaiian luau on the mainland,
–Solicited reviews in foods magazines, newsletters, sites.
–Wrote articles for a variety of magazines.
–Contacted cookbook bookstores and asked them to carry my book.
–Had this book included in mail order catalogs.
–Appeared on several radio shows.

4: For my metaphysical book, I did the following,
–Solicited interviews and reviews on appropriate sites, magazines, etc.
–Wrote articles for magazines.
–Participated in appropriate online forums.
–Contacted metaphysical/new age bookstores about carrying this book.
–Spoke publicly about the experiences in this book.

However you decide to attract attention to your book, make sure that you’re using your time effectively. First discover,

Who comprises your target audience?
Where will you find these people?
How can you reach them?
What can you say/do that will pique their interest in your book?

I suggest making a list of all possible promotional ideas. Then choose 3 or 4 of them to start with. For example:

1: You’ll want to send press releases about a fascinating aspect of your book or your story to all local newspapers and radio/tv. Ask for an interview or a review.

2: Set up speaking engagements throughout your county—later, expand to other communities.

3: Research newspapers throughout the U.S. (www.newspapers.com or www.newspaperlinks.com or www.onlinenewspapers.com or www.thepaperboy.com. ) Get contact information for the appropriate section related to the theme of your book. Where does your book topic or genre fit in best? Remember, that if yours is a book of fiction, consider your nonfiction hook when seeking promotional opportunities. It might be sports, lifestyle, foods, entertainment, seniors/retirement, personal finances, religion/spiritual, youth or health and fitness, for example.

Send your press kit to 10 newspapers every day and ask for an interview or a book review.

4: Search out magazines to which you can contribute articles. In the meantime, study the process of article-writing. (My 6-week online article writing course starts April 10. Sign up at http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

5: If you haven’t done so, start developing a workshop you can present at appropriate venues.

Once you’ve completed your first phase of promotion, start adding to your repertoire. Seek out venues for your workshop, contact libraries www.ala.org. or www.librarydirectory.com. If you’ve self-published, consider signing with a wholesaler/distributor (you’ll have a much greater chance of getting your book into bookstores). Contact all of the sites related to your book topic/genre and offer an article, ask to have your book included in their resource list or their showcase, ask for an interview or a book review.

Read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book for more promotional ideas. Also read articles on book promotion at my web site. Read Over 75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book.

So what is the key to keeping your books in the bookstores? Sales. As long as customers are buying enough copies of the book, the bookstore will continue carrying it. It’s up to you. Don’t drop the ball. Keep the name of your book out there in the public eye in as many ways as you can. This is the only way to succeed as a published author and this is the only way to keep your book in that Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

Sign up today for my online article-writing course. Questions? plfry620@yahoo.com

How many times does your name come up in a Google Search? 20,000? 10,000, 75 or just a handful? If you are an author promoting one or more books or if you are in the process of pitching a manuscript to publishers, you’d better get those numbers up! How? Exposure, exposure, exposure.

I recommend to my clients that they start, even before writing their book proposal, taking the action steps necessary to get their Google numbers up. Why?

• Before a publisher invests in you, he wants to know that you have a following—that you are known and that you can and do promote yourself and your products or services.
• In the process of gaining that exposure, you will stumble across new promotional opportunities and ideas to use when your book is published (and to include in the marketing section of your book proposal).

So how does one go about getting that revered exposure? Let me count the ways. Actually, the numbers are too high for me to list in this article, but here are some ideas to get you started:

1: Write articles and/or short stories related to your nonfiction topic or the setting or theme of your novel. Submit them to appropriate print and online publications and Web sites.

2: Participate in appropriate online forums and become known at key Websites. Locate forums related to your subject through a search engine by typing in “forum tattoo art” “organic gardening forum” or “pet disease forum,” for example. Spend time each week searching out new Websites.

3: Build a Website reflecting your topic. To get noticed, make sure you’re listed on several search engines and add information and resources to your site often.

4: Start a blog on this subject and post interesting, informative, inspirational, educational and/or entertaining articles to it regularly.

5: Leave comments at similar blogs—always linking back to your blog and/or Website.

6: Write letters-to-the-editor of newsletters, newspapers and magazines on your topic. If you see an interesting article published in a magazine related to your topic, comment to the editor and be sure to sign your name and give whatever contact information is allowed.

7: Make news. Do something newsworthy related to your book topic and send out press releases. I send press releases to newsletters, magazines and Web sites world-wide when I come out with a new book, plan to speak internationally, etc.

8: Run a contest or start a charity and advertise it widely for free in relating magazines, newsletters and Web sites. I know a teen writer who collects books for less fortunate kids around the holidays. Editors of publications or sites focusing on books and writing are always eager to mention her project.

9: Locate the sites of high profile people in your field (for fiction—other authors in your genre) and find out where they’re getting publicity. Most of them will have a publicity or promotions page. What radio/TV stations/talk show hosts/magazines are interested in this person? Perhaps you can get a gig on the same shows once your book is produced. Also include these possibilities in the promotions section of your book proposal.

10: Get out and speak. Public speaking experience looks good on any resume and it’s an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and credibility in your field or interest. Speak to large groups and small ones. Speak locally and travel to speak.

11: Participate in conferences related to your topic. Get to know the organizers even before your book is a book. If you can impress them with your knowledge and expertise—they may ask you to speak at their next event. And this is another great opportunity for exposure. It will look good on your book proposal, too. Be sure to provide a sign-up sheet so you can notify conference attendees about your book once it’s published.

12: Whenever you do any speaking, teaching or writing, always submit announcements to newspapers and appropriate newsletters for additional exposure.

Seriously consider all twelve of these activities and just watch your Google numbers rise. Not only could this ultimately increase your bottom line, but it will surely help in landing a publisher for your latest book.

FYI, test your exposure level by doing a Google search. Use quotation marks around your name for a targeted search. When I do a targeted search using “Patricia Fry” I come up with 17,500 listings. If I type in “Patricia L. Fry” it is 11,800. Play around with your name and your topic to see how you rate.

Why am I listed so often? Because I’ve had hundreds of articles published in around 200 different magazines over the years. I have a Web site and a blog. I have 25 published books and they are listed on numerous sites. I solicit many book reviews for each book. I am affiliated with SPAWN, so my name comes up in association with this organization. I speak publicly many times each year. And, because I want to be known in the writing/publishing community, I frequently submit articles to writing-related newsletters, magazines and Web sites; I participate in writers’ forums, solicit interviews at writing sites, leave blog comments and place announcements whenever I plan to speak someplace.

For more great ideas about how to promote your book and how to gain exposure, read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book . http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Yesterday I attended the 7th annual Central Coast Book Festival. It’s a rather small event held in the charming city of San Luis Obispo, CA (near Pismo Beach). I’ve had a booth at this event either with SPAWN or on my own almost every year. I think I missed once. While it has always a nice event, this year was particularly enjoyable. I shared a booth with two delightful women—Dr. Maxine Thompson, former social worker turned author/literary agent/radio show host and more, and her sister, Nancy. Maxine and I also participated together on a panel discussion about publishing. We had a good audience and a good time.

The booth next to us was womanned by members of the SLO NightWriters group. I had met some of these women before at other book festivals and a few years ago when I spoke at one of their meetings. I enjoyed conversing with this array of writers and sending local writers to them to discuss membership in the NightWriters. Likewise, the women at the NightWriters booth directed folks with publishing questions to me. And some of those attendees bought copies of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.

Another reason why this was a good event is because the attendees were actually buying books. I don’t recall the residents of San Luis Obispo ever being so eager to purchase books. Maxine sold numerous copies of her novels. Copies of my book were flying out of the booth. And I noticed others around us also selling quite a few children’s books, memoirs and so forth.

While I rarely make expenses when I participate in the SLO Book Festival, I continue to go there because of the exposure and the camaraderie. This year, in SLO, I made a profit, I got plenty of exposure, I enjoyed a generous helping of camaraderie AND I did some important networking. Here are 10 additional ways that this event worked for me:

1. I’ll feature Maxine in an upcoming issue of the SPAWN Market Update. I know that our members will enjoy reading about this literary agent and learning how to get on her Internet radio shows.
2. I also got a copy of Maxine’s Hush Hush Secrets to Writing Fiction That Sells to review for an upcoming issue of SPAWNews.
3. Maxine, on the other hand, wants to interview me on one of her shows.
4. I made a connection with the NightWriters that will probably result in a speaking engagement. Their membership is over 100 now, so this could be a lucrative opportunity.
5. I met a man who is soliciting articles for his local literary journal—I’ll report this opportunity to SPAWN members.
6. I connected face-to-face with a few SPAWN members whom I only get to see at events such as these.
7. I met about 25 writers and authors at various stages of their work—most of whom had questions and some of whom may eventually purchase one or more of my books or they might come to me for a consultation or other help with their projects.
8. I got some ideas for new articles. Authors’ questions often generate new article ideas.
9. I had a drawing for a free book and came home with the email addresses for about two dozen writers to add to my mailing list.
10. My book got exposure that it wouldn’t have received had I stayed in my home office and had I kept the book in the dark closet.

So what did you do this weekend? Did you spend any time promoting your book, soliciting homes for some of your articles, working on your book proposal or writing your book? Did you take every opportunity available to get exposure for your work? Or do you only talk about wanting to write, promote your book, develop a book proposal? If you fit into the later category, here are some tips to help you jumpstart your project:

1. Make your project a priority. I can’t tell you how many people claim they just don’t have time to write. I also know people who have managed to write a book and promote it despite an extremely busy schedule. The fact is, if you don’t have the time or can’t find the time, this isn’t the right time to launch your project. When the time is right and when you are ready, you will find/make the time no matter what else is going on in your life. If you truly want to produce a book, make it a priority in your life, be willing to make some sacrifices and start writing.
2. If you find yourself near a bookstore, go inside and spend an hour (your lunch hour?) doing the research necessary toward the development of your book proposal, for example, or check historical facts for your story.
3. Attend local book festivals and writers conferences to pick up tips and ideas and for the networking opportunities. There are almost always writers/publishers organizations represented. Let the directors help guide you. But also talk to the many authors you will meet there. Find out where they made their publishing mistakes. Ask for recommendations of publishers, promotional ideas, etc.
4. I talk to many successful authors and freelance writers who built their businesses by getting up an hour or two earlier every morning to work on their projects. I am one of those authors. I went from full-time employee to full-time freelance writer and author by getting up two hours earlier and spending that time writing. I also gave up many social activities on weekends in order to spend this time writing. Determine what is taking much of your otherwise free time and make some changes. Whether it is TV that gets most of your attention, clubbing, entertaining or reading, if you want to succeed as a writer or author, you really must at least cut back on these activities and spend that time honing your craft or building your writing/publishing business.
5. If you have a book to promote, spend time each week sending out email press releases, notices and announcements to appropriate Web sites, for publication in appropriate newsletters and to libraries, for example.
6. Again, if you’re in promotion mode, do more networking. Join clubs and organizations, particularly those where you’ll be connecting with people who are potentially interested in your book. Show your book to people. Talk about it. Hand out bookmarks advertising your book. Drop off bookmarks where they will be seen by your audience. I know a master promoter who leaves her promotional bookmarks scattered around in the restrooms at meeting halls and other venues where numbers of people gather.

Hopefully, I’ve succeeded in motivating you to do more to make your book a reality or to make it successful. Of course, you’ll find additional ideas and lots of encouragement in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

For most authors of fiction, the very idea of promotion is distasteful. It’s not uncommon for novelists to break out in hives or develop a nervous twitch when faced with the reality of marketing their books.

As a published author, you know that you must promote your book and you scurry to find your comfort zone. You’ll sign up with Amazon.com, of course, put up a Web site and solicit reviews through the traditional mags and sites. Those of you with more nerve will try to arrange book signings and, uh—maybe attend a few local book festivals. And mostly, you’re met with disappointment.

But there is so much more that you can do to draw attention to your book—to let readers know that it exists. Here are a few ideas that you may not have thought of: (And they don’t even require that you develop the persona of a hard-selling hawker.)

1: Promote to organizations and sites related to a topic or theme that’s even loosely woven throughout your book. For example, let’s say that your novel features a bird that makes occasional appearances in a few chapters. This might be a crow that appears just before the wicked woman is sighted, a hawk that, when spotted, gives the main character courage or a canary that lives with the protagonist and drives him crazy. Contact birding organizations, bird rescue and rehab Web sites, sites for bird fanciers, bird experts, sites dedicated to specific bird types (canaries, wild birds, parakeets, exotic birds, for example) and other authors who are promoting books related to birds.

Of course, the same concept works for any subject; cats, dogs, horses, an amputee, a diabetic, a transvestite, twins, homelessness, the nightclub scene, Hollywood, competition swimming, golf, car racing, carnivals, regions (New Hampshire, Chicago, British Columbia, Seattle, Kansas City), the college scene, gambling, the corporate world…

What do you do once you find these organizations or sites? After carefully studying the site, email the operator or director personally and make some solid suggestions for how your book would fit in to their scheme of things. Ask for a book review. Offer to contribute articles to the site. Request inclusion on their Resource List or Recommended Reading page. Offer your book as a prize in an upcoming contest. Suggest and head up a contest that would help to promote your book.

2: Participate in appropriate message boards. Many dedicated sites have message boards where like-minded people can communicate, network and share. Locate some of them through a Google search. Look for message boards when you visit various sites. Using the bird theme again, rather than just diving in and saying, “Buy my new novel. There’s a bird in chapter three,” adopt a strategy. Bring an interesting story or some new information or facts to the forum. Say, for example, “I was surprised to find that Ventura was among the top three California counties when it comes to wild bird species. Is there any way to find out what species are involved in this count? I’m particularly interested in this subject because I’ve just published a novel wherein I feature an unusual species of wild bird.” Then sign your name and add the title of your novel and ordering information.

Maybe your book is set in a small town in Montana. Find regional sites and get involved in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming-related message boards. Write, for example, “Is anyone familiar with Darby, Montana? I’m the author of a brand new suspense novel set in this historic town. Read excerpts at (your Web site address).” And then include ordering information. Offer up some interesting trivia. Ask what others know about this place. Your main objective in participating in targeted message boards is to make friends, build a rapport and get exposure for your novel.

3: Solicit reviews in magazines that have an element related to an obvious or an obscure aspect of your novel. You have probably contacted magazines and newsletters that typically review novels, but have you thought of approaching publications related to a lesser, but interesting aspect of your novel? Maybe your story includes a main character with Multiple Sclerosis. Seek out magazines and newsletters focusing on MS and those with an overcoming-disabilities-aspect. Perhaps yours is an ethnic novel. Solicit reviews in appropriate ethnic publications. Of course, if it has that bird in it, go after magazines the bird lovers read. And don’t forget to take advantage of any regional aspect. There are a growing number of regional magazines these days. I located fifteen magazines for Ohio in just a few minutes time and about the same number for Texas.

How do you find specifically focused publications? Do a Google search. Use Literary Market Place and Writer’s Market and thumb through Gales Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media. (All of these volumes are available in the reference section of your local library.)

4: Contact bookstores that specialize in a topic or theme present in your novel. I located ten bookstores specializing in bird or pet books in three minutes through a Google search. There are also bookstores dedicated to books on cooking and foods, cats, mystery, crime, fantasy/horror/science fiction, nature, economics and spiritual/religion.

5: Approach specialty stores. You might convince some pet store owners to carry your novel that includes birds, a cat or a seeing-eye dog, for example. If your book has a women’s fashion element, consider designing a point of purchase display for willing managers of small clothing stores. If your book does well locally, you can use your success to entice stores in other cities to carry it. Maybe one of your characters thrives on daily espressos or there are a lot of scenes occurring in a coffee house. You know the next step—solicit space for your novel in Starbucks and the many copycat coffee shops sprouting up everywhere throughout the U.S.

6: Take advantage of your memberships and status. Are you a college graduate? Send news of your book to your college alumni magazine. The editors are always hungry for information about successful alumni. If you don’t belong to Sam’s Club, Costco or other such membership-oriented stores, sign up today! These mega-stores love to feature special members achieving interesting things in their widely circulated publications

7: Build promotion into your novel. If you are only in the idea stage of writing your novel, you are in luck because I’m going to give you the key to promotional success. Write a nonfiction hook into your story. How? Involve the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association or the National Mental Health Association by developing a character with diabetes, a heart condition or a mental illness, for example. Give a character a Harley, a tattoo or send him cruising on the Princess Line. Make sure that you have permission to use the name of the company or organization in your story. And, with the right angle and approach, you might be able to get them to participate in promoting your book. At the least, they might give you a positive endorsement.

Tap into what’s hot—something that’s in the news or an emerging trend, for example. Is anyone involving their characters in a life-threatening storm? What about writing a story set during an extreme heat spell? More and more people are developing enjoyable and satisfying online relationships—women are creating friendships and some couples are even getting married. Is this an intriguing trend that might entice readers to purchase your novel?

Whatever your topic or thread of a topic which you’ve woven through your book, you can find organizations, publications and/or Web sites to support it. Tap into these resources to broaden the audience for your fantastic, soon-to-be successful novel.

If you found this blog helpful, you will LOVE my latest book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html