New AuthorHouse Publishing Packages Make it Easier, More Affordable to Publish a Book

AuthorHouse, the leading provider of self publishing and marketing services for authors around the globe, is making it easier and more affordable to publish a book

AuthorHouse now offers the following options to authors:

• Paperback/Hardcover Book publishing options starting at $598.
• Color/Children’s Book publishing options starting at $549.
• Poetry Book publishing options starting at $449.

“Authors can now log on and evaluate their publishing options, or call one of our publishers consultants,” said Kevin Weiss chief executive officer of Author Solutions, parent company of AuthorHouse. “We’re making the dream of publishing a book more accessible to authors from all walks of life.”

Authors who purchase services through AuthorHouse’s new online shopping cart feature by March 31 save at least $100 off selected publishing packages. All AuthorHouse on demand publishing options include one-on-one author support, a custom color cover, custom interior formatting, ISBN assignment, online distribution, bookstore availability, and a complimentary author copy of the completed book. Authors can choose to add premium author services, including professional copyediting, marketing and promotion services, and custom interior illustrations.

For more information on the new, more affordable AuthorHouse publishing packages, log on to www.authorhouse.com.

Indianapolis WriteStuff Brings Books & Screenplays

Last weekend's WriteStuff Writers' Boot Camp & Conference was two full days of workshops, presentations, and panel discussions in my backyard of Indianapolis, Indiana. It was unique in the fact that all aspects of writing were covered, not just books and manuscripts.

Friday's Boot Camp was a high-touch, one-on-one classroom style workshop with about 44 attendees. Each person sent a sample of their work ahead of time to the WriteStuff faculty to have their work reviewed professionally and get a critique on where they could improve their work. Throughout the day, "Boot Campers" came in to the Hilton Garden Hotel in Fishers and met for :30 minutes to get invaluable feedback on their works. At 1:00 pm, Andy Murphy and Marcia Ellett conducted a joint class covering everything from creative writing, character development, plot lines, and finding your voice to etiquette tips when approaching a publisher. After a quick :15 minute break, everyone split into one of two groups: Internet marketing (taught by myself) and self-editing tips (taught by Heidi Newman).

Our evening mixer was well-attended, approximately 75 people came for food, drinks, and great networking with other authors. Several AuthorHouse authors came up to me and introduced themselves, most donning a copy of their book of course. It was great to see everyone and put a few faces with some names or emails that I've been corresponding with over the last few months.

Saturday's WriteStuff Writers' Conference was a big success with about 150 attendees and another 25 speakers and guest presenters. The kick-off breakfast with Angelo Pizzo and Diane Willis was amazing, both told very inspiring and heart-felt stories. Angelo talked about his debut into screen writing with his Academy Award Winning film "Hoosiers." Surprisingly, after he spent a year writing the screenplay, he was told by a close friend and mentor that it was terrible so he put it in the back of his closet for over a year. "Don't let anyone squash your dreams," Angelo said after a very inspiring personal story. Diane Willis told her story of how she writes professionally for both television and corporate public relations.

Perhaps the surprise of the morning came before Angelo Pizzo took the stage. It seems that a high school in northern Indiana, Oregon-Davis, won both the girls and boys state basketball championships this year. This is the first time this has ever happened in state history. The athletic director, principal and girl's coach all came down to meet Angelo and talk about their real life "Hoosiers" story (shown to the right). One of the audience members asked during Angelo's Q&A "are you going to write the Oregon-Davis basketball story?" Angelo replied simply "I already have."

The rest of the morning was full of panel discussions covering topics like book to film and how to make a living (or at least get some lunch money) for writing. Jonathan Faber gave a great presentation on the legal side of publishing. For a lawyer, he was sure interesting and had some great stories.

After lunch, we awarded the "Young Voices Short Story Competition" winners with their plaques. Over 100 kids ages 8 to 14 years old submitted an entry to the atFishers.com sponsored contest and the three finalists were present with their parents and family to accept their awards. Tara Brugh, Alex Zoumbaris, and Mary O'Leary took home top honors. If you'd like to read their winning entries, visit WriteStuffWriters.com.

By the end of the day, I was admittedly "tired but inspired." The afternoon workshops were a little more lively than the morning panel discussions. Lou Harry did a bang-up job covering book marketing. Both he and Dick Wolfsie gave countless pointers on how to (and how not to) run a book signing. Between the both of them, they have seen it all when it comes to book signings.

Director of Author Development Tom Britt Interviewed by WFYI Radio

AuthorHouse's Director of Author Development and WriteStuff Faculty member Tom Britt was interviewed this week by Sharon Gamble of WFYI Radio in Indianapolis, Indiana. They discussed Tom's involvement with WriteStuff, who attends these conferences, and what to look for with this year's 2007 WriteStuff Writers' Tour.

Jack London Conference: Sold Out!

A shout out to the SF/Peninsula Writers' co-chairs Tory Hartmann and Elliotte Mao for putting on one heck of writers conference in Foster City, California. This was my first visit to the Jack London Conference, an annual event that draws over 300 Bay Area authors. Headliners included Lemony Snicket himself, Daniel Handler, Christopher Moore ("You Suck: A Love Story") and Steve Hockensmith ("Holmes on the Range"). All were funny. All told of their personal journeys to being a published author. All inspired the attendees.

The rest of the day was filled with workshops, networking, and one-on-one consultations. I had three early consultations with authors that are seriously looking at AuthorHouse to publish their next book. Alice Cochran published her prior book, "Roberta's Rules of Order", with Jossey Bass (an imprint of Wiley) but has developed a workbook to go along with her organizational guidance book. Jossey Bass gave her a pass (pun intended) on this book and she's looking to self-publish it and use it to market her consulting business. AuthorHouse is a great fit for her book, and Alice agreed.

After our 1:30 pm "Publishers Shootout", let's just say my consultation schedule picked up. Our panel discussion hosted two traditional publishing companies (Jossey Bass & Chronicle Books) squared off against two self-publishing companies (AuthorHouse & Lulu). An estimated 150 people listened intently as Geri Spieler (which I nicknamed Jerry Springer) moderated our discussion by talking about industry trends, self vs. traditional publishing and the future of the business. It was obvious to me, and I believe others in the room, that self-publishing is no longer a dirty word in the publishing industry.

I had the pleasure of meeting some great people while I was there.

• Tom Ontis, a school teacher from Brentwood that hopes to be done with his book "The Brown Chronicles: The Education of a Teacher". Get that book done this summer Tom!
• Frances Fong Chin, a retired (doesn't look a day over 45) writer that has written a memoir and is looking to publish it for her family and friends in her retirement community. "Everyone tells me they would buy my book," she said. Get it published Frances and they can!
• Frank Lopez, a retired Vietnam vet that has been dealing with post traumatic stress disorder for years and wants to help other vets deal with their problems. Frank truly just wants to help others and AuthorHouse is a great fit for him.
• Ruth Josa from San Carlos has her book "Happily Ever Asperger" nearly completed (she's editing for the last time now). Thanks for your patience Ruth, I was pulled a few different directions in the afternoon and you stuck it out so I could meet with you. We're anxious to get your book started.

After Steve Hockensmith spoke, I looked at my watch (which I keep on Eastern time) and realized that the day was nearly over. Time flew at this conference, a lot of information in a short amount of time. I had dinner with an Indiana native that has been living in northern California, Frank Thornburgh. He is a short story writer and he's published with AuthorHouse a few times. What a great conference, I hope to return next year!

Spotlighted Author in San Francisco, Danna Leahy

Our spotlighted author in the San Francisco Bay area for the Jack London Conference this weekend was Danna Troncatty Leahy, author of "Ciao Bambino!" and "Bonjour L'enfant! A Child's Tour of France." Her children's book series helps kids learn the basics of a new foreign language through beautifully illustrated, full-color books.

Her secret? Danna travels around the Bay area doing readings of her books at schools where the parents are invited to join them as well. Afterwards, she will do a book signing for the parents and give their children a fun learning tool as well.

"Authors Across America" Kicks Off in San Diego

We kicked off our 2007 writers' conference schedule in sunny (and a little chilly) San Diego at the San Diego State Writers Conference. Scott Walters, one of our esteemed author advocates from AuthorHouse, joined me yesterday manning our exhibitor table in the registration area of a very active and energetic conference.

I presented my "Internet 101" workshop at 10:30 am and a book marketing workshop at 3:00 pm entitled "Leveraging the Internet to Market Your Book". I have to say that the 3:00 workshop was definately the place to be with a full room of aspiring and accomplished authors all clamouring to learn more about Internet marketing. If business card swapping is any indicator of success, my 1" stack of cards ranks this one as a "10".

After the hustle and bustle of fielding questions from attendees at our table all day, we unwinded at the 5:00 pm wine and cheese reception and got ready for our big announcement. As we have done at past SDSU conferences, we hosted a drawing giving one lucky writer a publishing contract worth $698.

But last night was different.

We collected tickets from anxious attendees, but we also had a surprise for everyone up our sleeves. As Diane Dunaway introduced me, I walked to the podium and made the big announcement:

Introducing the AuthorHouse "Authors Across America" Campaign

I explained to the audience that AuthorHouse wants to inspire all writers in their journeys to become published, and to help, we are launching the Authors Across America initiative for 2007. From San Diego to Cape Cod, from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale, AuthorHosue is visiting writers conferences coast to coast sharing stories of authors in their quest to become published. It was appropriate to launch in southern California given the density of published authors and aspiring writers in this area.

After the annoucement, Diane pulled Vivian Smith's name from the fishbowl. She's a young, aspiring author from the San Diego area that grew up in Miami and has always had a love of writing. She told me "I started writing poetry, but when I moved to San Diego I found that I would have a vivid dream in the middle of the night and I would wake up and start writing about it."

Most ironically, this was Vivian's first writers conference, and she admits that she is "just getting started" and this publishing contract will really inspire her to finish that first book. We'll stay in touch with Vivian and see how she comes along in her publishing journey. In the meantime, share your stories on the new AuthorsAcrossAmerica.com web site.

Watch the "I Write Because..." video from various aspiring and published authors from this great conference:

Wichita Conference Full of Drama

The Kansas Writers Association hosted my latest writers conference in Wichita, Kansas at the Holiday Inn Select. This was my first crime-mystery-suspense writers conference and I have to say, it was very well done.

The Scene of the Crime Conference hosted some local and southeast Kansas district attorneys, forensic scientists, explosives experts, and even homocide investigators. In addition to these experts, literary agents and publishers were on-hand to give attendees personal coaching and advice on their respective projects.

I spoke with Conrad Jestmore, the president of the KWA, and he was a little disappointed by the turnout. Registered attendees totalled over 75, less than previous years. However, this year was the first year for the three-day format. Previous years' conferences were a one-day event with an evening awards ceremony. It was my first visit to this midwest conference and I was actually impressed with the presenters and contacts we all enjoyed.

Surprisingly, my audience on Saturday morning for the "Publishing Alternatives" session was hearing about self-publishing for the first time. I'm generalizing here a bit, but for the most part the 20+ attendees to my 9:00 am session had heard of self-publishing, maybe knew of someone in the KWA who had self-published, but didn't think of it as a "viable option" until they heard my presentation. Put in the context of their other publishing alternatives, self-publishing was a breath of hope to several writers in the audience.

I was very surprised at how far many of the attendees travelled to participate in this conference. Writers groups from Oklahoma, Arkansas, New York, California and Missouri were well represented and socialized all evening during the mixers. Given the focus of the curriculum and the interest in mystery/thriller/suspense novels, the Scene of the Crime was a great place to cross the tape into a published author.

Palm Springs Heats Up

Michael Steven Gregory and Wes Albers pulled of yet another successful writers conference in Palm Springs at the 3rd Annual Southern California Writers Conference last weekend. An estimated 120+ writers came in from all over to the Hyatt in downtown Palm Springs.

Friday was a bit slower than I thought it would be with about half of the attendees coming in to attend the afternoon sessions. The conference didn't officially start until 3:00 pm, so when I closed the doors on my 3:40 self publishing workshop, there were only about 7 attendees in the class. The upside was we had a great session that took the entire 90 minutes and then some.

Saturday rolled around and activity was certainly increased. I had lunch with an old friend whom I had met at the San Diego Writers Conference, Frank Thornbourgh, from the Sacramento area. Frank is a long-time short story writer and avid writers conference junkie. He visited AuthorHouse last summer on a road trip to the Midwest and met with Scott Walters, one of our esteemed Author Services Representatives. Frank and I recruited several writers to go out after the evening keynote by Kathryn Jordan, author of "Hot Water".

My afternoon session was full, and I mean full. We had at least 40 attendees covering every facet of the publishing spectrum from aspiring authors just beginning to think about a story to published authors frustrated with their current publisher. Surprisingly, I spent most of the 90 minute session talking about the business side of publishing: royalties, pricing of books, how advances work, and the growing number of titles coming into the system each year. After presenting the case for self publishing and the economics behind it, several authors were anxious to talk more after the session and into the evening.

Kudos to Michael and Wes, I'm anxious to come back in February to San Diego.

Authors Got the WriteStuff in St. Louis

Andy Murphy, an established literary agent and author, brought her stable of professional book editors and marketing gurus to St. Louis last weekend to energize over 70 attendees at the Missouri History Center in St. Louis. This one-day "boot camp" encompassed both the art and business of publishing with :30-:50 minute workshops taught by the WriteStuff faculty.

Our annoucement earlier in the week about the price reduction in full-color books was well received by a couple childrens book authors. Some didn't realize that they could even self-publish a childrens book!

The keynote speaker was Jean Deeds, author of the book "There are Mountains to Climb", who told of her personal journey across the Appalachian Trail. As I sat in the back of the room listening to her story, I was amazed at the parrallel between her personal journey of discovery up the 2,000+ mile Appalachian Trail and the journey that all writers take to become a published author. It was truly inspiring and she kept everyone on the edge of their seats listening to her story.

Feedback was excellent from all the attendees. A couple things that came up on a lot of the forms was the need (or want) to have more networking with the other authors. I know Andy is working on the schedule for next year and reworking the format to accommodate more networking. If you have a writers group in your city and would like to host a WriteStuff Boot Camp next year, contact them and let them know!

Cape Cod Leaves Writers Inspired

My travels took me to beautiful Cape Cod this week to attend and speak at the Cape Cod Writers Conference. At the request of conference organizer and AuthorHouse author, Jacqueline Loring, I flew into Providence (because the airfare was much cheaper than flying into Boston) and rented a car over to Craigsville Beach overlooking Nantucket Sound.

The Cape Cod Writers Center hosts events throughout the year, helping over 250 local writers and aspiring authors hone their skills and gain visibility with the literary public. Jacqueline has done an impressive job leading this group, and this week-long conference is the high point of the year.

Craigville Beach's Conference Center, a collection of small cottage style homes and boarding houses, played host to this year's conference. Small-group sessions took place in the living rooms of cottage homes with established authors and agents such as Dennis Lehane (national author), Christina Ward (literary agent), J. Watts Biggers (co-creator of Underdog), Gary Braver (novelist), and Barry Brodsky (screenplay writer).

Attendees were engaged throughout the week, some of which stayed overnight at the Craigsville Beach Inn while others commuted in from their nearby homes. With our small community only 100 ft. from the beach, several authors packed their laptops or writing tablets and headed down to the beach in between classes to work on homework and exercises from the sessions.

Our publishing panel discussion was on Friday morning at the Manor, the southern-most home in the village with spectacular views of Nantucket Sound. I was joined by Diane Gedymin and local PR expert Lynn Van Dine. Our cozy group of 20 talked and answered questions about self-publishing for 1-1/2 hours. I stuck around for at least another 45 minutes talking to aspiring authors one-on-one, answering their individual questions. One of the things I've learned over the years working with authors is this: every book is different and every authors' goals/objectives are different.

I spoke with Gary Rafferty from New Hampshire who has finished a children's book and was happy to hear that AuthorHouse publishes color books and has illustrators on staff. He, like many children's authors, has had a problem finding a good illustrator to bring his words to life.

Another author, Sandra Macfarlane, writes non-fiction about local towns and people of interest. She was interested in the hardback cover option and our "front to back cover" all-inclusive pricing for publishing her book. A few poets in attendance were happy to hear that AuthorHouse publishes a lot of poetry and that we have a low minimum page count for both black and white and color books.

With the small village feel of the conference, the boarding house lodging, communal dining at the Inn each meal, proximity to the beach, celebrity authors and faculty, and the organization of all the Cape Cod Writers Center staff, I give this conference a 9.5 out of 10 (probably my highest rating yet). We'll definately be back next year and hope to spend more time teaching classes and meeting writers on their way to being a published author!

Hospitality Abounds at Midwest Writers Conference

This was my second visit to one of the Midwest's finest writers conferences: the 33rd Annual Midwest Writers Conference in Muncie, Indiana. Not only is this close to home, but everyone at the conference makes you feel at home no matter where you are from. Hosted on the campus of Ball State University in the alumni center, over 140 paid attendees joined with 8 faculty members (including moi) and 7 featured speakers for this three-day event.

I strolled in Saturday morning for the 8:00 am buttonhole sessions, hosting a table with the signage "Publish Thy Self" in the middle of an 8-topper. Several authors came in a little late due to a poker game the night before at the Roberts Hotel, you know who you are!

I taught a session at 11:30 entitled "How to Leverage the Internet to Market Your Book". We had a great session with about 20 attendees. When I taught this session last year, I learned pretty quick that there is a great digital divide with authors. Some understand how Google and Yahoo work, some can't turn on computers. Given my experience with this group, we started at ground zero where I explained how the Internet works by comparing it to the phone company. Once we got everyone across that barrier, I went further by explaining how websites work, how much they cost, how to pick a URL, and how to blog. A full hour later, no one was asleep and no one walked out, so by my account it was successful.

After lunch at the White River Landing downtown with the authors and faculty (thanks by the way Jama!), we came back to an afternoon packed with sessions, one-on-ones with agents, and an exciting awards dinner. I spent a lot of time talking to authors in between sessions about self-publishing, primarily trying to dispell the myth that POD and self-publishing are the same thing. A few of the agents on hand were giving aspiring authors the misperception that POD is a bad thing, a "curse" that no author should wish on themselves. I quickly pointed out that many of the larger publishing firms are using POD as a way to cut their inventory costs. Remember, Print on Demand is merely a technology that enables you to mitigate the risk of printing 1,000+ books and hope that they sell. Several authors had already self-published but needed a publisher that could give them distribution through amazon.com and retailers. One author needed her children's book illustrated, so she was excited to know that AuthorHouse has a full staff of illustrators waiting to help her out.

Later that evening, I had the honor of sitting at the head table with Dr. Dennis Hensley, the emcee of the evening's awards, and the infamous Fred and Anne Woodress. Everyone was fairly tired after three days of intensive workshops, panel discussions, and after hour networking. We started out the awards by doing our annual drawing for a free publishing contract, compliments of AuthorHouse. I drew the name of Shirley McMillan, an author that I had spoken to at length earlier in the day. She is helping a friend and former University president write his memoirs. Our $698 publishing package put a smile on her face!

Perhaps the highlight of the day was the entertainment after dinner, hosted by Lou Harry. This was one of the funniest events I've seen on the road. Lou chose three people from the audience to play "Midwest Writers Jeopardy", the winner of which won a shiny quarter from Lou's personal treasure chest.

Overall, I would give the Midwest Writers Conference a solid "A" for content, supportive and involved faculty, and for a supportive and hospitable atmosphere. Of all the conferences I attend, this is by far one of the more intimate, helpful writers conferences around.

"Howdy" From Oklahoma!

Matt Patton and myself spent a few days in Oklahoma's capital city last weekend for the Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. writers conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel. We both flew in on Thursday morning to make sure we got there in time for the speakers dinner that evening at Panera Bread.

We arrived at the hotel to a busy lobby, full of writers and speakers that had gathered to get caught up and talk about the upcoming conference. One of our newest authors, Judy Snavely (pictured here in the middle of Matthew and myself), is the publicity chairperson for the OWFI and she became our personal assistant the entire time we were there. Matt and I immediately hit it off with Judy and she was most generous with her schedule hauling Matt and I around in her car, getting us lunch, working our table, and introducing us to the OWFI dignitaries.

One of our favorite authors and speakers was also in attendance, Gordon Kirkland. Gordon was just named Leacock Award Winner in Canada for the third time so of course he treated us all to a free drink in the hotel lounge on Thursday night. On second thought, the hotel hosted this free reception, GORDON!

Friday morning, I was quite impressed with the turnout of Oklahoma writers...430 paid registrants in all! After the opening remarks, including a 5 minute (and not a second longer) AuthorHouse introduction by yours truly, attendees were shuffled off into one of three sessions covering everything from Blogging to Writing Poetry and Making Money at it. Throughout the day, a conference room was set up for writers to meet with agents and editors from around the country one-on-one. Agents such as Dan Lazar with Writers House and Robyn Russell with Amy Rennert Agency were on hand along with the "Book Doctor" Robyn Conley.

The evening was quite entertaining and relaxing with a cocktail reception for new OWFI members in a suite, complete with cookies and other snacks. It was certainly "standing room only", but a good way to network with the local authors. After the reception, we helped ourselves to another Embassy Suites reception with, you guessed it, free drinks and snacks. Gordon was buying again and I had a chance to chat with Ron "Red" Maier and Michele Bardsley, both with interesting books in print.

After a wonderful chicken dinner, Amy Shojai went through a powerpoint presentation of "Famous Authors" which included about 30 attendees that had been published in the last 12 months. Perhaps the highlight of the slideshow was the photo of Amy on the screen with seemingly darker hair color which brought a "what happened to your hair" comment from Gordon. She regained her composure after the brief interruption.

Feedback from the attendees to the sessions throughout the day was very positive. One lady from Texas just happened to be in the hotel taking her husband to the local hospital for treatments. She was a closet writer with five completed manuscripts at home. Excited to hear about the conference going on, Dorothy Cady, the OWFI president, allowed her to attend one of the afternoon sessions at no charge. A retired school teacher taking care of an ailing husband, she didn't have the money to pay for the sessions, but she certainly had great interest in writing. Thanks Dorothy for accommodating your newest fan!

Overall, I'd give the OWFI Conference a 9.5 on a 10 point scale. On the positive side, the content tracks were superb, volunteer base and management was exceptional, and networking opportunities were great. Only two minor dings on the negative side. First, the OWFI has outgrown the Embassy Suites and space was a bit limiting at times with the bookstore, basket auction, and receptions being held in out of the way locations. Next year, they are moving down the street to a larger facility which will be welcomed by many. Second, the keynote speaker on Friday morning could have been a little stronger. I felt that Jennifer Blake, recipient of the Golden Treasure Award for Lifetime Achievement and author of over 40 books, was an exceptional speaker Friday night. She more than made up for any opening session let downs that morning.

We will definately be back next year. This was our first appearance in Oklahoma, but it won't be our last. Judy Snavely will be president next year and we're already talking about being more involved. I look forward to seeing "ya'll" next year with another visit to the beer margarita suite.

Publishers Take the Direct Route, From Publishers Weekly

I came across an interesting article in Publishers Weekly this month entitled "Publishers Take the Direct Route: Random, S&S the latest to go D2C". It seems that the traditional publishers are piloting programs to sell direct to the consumer (D2C) through their own websites. Harlequin has aggressively gone after online book sales through their eHarlequin.com website which offers a 20% discount and free shipping. According to the article, Katherine Orr, the Harlequin spokesperson claims that sales through eHarlequin.com does not take away business from retailers.

This change in paradym should reinforce in all our minds that the Internet is definately the book sales channel of the future. Traditional publishers are no longer beholden to bookstores. Likewise, self-published authors are not reliant upon bookshelf space to sell books. The online shopping experience is becoming the most popular, and certainly fastest growing book sales channel in the market.

We all have Amazon.com to thank for this.

Defining and Delivering Your USP: A Crucial Step in Developing a Strong Marketing Strategy

In a market where consumers have so many product choices, it can be difficult for a product to grab mind share when it doesn’t explicitly convey a unique selling proposition (USP) to the consumer. Think about your own personal shopping experiences. When there are 10 different products staring you down from the shelf in front of you and they all sell the same general idea/concept, how do you decide which product will meet your need? Taking the time to define your own unique selling proposition will help you target market and make your product stand out among the others jockeying for position in a consumer’s shopping cart.

For example, Enrique J. Salvo, author of The Gift Basket (AuthorHouse, 2004), sends his book to media neatly nested in a wicker basket. Bob Shumaker, author of the Schmooney trilogies (AuthorHouse, 2005), sends the message, "Find Your Gift."

When the time comes to take off your writing cap and embrace your inner marketer, here are a few things to consider:

• Take some time early on to think about the target market for the book. Answer the question, "Who will buy my book and why will they want to buy it?"
• Does the book’s content lend itself to satisfy a niche market?
• What makes the story different from all of the others?
• Is there a feature you can "build in" to your book to make it more remarkable?
• How will you communicate your product’s uniqueness?

Understanding the answers to these questions will help you to remember to write your manuscript with your target audience in mind and will help you create a product that your audience will buy.

Communicating Value
After your product is created, your marketing plan should be completed or well on its way. When you draft and revise your marketing plan, consider what you will communicate to your potential buyer:

• What idea will your message deliver?
• Does it communicate value to the reader?
• Are your advertising words congruent with the writing style of the book?

Now that you know what you will communicate, it’s time to focus on how:

• Will you set up a newsletter for fans and media (print, electronic or both)?
• Will you create a Web site where prospective buyers can preview and then buy your book?
• Can you set aside a moderate budget for a creative direct-mail campaign for pre- and post-book release?
• Will you create a business reply card for insertion in your book to capture reader names? (Next book marketing…always thinking ahead.)
• Do you want to host an event for your book’s release? Will the event’s location mirror a setting or scene in the book?
• Will you set up a Weblog where you can post and readers can respond to topics related to your book?
  The customer’s buying decision will ultimately reflect his or her own needs, but your ability to fit into that need structure will be tied to how effectively you communicate your product’s USP. To whatever degree you can make your product unique and then communicate that feature, the more successful you will be in your book publishing and marketing journey.

Shaving Cover Designs with Ockham’s Razor

Writers don’t write so that they can employ graphic designers who create book covers. Writers write so that readers will read the words they have written. But, most people can and do judge books by the cover.

The ultimate goal of a cover design, as I discussed last time, is to turn a browser into a buyer and a buyer into a reader. After all, once you are reading a book, the cover is immaterial. But, like a newly pressed suit you wear to a job interview, a good cover makes the first impression that helps your book change a person from a browser to a reader.

The idea of “simplicity” in design is not new. The principle of simplicity is also sometimes referred to as Ockham’s Razor states that design simplicity is preferred to complexity. There are countless variations to this throughout human history, each addressing this principle from a different perspective. Named for the 15th Century English Jesuit Priest William of Ockham, the crux of the thought is:

“Entities should not be multiplied without necessity”

You can also look to Aristotle, Sir Isaac Newton, or Albert Einstein for other versions of this “simplicity principle.” However, how this philosophical truism applies to the effective design of a book cover in the 21st century may seem like a stretch. I assure you, it is not.

The main thesis of Ockham’s Razor is that unnecessary elements decrease the overall efficiency and aesthetic appeal of a design. It also increases the likelihood that the design will not be understood by its intended audience. In the case of your book, the audience is the person browsing online or in your local bookstore. The unintended consequence you seek to avoid is a book cover that does not appeal to them.

Now, designs can be unappealing for many reasons and breaking Ockham’s Razor by having a complex or “busy” design is no guarantee that a design will fail to appeal. It is a good indicator of why one design may not succeed and another one will.

We often talk about “trimming the fat” or “separating the wheat from the chaff” and we can be referring to a lot of different things in our lives. A good writer will spend hour after hour editing and proof-reading and re-editing their book. They ask, “how can this sentence achieve the effect I want?” They cut words, paragraphs, and so forth until it is “clean” in their mind.

The cover is not much different than that, other than it is a visual process rather than a written one. Respecting Ockham’s Razor helps a good graphic designer to strip away the unhelpful design elements and achieve a cover that appeals to the reader and reflects the author’s vision. A design not weighed down by extraneous elements won’t confuse or turn off the potential buyer and will help entice them to flip open to the first page and begin reading.

Good Cover Designs Sell Books

Hi there. My name is Taylor Hess and I’m the Creative Services Manager at AuthorHouse, which means, among other things, that I direct the Art & Design staff responsible for producing book covers, custom illustrations, marketing and promotions materials, and other things generally related to graphic design. I have two Artists and eight designers working with me to create outstanding designs for our authors.

I want to start by thanking Mike Johnson for inviting me to contribute to this blog and all of the readers out there who are already or wish to become an AuthorHouse author. Even if you’re not with AuthorHouse and don’t think you want to be, your goal is to publish and to sell books, and I hope that what I have to say is relevant to you, too.

Today, I thought I’d start by introducing a theme I will no doubt return to time and again: good cover design. I read a lot, as I’m sure many of you do, too. What I read tends to span the spectrum from today’s best-sellers to lesser known books from twenty or thirty years ago (just picked up Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow). Since joining AuthorHouse in 2002, my relationship to a book – especially the physical parts it – has changed. I take in the front cover, the spine, the back cover, the dust flaps, and the overall presentation of the exterior of the book with a much more critical eye.

We could spend a lifetime dissecting what makes one book sell over another. Obviously, the writing is the most important part of any book. You could have the best cover in the world and it won’t make a bit of difference if the word of mouth on the street is that the writing is stilted, the grammar poor, or the whole thing is in dire need of a thorough editor’s review. Eventually, people will avoid a book that is poorly written. But…

Let’s assume the writing is superb. A terrific cover design may be the thing that starts off the word of mouth in the first place and helps bring in a reader who may not have even heard the word. Let’s take a few recent examples of “best seller” covers:

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0767908171/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9106542-5246449#reader-link
Very clean and simple design. Bryson is one of those writers who people buy because they liked his last book, his first book, or something in between. You know this because his name is larger than the title of the book. Still, the cover is a rich blue color with a partially hidden earth suspended three-quarters of the way from the bottom and near the outside. The spine replicates this design and the back, other than text and a mug of Bill, is just the same blue. A very understated cover comes off looking elegant and somewhat mysterious. It makes the reader want to pick up the book and know more about it.

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0316172324/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9106542-5246449#reader-link
Another best-selling book (also non-fiction) that is extremely minimalist in its cover design. There is nothing here but well placed text on white background. Blink is actually an appropriate example because its subject – how and why people make very quick and often very accurate snap decisions – can be directly related to how and why a person in a book store picks up this book instead of that one. The cover is simple, elegant, and attractive.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0385504209/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9106542-5246449#reader-link
Everyone and their tax advisor has at least heard of this book. It’s been a best-seller for something approaching a year now and the movie is currently in production (Tom Hanks is set to star). Whether you’ve already read this or put off reading it, just look at the cover one more time. It’s mostly just the title of the book, the author’s name, and about one-third of the cover is “ripped” away to reveal the ubiquitous Mona Lisa peering out along with some of what we are to assume is Leonardo’s handwriting. It’s a great cover because it gives the potential reader a real sense of mystery, which is exactly what this author wants to do.

I don’t tend to look at covers of famous people to get ideas of what makes good cover design. Jane Fonda, Bill Clinton, Jack Welch – these people can just stick their face on the cover along with a gold-lettered title and there’s the design. Not much art there and really not much to inspire a non-fiction or fiction writer looking for a unique cover design.

Next time I’ll try to discuss good use of color; overcoming some of the limitations of print-on-demand publishing (yes, there are some limits) in terms of what you can and can’t do on the cover; utilizing the back cover and spine areas; and so on. Please feel free to post any questions for me and I’ll try to jump in and answer as many as I can between now and my next entry.

Making Your Writing Work for You

A Little Elbow Grease Can Bring a Lot of Exposure

An old adage says there are multiple ways to skin the proverbial cat. Well, just like that former feline, there is also more than one way to make money with your writing.
A lot of people only think of making money with their writing through book sales and speaking appearances. But that is just the tip of the iceberg.
I personally know one author who makes 10 times as much selling articles to newspapers and magazines than he ever will through selling his book. But, just as life is somewhat circular, every time he sells an article, he also sells more books.
As a matter of fact, we just had an author who sold a short story (about 1,000-1,500 words) to a travel magazine in Japan. Aside from the fact that his story was printed in a magazine with a circulation of more than 750,000 – which is a pretty hefty accomplishment in itself – he got paid. And, he got paid a pretty nice amount.
So, how do you get in on the action? That answer is relatively simple: Hard work and the ability to not be offended when someone says “no.”
First, decide what you want to write for general circulation. Do you want to write humor columns for newspapers? Do you want to write romantic serial fiction? How about historical or scientific articles? Yes, even poetry and recipes. I can pretty well guarantee you that no matter what you decide to write about (within reason) there is a publication of some sort out there for you.
Like UFOs that contain culinary perfectionists who cook with cheese? I’ve actually heard of a magazine that has a section featuring extraterrestrial recipes. I can’t make this stuff up, people.
But on a more down-to-earth subject, most women’s magazines will pay for romantic fiction, as well as for stories about successful women who overcame overwhelming odds. Heck, Reader’s Digest even pays for one-liners. So does Maxim magazine.
And, here’s the best part – you don’t necessarily have to write about what’s contained in your book. If your book is about the Civil War, it’s perfectly all right to write articles or columns about raising a family or the weekend you spent in Tijuana with your turtle Rufus.
Do you enjoy the hobby of building ships in a bottle? There are a blue million hobby magazines in the United States, alone.
Before I belabor my point further, the bottom line here is that there is a market for your work – you just have to find it.
One place to start is the Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media. The Gale Directory is a multi-volume set of reference books that most libraries have. (You don’t want to buy the books yourself – a full set will set you back about $3,000.)
But, here’s the best part – you can get all the information you need by investing a couple of bucks and about an hour of your time.
Fortunately, the index of the Gale Directory is all-encompassing. It’s also cross-referenced by both subject and geographic location.
So, you can look up all the magazines and newspapers in North America that specialize in everything from Native American culture to raising worms for fun and profit.
The Gale Directory also contains everything you need in order to make a pitch to an editor or publisher. The directory will provide you with phone numbers, contact names, fax numbers and, most of the time, e-mail addresses.
Once you have your article or column prepared – or even if you just have an idea for an article – find a few publications which look like they would be a good fit. (Critical clue: Do NOT start with The New York Times or the Chicago Tribune. Start smaller.)
Go to the library and research your contacts. Copy the necessary pages out of the Gale Directory.
Now, simply make the call or e-mail your pitch.
The pitch should be no less than 75 words and no more than 200. Editors are busy people. Don’t waste their time.
If you e-mail or fax your proposal, do not include a requested amount of payment. Let them tell you what they are willing to pay.
For newspapers, most will pay $5 to $10 per column (750 words). A magazine might pay as much as $1.50 a word or more.
Another approach – which works especially well for people who write either humor or social commentary – is to offer a one-off article for free.
If you have an expertise in World War II, for example, and there is a major anniversary coming up, pitch a column about some little-known battle that has some local relevance. If you write humor, tie a funny column into some local event.
One friend of mine got his start as a syndicated columnist by writing about a snow storm in Western Canada. That column ran in newspapers all over our northern neighbor and a new career was born.
If you want some practice before going after the big fish, try writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Most newspapers also have a “Poet’s Corner” for your poetry offerings.
As an old news guy, I can tell you that editors are absolutely thrilled to get letters that aren’t complaining about the paper. Most newspaper publishers have somehow tied a part of the editor’s annual bonus to the number of letters to the editor the paper receives during a specific period.
I actually grabbed a pretty good bonus because we doubled the number of letters to the editor year-over-year.
I can also remember being a kid and reading one guy’s letters every couple of days in The Sidney (Ohio) Daily News. After the twentieth or so letter, the paper finally gave him his own weekly column – for which he got paid. So, you can hone your writing skills, keep in practice and keep sharp – all the while putting a few extra bucks in your pocket.
Plus, after you have written enough columns, you have another book – already written and ready to go. It’s much easier to write 100,000 words if you are doing it at a rate of 750-1,000 words at a time.
Regardless of what avenues of extracurricular writing you decide to pursue, one thing is sure: Writers write and the more you write, the better you become.

Great Question from Workshop Attendee

Mr. Johnson,
I attended your presentation about marketing in St. Louis last weekend. I
found it to be informative and worthwhile. Thank you.
I had questions though, that came to mind throughout this week.
First off, explain to me how to go about getting my book into stores. Who do I speak with? How do I go about the whole thing?
I'm looking at, first and foremost, the big bookstores: i.e. B & N and Borders. Do I contact the stores individually?
Next, in using Pressblaster, I will eventually invest in the software, but I'm a starving college student, so how would you best suggest to take advantage of that one free use? What kind of content should I include, etc.?
Next, when I get business cards printed up, is there anything you suggest I have written on the card, as I have in mind the name of my novel and where it can be purchased, along with my name, obviously? That's all I can think of now. I'm going with the expedite service, and should have the finished product by the last week in April. Just to familiarize yourself with how I
intend to aggressively market my book, I'm going to first target the universities around the country where I have friends, and then if enough of an interested is present, I will subsequently travel to and do a book signing at that school and others in the area. Any other pointers?
Thanks,
John Zur

John,
Thanks for the kind words. Let's discuss your questions one at a time.
1. The question of how to get your book into bookstores is a very valid one. First and foremost, I would suggest that you purchase AuthorHouse's Bookseller Return program - which will allow your book to be fully returnable by retailers. If money is a concern, I would suggest you invest in this service instead of the expedited production of your book. When trying to get your book on bookstore shelves, I would suggest the following:

• Call your local bookstore and ask to speak with the manager. Set up an appointment for a few days in the future.
• Be honest. Tell the manager you want to talk about your book and the possibilities of them shelving it.
• When you go in for your appointment, bring a copy of your book and some extra marketing materials.
• Be on time, dress professionally and be brief. You have about 10 minutes before you lose the manager's interest.
• When you're finished, thank him or her. The next day, send a thank you note.

If the manager is not interested in shelving the book, you can make an end run to drum up interest and business. Go to the Community Relations Manager and inquire about the possibility of holding a book signing event at the store.

If you have a successful signing event, the approach the manager again, this time with a proven track record. REMIND THE MANAGER THAT YOUR BOOK IS RETURNABLE.

2. You mentioned a computer program called PressBlaster. It can be found at www.PressBlaster.net. It is a program which helps you make a press release and them helps you distribute it electronically.

For your press release, you should include 50-100 words about your book. Another 50-100 words should make the pitch as to why the media outlet should be interested. For example, tie the slant of the release to some current event. Make sure you list contact information and instructions on ordering a complimentary review copy. (The media can request review copies at the e-mail address of bookorders@authorhouse.com)

Keep the release down to one page (250-325 words). Any more will not get looked at.

3. For your business cards, I would suggest the following:

• On the front, put your cover
• On the back, put 25 or 30 words about the book. The book title, the ISBN, and complete ordering information.

4. As for using your friends as contacts at colleges through the country - don't be bashful. If you have a friend who can help you, use that to your advantage. When the late Tip O'Neill was Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, he once said "All politics is grass-roots politics."

He was completely correct. One could extrapolate that out to your situation in saying "All book marketing is grass-roots book marketing."

I hope this helps.

RMJ

Come See Us in California

During the month of April, we will be making several appearances in the Golden State. On April 23-24, AuthorHouse will be at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
On April 25, we will be hosting a free writers' workshop at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton and on April 26, we will travel upstate to beautiful San Jose for another writers' workshop at the Hyatt San Jose.
For information on any of our workshops (or to register), please go to www.authorhouse.com/seminars
Hope to see you in California!

Let the Buyer Beware

Do Your Homework Before Signing on the Dotted Line

ST. LOUIS – Every time I put on a workshop or speak at a writers’ conference, one question in particular comes up.
“How do I know who to go with to publish my book?”

Now, I’ll state this up front – I work for AuthorHouse, a company I consider the best in the business. However, I’ll also say that we may or may not be the right fit for you and your book depending on what your needs are.

The answer to the aforementioned question is simple: Do your homework. Ask questions.

Demand honest answers. Then – and only then – make a publishing decision.
The best judge of what’s right for you is … you.

There are literally volumes written comparing and contrasting the various self-publishing companies. Exercise caution. Many of them were written by either someone directly associated with one of the companies or someone who has an axe to grind with another.

Internet Web posting boards are also a hotbed for misinformation. In case you aren’t familiar with them, most allow anonymous posters to make scurrilous comments about people and companies without checking the facts. In fact, some of them are owned by self-publishing companies merely wanting to get a leg up on the competition.

Get online and look at the Web sites of the reputable self-publishing companies: AuthorHouse, Infinity ,iUniverse, Trafford and Xlibris to name a few. Sign up to receive information from all of them. Call and speak directly with a live human being.

Make sure to ask the right questions:

• What are the initial costs associated with publishing my book?
• Are there other fees I should know about, such as revision fees?
• How is the final retail price of my book determined?
• Will my book be distributed through all three of the major book distributors (Ingram, Bowker and Baker & Taylor)?
• How often are royalties paid and are your royalty statements independently audited?
• What kind of marketing support does the company offer, and at what cost?
• Where is the actual production of the book performed?
• How much creative control do I have during the production of my book?
• Do I retain all of the rights to my book, no strings attached?
• Can you put me in contact with a couple of your authors who have been through the process and can give me some insight about what to expect?
• How long will it take before my book is available for sale?
• What happens if I want to change my book after it is available?

These are just some examples of the multitude of questions which will help you make an informed decision before you sign on the dotted line and send a check.
Also, don’t be shy. Don’t be bashful.
This is your book. It is the fruit of your labors.
Do your homework. Be educated and make the best decision for you.

Greetings from the Banks of The Mighty MIssissippi

ST. LOUIS - Good morning from the shadow of the Gateway Arch! We had an absolutely magnificent day Saturday, attending the National Federation of Press Women's St. Louis conference.
The winner of a complimentary publishing package (valued at $700) was Marge Polcyn of St. Louis.
But I just couldn't resist helping out one aspiring author, in particular.
Now, keep in mind that this is the National Federation of Press WOMEN. There was one lone young guy in the crowd - who came to hear all about how he could get his book published.
For his courage and to encourage, Bobby Wegusen of Chesterfield, Mo., will also receive the services to get his voice in print.
Bobby is a college student at Miami University of Ohio and writes fiction. But seeing his enthusiasm, his drive and his goals, I just had to make sure his book gets published.
Congratulations, Bobby and Marge!
And, thanks to the National Federation of Press Women's St. Louis chapter for inviting us to speak.

Price Does Matter

Do Your Homework Before Deciding on Retail Price

LAS VEGAS - I received an interesting question over dinner with one of our authors in Las Vegas last week.

The author in question has written a 500-page-plus novel and was concerned that it would not necessarily be commercially viable because of its size and its accompanying price tag. High-priced fiction is definitely a hard sell at best.

But our discussion over dinner at Lawry’s The Prime Rib brought up a couple of good talking points – points all authors should consider when thinking about the production and subsequent pricing of their book.

First, size does, in fact, matter. There can be a difference of 100 or more pages between a five-inch by eight-inch book and a six-inch by nine-inch book. If you are trying to bulk up the book, consider a smaller trim size. If you want to keep the page count (and the price) reasonable, the larger format might be better.

Second, the amount of royalty you chose definitely affects the final price. With AuthorHouse, authors are able to pick which percentage of a royalty payment they wish to receive. If an author picks an unusually high royalty (40 percent or more), the final price of their book may end up far outside the norms for books of similar size and genre in the commercial marketplace.

I recently advised an author against seeking a 50 percent royalty payment for a humor book which was 108 pages. The book would have retailed for $15.75 – which is about $6 or $7 more than similar books are selling for at the local book store. The author finally chose a 20 percent royalty and the book retails for $9.50 – which is right where it belongs.

So, be careful and be thoughtful about your royalty schedule. Sometimes, less is more and while you may only be getting a 5 percent royalty payment, you are more likely to sell a lot of books. It’s the old sales philosophy of making up the difference in volume.

Advice I give a lot of authors when they are mulling over the price point for their book is to do some homework.

Go to the local Barnes & Noble or Borders or other book store. Do some comparison shopping. If you wrote an historical fiction work that is 300 pages long, look for similar books on their shelves. Check out the prices for those books and try to price your book within a buck of the traditionally published book (50 cents is even better).

That works in the majority of cases where an author is looking for some kind of commercial success. But there are instances where an author can get away with a higher-priced book. College professors are good examples. If a professor writes a book for use in his class, he has a captive audience that will pay whatever is necessary for the book.

One can also charge a little more if they are using their books during public appearances and speeches. I guarantee that if you are the keynote speaker at an event, at least half of the room will want to buy your book (if your speech was any good) at whatever price you set – so long as it is within reason.
The bottom line in pricing your book is actually pretty simple. Remember this one rule: Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.
Which one do you want to be?

Setting Up Shop as a Writer

Remember - YOU CAN WRITE!

SAN DIEGO - Anyone who has ever plopped down in front of a computer keyboard or cuddled up in their porch swing with a pen and legal pad has, at some time, toyed with the idea of being a “professional writer.”
Some make it and, sadly, some do not. But in either case, one thing is certain – you stand a much better chance of succeeding in your dream of writing professionally if you set yourself up as a professional writer from the start.
While I was on the faculty of the Southern California Writers’ Conference in San Diego recently, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop taught by Canadian humor author Gordon Kirkland on the subject of setting up shop as a writer.
Kirkland, who was twice-published traditionally and is currently self-published (and is also a syndicated columnist), gave quite a few great hints and tips for writers wanting to make the leap.
First, Kirkland tells conference attendees, the actual title of his workshop was “God, I Wish Somebody had Told Me…” He says he calls it that because all of the tips he gives are things he has learned over the last decade or so of writing.
He tells the crowd, “Margaret Lawrence (author of Blood Bones and a number of other best-selling mysteries) was at a cocktail party when a neurosurgeon asked her what she did for a living,” he said. “She said she was a writer.”
“Oh,” said the surgeon. “I was thinking of taking that up after I retire.”
“Neurosurgery,” said Lawrence. “I was thinking of taking that up after I retire.”
Kirkland illustrated the point that a lot of people don’t take you seriously when you tell them you’re a writer. As a matter of fact, a lot of writers don’t take themselves seriously when they tell themselves they are writers.
“That’s your biggest mistake,” Kirkland said. “Tell yourself every morning ‘You can write.’”
He suggested putting a Post-It note on the bathroom mirror with the three words, “I can write.” Then, he said, “Read it every morning, every night.”
Aside from convincing oneself that you, in fact, are a professional writer, Kirkland gave the following instructions for setting up shop:
Get established as a business: Incorporate as a sole-proprietorship, Limited Liability Corporation or other entity. This will not only give you some instant credibility in the “real world,” it will also help you when the tax man comes knocking. Often, one can write off certain expenses if they are incorporated. One example is the fact that a number of the conferees were in San Diego for the weekend, writing the entire trip off their taxes as a business expense. AuthorHouse has more than several authors who write off the cost of producing and promoting their books. Once established as a business, act in a business-like manner. “You get looked at differently if you have put in that effort,” Kirkland says.
Set up an office – a writing room: This one is a must – the room absolutely, positively has to have a door which closes completely. “You need someplace you can get away from everybody and everything,” Kirkland says. Included in the office must be a good desk, good lighting and a comfortable chair. “If you’re going to be a writer, a kitchen chair just won’t get it. For Kirkland – who was involved in an auto accident a number of years ago – the ultimate in writing chair comfort is a $5,000 wheelchair. “For most of you, this is not necessary,” he smiles. “But if you’re going to sit there for hours at a time, everyday, you need to have a good chair.”
Find or buy some time: Whether it involves getting up before the rest of the house or staying up late or missing the weekly episode of “American Idol” … do it.
“Even if you have to pawn the kids off on your folks for a couple of hours, do it,” says Kirkland. “You need the uninterrupted time.”
He laughingly adds, “Hire a babysitter, send your spouse bowling, whatever it takes.”
Get a good computer, just for you: More specifically, get a laptop. This computer will have your work and the stuff you need ONLY. It will not have all your husband’s games, your kids’ music or your wife’s accounting software. This will be yours and only yours. Kirkland’s reasons for suggesting a laptop are two-fold. First, the current crop of laptops is just as powerful – if not more so – than most desktops, and they are now extremely reasonable in price. Plus, a laptop computer can be a traveling or on-the-go writer’s best friend. With a laptop, you can keep writing onboard an airplane, in the doctor’s office waiting room, on the train going to and from work. “I found out too late that the laptop is the greatest thing…ever,” Kirkland says. “Wherever I am, my office is with me.”
He also suggested getting a laptop with wireless capabilities. “For example, in all Best Western motels in America, you can use their wireless Internet for free when you stay there,” he says. “That way you can stay in contact with your e-mail and do research no matter where you are.”
While you’re buying a computer, take the time and plunk down the cash to also buy an external hard drive for back-up purposes. “Does anybody know what it feels like to lose an entire year’s worth of work when your computer crashes?” Kirkland asks the class. “I do.”
Also, get high-speed Internet access. Trying to do research for a book with a 56k modem is, at best, frustrating and time-consuming.
The right software can make all the difference: Kirkland recommends a couple of must-have software packages (some of which are free) – Microsoft’s Office suite of products, including Word, Excel and Outlook are a must. The entire Microsoft Office suite is available for both Windows and Mac computer platforms. The reason for Word is obvious – it is great for writing. Excel will help with managing the money part and Outlook is great for managing appointments and schedules, as well as managing e-mail communications. The Office suite costs about $450.
Other software Kirkland recommends for professional writers includes Norton AntiVirus, Norton Ghost (for backing up everything to that external hard drive you dutifully just bought), Norton Internet Security for firewall protection and a free program (shareware) called “Stickies.” Norton’s programs cost about $120 or less apiece.
“Stickies” literally allows computer users to put Post-It notes on their computer screen. “And, every time you turn on the computer, there are all of your messages,” he says.
If you’re planning on traveling to do research or a book tour, the Rand-McNally atlas computer program is also a must. It’s called Trip Maker and costs about $50.
Before closing his seminar, Kirkland again reiterated the need for writers to believe in themselves.
“People who want to write can write,” Kirkland says. “Writing is the easy part. Thinking of something to write is the hard part.”
He tells writers to write – every day. “I don’t care if it’s Christmas or May Day,” he says. “Write something.”
As for experiencing writer’s block, Kirkland encourages writers to find a way around it. “I’ve had writer’s wall,” he says. To conquer writer’s block, Kirkland says he goes for a drive. He has a former colleague who used to go home and take a shower when he had writer’s block. “We actually installed a shower in our offices so he wouldn’t have to drive all the way home,” Kirkland laughed.
He encourages writers to find something to break their routine if the dreaded writer’s block starts. Take a drive, watch cartoons, run. In short, get up, get out and clear your mind.
“There’s a reason they call that little blinking thing on your computer screen a ‘cursor,’” he laughs. “There is nothing worse than that little thing blinking at you from the blank page.”
Kirkland closed with a simple but earnest charge for all of the conferees: “Write what you want. Write what you like.”

Gordon Kirkland is a Canadian-based humor writer whose syndicated column appears in dozens of American newspapers every week. He is the winner of Canada’s prestigious Stephen Leacock Award of Merit (Canada’s version of the Pulitzer Prize), and is in the running for a second Leacock again this year.
Kirkland and Johnson are making numerous conference appearances together during 2005, speaking on topics ranging from publishing alternatives to book marketing and everything in between.

What's In a Name?

Plenty, If You Want to Sell Any Books.
Would you have been enthralled with George Orwell’s classic work had it been titled 1961? Or would John F. Kennedy have won the Pulitzer Prize had he titled his book Examples of Brave Guys? Would you have rushed to Wal-Mart at midnight to buy J.K. Rowling’s latest work had it been called Kid Wizard?

Of course not. Instead we have 1984, Profiles in Courage and Harry Potter. Each title tells a story in a powerful and insightful way. You have the same opportunity Kennedy, Orwell and Rowling had – so take some time and seize this all-important opportunity.

While you may have had a title in mind since you started writing the manuscript, all authors should remember that their book is a living, breathing being which can and will evolve – just like a person. And its name should be appropriate – when it reaches adulthood. If you don’t believe me, next time you walk by a construction site, I dare you to call the biggest, burliest guy with a hardhat by his childhood nickname. I’m sure "Little Freddie" probably will not be amused. And he just might voice his displeasure in an inappropriate manner.

In looking through the more than 27,000 titles with the AuthorHouse imprint, I can almost hear some of them expressing their displeasure (just like Little Freddie) because an author either didn’t spend enough time considering the title or was dead-set on using a particular one – even though it has nothing to do with what the book evolved and grew into.

A perfect example of this came several months ago; we had a book which carried a title containing a sexually offensive phrase. The book contained absolutely no racy scenes, whatsoever. As a matter of fact, it is a business book. Was the author trying to be coy? Was he trying to be clever? Was there some hidden meaning we all weren’t getting? No to all three.
After bringing it to the author’s attention, I learned that he simply had “not thought that far ahead.”He told me that he had heard the phrase before, but it just didn’t occur to him that people might be offended if he used it in his title. Fortunately, we were able to change the cover before the book went to press, thus saving everyone a lot of embarrassment. But that’s an extreme example.

What you’re more likely to encounter as a self-published author is a lack of sales because of an improperly or poorly titled book. Think about it: When you go into a Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million, how long do you spend looking at each title you’re interested in? I’ll bet it’s less than a minute or so. While shopping on Amazon.com, will you click on the “buy” button if the title doesn’t catch your eye? I’d be willing to wager that the answer is no.

Your book is in competition with literally millions of other books, and you have to do something to set it apart. (Just think about this – 180,000 new titles entered the market in 2003, alone.) Here are a few hints to help you appropriately title what could be the next best seller:
When you begin writing, do just that. Start writing. Don’t put a title page on the manuscript until you are completely finished. This breaks the invisible bond that can "chain" an author to a particular title.

As you’re writing, make occasional notes when there is a really cool quote, character or scene in the book. The title In God We Trust – All Others Pay Cash was taken from a scene inside a tavern about three-quarters of the way through the book. It’s only mentioned once, but its use literally ties everything in the entire book together. Jean Shepherd could have called his book any one of a hundred titles, but he chose In God We Trust – All Others Pay Cash. It really works.

Once the book is finished, let it alone for a couple of days. Then go over your notes and start brainstorming titles. Relax, take a deep breath and just jot down several titles. When performing this exercise, don’t crumple up any paper or trash anything. Write it all down and save it. You can always weed out the crazy titles later. But what could evolve into the perfect diamond could be in your waste basket if you’re not careful.

Find a couple of friends or brutally honest family members. Let them see the manuscript and ask them what they would title the work.

Now comes the hard part (mostly because it can be discouraging). Get on Amazon.com and start typing in your ideas. Or, perform a Google search on your proposed titles. If your query yields many results, the title is probably not for you. In short, it means your book will get lost among the hundreds of others out there with the same title. And, before you even suggest it, it’s not a good idea to try to trick the buying public into thinking you wrote one of the Dummies books. (Plus, there could be trademark issues at play.)

So, now that you’ve brainstormed and mulled and taken input from everyone imaginable – and thrown out the ones in the "I wish I’d have thought of that first" category, you’re ready to title your book.

Let it sit for a day, again.

Now, you’re ready to title your book.

Several author friends of mine have compared the process of writing and publishing their books to that of giving birth to a baby. While this analogy might be right on the mark, I want you to think about this question (especially those of you who are parents): Would it be fair to come up with a name for your child in three minutes? I didn’t think so. Nor would it be fair to your weeks, months and sometimes years of hard work to shortchange the process by slapping any old title on it.

Faxing Your Press Releases?

You have to love the Federal government.

Thanks to a new ruling by the Federal Communications Commission in mid-2003, there are now some very specific rules in place regarding the promotion of your book using a fax machine.
According to the new rule, it is illegal to use your fax mach