Last week a client completed a bounty of interviews for his new book, a photo narrative with a lengthy title, and a little known name for the publisher.
Not surprisingly, each interviewer gave the book his or her own title. And mangled the publisher's name to boot.
Which is why we advocate closing the interview with the "card slide." Use your bookmark postcard. This card is a simple compendium of information: book title, author name, brief bio, web site, and where to order the book, if it's a small press book. As you're thanking the interviewer for a lovely time, slide over the card.
Yes, the interviewer has your press kit, and their research, but trust me, at deadline, when the journalist is making sure the title is right, your card will be pulled.
(And if your interview was by phone,"slide" over the card via e-mail.)
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
D&D versus the B&N
In a suburb just north of Mr. Obie Joe's city, the future of bookselling exists.
On one side of the street, a pretty and shiny new Barnes & Noble located across the street from a well-worn store for Dungeons & Dragons, anime and other fantasy-related stuff.
Kids hang out at the D&D store regularly. The store has provided tables and ratty chairs for the kids to play the elaborate dice-and-card game, and to just talk.
On a recent Friday night, Mr. Obie Joe took a walk down this block. Looking inside the B&N, we saw some people, none of them under the age of 25. One the other side, the D&D store, teeming with kids, buying books, cards, snacks.
Now where did you say your next audience is coming from, B&N?
In Fredericksburg, Va., the Wounded Bookshop takes it chances on over 100 events annually. Some bring in audiences, some sell lots of book. And some don't. "Shows aren't always good for the books," said owner Paul Lewis to Shelf Awareness. "But somehow, it all works out. The kids who do come to the shows have a great use for the space, so nothing is ever in vain. This place brings people together."
Along with their affinity and debit card.
On one side of the street, a pretty and shiny new Barnes & Noble located across the street from a well-worn store for Dungeons & Dragons, anime and other fantasy-related stuff.
Kids hang out at the D&D store regularly. The store has provided tables and ratty chairs for the kids to play the elaborate dice-and-card game, and to just talk.
On a recent Friday night, Mr. Obie Joe took a walk down this block. Looking inside the B&N, we saw some people, none of them under the age of 25. One the other side, the D&D store, teeming with kids, buying books, cards, snacks.
Now where did you say your next audience is coming from, B&N?
In Fredericksburg, Va., the Wounded Bookshop takes it chances on over 100 events annually. Some bring in audiences, some sell lots of book. And some don't. "Shows aren't always good for the books," said owner Paul Lewis to Shelf Awareness. "But somehow, it all works out. The kids who do come to the shows have a great use for the space, so nothing is ever in vain. This place brings people together."
Along with their affinity and debit card.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Press releases are like cards...
An essential element of an author's press plan is the well-written press release.
But one is not enough, says Mr. Obie Joe.
We've been working with a nonfiction title, a lifestyle one, at that. It would be easy as pie (sorry, could not resist) to develop only one press release. Instead the author and Obie Joe put together nearly a dozen variations with the intention of sending targeted press releases. One press release on the business of bottled water went to the biz mags. Another, with new recipes, was for the Martha Stewart category. We even sent press releases -- always developed as story ideas -- to teen magazines.
The results? TIME Magazine, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and dozens of dailies and smaller magazines.
Authors, your budget might limit you to paying for the development of only one press release. But from there, develop at least 5 more. Mr. Obie Joe says don't worry about the work. All you're really changing is the top 2-3 paragraphs to suit a market. The other paragraphs, which is the standard stuff about you, your book, availability, etc., stays the same.
Stack the deck.
But one is not enough, says Mr. Obie Joe.
We've been working with a nonfiction title, a lifestyle one, at that. It would be easy as pie (sorry, could not resist) to develop only one press release. Instead the author and Obie Joe put together nearly a dozen variations with the intention of sending targeted press releases. One press release on the business of bottled water went to the biz mags. Another, with new recipes, was for the Martha Stewart category. We even sent press releases -- always developed as story ideas -- to teen magazines.
The results? TIME Magazine, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and dozens of dailies and smaller magazines.
Authors, your budget might limit you to paying for the development of only one press release. But from there, develop at least 5 more. Mr. Obie Joe says don't worry about the work. All you're really changing is the top 2-3 paragraphs to suit a market. The other paragraphs, which is the standard stuff about you, your book, availability, etc., stays the same.
Stack the deck.
Monday, July 16, 2007
The long-tailed book tour
Some of us at Obie Joe Media got our starts as magazine writers. Every month we wade through dozens of magazines, and often the torrent of words washes over us without much impact. Sad to say.
One article was the exception. Written in early 2005 by one of our favorite editors -- Chris Anderson of Wired -- the article really stopped us cold. We even went to the trouble to cut-and-paste it, on the computer, and thumbtacked it to the bulletin board.
For booksellers, "The Long-Tail Theory" gave new insight into the way readers find new titles. The way we saw it at Obie Joe Media, it meant the playing field was equalized for every book. It used to be one thing to build audiences, mostly through hype and paid advertising. Today, you promote a book via the participation, and building, of a community around the book. A friend’s (actual or virtual) recommendation means more than any other ad or hype you saw elsewhere. Find the niche of your book, connect to a community who adores that niche, snuggle in, and your book just found an audience.
“This is the difference between push and pull, between broadcast and personalized taste. Long Tail business can treat consumers as individuals, offering mass customization as an alternative to mass-market fare,” writes Anderson.
Which is our roundabout way to say we are all very thrilled to pass along our recommendation for www.BookTour.com. Not only is Anderson involved, but a fellow Baltimore hometown guy who is generous with his time and creativity -- Kevin Smokler is also on board. Some of the principal concepts of the Long-Tail Theory are there:
Help Me Find It
Make Everything Available
Particularly for our authors new to this game, BookTour.com is going to be the chocolate on the pillow while on that long journey to find and engage audiences. For readers, too.
One article was the exception. Written in early 2005 by one of our favorite editors -- Chris Anderson of Wired -- the article really stopped us cold. We even went to the trouble to cut-and-paste it, on the computer, and thumbtacked it to the bulletin board.
For booksellers, "The Long-Tail Theory" gave new insight into the way readers find new titles. The way we saw it at Obie Joe Media, it meant the playing field was equalized for every book. It used to be one thing to build audiences, mostly through hype and paid advertising. Today, you promote a book via the participation, and building, of a community around the book. A friend’s (actual or virtual) recommendation means more than any other ad or hype you saw elsewhere. Find the niche of your book, connect to a community who adores that niche, snuggle in, and your book just found an audience.
“This is the difference between push and pull, between broadcast and personalized taste. Long Tail business can treat consumers as individuals, offering mass customization as an alternative to mass-market fare,” writes Anderson.
Which is our roundabout way to say we are all very thrilled to pass along our recommendation for www.BookTour.com. Not only is Anderson involved, but a fellow Baltimore hometown guy who is generous with his time and creativity -- Kevin Smokler is also on board. Some of the principal concepts of the Long-Tail Theory are there:
Help Me Find It
Make Everything Available
Particularly for our authors new to this game, BookTour.com is going to be the chocolate on the pillow while on that long journey to find and engage audiences. For readers, too.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Characters come alive
The strength of book clubs to create buyers, and loyal fans cannot be underestimated. A decade ago, the Mr. joined a book club directed by two professors of English at Loyola University. While open to suggestions, for the most part, this husband and wife team were so eager to get through several dozen titles they'd been dying to bring to enthusiastic readers. We began with C.S. Lewis, Graham Greene, and Walker Percy, and then the pace and complexity quickened as we segued to authors we'd never heard of.
Mr. Obie Joe admires the surefootness of those book club directors with the intent to push their readers to embrace someone, and subjects, outside their average curiosity.
Intriguing to read of the book club envisioned by presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. Of course Obama is far from the first to flog their books as campaign tools, and using book clubs as a step-up from the campaign candidate coffees is intriguing. The Mr. is amused to hear "characters" from Obama's book will visit with the book club. (Can one be a character in a nonfiction setting? Just wondering).
Mr. Obie Joe loves the idea, and the interest, via the Obama’s book club campaign, and hopes that after the phone call from the candidate, his campaign, and his characters, those book clubs will continue.
Mr. Obie Joe admires the surefootness of those book club directors with the intent to push their readers to embrace someone, and subjects, outside their average curiosity.
Intriguing to read of the book club envisioned by presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. Of course Obama is far from the first to flog their books as campaign tools, and using book clubs as a step-up from the campaign candidate coffees is intriguing. The Mr. is amused to hear "characters" from Obama's book will visit with the book club. (Can one be a character in a nonfiction setting? Just wondering).
Mr. Obie Joe loves the idea, and the interest, via the Obama’s book club campaign, and hopes that after the phone call from the candidate, his campaign, and his characters, those book clubs will continue.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Books, American Idol style
Just over a year ago, Mr. Obie Joe was collecting books to send to New Orleans to refurbish the libraries of a few schools. The call went out for the collection of children's books, primarily, but Mr. Obie Joe wouldn't say no to a few other books.
One donator asked Mr. Obie Joe to pick up the donation. Upon arrival, Mr. Obie Joe saw dozens of mid-size boxes stacked on the front porch. All of the books inside were paperbacks: romance, mystery, and other mass market titles.
"These all yours?" inquired Mr. Obie Joe.
They were, until Mr. Obie Joe took them to New Orleans. Curious, Mr. Obie Joe asked the enthusiastic reader how she determined which books to buy, which old authors to support and which new authors to try. She depended on a variety of word of mouth techniques: online forums; her book club; water cooler conversations; and book jacket blurbs. Whose opinion mattered the most to this reader who spent nearly $200 monthly on books? Someone like herself.
Given the recent intrigue over Simon & Schuster's decision to partner with Media Predict to "use the collective judgment of readers to evaluate book proposals," (says James Surowiecki in The New Yorker), Mr. Obie Joe wonders if we're letting conceit overrule reality. The truth is we've not taken enough advantage of the rich resource of the public's view of books, before and after publication. Their opinions do matter. We've seen that to be the case of those books that find enormous readership, and response, with online marketing campaigns.
It's not a question of imitating America Idol; rather, it's jut an expansion of the most valuable tool books have: word of mouth.
One donator asked Mr. Obie Joe to pick up the donation. Upon arrival, Mr. Obie Joe saw dozens of mid-size boxes stacked on the front porch. All of the books inside were paperbacks: romance, mystery, and other mass market titles.
"These all yours?" inquired Mr. Obie Joe.
They were, until Mr. Obie Joe took them to New Orleans. Curious, Mr. Obie Joe asked the enthusiastic reader how she determined which books to buy, which old authors to support and which new authors to try. She depended on a variety of word of mouth techniques: online forums; her book club; water cooler conversations; and book jacket blurbs. Whose opinion mattered the most to this reader who spent nearly $200 monthly on books? Someone like herself.
Given the recent intrigue over Simon & Schuster's decision to partner with Media Predict to "use the collective judgment of readers to evaluate book proposals," (says James Surowiecki in The New Yorker), Mr. Obie Joe wonders if we're letting conceit overrule reality. The truth is we've not taken enough advantage of the rich resource of the public's view of books, before and after publication. Their opinions do matter. We've seen that to be the case of those books that find enormous readership, and response, with online marketing campaigns.
It's not a question of imitating America Idol; rather, it's jut an expansion of the most valuable tool books have: word of mouth.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Me no promote?
Of course authors should do what they do best -- daydream, research and write their next book.
But how much responsibility should an author have for their book once the book goes to market? Some authors take to the promotion and marketing of their books with enthusiasm and creativity long after the first edition expires.
Other authors find the prospect hideous.
Obie Joe noted a comment by Kathleen O'Hara in an editorial about the downturn in book customers in the Peterborough (Ontario) Examiner, and the resultant push to have authors use their time and creativity for more promotion, particularly with social networking. "I must confess that I am one of the multitude of hopeful novelists, and I'm beginning to find today's ultra-competitive, multimedia environment very daunting. Facebook and YouTube are not where I want to flog my work and myself. Perhaps, I need to attend the Paris Hilton School of Self-Promotion."
Hmm. Tapping his cane, Obie Joe wonders if authors leery of promotion could consider that social networking is just an updated form of conversing with one's audience. The conversation between author and reader is a valuable one; often such contact inspires writers to new junctions in their plots and characters.
Plus, the writing on a blog is writing, and any writing keeps the pump primed.
But how much responsibility should an author have for their book once the book goes to market? Some authors take to the promotion and marketing of their books with enthusiasm and creativity long after the first edition expires.
Other authors find the prospect hideous.
Obie Joe noted a comment by Kathleen O'Hara in an editorial about the downturn in book customers in the Peterborough (Ontario) Examiner, and the resultant push to have authors use their time and creativity for more promotion, particularly with social networking. "I must confess that I am one of the multitude of hopeful novelists, and I'm beginning to find today's ultra-competitive, multimedia environment very daunting. Facebook and YouTube are not where I want to flog my work and myself. Perhaps, I need to attend the Paris Hilton School of Self-Promotion."
Hmm. Tapping his cane, Obie Joe wonders if authors leery of promotion could consider that social networking is just an updated form of conversing with one's audience. The conversation between author and reader is a valuable one; often such contact inspires writers to new junctions in their plots and characters.
Plus, the writing on a blog is writing, and any writing keeps the pump primed.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The infinity of eight
The number 8 lying down changes into the symbol for infinity. Maybe that's why so many advertisers their stock in the adage: "It takes an average 8 views of something (product, book) before a consumer is motivated to try that book, or product."
Perhaps. Maybe Obie Joe is just lazy, or unimaginative, but he thinks a conversation can happen with just one appearance.
Say a knitter is at a wool and thread store, and she sees a new book about knitting. The presentation for this new book is perfect: the book is positioned near the cash register, with a notecard from the store's owner clipped to the cover. A discount is offered, too.
Does that knitter need 8 times to see that? And then buy the book?
Perhaps. Maybe Obie Joe is just lazy, or unimaginative, but he thinks a conversation can happen with just one appearance.
Say a knitter is at a wool and thread store, and she sees a new book about knitting. The presentation for this new book is perfect: the book is positioned near the cash register, with a notecard from the store's owner clipped to the cover. A discount is offered, too.
Does that knitter need 8 times to see that? And then buy the book?
BookTV's new design
Saw the crisp new design for C-Span BookTV shows: www.booktv.org.
Liked being able to see the Archives as easily as the promos for the upcoming shows. Given the content of many of these shows, Obie Joe was really looking forward to accessing past shows via RealPlayer or iTunes. However...we have not been able to figure out how to access these shows.
Perhaps BookTV can take a cue from www.thisamericanlife.org -- in multiple formats, shows are there for the clicking.
Liked being able to see the Archives as easily as the promos for the upcoming shows. Given the content of many of these shows, Obie Joe was really looking forward to accessing past shows via RealPlayer or iTunes. However...we have not been able to figure out how to access these shows.
Perhaps BookTV can take a cue from www.thisamericanlife.org -- in multiple formats, shows are there for the clicking.
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