If every author has to have a web site, does every author have to blog?
For some authors, blogging leaves a bad taste. They don't want the hassle, or expectation that they will write fresh copy almost daily during their publicity push.
But, really, this kind of author can embrace blogging, albeit differently. The goal to keep the content fresh. Web sites make it a bit tough for the author to do that, as the content updates frequently have to go through the webmaster, or the person hired to develop the site.
Mr. Obie Joe is a big fan of using a blog format for an author web site. An author can still be quiet, and update only every once in a while, but when he/she does, the post can be done by them with ease. For your web site, consider using a WordPress or blogspot format. Make sure to hire a developer to customize it, because you'll want some training, and best of all, a blog/website design that highlights you and your book graphically.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
We'll drink to that!
Mr. Obie Joe is always interested in hearing about new venues for authors, especially one non-book-related, because that's when the conversations can get a bit interesting.
We just heard about a discussion series called "Drinking Liberally." Based on the democratic feel of a bar -- where everyone's an expert -- the series hosts events with authors to spark the conversation. Drinking Liberally includes film, author tours, and comedy tours, and began in 2003 by a group of frustrated liberals weighing to balance the conversation. There's at least one in every state. Check out www.drinkingliberally.org to see if your book can be a part of this.
As for Mr. Obie Joe, he'll take a neat sip of the Capt. Morgan.
We just heard about a discussion series called "Drinking Liberally." Based on the democratic feel of a bar -- where everyone's an expert -- the series hosts events with authors to spark the conversation. Drinking Liberally includes film, author tours, and comedy tours, and began in 2003 by a group of frustrated liberals weighing to balance the conversation. There's at least one in every state. Check out www.drinkingliberally.org to see if your book can be a part of this.
As for Mr. Obie Joe, he'll take a neat sip of the Capt. Morgan.
Finding your book's niche
While we all hope for mass market sales, sales from niche customers are also profitable. Paying attention to your book's niche builds your audience, provides for a nice, slow, steady stream of sales, and moves you closer to the possibility of mass market sales.
Where's your niche? Inside the topic. For non-fiction writers, that's an easy search. Let's try for a niche within a fiction title. Say your fiction title is about an Honda auto mechanic who fights demons at night. OK, you've got:
• first fiction
• horror
• auto mechanics -- even better, Honda maniacs
• mystery
You have the opportunity to build audiences within each one of those categories. Note each one might have their own rules and customs: Mystery fans try out new authors based on "authenticity" checks. Otherwise known peer reviews, or bookstore vouches. So get on the mystery blogs, and have fans post reviews of your book. Make sure independent bookstores, especially a mystery oriented one, get a handwritten letter from you asking for them to tell others about your book.
Niches are remarkably important because they are the filters that help readers sort through the bast amount of choice in entertainment. As Chris Anderson noted in "The Long Tail: "Rankings are most meaningful ˆwithinˆ such communities, not across them."
Where's your niche? Inside the topic. For non-fiction writers, that's an easy search. Let's try for a niche within a fiction title. Say your fiction title is about an Honda auto mechanic who fights demons at night. OK, you've got:
• first fiction
• horror
• auto mechanics -- even better, Honda maniacs
• mystery
You have the opportunity to build audiences within each one of those categories. Note each one might have their own rules and customs: Mystery fans try out new authors based on "authenticity" checks. Otherwise known peer reviews, or bookstore vouches. So get on the mystery blogs, and have fans post reviews of your book. Make sure independent bookstores, especially a mystery oriented one, get a handwritten letter from you asking for them to tell others about your book.
Niches are remarkably important because they are the filters that help readers sort through the bast amount of choice in entertainment. As Chris Anderson noted in "The Long Tail: "Rankings are most meaningful ˆwithinˆ such communities, not across them."
Monday, September 24, 2007
Rosie, reconsider
Mr. Obie Joe was mightily intrigued to hear Rosie O'Donnell's decision to remain quiet during the launch of her new book, a memoir of her childhood and her mother's death. She issued a statement for her preference to let the book speak for itself.
Her decision is not an anomaly among some authors, Salinger and Pynchon being the most extreme among them. However, with memoirs, the connection to the audience is a much more visceral one, and O'Donnell should see the worth of having audiences tell their story to her. Many of the themes in her book--losing a parent as a young child, coming out, having children -- resonate deeply with readers, and O'Donnell's readings/appearances could spark wonderful conversations between readers and herself.
On the flip side of author appearances, an anecdote-filled story about good and bad book tours appears in today's Baltimore Sun. www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/booksmags/bal-to.signings24sep24,0,2544800.story
The story about Jodi Picoult's run-in with a remarkable question is worth the click.
Her decision is not an anomaly among some authors, Salinger and Pynchon being the most extreme among them. However, with memoirs, the connection to the audience is a much more visceral one, and O'Donnell should see the worth of having audiences tell their story to her. Many of the themes in her book--losing a parent as a young child, coming out, having children -- resonate deeply with readers, and O'Donnell's readings/appearances could spark wonderful conversations between readers and herself.
On the flip side of author appearances, an anecdote-filled story about good and bad book tours appears in today's Baltimore Sun. www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/booksmags/bal-to.signings24sep24,0,2544800.story
The story about Jodi Picoult's run-in with a remarkable question is worth the click.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Could librarians talk more?
Walk into any library, and you'll see a display of books recommended by the librarians. Often, the recommendations are themed: "Like Knitting? You'll Puuurl Over These!" Other recommendations respond to trends: "Chick Lits to Read in the Carpool."
Occasionally, you'll see singular recommendations under the heading of "Staff Picks," but the books stacked there look lowly (Mr. Obie Joe's son's word for lonely). Under each book should be a review; something that would inspire you to take a risk and read an unfamiliar book.
Us book publicists hear a lot about the magical properties of word-of-mouth, usually attributed to bookclubs, independent bookstores and targeted media, and so forth. But what of the librarians? Why do so few of us consult them as readers, as publicists?
It's a lost opportunity. At Mr. Obie Joe's library, the librarians have known our kids by name for over 16 years, so you would think the librarians would be the premier source of book suggestions. But beyond polite niceties, when our kids talk with librarians, there's no engagement of our kids as to what they are reading, and what they would like to read.
Perhaps librarians are not permitted to start this conversation. Perhaps librarians, many of whom are guarded behind a bureaucracy, are difficult to reach by the book industry to be included in hearing what's new.
Worse of all, perhaps librarians have forgotten how close the connection between librarian and reader can be.
Occasionally, you'll see singular recommendations under the heading of "Staff Picks," but the books stacked there look lowly (Mr. Obie Joe's son's word for lonely). Under each book should be a review; something that would inspire you to take a risk and read an unfamiliar book.
Us book publicists hear a lot about the magical properties of word-of-mouth, usually attributed to bookclubs, independent bookstores and targeted media, and so forth. But what of the librarians? Why do so few of us consult them as readers, as publicists?
It's a lost opportunity. At Mr. Obie Joe's library, the librarians have known our kids by name for over 16 years, so you would think the librarians would be the premier source of book suggestions. But beyond polite niceties, when our kids talk with librarians, there's no engagement of our kids as to what they are reading, and what they would like to read.
Perhaps librarians are not permitted to start this conversation. Perhaps librarians, many of whom are guarded behind a bureaucracy, are difficult to reach by the book industry to be included in hearing what's new.
Worse of all, perhaps librarians have forgotten how close the connection between librarian and reader can be.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Accosting your potential buyers
Seeing a lowly author sitting at a table for one, a stack of books on one end, and on the other end, a sharpie pen ready for autographs, and not a fan in sight, gives Mr. Obie Joe the heebie jeebies. Apparently many bookstores, particularly chain stores, feel the same way, which is why many authors are banned from securing a booking unless you's somebody, or knows somebody.
There is a way, though. Make your reading/signing an event. Granted this is easier to do if you've got a nonfiction title, but even a fiction title can do it (see the enormous turnout for some YA titles). One author we're working with has a pop culture book. For his appearances, he's planning a quiz show format. He'll ask people in the audience, and he'll solicit people walking by. If the lucky accostee has the correct answer, the author awards a prize. Even without a spinning, glittery wheel, he's got an audience for his appearance, and then his book.
Think of a way to make a "show" from your book. If your book is about tea party sets, pack 'em up and bring them to the store to make an educational session. The amazing publicist Lauren Cerand mixes music, books, and other performances in her Upstairs at the Square events at a Barnes & Noble in NYC, and the crowds it attracts, both in loyalty and numbers, is amazing.
As wonderful as you authors are, by yourself, you're not enough for a successful bookstore appearance.
There is a way, though. Make your reading/signing an event. Granted this is easier to do if you've got a nonfiction title, but even a fiction title can do it (see the enormous turnout for some YA titles). One author we're working with has a pop culture book. For his appearances, he's planning a quiz show format. He'll ask people in the audience, and he'll solicit people walking by. If the lucky accostee has the correct answer, the author awards a prize. Even without a spinning, glittery wheel, he's got an audience for his appearance, and then his book.
Think of a way to make a "show" from your book. If your book is about tea party sets, pack 'em up and bring them to the store to make an educational session. The amazing publicist Lauren Cerand mixes music, books, and other performances in her Upstairs at the Square events at a Barnes & Noble in NYC, and the crowds it attracts, both in loyalty and numbers, is amazing.
As wonderful as you authors are, by yourself, you're not enough for a successful bookstore appearance.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Romance novels founded USA democracy!
In a riveting review of the new book, Inventing Human Rights: A History by Lynn Hunt (W.W. Norton), essayist Joanna Banks makes the well known point that human rights are invented, and a recent invention at that.
Yet the contradictions between ideals espoused and lives lived among those who espouse human rights, like slave owner Thomas Jefferson fascinate Mr. Obie Joe. How is it possible that men like him could come up with the revolutionary concept of "inalienable" and "self-evident" rights?
Romance novels.
"Hunt believes the burgeoning expression of sympathy toward strangers was the outcome of the dramatic explosion in the publication and reading of the (popular) novel." Three titles draw particular note: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded, Clarissa, and Julie -- all published during the raucous time in America when the concept of the rights of men became the cornerstone of American democracy. Each of these titles showed that the inner life existed even in the lowly of young women, and in this identification with these beset-upon protagonists, the concept that all men are equal began.
Given the certainty of fans of romance novels...then and now...it's possible.
Yet the contradictions between ideals espoused and lives lived among those who espouse human rights, like slave owner Thomas Jefferson fascinate Mr. Obie Joe. How is it possible that men like him could come up with the revolutionary concept of "inalienable" and "self-evident" rights?
Romance novels.
"Hunt believes the burgeoning expression of sympathy toward strangers was the outcome of the dramatic explosion in the publication and reading of the (popular) novel." Three titles draw particular note: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded, Clarissa, and Julie -- all published during the raucous time in America when the concept of the rights of men became the cornerstone of American democracy. Each of these titles showed that the inner life existed even in the lowly of young women, and in this identification with these beset-upon protagonists, the concept that all men are equal began.
Given the certainty of fans of romance novels...then and now...it's possible.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
POD it the Facebook way
While reading about the amusing tactic by possible Facebook founder Aaron Greenspan to find an agent --he sent out 800 identical solicitations -- Mr. Obie Joe wondered if the young man could better spend his time with another effort in getting his book to market.
To us, Greenspan’s authorial attributes don’t include his Harvard term. If you’re a guy who spins technology gold for online social networks, wouldn’t you really, really be keen on publishing, marketing and selling the book yourself? The revolution we’re seeing from the democratization of the tools in book production and promotion could make Greenspan’s book a perfect experiment for the last missing piece: a killer app for connecting books and audiences.
Greenspan, take on the book yourself (but make sure to hire a very good editor, cover designer, too), test out a variation of the social networks that have brought others so much success, and include us in the success.
To us, Greenspan’s authorial attributes don’t include his Harvard term. If you’re a guy who spins technology gold for online social networks, wouldn’t you really, really be keen on publishing, marketing and selling the book yourself? The revolution we’re seeing from the democratization of the tools in book production and promotion could make Greenspan’s book a perfect experiment for the last missing piece: a killer app for connecting books and audiences.
Greenspan, take on the book yourself (but make sure to hire a very good editor, cover designer, too), test out a variation of the social networks that have brought others so much success, and include us in the success.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Writers who lie
The recent legal settlement by Augusten Burroughs and St. Martin's Press with the family who objected to Burrough's characterization of their lives intrigue the journalist side of Mr. Obie Joe.
When a writer uses "composite characters," suspicions begin to breed. Our mentors in journalism remind me that if you work hard on your reporting, writing, and perceptions, you will not need composite characters. Plus, composite characters often lead to "composite events," and well, at that point, why don't you just label it fiction? We know why -- because memoirs are a hotter sell than fiction.
John Hersey used composite characters, and events in his amazing recount of a true event: Hiroshima. He was a decent man and writer; he didn't call it a memoir. He called it fiction, and the book still rang true.
Burroughs took the easy way out, and his completely unapologetic attitude is vexing.
Perhaps we can now turn our attention to those memoirs from writers with actual, unique, and corroborated stories to tell. A memoir by Cupcake Brown came out about the same time as James Frey, and unlike Frey, Ms. Brown really was an addict seconds from death, and immersed in desperate acts. Her story was 100% collaborated. But guess who's living in a Manhattan loft, and guess who's not (though Ms. Brown is doing OK; she now works for a law firm, happy).
When a writer uses "composite characters," suspicions begin to breed. Our mentors in journalism remind me that if you work hard on your reporting, writing, and perceptions, you will not need composite characters. Plus, composite characters often lead to "composite events," and well, at that point, why don't you just label it fiction? We know why -- because memoirs are a hotter sell than fiction.
John Hersey used composite characters, and events in his amazing recount of a true event: Hiroshima. He was a decent man and writer; he didn't call it a memoir. He called it fiction, and the book still rang true.
Burroughs took the easy way out, and his completely unapologetic attitude is vexing.
Perhaps we can now turn our attention to those memoirs from writers with actual, unique, and corroborated stories to tell. A memoir by Cupcake Brown came out about the same time as James Frey, and unlike Frey, Ms. Brown really was an addict seconds from death, and immersed in desperate acts. Her story was 100% collaborated. But guess who's living in a Manhattan loft, and guess who's not (though Ms. Brown is doing OK; she now works for a law firm, happy).
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