Author: LDS Publisher

Another Call for Guest Blogs

I have an event this weekend and need four guest blogs–Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday.

Do you recall all the times I’ve blogged about how important marketing yourself is? This is your opportunity to amaze your fellow writers, to practice marketing and to have your work seen by millions (well, okay. Subtract a couple of zeroes.)

Blog about anything connected to writing and/or publishing. You’re welcome to “recycle” a post from your own blog, if you like. You may shamelessly plug your own book/blog at the end of your post.

I’ll pick the four I like best for this week, but eventually I will post all that are well-written, informative, and/or entertaining.

LDS YA for Boys

In one of your blogs [this one], you stated that your company isn’t marketing YA fiction for boys. A company I submitted to told me the same thing. Does this mean I should just forget the LDS market for my “next Harry Potter novel”? (the Harry Potter comment is a joke, but the question is serious) Thanks!


It’s not that no one is writing/publishing YA for LDS boys, it’s that smaller publishers need to invest in books that they know will give them a return on their money. The chances are better with adult fiction than for YA. So you need to match your manuscript with a publisher that is big enough to take the risk (there are a few), or a smaller company with an owner who is personally committed to expanding that market and willing to swing by their toenails. (I personally don’t know of any, but if a reader does, speak up.)

Also, we don’t usually market directly to the young man because he doesn’t usually go to the LDS bookstore to buy his fiction, his mother or grandmother does. But that is starting to change just a tad–with Leven Thumps, Fablehaven, and others…

So short answer, write your book for the audience you think it fits best. By the time you’re ready to shop it to publishers, the market might be ready for it.

B.O.O.K.

Here’s another funny one that I’ve seen posted in several places lately. I know it’s not Friday, so technically is not a “Friday Funny” but I won’t be posting tomorrow. I’ve got an event that is going to take up my entire day. The link takes you to the original posting.

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device
Trade named: BOOK

BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It’s so easy to use, even a child can operate it.

Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere — even sitting in an armchair by the fire — yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc. Here’s how it works:

BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence.

Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKs with more information simply use more pages.

Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet. BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it.

Unlike other display devices, BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting, and it can even be dropped on the floor or stepped on without damage. However, it can become unusable if immersed in water for a significant period of time. The “browse” feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet and move forward or backward as you wish. Many come with an “index” feature, which pinpoints the exact location of selected information for instant retrieval.

An optional “BOOKmark” accessory allows you to open BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session — even if the BOOK has been closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKs by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOKmarkers can be used in a single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK.

You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with an optional programming tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus (PENCILS).

Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave. Also, BOOK’s appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

Chip’s Guide to Marketing Your Book

On the advice of Candace Salima (see comments on this post; thanks, Candace), I checked out Chip MacGregor’s blog. Hadn’t seen him before. Interesting guy. Has lots of good tips.

I read a few posts, and found this one talking about marketing. That’s been a frequent question around here, so I suggest you go read it. I agree with pretty much everything, except the cost of review copies. In a small market like ours, with small print runs, most books cost more than $1.00 per copy. Other than that, I liked what he had to say–especially encouragement toward internet marketing.

[If the link to that post doesn’t work, go here and look for the Sept 13, 2007 post titled “How to Market Your Book and Lose Lots of Money.”

Recognizing Greatness–or Not

A couple of months ago, someone asked if I thought I would have recognized something with as much potential as Harry Potter, had it come across my desk as a submission. (Read post here.) Of course, I said I would…but it’s not always clear cut.

I was browsing Nathan Bransford over the weekend and found his take on that. He said it better than I did. Go read it.

And while you’re there, bookmark his blog or pick up his feed. He has great info and he’s pretty funny too.

Pen Names

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pen name?

A pen name has one purpose: to hide or screen your identity from your reader.

There are several legitimate reasons to do that, the most common one is when an established author wants to write in a new genre. I talk about that here.

Some authors just have an issue with using their real name–either they are afraid no one will like their book and they don’t want to be embarassed later, or they are afraid they’ll be the next J.K. Rowling and want to protect their privacy. Sometimes the subject matter of the book is such that they need to protect their identity (for example, if it’s a memoir about something that’s socially unacceptable, or where you could get sued if people knew you wrote the book). Or maybe they don’t like their real name. Or maybe the publisher doesn’t like their real name. Whatever.

The disadvantage is that your friends, neighbors, old boyfriends, the teacher who said you’d never write worth anything, will never know it’s you when your book ends up on the NYT Best Seller list.

It might also create some issues if you’re out there promoting your book and people recognize you, but usually only if you’re already well known. For example, if Hilary (she’s a first-name celebrity now, right?) used a pen name to write about politics. That could be a problem.

A similar problem is that some readers will feel cheated if they find out you’re not using your real name. This is more of an issue with non-fiction where you’re presenting yourself as an expert in the area you’re writing about. They wonder if they can trust what you’re saying.

If you want to use a pen name, talk to your agent/publisher about it. Discuss the pros and cons with them and then make a decision. Personally, I don’t think it’s a big deal either way, but I do like to see authors use their real names when possible because I think if they’ve gone to all the trouble to write a good book, they deserve all the credit and perks that come with that.

POV in YA

I’ve been told that for YA literature, most editors want it told in 1st person POV. The rationale is that 1st person is more intimate, and young readers can identify better with the main, or POV character.

I’m not sure I totally agree with that. I’ve been writing a YA novel in 3rd person, and I think it is very intimate, getting into the thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc. of 4 different characters, all having their own stories (sub-plots) that tie into the main character’s story. I was told recently that I should re-write it in 1st person as most editors won’t accept one written in 3rd person. If I were to re-write it, I think it would lose a lot, as I would have to cut out all the sub-plots that give the main story so much richness.

Is there any truth to that rumor?

Two words: Harry Potter.

Added to original post:
Perhaps I need to give more than a two word answer. Harry Potter, the biggest selling children’s/YA series in the history of the world, is written in third person.

First person works very well for YA books for the reasons you list but it’s not the only way to write. Do what works best for your story.

Getting on My Links List–Take Two

I’ve recently received several requests from bloggers asking to be added to my “Writing Tips for LDS Authors” links list (scroll WAY down toward the bottom).

It would be impossible for me to keep a list of everyone, so I have to be discriminating. But where do I draw the line?

After several days of thinking about this, I decided to draw the line a little closer to the descriptive title of my list. To be on the list, your blog must be PRIMARILY (as in mostly, almost all, only deviating a little bit on occasion) on the topic of writing and publishing for LDS authors; not a slice of life with a few tips thrown in, nor one that details daily experiences as an author. So, even though there were several blogs on my list that I personally love and read often, they got deleted because they are not PRIMARILY writing and publishing tips and information.

To get on my links list, your blog also needs to be kept current and posted to on a regular basis–at least weekly (although you’re allowed to take vacations, as I just did).

However, because I want to support all of you in supporting each other, I have added two other links below the “Writing Tips” list:

LDS Blogs–a very long list of LDS bloggers
and
LDS Blog Webring–a shorter list of LDS bloggers, but the only other one I know about

Any LDS blogger may apply to these two lists.

If there are other lists and/or webrings for LDS bloggers, please let me know and I will add them to my sidebar.

Sordid Pasts

This is a little embarrassing. Thank you for letting us be anonymous. I have previously published some stories where the main characters’ behaviors are–uh–not quite up to LDS standards. It was a long time ago and I sort of regret it now, but what’s done is done. I haven’t written anything in several years, but I now have an LDS story that I’d like to submit to an LDS publisher. Will my sordid past come back to haunt me?

Hmmm. That’s a question I can’t answer without more details, so all I can give you is a “Maybe; maybe not. “

It depends on several factors:

  • How sordid was your past? Or rather, your stories?

  • How widely read were your stories?

  • Did you publish under a pen name?

  • How likely are LDS readers to recognize you?

  • What is your current story? Is it squeaky clean or edgy?

There are some publishers who most likely would not have a big problem with that. There are others who would not even look at your new manuscript if your previous ones were in the realm of erotica or graphic violence. For most, however, I think it would largely depend on the quality and content of your new manuscript.

At some point in the submission process, BEFORE YOU SIGN A CONTRACT, you’re going to have to let your potential publisher know about previous publications. If your books were truly sordid, your publisher is going to need to have a plan in place to counter any possible repercussions–this could be anything from using a pen name to referencing a conversion in your bio.

I recommend dealing with it right up front in your initial query by listing your previously published titles. Then make sure that query and/or synopsis shines so brightly that they’ll have to read your manuscript.

Whitney Awards List

I received lots of titles and have updated the list in the sidebar. If you sent me a title and it’s not on the list, it’s because:

  1. I couldn’t find a working link to it

  2. The link you sent had info that indicated it was not published in 2007

  3. It was an e-book (which I don’t think are eligible) My mistake. E-books are eligible, as are self-published books.

Please make my life easier:
When you send a link, please be sure that it is correct. Do not add spaces in the URL, even if it’s really long.

Disclaimer:
By providing this list, I am in no way endorsing the quality or content of the titles on the list. This is for your information only. Read the books at your own risk.

I do know how to alphabetize:
For the one person who thinks I don’t know how to alphabetize book titles correctly, I know that the “A” and the “The” at the front of the titles don’t count. But you know, I have a real job and a real life which do not include alphabetizing the Whitney Award book list. Nor does it include categorizing them by genre or publisher–although you are welcome to do that yourself and put a link to your list in the comments of any of these posts. But back to alpahbetizing, I use Blogger’s Links List widget; I click “Alphabetize List” and it does the rest. (This is also why I must have a working link for each title. The Links List widget doesn’t let me list a title unless it has a link.)

Isn’t this amazing:
I knew LDS fiction was growing in leaps and bounds, but I had no idea. This list is certainly impressive, isn’t it? And we still have several months left in the year. Please, keep the new titles coming.

Marketing Plan for Writers

Could you tell me what’s included in a marketing plan? Is there a particular format? How can I learn how to put together an effective marketing plan? When is the best time to present it to the publisher?

Thanks. (PS Cedar Fort will publish my YA LDS novel in spring 2008–woo hoo!)


I’ve received marketing plans in all sorts of formats–from highly detailed and complex business proposals (overkill) to a simple numbered list. I don’t have a preference–as long as I can understand the concepts and it doesn’t take longer to read than your manuscript. (You’re a writer; write clearly.)

Some publishers may have instructions on their websites.

Here are a few quick link for ideas. I am not endorsing these sites or the products offered on them, and I’m not sure how helpful each one actually is. I did a quick google on “marketing plans for writers” and skimmed the first few. I’m sure there are others that I’ve missed but this will give you a place to start. If readers know of some good sites or other sources, please post them in the comments section.

http://www.writerswrite.com/selfpublishing/hollowell.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Writers-Need-A-Marketing-Plan-Too&id=118526

http://marketing-plans.suite101.com/writers.cfm

(P.S. Good for you! Feel free to identify yourself in the comments section,)

Books Eligible for the Whitney Awards


As I’ve said before, I think the Whitney Awards idea is wonderful.

I’ve been meaning to make a list of eligible books but haven’t found the time. Stephanie, over on Write Bravely, has started a list and generously agreed to let me post her list here. I’ve posted it in the sidebar using the links she set up on her blog. If your book is on this list and you’d rather have it linked somewhere else, send me an e-mail with your preferred link.

If you have a book (or know of a book) that is eligible for these awards but is not on the list, send me an e-mail with the title, author’s name and preferred link.

Everyone else, check the list for books that you have read and like, then nominate them for an award.

UPDATED (9/10/07):

  1. This needs to be a self-policing list. I don’ t have time to make sure everyone who requests to be added to this list is actually eligible. It’s up to you to check the eligibility requirements to make sure you meet them. If a book appears on this list that is not eligible, someone please let me know.

  2. I don’t care where the link to the books go–publisher website, author website, deseretbook.com, amazon.com. It is up to the person submitting the title to provide the link. I will change the link upon request by the a) author, or b) publisher.

Why Should I Care?

I’ve read several manuscripts lately that have pretty good writing, a good plot, no major mistakes or problems, they’ve even been submitted perfectly.

So what’s the problem?

I just don’t care.

When you look at fiction, you basically have two types–plot driven and character driven. You need both to make a good book. What I’m seeing a lot of lately are decent plots without the character development needed to make me care. It’s really sad when the main character is about to be eaten by a shark and you find yourself mid-yawn.

Look at your characters. If you didn’t know them so well, would you like them? Would you care about them? Will others care about them? If you’re not sure, the best thing you can do is find some ruthless readers who don’t know you personally. People who know you well will color what they’re reading with your personality, they’ll “get” your jokes, they’ll “hear” your voice. People who don’t know you rely on written cues to assess your character’s personality and traits. If complete strangers care about your characters, you’re probably okay. If they don’t, do some rewriting before submitting.

Watch Out for Libel

Are you aware of any guidelines or rules of thumb for including actual people/places/events in works of fiction? I know this is commonly done in historical fiction, but what about works set in the present or recent past?

If there are no guidelines, what are your own thoughts on this practice?


Places and events aren’t too much of a problem, it’s people that can get you into trouble. The main thing you need to worry about is libel. If the person is still alive and they feel that what you’ve said about them has damaged their reputation, they can sue for libel. Public figures, celebrities, politicians, etc. are generally safe to write about, unless they can prove malice on your part. You can read more about it here and here.

Where you really get into trouble is if you fictionalize characters that you know on a personal basis (like neighbors or family members), and they are recognizable to themselves and to other readers, and they don’t like it, they can sue. Or possibly never speak to you again. This can be a problem in memoirs, where an author’s story is tied up with the stories of the people in their lives. It’s a fine line and has to be handled carefully.

If you’re going to include a historical person in your fictional piece, you should do enough research that you can portray that person accurately and fairly.

I guess my bottom line is, I wouldn’t want someone writing about me without my permission and approval of the text, so I extend that courtesy to others. If it’s a quick reference to a public figure like, “Debra had a crush on George Clooney…” or even Debra having a brief conversation with George, I’d be fine with it. But if Debra was having an ongoing relationship with George, that I wouldn’t do without George’s signed and notarized release form in my files.

Promotional Expectations

What should an author expect from a publisher in the way of promotion?

In addition to what I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I made a few suggestions here and here.

What’s the best way to promote a book?

Depends on the book, the genre, the target audience. There are a few suggestions in the links above. But in addition to this, brainstorm. Look at what others are doing and adapt them to your situation. But don’t be a Nathan Newauthor. DISCUSS the possibilities with your publisher and TOGETHER decide what will work best.

More on Promotion

Doesn’t promotion/marketing fall mainly to the author, especially in the LDS market? [I added “marketing” to this question, because they’re so closely related.]

No, it doesn’t. Yes, an author has to do a lot of promotion for their book but it is an error in thinking that the author does the majority of the promotion for their book.

Your publisher is going to concentrate on marketing your book to the bookstores, to get it in the stores and on the shelves. A lot of this promotion is very “behind the scenes” to the author. It includes schmoozing, developing industry relationships, phone calls, mailings, e-mailings, faxes, catalogs, order forms, shelf liners, in-store posters, promotional discounts, convention booths, sometimes personal visits to the stores, etc., etc., etc. It also includes things like the cover design and layout of your book, to make it attractive to the buyer, pre-market research, and all sorts of stuff that takes time and costs money–90% of which you, the author, will not see happening. We’re honestly not just sitting there twiddling our thumbs. We have a monetary investment in your book that we want to recoup and to build upon.

The author promotes mainly to the reader via book signings, television and radio shows, newspaper reviews, press releases, bookmarks, business cards, websites, blogs, post cards, firesides, buttons, t-shirts, and whatever else you can think of. (Some of which the publisher will provide, or assist you in creating; all of which you should run past them.)

Dollar for dollar, I know I’ve outspent every single one of my authors in marketing and promoting their books.

Now, for a few other questions. I am going to give you MY answers, as in, OUR company policy. Your publisher may have a different policy and/or attitude. When in doubt, ask them.

Is it acceptable to blog about or announce on your website, an upcoming (6 months or so from now) book release?

Yes. It’s fine to blog about your challenges and rewards of your work in progress, to post about it as you move through the submission and acceptance process, where it’s at in printing and marketing. That’s great. It creates a buzz and an expectation; it also personalizes it to your blog readers. They’ll be more likely to buy your book if they’ve shared your journey.

Don’t post content because 1) it will likely change; 2) if the reader doesn’t care for your first draft, they won’t be drawn to read the finished book.

Also, do not post negative things, like “Gee, my stupid publisher blah, blah, blah” or “I hate my book cover…” All of that puts a negative spin on your book and decreases interest.

Is it acceptable to continue to blog about the book release?

Yes, see above.

Do most publishers provide bookmarks or other promotional items if the author asks for such?

We do—up to a certain amount and under certain conditions. If the author wants more or different items, then we negotiate it on an item by item basis.

Bottom line: an author should obtain permission for all promotion, including blogs?

You shouldn’t have to clear every single blog post with your publisher. We don’t have time for that and we wouldn’t be publishing you if we didn’t have some faith in your writing abilities. However, I really liked Josi’s suggestions about a marketing plan. If you make a quick outline of what you intend to do, include blogging on that list. Then if your publisher has a problem with it, they can contact you to discuss it.

Guest Blog: Ryan Bott, Millennial Press

(I don’t usually do two posts in one day but I’d already promised Annette I’d post her photos today. Then when I checked my mail, Ryan Bott of Millennial Press had sent a reply to a comment on another post. Since I think it’s always great to hear the publisher’s side of things, I decided to give you a two for one. I will address the questions about marketing that have been e-mailed and posted in the comments later this week.)

Anonymous comment on this post:

Thanks for the pictures, I wish I could have gone. I don’t know how I honestly feel about Millenial Press, however. Their new series, a continuation of the same ideas that were presented in Mormons and Masons seems a little unecessary and could become offensive to some. Any thoughts?

Hello everyone, Ryan here with Millennial Press. I have some insights that may help “Anonymous” and others to better understand our new Setting The Record Straight Series.

1. “…a continuation of the same ideas that were presented in Mormons and Masons…”
Just one question: Have you read the any of the new books? Every book in the series covers a different topic. The only similarity between books in this series is their layout/format.

2. “…could become offensive to some.”
Could you please expound on this a little more for me? We solicited the experts of each topic to expound on their area of expertise.

  • Susan Easton Black – Joseph Smith
  • Jack R. Christianson – Book of Mormon
  • Marcus H. Martins – Blacks & The Priesthood
  • Jessie Embry – Polygamy

If you care to research these individuals, you will find that each is VERY qualified to write on their area of expertise. I guess that if you find the documented truth to be “offensive,” then we are guilty as charged. Extreme measures were taken to make sure that this series wasn’t offensive. That is why I have a hard time understanding your comment.

3. “…seems a little unnecessary…”
I find this comment quite interesting. Here is a link that I think you will find insightful.

Quote from the link: According to the bookstore’s C.E.O., Sheri Dew, “The big-box retailers are saying, ‘What else do you have? Give us more.’ And ‘Yes, if you’ve got values-based fiction, we love that. And by the way, your other fiction is selling. And what other books do you have that will really explain your faith, because people are coming and asking.‘”

You may also be interested to know that Mormons & Masons recently appeared on Deseret Book’s Bestsellers List.

I think if you understood the purpose behind this series, you would look at it differently. Before I share that purpose with you, allow me to quote another quote from the ksl.com link.

Kirk Jowers of the Hinckley Institute of Politics says, “I talked to people in Boston and D.C., in Florida, who are members of the church and that [the LDS religion] is now water cooler talk. People want them to talk about the church, and Mormons are famous, or infamous, for wanting to do that. So it’s a great moment for the church.”

This series presents historical timelines, and addresses questions that are typically (and not so typically) asked to Latter-day Saints about their religion. Our first goal is to better educate Latter-day Saints about their religion, so that they are better prepared for their “water cooler talks.” I have been a member of the church all my life, and there are questions in these books I have never even thought of. It is only by the authors being the “authorities” on their topics that these unique questions are presented to them.

Our second goal that we hope to accomplish, with the national push of this series, is to educate Non-Members about what LDS people believe. People have heard enough about “what Mormons believe” from their pastors, preachers and ministers. Now it is time for them to hear the truth. And who better to share the truth than someone who has put many years into becoming an “expert” on certain topics?

“Unnecessary,” “a continuation of the same ideas,” “could become offensive to some.” I hope I have convinced you otherwise. I am honestly VERY interested to find out which books you have read, and in what ways you feel they can “become offensive to some.” Feel free to email me directly.

Kindest Regards,
Ryan L. Bott
Director of Operations
Millennial Press, Inc.

The Horrible Story of Nathan Newauthor

On the subject of marketing and promotion, I’m saddened to hear that some publishers don’t get back to their authors in a timely manner concerning promotional events. Sometimes it’s beyond their control and a matter of bad timing, but if it’s a regular occurrence, that’s really unfortunate. And as an author, you may feel hamstrung in your efforts because there is probably a clause in your contract somewhere that says you have to have all promotional pieces and marketing efforts approved by your publisher.

There is a reason for that clause as illustrated in this story about Nathan Newauthor. Nathan is a soon-to-be-published new author whose book is currently at the press. In his enthusiasm and inexperience and without permission and approval from the publisher, Nathan decides to get very creative with his marketing ideas. Having read a book on guerilla marketing for writers and being encouraged to push the envelope by friends and family (who know very little about the publishing industry), Nathan creates and hand distributes a promotional piece at an event with nearly 1,000 attendees that are HIS TARGET AUDIENCE.

Wa-hoo! Those orders ought to start rolling in.

Here’s what Nathan doesn’t understand.

  1. Although he and his mother thought it looked quite attractive, his marketing piece was very unprofessionally done. It looked like it had been copied at Kinko’s and hand-cut and assembled. Which it had been. Now, let’s think for a minute. Does an ugly promotional piece encourage or discourage someone to go purchase a product? Do the people he gave promo to know that Nathan lovingly slaved for hours to create this? Do they give him an A for effort? No. They think the publisher did it–and if that’s the best the publisher can do, why would they think the “real” book would be any better? Nathan most likely just lost 800 of the 1,000 people in his target audience.

    If Nathan’s publisher had been involved, the promo would have been professionally designed, using appropriate fontage and color and white space and all that other graphic design mumbo-jumbo that most people poo-poo, but which has an actual, measurable impact on the buyer.

  2. Nathan spent way too much money on the project, so he decided to just do a few in color and the rest in black and white. Color says, these people know what they’re doing; black and white says, these people are working out of their garage on a shoe-string budget.

    Had Nathan’s publisher created the piece, it would have been in color and printed at a much lower price. Because we have connections.

  3. Nathan thought it would be great to get advance notice out for his book. Good in theory. But if you market too soon, you lose momentum. Since his release is over a month away, it’s too soon to market to the end customer.

    Nathan also thinks people will pre-order his book. No, they won’t because his name is not J.K. Rowling. They’ll go to the bookstore or website, decide to wait to get the book when it’s available, and then FORGET about it.

    Publishers understand this. We time our advance notice.

  4. Nathan didn’t know (because he didn’t bother to ask) and the publisher hadn’t told him (because it clearly states in the contract that Nathan has to approve all marketing efforts and since he didn’t, the publisher had no way of knowing he was planning something like this) is that there was trouble at the printer and his books are going to be delayed by several weeks past his scheduled release date.

    Publishers know that release dates can be tentative and they plan accordingly. New authors believe the release date is carved in stone.

  5. Nathan thought it would be a great thing to let all the people at this event know about his upcoming release. What he didn’t know is that the event coordinators have a very strict policy against distributing promotional pieces at said event. In fact, if a publisher does that, they are very often asked never to return.

    If Nathan had asked his publisher, the publisher could have prevented this serious faux pas.

  6. Nathan thought he was doing his publisher a favor because the event coordinators are one of the publisher’s largest bulk buyers. But they don’t like what he did. They are not happy. If they are severely unhappy, not only will they NOT buy Nathan’s book, but they may also stop buying other books from this publisher. Nathan thinks he was only promoting himself and his book, but in reality, since the publisher’s name was all over the marketing piece, he was also indirectly representing the publisher, and by default, all of their other products as well.

    Again, the publisher could have prevented Nathan from not only shooting himself in the foot, but also from shooting the feet of the publisher and their other authors.

  7. Nathan thinks marketing and promotion is all fun and games, and that anything goes. As long as he’s paying for it, what’s the harm? What he doesn’t realize is that he’s created a situation that could cause a lot of potential harm, for himself, for his book, for the publisher and for every other author the publisher represents.

    Because the event coordinators are a major buyer of the publisher’s products, the publisher has to keep them happy. This is especially important in a small market like ours, where there are only so many distribution channels.

    If the buyer is ticked, and the publisher blows it off, they lose credibility with the buyer. If the buyer is really ticked, the publisher may have to choose between Nathan Newauthor’s not-yet-released book and placating the buyer. Since Nathan’s book is one teeny part of the publisher’s product line, and the buyer is a huge part of the publisher’s income, what do you think the publisher is going to do? The choice could literally be between dropping the author like a hot potato or going out of business.

    Worst case scenario: the publisher decides Nathan’s mistake puts them in a high-risk situation, cancels the contract with Nathan, destroys the book, and sues Nathan for loss and damages due to breach of contract.

    Best case scenario: the publisher gives Nathan a harsh talking to, holds the release of the book until everything is smoothed over with the big buyer, and is now very reluctant to consider future projects with Nathan.

Point of the story: Just because an author doesn’t understand why a publisher has a certain policy or clause in their contract, it doesn’t mean there’s not a very good reason for it. When an author disregards that, they are asking for trouble.

Another point of the story [for those of you who still don’t quite understand this concept yet]: Yes, for the publisher, the bottom line IS ABOUT THE MONEY. If we don’t make money, we won’t be publishers for very long.

One last point: If this is too restrictive for you, then you are free to self-publish. No one is preventing you. But if you choose the traditional publishing route, you have to be willing to play by the publisher’s rules.

P.S. This is not a fictional story. It is based on true events, but the names and a few small particulars have been changed to protect the… well, you know.

P.P. S. Fortunately for Nathan, the publisher was able to smooth things over with the buyer and he got the best case scenario.

Not All Publishers Are As Nice As Me

Talk about a fast response. I’m afraid someone may have burns on their fingertips from typing this e-mail so fast.

You are nice? Maybe I’ll believe that. Most publishers are nice? No way. Don’t give us hope that our publishers will return a nice and reasonable response to our requests or challenges. They don’t. At least, not in my experience!!! When you hold out hope, it just depresses us more when that hope is dashed against the sharp rocks of reality.

Okay. I’ll grant you that. Not all publishers are nice. In fact, at Booksellers I spoke with several authors who gave me an ear full–not about me, about some of the other publishers.

So, comment away. Tell us all about your crazy, mean and inconsiderate publishers. The only rules are:

  1. No swearing.

  2. No identification of yourself (don’t want to get you in trouble).

  3. No indentification of your publisher (don’t want to get sued).

Because Nice Matters…

A publishing company needs to have a working calendar where we schedule due dates, press dates, release dates, etc. When I start a calendar year, I usually have a pretty good idea of which projects I’m going to be publishing during that year. I calendar their release dates according to a specific list of criteria. Due to budget restraints and other limited resources, I have to stay as close to my calendar schedule as is humanly possible.

Point One: The nature of the publishing business is that things are always getting delayed. It always takes longer to do something then you think it will. A key employee gets a two-week flu. The graphic designer goes on vacation. The printer has a brain cramp and forgets he agreed to do a project by a certain date. Shipments get held up in customs. Whatever. The bigger the publishing company, the more flexibility they have and the less likely the printer is to forget them, but still. It’s always something. We try to pad our schedule for emergencies like these but sometimes things happen outside of our control. Yelling at US doesn’t heal our employees or influence the customs master. We expect you, the author, to understand and be patient. We will be nice to you by explaining these things as soon as we know about them and we expect you to be nice back.

Point Two: When an author and I agree to a release schedule, and I tell them I need their finished manuscript by February so that we can release it at Bookseller’s in August–and they agree–then I pretty much need their manuscript when I say I do. If the author doesn’t get me their manuscript until April, then their project is now competing with another author’s project and release date.

What am I supposed to do? Tell Author B, who did get their manuscript to me on time, that their book will now miss Bookseller’s because Author A was two months late with their’s?

I understand that things happen. Authors have real lives too. If life smacks you in the face and you’re going to miss your deadline, let me know as soon as possible. Talk to me. I will be understanding. I will be nice. I might be able to swap your schedule with someone else’s and get you both out in time for Booksellers. I’ll certainly work with you as much as I reasonably can because I like your book; I want your book.

BUT I’m not going to bump someone else’s book–which I also like and want–to accommodate yours. I’m not going to work 18 hour days and rush both projects through. I’m also not paying my employees overtime to get your book done so it can be released on its original schedule. I’ve already paid them for twiddling their thumbs for two months because your book wasn’t there to work on when it was originally scheduled.

When this happens (and it does more often than not), please don’t climb up my back or yell at my employees because your book wasn’t at Booksellers as I’d originally “promised” and don’t accuse me of breaking agreements and acting without integrity when YOU were the one who dropped the ball.

I will be nice to you, but I expect you to be nice back.