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3 steps to creating a bestselling book cover

March 29, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Almost every author has heard the statement that book covers sell books. But the question is, Why?

The answer is simple. People have no idea what’s inside your book. There are a zillion books to choose from and, with limited time, they want to make a decision quickly. The cover is what can be looked at in a second or two.

The cover that gets books opened is the cover that sells. The more people that “look inside” the book the greater chance they will fall in love with your book. At the very least, it gives you a fighting chance.

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On the lighter side: Author takes a humorous view of self-publishing his book

March 27, 2013 by Sam Henrie, President

The best way to succeed in publishing your book is not to be too hung up on the money.

It’s nice, of course, but if that’s the only reason you’re doing it, you may face some disappointments along the way to the bank.

While a few authors do get to walk on the sunny side of the street, a huge number of authors don’t quite ever get there. But that’s not to say they still don’t find pleasure and satisfaction in following their heart and pursuing their dream.

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How to get book reviews for a self-published book

March 18, 2013 by Atilla Vekony, Publishing Information Manager

How important are book reviews for new authors?

The best way to sell books is by word of mouth. The primary way to get that word of mouth rolling is to get your book reviewed.

The more important the book reviewer is the greater exposure your book will have. A book reviewed in the New York Times is going to outperform a book review on a small book blog with 200 readers.

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Larry Alexander and Adam Makos’s new book, A Higher Call, is inspiration for self-publishing authors

March 14, 2013 by Sam Henrie, President

War stories: The ones that are told and passed from generation to generation are not about hate, vengeance, and killing one another. They rise above to share something more. Courage, faith, and something more that connects the reader with the deeper parts of humanity.

Four months ago, a new book hit the shelves that almost instantly became a bestseller. Its title, A Higher Call, depicts an extraordinary moment in World War II when a German Ace pilot, instead of destroying an American bomber in the sky, escorted it to safety.
The book was published by Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Publishing) and with the clout, that only a big publisher can give it was put on the golden road to success. But it takes more than money, contacts, and promotion to make a book a true bestseller.

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Self-publishing author success story: Hugh Howey

March 07, 2013 by Sam Henrie, President

Wondering whether or not it’s worth it to keep writing? Here’s a self-publishing success story that might give a little more fuel for sticking to it during those moments of doubt.

Hugh Howey, self-published science fiction author recently signed a book contract with Simon & Schuster for seven figures. It started with a 12,000-word novelette that he wrote and published for free on Amazon. That was in July 2011. At that time he had a couple thousand fans who liked the book and word of mouth started to roll.

They wanted more.

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Is Amazon Author Rank a good thing for Authors?

February 20, 2013 by Sam Henrie, President

On October 9, 2012 at 3:55 am, Amazon rolled out another feature for their readers called Amazon Author Rank. It rates the most popular authors by the hour. Readers who are floundering for what to read next can jump on the “what’s popular” train and make a winning selection.

So, is this good news or bad news for beginning authors who are miles away from the “Most Popular” zone? Is this a case of where the popular gets more popular and the rest of the herd slips further and further back into obscurity? You can be the judge. Here are some pros and cons for what Amazon Author rank does for authors.

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Why your book deserves a three-year marketing commitment

February 15, 2013 by Sam Henrie, President

John Kremer says it best.

“Every book deserves a three-year marketing commitment. Don’t write or publish a book unless you are willing to commit at least three years to keeping that book alive.”

Think of that statement above as a nugget of gold.

I want you to hold onto it. Grasp it with both hands and make it your own. If you are willing to put three years into marketing your book the results will astound you.

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How to start word-of-mouth buzz for your book, Part 3

February 05, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Authors who write their own back-cover copy (and who have not studied back-cover copywriting) tend to fall into two camps. Either they write too little—not giving the prospective reader an enticing taste of what the book holds—or else they present too much trying to cover every point of view to please all. And they end up pleasing none.

As with most things, there is a fine line; different types of books will require different back-cover strategies. The main thing you must have in place before you start is a firm idea of your ideal reader. It doesn’t need to be said that you would write one way for a novel and another way for nonfiction, but there is also a big difference in how you write for a specific age group, male or female audience, education level, income level, life style, etc.

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7 myths about being an author

January 23, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Ever dream about becoming an author? Today it’s easier than ever. And I will be first in line to encourage you to pursue your dream. But making your dream come true means one also takes into account the cost, the reality, and the practicality of how to make that dream actually happen.

The following seven “dream-busting” myths are not meant to discourage you but rather to toughen you up for the exhilarating but often difficult journey almost every author encounters.

1. Publishing a book will make you an instant celebrity. The truth is, it may make you a celebrity in your circle of family and friends but there’s a lot of book competition. In 2011, three million books were published in the United States and the count has been doubling, tripling, rising steadily every year.

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The Great Armstrong Hoax: Why honesty is important

January 18, 2013 by Sam Henrie, President

Sadly, it seems that another of our heroes has bit the dust. Lance Armstrong, the darling of the bicycling world, is now shown as a crumbling, pathetic mess of fraud and avarice.

Another hero with feet of clay.

You’ve got to wonder, Is fame won at such a price worth it?

Would you want such fame at such a price?

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