Publishing Poynters
Book and Information-Marketing News and Ideas from Dan PoynterAugust 1, 2001. Copyright Para Publishing. ISSN: 1530-5694
DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com; http://ParaPub.com; 1-800-ParaPub
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IN THIS ISSUE
1. ParaNews=============================================
2. ParaTips
3. ParaResources
4. ParaThoughts
5. ParaFreebies
6. ParaCalendar
7. ParaHumor
A. NEWSPAPERS ARE CUTTING BACK ON BOOK REVIEWS. See http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2001/07/19/book_reviews/index.html This is further evidence that it is expensive to put ink on paper and then to distribute it. Reviews are moving to cyberspace and review media such as Amazon.com.
B. WHEN THE ECONOMY DECLINES, SALES ON NONFICTION BOOKS INCREASE. According to The Wall Street Journal (July 18) and traditional publishing-industry wisdom, sales of fiction decline during hard times but sales of nonfiction increase. Fiction is entertainment, the purchase of which can be deferred. Nonfiction is valuable information that people buy to learn something new or to save time or money.
C. INDUSTRY LEADERS CONVENE TO SHARE NEW APPROACHES TO THE CHANGING PUBLISHING SCENE.Publishers Weekly, Publishers Marketing Association (PMA) and Book Marketing Works will present a practical, hands-on, information packed seminar to help you better publish, market and profit from your books in the changing book publishing climate. Mastering the Book Market features such nationally known experts as John Kremer, Dan Poynter, Jan Nathan, Mary Westheimer, Rick Frishman and Brian Jud. This seminar will help any person who wants to learn how to publish faster, easier and less expensively than ever before. Ten speakers will help you discover new ways to pitch fiction and nonfiction to television, radio and other media, increase the profitability of each book and sell more books on the Internet.
The first seminar will be held in Philadelphia at the Airport Hilton on September 15 - 16, 2001. Next year seminars will be held in Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Mastering the Book Market is sponsored by Writer's Digest, iUniverse, BookZone, booksjustbooks.com, Meryl Moss Media Relations and Infinity Publishing.
Seminar registration is $495, which includes a new membership in PMA. Early-registration discounts are available and there is a 100% money-back guarantee that you will be satisfied.
For more information or to register contact Brian Jud at Book Marketing Works, PO Box 715, Avon, CT 06001-0715, (866) 788 - 5334, fax (860) 276-2453 info@publishingseminars.com or visit the secure site at http://www.publishingseminars.com
D. MAKING BOOKS. See a true POD bookmaking machine. http://www.instabook-corporation.com/ E. THE SANTA BARBARA BOOK FAIR will take place on September 22 at De La Guerra Plaza. Santa Barbara is the home of 140 book publishers and 367 published book authors; a high percentage for an area with 165,000 people. More authors are moving in; Oprah just bought a home in Santa Barbara. For information on the book fair, contact Fred Klein 805-962-9500, filmcyc@aol.com
F. DAN POYNTER TAKES THE NEW BOOK MODEL ON THE ROAD. Responding to popular demand, Poynter has scheduled seminars for the balance of 2001 in following cities: San Francisco, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Kalamazoo, Maui, Toronto, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Santa Barbara, San Antonio, and Dallas. See the ParaCalendar, below.
G. CO-OP CATALOG TO BE MAILED TO BOOK REVIEWERS AND BUYERS. Linda Radke and Five Star Publications is planning a co-op mailing of 5,000 color catalogs to newspapers, magazines, radio/TV stations, libraries, book clubs, chain stores and more. For information on including your books and to view a sample, see http://www.BookProducer.com.
H. OVER 1,300 ENERGIZED PUBLISHERS have graduated from our weekend workshops here in Santa Barbara since 1984. Many publishers got so much out of the weekend, they are returning for an update on the industry. Four times a year, 18 people invest $695 to learn more about book marketing, promoting and distributing. The January-April-July-October events are held at Dan Poynter. s home offices, high on a hill overlooking the Pacific. See the ParaCalendar below and Document 167 on our web site: /accessreport.cfm?report=167&refpage=edutrain.html&userid=10013582
I. TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ADDRESS to this ezine, please go to /getpage.cfm?file=/news.html. To recommend this ezine to another writer or publisher, simply forward the entire newsletter. He or she will thank you.
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A. BUYING OFFICE EQUIPMENT. If you are looking for office equipment, don't forget to check out eBay. I recently bought a postal scale (rated at up to 13 lb) for $39 including shipping, and a heat sealer for shrink wrap bags for $60 including shipping. Both of these products were brand new, and the price I paid was a fraction of what they sell for elsewhere. I saw the heat sealer (at Uline, I believe) for twice what I paid, plus shipping. There are also bargains to be found on credit card terminals and lots more. I've seen scales no where near as nice as the one I got for $79 - $99.
Some of the items I found on eBay are new, some not. I've also noticed that some of them go for outrageous prices--but there are lots of bargains to be found, too. Do your homework, and you can get one of the good buys. (Then get out of eBay before you find yourself bidding on one of those toys you had when you were a kid, or the baseball card your Mom threw away, or . . .)
From Cathy Stucker, The Idea Lady(tm), http://www.IdeaLady.com/bright.htm
B. AVOIDING SPAM & OTHER INTERNET INTRUSIONS. To protect your privacy and prohibit sites from collecting data about your Internet browsing and buying habits, see the following sites: http://www.NetworkAdvertising.org and http://www.AndersenCompliance.com
A. GET CARTOONS DRAWN TO ORDER FOR YOUR BOOK. Contact Andrew Grossman, Cartooon Resource, andrew@cartoonresource.com, http://www.CartoonResource.com
B. LITERARY TRAVELER is a site that will give you the lowdown on all kinds of places you can visit that have a literary connection. You'll find this site at http://www.literarytraveler.com/ This tip is from Wally Bock
C. FOR BUSINESS HELP. See http://www.smallbusiness.com/
D. LIST OF ALTERNATIVE NEWSWEEKLIES. Casey Hill http://www.newpages.com/NPGuides/newswkly.htm E. RESOURCES FOR BOOK MARKETING, PROMOTING AND DISTRIBUTING. To get these reports instantly and save on the shipping changes, see: /getpage.cfm?file=resource/promote.html and scroll down.
Marketing/Promoting/Distributing
=> Locating the Right Distributor. Bookstores no longer order directly from publishers. They prefer fewer vendors and quicker service. Distributors will get your book(s) into the independent bookstores and the chains. This Instant Report will help you locate the right distributor for your book or line of books. We tell you what kinds of books each distributor wants. Lists more than 70 distributors with addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and fax numbers. Document 605, 10 pages, Paper: $11.95; self-service Electronic: $7.95.
=> Interviews, How Authors Get on Radio and TV will show you how to get invited to talk shows, how to get invited back and how to get maximum exposure for your book. This Report lists all the ways to get on the air. Resources with addresses. Document 602, 12 pages, Paper: $13.95; self-service Electronic: $9.95.
=> Autograph Parties & Signing Books shows you how to contact bookstores, who to call, how to promote your signing, getting set up and what to do once you are there. With resources, tips and contacts. Document 639, 7 pages, Paper: $10.95; self-service Electronic: $6.95.
=> Your Publication Date is one of the most difficult-to-explain concepts in book publishing. Now you can have the details along with a chart so you may visualize the various review programs: Pre-publication date reviews, early reviews and listings, opinion-molder copies, post publication-date reviews and your continuing review program. Document 608, 3 pages, Paper: $7.95; self-service Electronic: $3.95.
=> BestSellers, What They Are and How to Make Them tells you all about the various bestseller lists and how they gather their numbers. Then there is a 29-point plan for making your book a bestseller. This is so good, it is nearly a marketing plan outline. Document 612, 9 pages, Paper: $10.95; self-service Electronic: $6.95.
=> Cooperative Book Promotion describes the many programs which enable publishers to join together to lower marketing costs. You will learn about the co-op mail, exhibit and other programs run by several firms and associations as well as how to set up your own. Complete with an action plan and addresses of over 100 co-op programs. Document 622, 7 pages, Paper: $9.95; self-service Electronic: $5.95.
=> Bookshelf, Selling Books From Other Publishers shows how to establish another profit center to offer other publishers' books to your customers. Combining complementary (non-competing) books with your books makes your brochures and mailings more economical while establishing you as a one-stop source for information on your subject. This Report tells you how to find complementary books, how to negotiate with their publisher (even the big ones will give you 45% or more off if you approach the right department), and how to promote your new bookshelf. Includes an action plan and sample letters, and resources. Document 632, 9 pages, Paper: $13.95; self-service Electronic: $9.95.
=> Selling Books in the United States, a Guide for Foreign Publishers lists six ways to establish a presence in the US and suggests foreign publishers promote books just as US publishers do: With book reviews, news releases and, if appropriate to the title, with a limited amount of direct mail advertising. Details and resources. This Report is not for US-based publishers. Document 634, 7 pages, Paper: $8.95; self-service Electronic: $4.95 USD.
=> Selling Books to the Military Market by Michael Sedge gives you the inside track for reaching these 12 million people who spend over $10 billion annually. Full of details, addresses and resources. Document 637, 11 pages, Paper: $13.95; self-service Electronic: $9.95.
=> Selling Books Through the Gift Trade. Lists the resources you need for more information: gift shows, magazines, mailing lists, reports and consultants. Document 614, 6 pages, Paper: $6.95; self-service Electronic: $2.95. => Selling Books to Catalogs. Catalogs buy books in large quantities and they are committed to you for the life of the catalog, often more than a year. This report shows you how to find the right catalogs out of more than 7,000, how to submit to them and how to deal with them. Be prepared to order another print run. Document 625, 5 pages. Paper: $9.95; self-service Electronic: $5.95.
=> Making the Web Pay, a set-up guide for publishers shows you how to set up your web site to make money and save time. automatically. Examples and descriptions are given for selling books, reports and newsletters on-line with some clever and automatic response mechanisms. Document 629, 9 pages, paper: $13.95; self-service Electronic: $9.95. Ordering: Paper editions. Shipped by Air Mail, fax or email (specify). Add 7.75% sales tax if you are in California. Telephone, Fax, mail or email your order. Provide your credit card number, expiration date and the name on the card.
Self-Service Electronic editions. (Less expensive because we do not have to inventory, print or send them).Web site: Log on to: http://www.ParaPublishing.com , search for the Document by title. You save shipping charges, handling fees and sales taxes.
F. NEED HELP WITH BOOK DESIGN, TYPESETTING &/OR LAYOUT? See
Cypress House, Cynthia Frank, 155 Cypress Street, Suite 123, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437-5401. Tel: (707) 964-9520; Fax: (707) 964-7531; e-mail: qedpress@mcn.org. Editing, production and promotion services for new publishers. Personalized and reasonable.
One-On-One Book Production & Marketing, Carolyn Porter & Alan Gadney, 7944 Capistrano Avenue, Suite 32, West Hills, CA 91304. Tel: (818) 340-6620. cp1on1@aol.com Book and cover design, production, editing, marketing, promotion, brochures.
Arrow Graphics, Inc., Alvart Badalian, PO Box 291, Cambridge, MA 02238. Tel: (617) 926-8585; Fax: (617) 926-0982; e-mail: arrow@us1.channel1.com. Complete book production. Serving the publishing industry and self-publishing community.
indypub: a division of Phelps & Associates, LLC, Book Producers, Janice Phelps, 126 So. Maple Street, Lancaster, OH 43130. Tel: 740-689-2950; Fax: 740-689-2951; info@indypub.com; http://www.indypub.com. Complete book production: design, editing, galleys, printing, marketing.
Quest Press, Pamela Terry, 1858 So. Crescent Heights Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035. Tel: 323-935-6666; Fax: 323-934-2881; pam@atwtraveler.com . Designer of book interiors, book covers, web sites, plus auxiliaries.
Knockout Design, Peri Poloni, 2584 Greenwood Lane, #11, Cameron Park, CA 95682. Tel: 530-676-2744; Fax: 530-676-2741; peri@KnockOutBooks.com ; http://www.KnockOutBooks.com. Specializing in all areas of book design. 18 years experience.
PageCrafters, Inc., ReNae Grant, 8441 Cove Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32534. Tel: 850-494-1513; Fax: 850-478-5368; rGrant@PageCraftersInc.com; http://www.PageCraftersInc.com Professional book design and production; fast service and competitive rates.
Casa Graphics, Ernie & Patty Weckbaugh, 1718 Rogers Pl., #1-A, Burbank, CA 91504. Tel: 818-842-4278; Fax: 818-842-2960; CasaG@wgn.net. Complete production for self-publishers, cover design, editing. President, Book Publicists of Southern California.
Rutledge Books, Art Salzfass, 107 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06811. Tel: 800-278-8533; Fax: 203-798-7272; info@RutledgeBooks.com; http://www.RutledgeBooks.com. A full-service book producer specializing in cooperative publishing.
For more suppliers to the book industry, see /supplier.cfm ?
G. 1001 WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BOOKS is simply the best reference in the business. John Kremer has researched every possible way to sell books. He provides the most comprehensive collection of procedures and resources in this 700-page work. Invest $27.95 now. Call 800-PARAPUB.
H: FOR INFO ON CREATING AND PUBLISHING GREETING CARDS. See http://www.writing-world.com/cards/index.html
I. STATISTICS GET ATTENTION in books, interviews and news releases. For U.S. Government statistics, see http://www.fedstats.gov/
"Statistics Every Writer Should Know." Is a website by journalist Robert Niles It has some basic definitions, as well as material on "Not Getting Duped." See http://www.robertniles.com/stats/ J. RESOURCE FOR SENIORS. Crones Unlimited believes we have lost sight of the valuable lessons elders possess. An increasingly larger percentage of our population is reaching the Crone/Sage age. Our company wishes to support passionate, energetic elders, who have shed stereotypes and ego desires, by publishing their wise stories and poetic songs. Since young people so often lack good mentors, we hope to honor such leaders and mentors who stand in their own truth and are ready to re-ignite curiosity and empower others. See http://www.cronesunlimited.com/ K. TO BE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE STORES BOOK BUYERS. MANUAL, print out the PDF form at http://www.nacs.org/forms/bookbuyers/
WRITERS: COMBAT PROCRASTINATION
Emmett's Law: The dread of doing a task uses up more time and energy than doing the task itself.
The writing project was going so smoothly it was scary. Rita Emmett started at the top in approaching a literary agent, and her first choice accepted her. The book, with a working title of The Complete Procrastinator's Handbook, was a user-friendly, fun approach to helping people conquer procrastination. She sent off a rough draft of the manuscript to her agent, and it was returned with suggestions for a format, plus instructions that Rita polish it and return it as soon as possible.
Then the winds of change tornadoed Rita's life. Family illness, death of a loved one and marriages of her children sent her life spinning, so she decided to "put the book on the back burner" while she concentrated on these more important life events.
It was not procrastination, it was a choice, a priority—and that was reasonable. But she never communicated to this decision to her agent—and that was inexcusable.
Three years later, Rita. s life finally settled down. It was time to return to the book. She could not not do it. Although the contract had expired, she felt. morally and ethically. that she should give her agent the choice of working with her or not. More than that, she really wanted to work with the agent. But Rita was too embarrassed about the lapsed time, and she dreaded making that phone call. Thus began a year of procrastination. phony excuses, being too busy, anything to put that phone call as far from her mind as possible. The irony of putting off a book about procrastination was too painful to talk about. It added to her embarrassment. The day came when the dread of making that phone call was making Rita sick. She had hit bottom and she finally decided to summon her courage and use every trick in the book.her book. to make that call. The agent courteously listened to her and graciously offered to look at her new manuscript. Rita. s procrastination had ended.
The agent found a publisher, negotiated a wonderful advance, and that's the end of that story. and the beginning of Rita. s life as an author. and as a Recovering Procrastinator. rita@ritaemmett.com
Just do it.
"I have never met an author who was sorry he or she wrote a book. They are only sorry they did not write it sooner." . Sam Horn, speaker and author of Tongue Fu.
(Excerpted from Successful Nonfiction by Dan Poynter. For 108 more inspirational tips, See /getpage.cfm?file=resource/writing.html#successful_nonfiction)
A. RECIEVE FREE CHAPTER ONE OF JUDY CULLINS' BOOK _Write Your eBook or Other Short Book Fast_ by e-mail at Judy@bookcoaching.com
B. TIP SHEET is a free monthly newsletter from Planned Television Arts. The ezine is full of media placement leads. Contact Rick Frishman, FrishmanR@RuderFinn.com
C. MORE PUBLISHERS ARE DISCOVERING how opt-in email marketing can improve their sales and decrease marketing costs. Sign up now for Marty Foley's free "Email Profits Course" to avoid costly errors and get maximum value from your email marketing: http://ProfitInfo.com/e-courses/
DAN POYNTER IS CRISS-CROSSING NORTH AMERICA to spread the word on eBooks, pBooks and The New Book Publishing Model.
Authors and publishers are discovering an innovative way to write, produce and promote their books and the new way is faster, easier and cheaper. New software accelerates typesetting, new machines automate printing and the Internet streamlines promotion. These technological improvements have spawned a fresh way to look at book publishing. The New Book Model covers all the bases and is a refreshingly innovative route for anyone with a manuscript.
Today, books are written in page-layout format instead of double-spaced courier typeface. Then the pages are converted into Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format for printing and conversion.
Just 500 books are printed using computer-driven high-speed laser printers. The softcover and hardcover books are indistinguishable from traditional ink-printed books. Prices are just slightly higher, per unit, but the quantity (and invoice) is much lower.
PDF and LIT files are generated for reading on eBook readers such as the Pocket PC.
Then finished books are sent to two or three selected agents, a few more are sent to publishers with a track records for that type of book, 3-400 are sent for review to genre-specific magazines, four or five are sent to specialized book clubs, about ten are sent to foreign publishers suggesting translation and a handful are sent to opinion molders in the author. s field.
If an agent or publisher comes in with a good offer, the author sells out. If not, all the bases are covered: the book is out for review and the orders are starting to come in.
Most of the book promotion is done via email; the author. s web site replaces brochures. The media kit is replaced by a Press Room on the web site. For an example, see /getpage.cfm?file=pressroom/pressroom.html . Avoiding printing and postage reduces promotion costs tremendously.
So, the New Book Model is a way to conserve time, inventory space and money while testing the market. More books are not printed until after they are sold. It is no longer necessary to tie up a lot of money and inventory in printed books.
More specifically:
1. The New Book Model: Writing. How to set up and build your book rather than just write it. Discover how to qualify the project, research on the Net, organize the project, draft the content and convert it into a PDF file for printing.
2. The New Book Model: Producing print and electronic editions. Typesetting, layout, book design, PDF files and POD/PQN (pBooks) printing. eBooks: Downloads, CDs and handheld readers.
3. The New Book Model: Promoting. Getting your books into bookstores, book clubs and making nontraditional sales (catalogs, premiums, fundraisers, specialty stores). Using broadcast email. Radio/TV interviews, autographings, review copies and other promotion.
See /getpage.cfm?file=newbook.html Come to meet Dan and hear his vital book writing-publishing- promoting message. See the props and get the handout.
2001
August 11: Digital printing seminar with Dan Poynter and Pete Masterson and a tour of DeHarts Printing in Santa Clara, CA. 9-2. Space limited. Fmi and to register, contact Tatiana Promessi 408-982-9118; promessi@ihot.com. See http://www.DeHarts.com
August 16: Writing & Publishing Nonfiction, a seminar by Dan Poynter at the Learning Annex, Los Angeles. 6:30 to 9:30 PM. mi (310) 478-6677. http://www.LearningAnnex.com
August 25: Digital printing seminar. Dan Poynter shares the New Book Model with examples of digital printing. Followed by lunch and a tour of the Fidlar Doubleday digital printing plant. 9-2. Kalamazoo, Michigan. Free. Space Limited. Fmi and to register, call 800-248-0888. Steve Rozewicz, stever@fidlar.com
August 31-September 3: Maui Writers Conference. Dan Poynter on the New Book Model. Fmi: http://www.MauiWriters.com
September 6: Writing & Publishing Nonfiction, a seminar by Dan Poynter at the Learning Annex, Toronto. 6:30 to 9:30 PM. fmi 877-277-1240; 416-964-0011. http://www.learningannex.com/default.taf ?
September 11: Writing & Publishing Nonfiction, a seminar by Dan Poynter at the Learning Annex, Los Angeles. 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Fmi (310) 478-6677. http://www.LearningAnnex.com
September 15-16: Book Publishing Seminar. Philadelphia. Fmi: Brian Jud iMarketBooks@aol.com
October 6: Turning Speeches into Books. Minnesota Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Fmi: Dan Janal. Dan@ShowStoppers.com
October 10: Writing & Publishing Nonfiction, a seminar by Dan Poynter at the Learning Annex, Los Angeles. 6:30 to 9:30 PM. fmi (310) 478-6677. http://www.LearningAnnex.com
October 13-14: Book marketing/promotion/distribution seminar in Santa Barbara with Dan Poynter. For details, contact Para Publishing, PO Box 8206-896, Santa Barbara, CA 93118-8206. Tel: (805) 968-7277, Fax: (805) 968-1379. Workshop@ParaPublishing.com
November 10: Turning Speeches into Books. Heart of Texas Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Fmi: Ann Fry: Ann@HumorU.com .
November 14: Writing & Publishing Nonfiction, a seminar by Dan Poynter at the Learning Annex, Los Angeles. 6:30 to 9:30 PM. fmi (310) 478-6677. http://www.LearningAnnex.com
2002
January 19-20: Book marketing/promotion/distribution seminar in Santa Barbara with Dan Poynter. For details, contact Para Publishing, PO Box 8206-896, Santa Barbara, CA 93118-8206. Tel: (805) 968-7277, Fax: (805) 968-1379.
Here is something funny we have found on books, writing, publishing, authors and/or words. If you have a laugh to share, please send it to DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com
From Thea Lowry
A hungry lion was roaming through the jungle looking for something to eat. He came across two men. One was sitting under a tree and reading a book; the other was typing away on his laptop. The lion quickly pounced on the man reading the book and devoured him. Even the King of the Jungle knows readers digest and writers cramp.
J
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