Writing and Publishing News

I’ve been almost totally immersed, lately, in revising my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. As some of you know, I’m planning to release the second edition (revised) in August. This has been an enlightening and educational experience, as the publishing industry continues to shift, transition and change.

I pride myself on keeping a finger on the pulse of the industry, but I’m always astonished to learn what’s new in the world of publishing. Here are just some of the changes and additions I’ve become aware of in recent months:

1: Anyone can access Ingram’s database to get bookstore sales figures on any book that’s in their system. I actually knew about this, but had never dialed the number. I’ve recently discovered, however, that it is easy to use and most enlightening. Use it in the following ways:

*Check on sales for competing titles when preparing your book proposal.
*Find out how your colleagues’ books are doing.

I was surprised to learn that my writing/publishing-related books are selling more through non-bookstore markets than many of my competitors’ books are selling through bookstores.

Here’s the number—have fun and let me know how you used this service and what you found out: plfry620@yahoo.com.

Call: 615-213-6803. (You’ll need the ISBN for books that you are checking.)

2: Over 76 percent of books in America sold fewer than 100 copies in 2004. Wow! The next highest category didn’t even come close. Just over 16 percent of books sold as many as 100 to 999 copies that year. And the higher the number of sales, the lower the number of titles in that category. Do you want to know how many titles sold a million copies or more in 2004? 10! That’s it, 10.

3: There are over 1.2 million books in print and the largest mega bookstore carries only 150,000 titles. Yes, only a mere 12.5 percent of books in print are sold through bookstores.

4: I have just discovered Google Alerts (www.google.com/alerts). Sign up to receive information about your book topic or genre. Or ask Google to send you alerts related to your own book, name and/or publishing company. What a great way to find out what the competition is doing and where your articles, interviews, book reviews, etc. are showing up on the Internet.

5: More and more traditional royalty publishers are stating in their Author’s Guidelines that they expect you to promote your own book.

6: Book videos (or trailers) really are the latest in book promotion and they are being shown at My Space, YouTube, movie theaters, cable TV and art centers as well as on the authors’ Web sites. Simon and Schuster plans to launch a new site for book trailers. Watch for Video Channel.

7: I discovered a new online book festivals directory: http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/bookfair.html

8: The first three Espresso Book Machines are being tested. They are programmed to print and bind a 300-page book in three minutes. You can choose from 200 titles.

All of this is included in the revision of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book along with about 100 additional new and updated information bites and resources.

I’ve also added dozens of suggestions and resources specifically for novelists, children’s book authors and other fiction writers.

You’ll find information about fulfillment companies.

And I’ve included the word platform in the index with 10 entries.

Exciting, isn’t it?

But wait. There’s still time to put in your two cents. Is there something you missed seeing in the original version that you’d like to see in the revision? Let me know: plfry620@yahoo.com

One customer asked for more about bookstore consignment agreements. It’s now in there.

Oh yes, and I’m also working on a workbook to go along with the revision of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.

We’re busy here at Matilija Press this spring. But never too busy to hear from you.

Here’s the best news, yet: I’m offering a 20% discounts for two categories of customers:
*Those of you who purchased the first edition.
*New customers who order and pay for the new revision before August 1, 2007.

The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book (revised second edition) will sell for $19.95. If you qualify for a discount, your cost will be $15.96 (plus shipping and CA state tax, where applicable.)

http://www.matilijapress.com

Whew! I’ve been busy this month and my blog is suffering. I know that some of you visit my publishing blog weekly and expect to see new entries. Somehow I’ve managed to post a new entry practically every week for a year and a half. That’s a lot of blogging.

I’ve blogged from Dubai, San Francisco and Wisconsin. I’ve blogged when it’s storming, when it’s unbearably hot, when I’m in a good mood and when I’m stressed. I’ve blogged when I’m fresh and alert and when I’m exhausted and I’ve tried to always share something of value to authors.

But this month, the time has slipped away as I’ve worked with my wonderful and talented clients, taught my online courses, cleaned up my yard after winter, planted a spring garden, kept up with my tasks as the pres. of SPAWN, helped out my 86-year-old mom, traveled (twice in April) AND I am also revising my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Yup, I’ll be coming out with a revised second edition this summer.

I’m blown away by the multitude of changes in the publishing industry since I wrote this book at the end of 2005. Publishers have gone out of business, they’ve changed their publishing focus, costs for copyright and other services have gone up, distributors have gone under, magazines have adopted new policies, there are some new opportunities for authors and some have gone away… I can see the value in producing ebooks and pursuing print on demand for books like mine so one can keep them up to date.

There are also some terms that I didn’t include in my first edition—such as platform. While the concept is there, I didn’t use the buzzword, platform, in the first edition. The publishing field is even more competitive than it was eighteen months ago, when I put the final touches on the first edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, so I am adding even more tips, techniques and ideas for the author as we approach the two thousand-teens.

Here’s your chance, my dear friends and colleagues, to be a part of the publishing community through participation in this popular book. Most of you have read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. What would you like to see me add, delete or expand on? Send me your requests this week: plfry620@yahoo.com. And don’t forget to visit my Web site. Why? Sign up for an online course. I’m pretty much teaching these courses on demand these days. Inevitably, there are people who don’t sign up on time and I’ll let them take the course on their schedule. Interesting concept.

Also at my site, you can buy any number of books—have you checked out my friend’s book, Johanna’s Journey? It’s a tear-jerker. You’ll find my story about inheriting four cats in this book—Johanna’s Journey. It’s a good read. I’ve also written a book featuring my trip to and the culture/history of Dubai (in the Middle East). At my site, you can read articles on a variety of subjects—mainly, of course, writing and publishing. And, if you’re seeking a publishing or writing resource, check out my large resource list. http://www.matilijapress.com

Happy Writing.