I had decided not to write a new blog post today—needed to get some things done: register my new novels with Bowker, order more ISBNs, send out some requested review copies of the novels, change a client’s email address in my addressbook, try to figure out how to make a change to my email signature (never could get that answer in the new Yahoo design). I emailed a former client to discuss his back cover copy. He sent me a copy of the book—looks good, but the text on the back cover is in dire need of editing. I hope he is doing print on demand, so we can make some changes.
I want to warn authors–after your amazing editor edits the content of your book, be sure to run your back cover copy by him or her, too. You do sell books by the cover. Your cover makes a difference. In fact, yesterday someone from one of my groups reached out to the group asking for assistance with her book. I took a look at it and suggested she change the title and the cover. The title doesn’t describe the book, nor does the cover. The cover is okay–just not one that would grab you. And in today’s competitive bookselling climate, your book MUST stand out to be noticed.
This morning, I also responded to an inquiry about participating in the SPAWN booth at the 2014 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and contacted another half dozen reviewers for my latest mystery novel. I communicated with a couple of people wanting to be my friend on FaceBook and emailed a potential reviewer who was confused as to which email address to use in order to accept the review copies of the novels I agreed to send.
Yes, I’m back on FaceBook, after being hacked and closing my account a year or so ago. Not sure if this will be another distraction for me or something well worth investing time in. Would like to hear your impressions and experiences with FaceBook. Has it been a blessing or a detriment?
This morning, I checked an ad I designed yesterday for the novels to make sure it was live and looking good. And I checked in with my best email pal. We communicate first thing every morning, sort of like high school girls passing notes in class.
I fed the cats and I’m enjoying my first cup of coffee. I have one of the cats so spoiled, that she won’t eat her breakfast unless I feed it to her by the finger or spoonfuls. Sigh!
All of this and it’s just 6:30 a.m.
I’m expecting an editing job to arrive this morning—so wanted to clear my desk. Only thing left on my desk is a slumbering kitty sprawled across a stack of papers. The other one is in my lap. There is a third cat, but she rarely steps foot in my office. She comes in only when she hears the fax machine ring. I guess she’s expecting something.
Once it gets light, I will walk and work on a speech for the Cat Writers Association conference in a few weeks in Dallas. I use my daily walk to go over my presentations. This seems to be the only time I can tune everything else out and concentrate on the material, organization and flow of my planned talks. This is how I become familiar with the content of new presentations. I write about this technique as well as many others in my book, Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. Check it out here: http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html
And what have you accomplished so far today? If you’re in the east, probably more than I have because it’s already 9:30 there.