At SPAWN, we have free monthly teleseminars for members. If a member can’t listen in to the teleseminar, they can download a recording of it from the SPAWN website later.
So far, we have had some giants in the industry—each giving us an hour of their time and they have shared an enormous amount of valuable information. We’ve welcomed Sandra Beckwith, “Build Book Buzz,” Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, Peter Bowerman of The Well-Fed Writer fame, and this week, book publicist, Milton Kahn.
Coming up are Hobie Hobart, on book cover design, Penny Sansevieri, A Marketing Expert and Stephanie Chandler, “Publish, Promote and Profit From Books, Ebooks and Information Products.”
Quite a line-up, don’t you think? Any author or hopeful author who has the opportunity to hear any of these experts for FREE, ought to take it. And they can by joining SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org It’s only $65/year.
Also at SPAWN, our new Catalog of Members’ Books and Services is completed and posted here:
http://www.spawn.org/catalogofbooks.htm Be sure to take a look—the catalog is available to the public.
And visit us at Facebook.
Today, I wanted to share a few concepts that Milton Kahn presented in his teleseminar Thursday. Each of these deserves at least a full page of commentary. But I’m going to bullet them here. If you want more on any of these topics, leave a comment or contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com and I’ll devote a blog post to the topic.
• Be in the flow of publishing.
• Read the Sunday New York Times.
• Public relations is not an exact science.
• Most book publicists specialize.
• Some books are not promotable through a PR company.
• Personality sells books (and, by the way, helps land a publicist).
• Media kits are out of style.
• Don’t go it alone, find the right people to work with.
There is some food for thought in these brief comments, isn’t there?
I spend time every single day trying to give you something you can use—information and resources as well as concepts that will help you to succeed as a published author. But you have to do your part. You have to show up here every day. You have to be present. You need to consider the information, do your own research, check out the resources and put those things that make sense to your project into practice. If you choose your own path based on emotions rather than education and knowledge, you may be one of the majority—authors who fail.
Oh, let’s not end on a sour note. Know that you have the power to create the level of success you desire. But it starts—not after your book is published, not once you’ve entered the world of book promotion—but before you begin your publishing project. Start your successful publishing journey when your book idea is a mere concept in your imagination.
The key to publishing success is, first, an excellent idea that you mold to fit—not your heart’s desire—but what your audience wants/needs. Always keep your readers in mind from the very beginning. Be realistic. At the same time, groom yourself as a keen representative for your book—work on your public speaking skills, build a platform, study the world of book promotion, engage your audience so they know you even before you have a book. And when you get to the place where you need help marketing your book, you will be able to attract a professional PR person, if that’s the route you want to go.
For more about how to prepare yourself and your project for success, what to expect once you are published and so much more, read the book I wrote expressly for you: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Yes, this book is also available through Amazon.com.