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.)