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Back cover of the book:
The Cartographer, 1492
1492: The Spanish Inquisition, Christians burned at the stake, Moslems and Jews expelled from Spain and the Columbus expedition...
This historical novel takes you into the lives of everyday Christians, Moslems, Jews and Secret Jews of ancient Spain and what they had to endure during that horrific time in history.
The details of the epic voyage were researched meticulously using Columbus' personal journal. Othniel Seiden takes you on the voyage itself, beyond the discoveries through the fears, victories and superstitions of the adventurers of that era into the humanity of all souls encountered on the journey.
excerpt from The Cartographer, 1492
by Othniel J. Seiden
published by BooksToBelieveIn.com
© Copyright 2009,
EJ Thornton
This book is presented in a free format here by the author and publisher. All rights reserved .
Introduction
Lessons Learned
From a Literary Agent
I went to a writer's conference once, shortly after I'd opened up my publishing company. There was a session that was taught by a well known literary agent.
This agent polled the audience of authors and asked them to think back on the last time they bought a fiction book at the bookstore. Then he asked them to raise their hands if they bought it because they were a fan of the author. About half the hands in the room went up. Then he asked if some trusted source had recommended the book to them (i.e. a friend or a celebrity endorsement) and the other half of the hands went up. Then he asked if it was because they'd read an article in the paper - no hands went up. Again, he asked, was it because the author had won an award - again, no hands. Finally, he asked if they had bought the book because of who published it - again, no one responded.
The agent made an important point to the first-time authors in the room. As unknowns, they only had the resource of people recommending their books. Half of what worked for most authors was unavailable to them because no one knew who they were. Also, all the press releases and contests made little or no difference to sales. Getting published by a big publishing house was also not a sales bonus. So that only left word of mouth sales for those first time authors.
He emphasized that they needed to know this, understand it and embrace it if their first book was to ever become a success. He went on to say, when an author recognizes this challenge and knows how to overcome it, that is the type of author his firm loves to represent. The literary agency that bears his name was, at that point in time, ranked fifth largest in New York City.
So, I took it to heart to educate those who came to me for counsel about their books, but more importantly, because I was an author before I became a publisher, I took it to heart for my own books first, then the books I publish.
I've worked many an angle getting my books sold using referrals and recommendations. It worked well on the first book I wrote, the second book I wrote etc - to the hundred-sixthieth book I've either written or published.
The Premise of Accelerated Book Marketing
If they don't know you and
they don't know the title of your book,
how are they going to find you?
As a publisher since 1998, I've worked with hundreds of authors, because I am also an author, a teacher, a book coach, an internet guru, a marketing expert and a consultant.
When authors approach me about working with them, I ask them to tell me about their book(s) and then I ask them one important question. It is at this point, most of these well-learned, articulate authors start stuttering...
If they've done their homework, then before they've decided to meet with a publisher, they've developed their book's business plan. Nearly every plan is based on creating name recognition for the author, by buying advertising, attending book signings, creating a website based on their name or the name of the book (or the good ones do both), writing a blog, sending out review copies, creating a press package and getting publicity. These are the basic book marketing techniques and for the author, all very worthwhile things to do. They all belong in a good business plan. But none of these parts of basic book marketing actually answers the question I pose to them.
So, I ask again. Take a moment and answer this question...
If they don't know you and
they don't know the title of your book,
how are they going to find you?
At this moment, it's okay if you don't have an answer to the question, most authors don't. They haven't thought of their book from this perspective. They've been so busy trying to get their book and/or their name recognized, they overlooked that they can get their book in front of people without those people specifically looking for it/them.
So, if you don't have an answer, don't panic. This book's intention is to help you find answers in dozens of ways, creating dozens of new marketing avenues that your book can traverse whether you or your book are known in those circles already or not!
This is a different strategy, largely ignored by first time authors, but it goes back to the beginning of book marketing. It goes back to the first time someone ever labeled a book by subject or genre.
This form of associative marketing was discovered to be a much quicker way to sell books in great quantity. It helped the author create name recognition. It should really be the first place an unknown author starts their marketing plans.
Last updated on: Saturday, February 04, 2012
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