Books and Summertime

As I sit here watching our "ritual May snow fall" my thoughts are taking me back to this past long weekend and my wonderful time spent at a good friend's home on the lake in Montana.

There was no set agenda on this wonderful weekend, it just flowed. Like most weekends away and holiday times it comes (or should come) with thoughtful and reflective hours with "no guilt". I had packed some magazines but didn't bring a book - no need to worry because everyone has books in their homes and especially a place like this.

It's fun and relaxing to find a well worn book on a shelf, or something new and interesting picked up from the sale basket of a good bookstore or even a cookbook filled with favorite "lake recipes" and then settling down and just running your fingers over the pages - I did this and it felt really good.

I never did finish the newer book I picked up and started to read, I did however enjoy a few of the recipes that became a reality for my tongue and I realized how much importance books play in the story of our lives.

With summer just around the corner (hopefully) and time on our hands to relax and leave the stress of our regular lives behind us I cannot imagine this scenario taking place without "books". Whether it's a romance novel we'll leave behind somewhere for someone else to enjoy, a book on fishing or some other leisure sport that we would like to undertake I realized how just how important books are to the feel, smell or memories we make and especially during our "Summertimes".

A friend of mine said that she reads one of her most favorite books every single year! She never tires of this book and it's usually the summertime that she will pull it off the shelf and read it again and often with her feet planted firmly in the sand. That just makes me smile.

As an established author or a wannabe author never under-estimate the value of what you already do or want to do. People love to read, need to read and whatever you write about there will be someone out there that will get great joy and value from what you have to offer. Keep doing what you do or follow your dream.

Books are with us forever, old or new, like music they help to tell the stories of our lives...

ISBN QUESTION

Just a very quick note today about ISBN's (International System of Book Numbering). I was recently asked how the ISBN relates to the bar code on a book. Have a look at books and you will see that the ISBN is embedded in the bar code. The bar code identifies the title, edition, publisher and price for book stores, libraries and other buyers. It is a must to have an ISBN number if you are planning to sell your book anywhere. The number avoids confusion for future editions and for future sales of the book.

I must be quick today, so hope this information helps some of you.

Denise

FIRST QUESTION WHEN PUBLISHING

I am pleased to be in a position to help people and to answer their publishing questions. I receive questions on a daily basis from our clients and I will try to share some of them with you.

However, my first question to new publishers is this: "Why do you want to publish a book?"

There is no right or wrong answer - only the answer that makes sense to you.

You might have expertise that you want to share, knowledge that will help people solve problems, life experience that can help people to avoid life mistakes, a story to tell, recipes to share or just simply you want to entertain people. All are good reasons.

But --- the most important question for you again, is "Why do you want to publish?" The answer will direct your marketing plan, if indeed you need one. You might just want to publish a few books for family and friends, or for an interest group that wants to do some fund raising. You might want to sell books at the back of the room when you speak in public, or, you might want to create a bestseller and sell the book in book stores and many other places.

Think about the long term goals for your book venture, because the goals will identify the difference between publishing as a hobby and publishing as a business.

Cheers,

Denise

LONG WEEKEND THOUGHTS

It's early in the morning on the May long weekend. I am definitely not away from home because I detest long weekend traffic, preferring to stay home and enjoy the quiet as hordes of people leave the city.

Sometimes a break from all that is busy is good - do some gardening (teach a grandchild how to plant potatoes), some reading; spend time with family; catch up on chores.

Therefore, my only connection with books this weekend is to read one.

Aaaahhh....

Denise

MARKETING YOUR BOOK

I just received the most amazing email from a client of our ULTIMATE BOOK MARKETING KIT. He obviously took our advice to heart and he has obviously thought long and hard about creative ways to sell - and his book is nonfiction. So, if anyone tells you that selling fiction outside of book stores and without a fortune spent on publicity, think again.

There are so many new and unique strategies for selling books, so many ways to find new markets and so many techniques for connecting with new buyers. The internet has opened a whole new world for publishers - a new world that does not rely on traditional book selling techniques.

I can't disclose our client's strategy, but rest assured that he will sell thousands of books in one day. IN ONE DAY. Wouldn't you love to do that? The first step is education about publishing in general. If you want to be a bestseller, you must first produce a professional book and you must be a professional publisher. That means that you maintain control of your book. That does not mean that you find someone else to put the book together, publish the book and sell the book. You must get serious and passionate about the project.

It always amazes me how few people take advantage of our free coaching. Wow. Do that many new publishers really know all about the process????

Anyway, I have been impressed with our creative client all along and now he is off to the races.

So can you.

Denise

www.inktreemarketing.com

BOOK TITLE

Here is today's question: "What do you think of my proposed book title?"

The answer is usually, "Not much". Stop trying to make the title sound professorial and stuffy. People want to read a book, not take a university course on your subject matter. If you're writing a text book, fine, make the title very specific to the subject matter.

Otherwise, the title should be catchy and it should impart the message in a friendly way. Think of the books that have sold many thousands of copies:
-The Wealthy Barber
-Rich Dad, Poor Dad
-The Secret
-Fit to Cook
-One Smart Cookie

A book's title needs to be memorable, not something like How to Invest Money for Your Retirement. Boring! The Wealthy Barber is much more likely to be remembered.

Somewhere in the content of your book there is a great title, so find it and use it.

Cheers,

Denise

PUBLISHING CONTRACTS

I want to talk about practical matters today. There are many things that people need to know before signing publishing contracts, particularly with publishing "services". Now, there is nothing wrong with publishing services, BUT, you need to know why you are hiring that type of service.

Publishing a book is a business venture. So many people just don't "get" that. It is a business. You are producing a product that you want to sell - usually to make money. So, if you are starting a business, do you just put a sign on the door and hire someone else to actually plan the business, hire the staff and control the hours and conditions of operation? That's crazy. If you do that, it's not your business - it belongs to someone else. They say that they will send you a percentage of the profits. Why did you bother? That's what happens if you hire a publishing service to "publish" your book.

Some people, on the other hand, just want to have a few books to give to family and friends, or to sell at the back of the room during speaking engagements. In that case, a publishing service might be what you want and need. However, if you want to create a bestseller and you want to sell books for profit over an extended period of time, beware of what you sign. You may just be giving your book away to someone else and the profit is all theirs.

Now, I got that off my chest. Contact me at info@inktreemarketing.com if you wish to discuss this issue further.

Cheers,

Denise

READING TO CHILDREN

Reading to children is such a special joy. Yesterday I was reading to my little granddaughters who are 4 years old and 22 months old. Both of them brought books to me, crawled up into my lap and settled in for a cuddle and a story. The four year old loves books about dinosaurs, which are her special love. The 22 month old is fond of books about babies, especially if the babies have sweet faces. Having the little ones sit with me for those special moments are memories that I will forever cherish.

The love of reading is so easy to establish. It starts at birth. That is when I began reading to my own children. We would sit in the rocking chair and as the baby nursed, I read little stories and rhymes. Now I get to re-live the experience with all four of my grandchildren because they are all fond of books, having been introduced to them as infants. The 22 month old even has to hold a book as she goes to sleep.

Reading to children is incredibly heart warming. All of the busy-ness of life is suspended as we join Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella and Lightning McQueen on their adventures. Children ask amazing questions as the books unfold and the children offer incredible insights into life from their own perspective.

There is nothing more special to hear than "Nana, please read me a story" and there is no greater feeling of awe and warmth as the little one backs up to me and sits on my lap.

Read to your children every day. You will benefit even more than the child does. Trust me - it's true.

Denise

BACK AT IT

For some strange reason I could not access this blogging website for a period of time. Who knows why? Technology is great - when it works. But, when it doesn't work I am just frustrated and stumped. Why does it work one day but not the next? I will never understand....

That takes me back to the thread of e-books. They are absolutely great but I just don't seem them as being a complete replacement for books. Say you're on the beach, happily reading your book, and the reader decides it wants to give up the ghost. Aaaaggghhh! The six books you decided to take with you on vacation have been wiped out. Or, what if you're at the pool, your child runs up and bumps into you and over the reader goes into the water? Fried - all six books.

Just plan to have a hard copy of your book as well as an e-book version so that all of your bases are covered. It's merely another reason not to put all of your books into one basket.

Cheers for now.

Denise