GUARANTEED BOOK SALES

Well, today I received an interesting question from an aspiring publisher. She wants to know if I can guarantee that she will sell x number of books in one year. Wow!! I'm wondering how anyone can assume that someone else can guarantee the results of their efforts. Will I be there when she makes the decision to edit or not edit her manuscript, will I be there when she decides on a graphic designer, will I make the decision on which printer she chooses, will I be the one who speaks to the media during HER interviews? - and so on, and so on. Yes, I can coach her and tell her the elements that make for a quality book, I can tell her how to design her media kit, I can show her how to design a proposal for high volume sales. BUT. I cannot do all of the work for her. It is her business, her book and her efforts that count. Choosing to turn over the book publishing and the marketing efforts to other people yet expecting great results is a common failing that I see in aspiring publishers. It is THEIR business so they should mind their own business. Denise www.inktreemarketing.com

WRITING A PROPOSAL

We at Ink Tree are in the process of writing a proposal to pitch a show idea. So for all of you who are doing the same thing, here are a few pointers: - make your cover page stand out: use graphics - use a teaser on the cover page to entice them to read further - tell them the benefits of your idea: what's in it for them - give them the what, who, why, how and when scenarios - let them know why you are indispensable to the idea - label each page of the proposal, either in the footer or by watermarking the pages or both Good luck! Denise www.inktreemarketing.com

PUBLISHING CONTRACTS

Another disappointed author! We received a phone call today form an author who is having difficulties with his publisher. It seems that the author signed a publishing contract without actually researching intellectual property rights, so said author had no idea which rights he should retain for himself. Now, this author would like to register for our Foreign Rights program. As it turns out, his publisher will not allow that to happen as the contract states that the publisher owns the foreign rights. Fair enough. The contract has been signed. However, the publisher does not promote foreign rights sales, so that leaves the author high and dry. The author wants to promote foreign rights sales but the publisher will not allow it but the publisher does not promote foreign rights sales so no one can sell the foreign rights to the book. What a vicious circle. Another reason for authors to become educated about the publishing process before publishing. If you think that the cost of education is expensive - try the cost of ignorance. Denise www.inktreemarketing.com

HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO WRITE A BOOK?

Upon researching statistics on books, I stumbled upon data that I had always suspected but never confirmed. How many people would like to write a book? To my delight and amazement, the figure is 82%. Wow!

My own experiment at a seminar one day confirms that. When I stood up and asked the same question, how many would like to write a book, hands popped up all over the room. At that time I was astounded. Now I know the truth.

Are you among that eight-two percent? Even if you are, here is another fact that you should know - most people will do nothing about their wish to be an author. Some will write a manuscript, or even several manuscripts, but never pursue having them published. Some will submit their manuscript to a publisher or two and become defeated by a couple of rejections. Some will "self publish" using a "publishing service" but the book will never sell because of its inferior quality.

A very special few will actually become successful authors. Why them? There are many reasons, but among them are:

• believing passionately in their idea
• becoming educated about the publishing process
• understanding their competition
• targeting their audience and their market
• being persistent.

That's it in a nutshell. If you sincerely want to be successful as an author, memorize those reasons and follow through.

Denise

SURPRISE

Just when it seemed that winter was finally, finally over we have been hit with a blizzard. Road conditions are atrocious, so staying at home seems like an excellent option. Nothing is so important that it can't wait for sunnier days.

So, while house bound there was time to have a long chat with a lovely lady who is interested in publishing a cookbook. Her most interesting comment was that her finances are too tight to purchase our $97.00 Ultimate Book Marketing Kit yet she planned to sign a multi-thousand dollar contract to publish her book. She was turning over the design, editing, printing and marketing to a publishing service (there is a place for them, but...) that would produce for her one of their "cookie-cutter" books. Unfortunately, book buyers and book reviewers can tell an inferior product just as anyone experienced in any other industry can tell poor quality goods.

Instead of spending less than $100.00 for education she was willing to spend thousands of dollars to produce a product that will surely fail. That is just awful!!

There is just no explaining human nature.

Denise

THE VACATION IS OVER

How quickly a vacation passes. There is great truth in the saying "time flies when you're having fun."

Cabo San Lucas is an absolutely lovely place to rest and relax, especially if you avoid the busy tourist zone on the harbor. We did have some fun shopping and eating in the heart of the action but most of our time was spent poolside.

I read several books while lounging under a big umbrella with a frosty drink in hand. Because my time of utter relaxation was precious, any book in my selection had to absolutely grab my attention. If it didn't, bye-bye. There was a book exchange basket at each pool area where the rejects were quickly deposited. Just because the book did not please me did not mean that it might not appeal to someone else and they must have, because they quickly disappeared. That being said, I found some interesting novels there, too.

What appeals most to me is well written books that were not necessarily on the bestseller list. They are not "cookie-cutter" books nor are they "formula" stories. My favorites are well written stories with a human slant. No fantasy or science fiction for this chick - I want to read about people. Truth, or something very close to it, is "stranger than fiction" in my mind.

Hours of pool time with a fascinating book - what a great vacation.

Denise