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Question of the day:
Why do I have to indicate an age group on the cover of a book for children? Can't I just try to target all children?
Answer: No.
There are certain criteria that apply to childrens' books and they depend on the ages of the children being targeted.
Book buyers look for difficulty of language, number of words per page, number of illustrations and book format (e.g. board books) when they select books for stores. Book reviewers have the same list of criteria.
It is true that some children have superior reading skills, but there is still a level of appropriate material that depends on the age group. A book that targets one year old babies is of no interest to a three year old. What is appropriate for a three year old is too young for a six year old and so on. Children progress through stages of physical, psychological and emotional development.
Help the buyers by knowing the criteria for the age group that you are aiming for when you write your book.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com 
Writing a news release is one of the most difficult challenges for a writer. It is salesmanship of the highest order. There are no second chances. You do not get to do the pitch until you get it right. You get it right the first time or you are done.
I have spent the past few days helping an author with her news release and finding it very difficult. She just does not understand the concept. It is even difficult to identify her goal: is she promoting a concept or is she promoting her book?
What is she trying to sell? What does she want to achieve? What are the benefits? What is the story behind the story? Why should the media care if she wrote a book? Why would the media want to read past the boring headline when they are inundated by news releases on a daily basis?
That's where it stands at the moment. I will keep you posted on the progress. :-)
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
It's Sunday, frost on the trees, cold outside, not much incentive to go out and smell the roses. What roses? We won't see them for months.
Anyway, I might was well think business. Thinking of gardening causes me to think of planting seeds, so, I'm just planting a seed. If you are a small publisher, have you considered joint ventures to increase sales? Most publishers think of the traditional book selling route. I just want to encourage you to think about ways in which you can profit share with companies that will promote your book.
Let me know if you have questions.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
My head hurts. I spent half of today writing creatively. The only other challenge that might be bigger is parenting. Both of them are like taking care of your "baby".
You worry, and struggle, and change strategies, and fall back almost as much as you progress. Whew. Then, just when you think that you have it right - boom - you see your mistakes. Seeing your errors causes panic until you tell yourself that calm must prevail.
You start over, having learned a little something along the way. You do better. The process repeats itself over and over.
But, when the "baby" has grown up, you feel an immense sense of pride and accomplishment - must be why so many people want to be parents...and authors.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
I blogged recently about a famous author who is planning to self publish her next work as an e-book.
Today I read in the news about another famous author, Judy Blume, who will be publishing her next novel as an e-book. Blume is now 74 years old and she is no slouch. The world is not by-passing her. No way.
Blume is aware that if she is to reach the younger generations she has to publish in a format that appeals to them.
It all goes back to the most important issue for authors and publishers - know your target market. If you are writing for yourself, keep it to yourself. It's called a journal. If you plan to write a best seller, write for the audience who will buy your books. What a simple concept but it's completely overlooked by so many authors and publishers...
...and then they have a garage full of books that no one will buy. Don't join that club!!
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
This morning I was listening to Kelly Ripa and her co-host discuss e-books. The debate on the pros and cons of e-books continues, and continues to pop up in unexpected places. Obviously, e-books are becoming part of our society whether we like them or not.
Anyway, they were discussing the ease of reading with a paper book versus using an e-reader. Kelly commented that she loves the feel and smell of a paper book and loves the sound of the pages turning. However, because she travels so frequently, an e-reader allows her to download many books (and magazines, etc.) onto her reader. It is just not possible to travel with a number or books in one's luggage. So, bound books have to be sacrificed for the convenience of an electronic device.
The other side of the argument, according to the co-host, is that electronic devices interrupt the reading experience as text messages and emails interfere with one's concentration and relaxation. So, what was once a pleasant interlude of peace and quiet becomes a frustrating time of outside interferences.
Who would have guessed that reading books could create such issues? We used to take it for granted that we could curl up with a book and ignore the world. Now the world follows us everywhere. Aaaagggghhhh!!
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
So, my husband is a very light sleeper. I like to read before I go to bed. The turning of the pages and the bedside light bother him, so I purchased a light that hooks on to the page - well that works good for me but he can still see the light and we still have the problem of the page turning!!! (Yes, I hear you all, sleep in separate bedrooms you shout - I have to find something else).
So, talking to my friend Margaret, she said she had an "e-book reader" and it would completely solve my problems. Firstly there is back lighting which is subtle and there is no turning of the page, so noisy book problem will go away!! Problem solved!
So, even though I am a "book" person and do not want to give up my lovely books, the smell, the feel and I actually love to put my finger and thumb on the top right corner of the next page in anticipation of moving the story along over the page.....for the sake of doing something I love I may just have to get myself an "e-book reader".
I don't think books will ever go out of style but I guess some of us may have to go "kicking and screaming" with the new technology - in my case it just might be easier than buying a whole new bedroom set, sheets, lamps, pictures etc. and moving into a new bedroom!
So, for all new authors and those of you already published, whether you want to or not, you need to make sure that your book can be accessed in this format, make sure your book is everywhere it needs to be. Research how this needs and can be done, speak with the experts and get your book in the hands of those who still love the smell and feel the real book you can hold in your hand and especially those who love to move with the times and technology and want to have that quiet read at night before they go to sleep!
Debbie Black
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
Having just spent hours writing an additional four pages in our e-book that teaches all you wanted to ask about self publishing, my head hurts. Writing is hard!!
I wrote, then I re-wrote and then I wrote again. Then I sent it off for editing - and that's all for only four pages.
It always amazes me that people think they can publish a book in six months. Such a time-line is unrealistic. Most books take at least two years to write but that can stretch out to ten years or more. Nothing is written until you feel that you have put your all into it, accepted criticism, and then made changes until you and your editor are happy.
Only then can you present your work to the public. Take your time. Once you have published, it's out there forever.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
Here are some quick facts that I learned about e-books today:
- Sales have doubled, at least, annually since 2007.
- Print book sales are declining.
- Nielsen is including e-books on its bestseller lists.
- The Wall Street Journal now reviews e-books.
- Some publishing houses now offer to publish the e-version of a book as well as the
conventional version.
- There are different formats that publishers must consider so they need to know the needs
of their target market: do they prefer that the integrity of the conventional version be
maintained or do they want their buyers to have the ability to edit the text?
Just a few items for consideration....
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
Today I was listening to a talk radio program, which I am inclined to do when driving alone in my vehicle. The host was discussing Apple's new ipad and its function as an e-book reader.
As always, people are eager for the latest gadget but newest is not always best, according to the guest speaker. The new ipad is great but not necessarily worth paying the premium.
The e-book industry is definitely expanding at a rapid rate, but if you have an e-book reader and if you are happy with it, don't worry about the latest gadget. Wait until it has proven itself. There will always be something new and better around the corner.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
Today is my birthday so I'm going to make this short and sweet. I am going out for a bit of fun after I donate blood - might as well give someone else a gift. :-)
Anyway, we at Ink Tree are working on a contest for authors. It will be exciting. Stay tuned.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
It seems that PayPayl has decided to impose some censorship rules on e-books. They want to ban books that contain topics such as rape, bestiality, incest and "underage subjects".
Some people have become very perturbed about the "censorship". I'm no fan of the banned topics nor would it ever cross my mind to even think about them but we all know that they appeal to a certain segment of society. To me those topics are disgusting.
I am aware that they appeal to some people. Constitutionally, I guess that people are allowed to do or read anything in private. However, I do understand that PayPal and Google do not want to be associated with some activities. There are plenty of companies that use pornography to make money and that is their choice.
I believe that it is Google and Paypal's choice to ban some topics from their store. They also must have the constitutional right to stand for their principles.
For those people who are interested in rape, bestiality, incest and "underage subjects", I am sure that you can find plenty of sources of material to satisfy your needs. Shop there. Just be sure that no children were exploited.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
Book design is so very important to the success of a book. Just like any other product, appearance is important. People really do judge a book by its cover.
Here is the sad situation: many self publishers think that they can design their own books. What a mistake! There is a very good reason that people go to school to study graphic design - design is extremely difficult. It's amazing how much talent is required to make the pages of a book look attractive and easy to read.
I can't say more: DO NOT design your own book.. Sales, or rather lack of sales, will prove my point.
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
Well, it seems that the e-book is creating anxieties in the publishing world, which is having an impact on libraries.
We associate libraries with physical books but libraries must keep up with changes in publishing. Naturally they are now being compelled to provide books in e-book format as well as in hard copy. Many library patrons now own e-book readers and those patrons want their libraries to loan e-books to them.
Large publishing houses, such as Random House, are imposing significant price increases on titles sold to libraries in e-book format. I really don't know the true reason for the increased charges but I can venture a guess: reduced sales. If libraries order fewer hard copy books but order more e-books, the publishers need to find new avenues to maintain revenues. Hence the increase in prices - that's my guess, anyway.
The long and the short of it is this: how will the price changes affect the ability of libraries to buy books? I guess that we will just have to watch and wait...
Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com
