editorial

Confused Authors: Too Many Services Available?

Irene Watson

I recently received this from an author:

I am not sure what services that I need beyond a review. I have a book signing kit and materials on their way. I have several local events set up. I am pretty sure [subsidy press] is working on a press release. They are making several internal changes within their company and I have literally had 13 different people discuss what stage I am at, what will come next and options for marketing. 

Should I begin with the small package and go from there or is it best to invest in the largest package? I am most interested in having one person talk to me that will read my book and advise me from that point. I have been told so many different avenues that I should pursue, based on the special being run at that moment, that I am now thoroughly confused to be honest.

I am willing to invest what I need to, but I do not want to be taken advantage of either. Perhaps, too many options have been tossed at me and I am beginning to feel confused as to what I truly need to do next. 

I've heard this so many times and I'm sure, you as an author, can relate to these words. There is a saying that goes "get the biggest bang for your buck" but the problem is, there are many options for that designated buck and many people want it.

If you are an author that used a subsidy press you will find that some of them will inundate you with all the promotional packages that they have to offer...and they sure do sound great.  But wait, they want how much???  Did she say $2500 for a one minute video that I can get for less than a hundred dollars elsewhere? But wait again...they will distribute the video to 200,000 potential customers.  Okay, so that sounds really attractive but is this distribution worth $2400? And, who are these potential customers?

Or should you get a "standard review" for $395 in about 9 weeks, or should you pay an extra $100 and get it in 5 weeks.  But wait...all you get is a review.  That's it. They don't post the review anywhere except on their own site.  They do say "[Site removed] critics have written for The New York Times, Washington Post and more; others are editors at publishing houses like Random House. This is why, more than any other source, a [site removed] endorsement is a self publisher's red hot ticket to reader and industry-wide attention!"    Looking over the page where the reviews are posted gives me an indication you don't get much except a review for your buck.  And, not only that, the reviews are done by a "no name" reviewer so we can't even check if the specific reviewer is as qualified as they say. Further checking I find there is no SEO for the page and it's a running page of reviews. No cross referencing, no index, nothing.  I'm wondering what the attraction is with this offer because I know of several subsidy presses that have contracted this site to give reviews for their authors.  I think they have a good sales person that promised the moon for a lot of bucks.

Or should you pay $999 to have 12 press releases sent out to a "customized database"? Or should you pay $1999 to be promoted to 500 venues to "assist you with securing speaking engagements"?  Or should you contract a publicist for a three-month period to the tune of $12,000 to $15,000, with no guarantees?

Yes, it is confusing and I can confidently say that each one will give you a good sales pitch as to why their service is so good and you should use it.   But, is it really what you need?  Deciding what you need is not easy especially with so many telling you what you need.  I've never been able to understand how someone else can decide for you what you actually need.

You may find this statement from me, shall we say, "interesting," considering I'm in the business of selling publicity packages.  Yes, I am selling them but there is no way I can tell you what you need to purchase.  I can certainly make suggestions and offer advice but to tell you what you need would be very highly righteous of me.  I don't know about you but that kind of stuff starts crossing the ethics line for me.

So what do you do? First of all, you need to consider what your budget is for marketing your book.  If it's only $3000 why would you blow the whole enchilada on a video that you wouldn't have any money left to market it with?   The next thing is to research what is available and ask a LOT of questions.  Choose someone that has credibility and is an open book (pun intended) by being upfront with their pricing but watch out for red flags.  I'm being reminded of an author that was promised all kinds of publicity only to sell 6 books. It ended up it costing him $995.00 per book.  If someone promises you results run the opposite way!  It ain't gonna happen.  The only thing that can be guaranteed is something physical...like a review, or posting it on sites, or featuring you on a website.  Even that becomes iffy and you should always follow up.  I know of a site that offers books videos for less than $100 and promises to distribute it to 100 "high-traffic video channels" yet when the authors have asked for the list of links where their trailer shows up some are told it is proprietary information. Others have been told they will get a list but it never appears. Huh?  To me it actually means "we didn't distribute it anywhere." 

Yes, it's confusing.  What do you find most confusing when deciding what marketing you should do?  How did you handle it?  I'd like to hear from you here.

featured this week

Nonfiction - Religion, Inspiration, Self Help

Giving God the Helm: Overcoming Storms of Adversity

Mark Kuhne

Overcoming For Life, LLC (2011)
ISBN 9780615429038
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (5/11)

Synopsis

In Giving God the Helm, author Mark Kuhne tells personal stories of adversities, highlighting them with tips, biblical stories and passages, and much advice and inspiration about how to deal with life’s adversities. Central to the biblical stories used is that of the evil Old Testament queen, Jezebel, whose spirit Kuhne sees as an illustration of the spiritual battles humans face, and how we can armor ourselves to overcome the forces of adversity, including anxiety, fear, and depression. Faith is the foremost weapon in the battle of adversity, and faith requires letting God be captain of the ship.

Read review of Giving God the Helm
Read interview with Mark Kuhne
Listen to interview on Inside Scoop Live
Visit author's website

featured this week

Fiction - Fantasy, Young Reader

Drawn to Danger

Jeff Burton

Jeff Burton (2011)
ISBN 9781460980361
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age13) for Reader Views (5/11)

Synopsis

Andrew Merritt loves to sketch pictures of ships. But he never expected his drawings would become real ships, or that his maps of a country he created could result in a journey to a fantastic land. When Andrew’s uncle disappears and leaves behind a mysterious leather pouch, Andrew uses it to store the pictures of the ships he draws. To his surprise, he soon begins to receive letters in the pouch, asking for more weapons and equipment to use in battle. Andrew quickly realizes that what seems impossible is true—his drawings have become reality. Like the classic children’s fantasy novels, The Chronicles of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland, Drawn to Danger by Jeff Burton allows its young hero to be pulled into a marvelous fantasy world, and it is one full of fun and excitement, but also danger.

Read review of Drawn to Danger
Read interview with Jeff Burton
Listen to interview on Inside Scoop Live

Spotlight - reader views literary awards winner

First Place Winner in Gay/Lesbian

Fire in the Hole: A Year in the Life of the World’s Sorriest Stuntwoman by Colleen Kelli

iUniverse (2010)
ISBN 9781450211680

Synopsis: Fire in the Hole by author Colleen Kelli is the comically dramatic story of a thirty-something actress facing serious changes in her life while training tobecome a stuntwoman at a quirky western theme park. Over the course of a year, she divorces her lesbian partner of eight years and loses her sister to suicide. A move from the frenzied urban sprawl of Los Angeles to the tranquil desert of Albuquerque does not improve her spirits, but it does allow her to continue her acting career...at the small-time theme park. Oddly, the misfits she works with at the theme park and even a few of the regular customers become somewhat of a dysfunctional, yet much-needed, family. While learning to fall from a two-story roof and harmlessly kick a man in the groin, she struggles to survive the rockiest and most emotional year of her life.

Read review of Fire in the Hole
Visit author's website

Enter Literary Awards Program
List of 2010 Literary Awards Winners

Spotlight - reader views literary awards winner

Honorable Mention in Fantasy

Priestess Awakening by Debra Killeen

Helm Publishing (2010)
ISBN 9780984139729

Debra Killeen is the award-winning author of The Myrridian Cycle, the first four volumes of which have been published.  The fifth and final volume of the series is scheduled for publication in 2011. Debra resides in the Southeastern part of North Carolina, in the port city of Wilmington.  She shares a home with her sister, the author Diana Bastine, and three exceptional cats. Prior to writing, Debra worked as a pharmacist in various settings before she turned to clinical research and writing novels, at about the same time.  Coincidence?  Debra thinks not. 

Synopsis: In Priestess Awakening, the Kingdom of Myrridia celebrates the wedding of their young king. However, the spirit of a slain Magical practitioner is resurrected in neighboring Wyckendom. Since Myrridia's archbishop Edward Fitzroy no longer has any Magical abilities, it falls on the shoulders of Princess Allyson Claybourne, sister of Myrridia's king, to battle this enemy. But unknown to many in Myrridia, Allyson is following an unorthodox Magical path - one completely unacceptable to Myrridia's Church. Meanwhile, Allyson's brother, King Robert Claybourne, has his own foe to meet on the field of battle, King Nicholas II of Wyckendom, who will stop at nothing to acquire Myrridia. In desperate times, heroes come forward...willing to do whatever it takes....even if it means paying the ultimate price.

Read review of Priestess Awakening
Visit author's website

Enter Literary Awards Program
List of 2010 Literary Awards Winners

This week's video

Love More, Feed Less: A Tasty Path Toward Avoiding Childhood Obesity

Randi Lee Levin

The Muffin Lady Inc. (2010)
ISBN 9780974500836
Reviewed by Marissa Libbit for Reader Views (11/10)

Synopsis

From the moment you open this book, you will become entranced at just how easy it really is to raise healthier kids rather than those burdened with too much excess weight afflicting their bodies and health. Yet this is not a diet book, or how to raise thin and fit kids cookbook! Instead the author walks you along a path toward first accepting that your child has an overweight issue and then how to make moderate changes in your family s eating and behavioral habits with ease and memorable, affordable flavors and activities.

This path is not difficult to maneuver, but it does take a lot of love, dedication and a smidgen of effort to ensure your child s health. Straying away from the author s reputed high altitude recipe formulas, this cookbook bursts with tips, hints and recipe variations to meet your family s preferences at any altitude. The pages are filled with mouth-watering delights, to replace those sugared, salty and fat infused prepackaged, previously prepared and fast food temptations. How could you resist serving you family Oodles of Noodles and Zuchles, O Cucumion Salad or a bowl of Shanky Soup instead of something that costs more and was previously prepared with excess grease, salt and/or sugar? Miss Maple A. Squash sure look pretty and she tastes so sweet and warm too, much better than that stuff that has been stuck on a can or bag for an unknown period of time.

And let s not forget Homemade Chocolate Bars at a third of the price of those prepackaged. While the supportive recipes are scrumptious the author uses years of experience helping children and families overcome obstacles to guide you toward raising healthier kids without excess cost. She offers various ways to get your kids more physically active, even if they are not athletic, and how to instill the security of rules, of course with the kids input. She instructs you in adjusting serving sizes for inducing and maintaining weight loss, and overcoming the addiction of overeating just because there s more food to be devoured.

She even offers a win-win response for when your kids and family members begin to whine, complain and comically threaten that they are starving. Overall moms and dads, she knows that often it is hard to ask for help, thus she guides you with an experienced hand toward avoiding raising severely overweight and obese kids with ease, flavor and affordability.