I try to get as much information as I can about what each publisher is looking for and what makes a book in their market successful. For example, I found out that most cookbook publishers will only take on a book that has scrumptious photographs of food; they know books showing the recipes sell far better than cookbooks with few or no photos.

The first time I attended a book fair, I remember not knowing what my job was…I honestly stood there and asked myself, “Why am I here?” I started with the smaller publishers and after looking at the books they were promoting, I’d start talking with general questions such as, “How is the show going for you?” “What book are you most excited about in your new releases?” Then, I’d segue, “I’m looking to see if my book might be a good fit for you.” And then, if I get the go-ahead, give my pitch. Publishers are looking for good books by authors with a platform.

You’ll need to have your 30-second pitch crafted so people know immediately what the book is about, the audience and market, what’s unique (and exciting), and how you’re the person who can sell the book.

Most of the people staffing trade show booths are marketing and salespeople, and that’s great; they’ll tell you if the book will sell and if it’s right for the publisher. If someone tells you it isn’t right, you can ask, “What would it take for this book to fit?” Or you could ask, “Could you suggest a publisher who might be a better fit?” You might ask a marketer what they look for from an author to help them sell the book.

If the answer is, “Yes, it’s a good fit,” then ask who would be the best editor for the book. Is he, or she here? Could you introduce me? If yes, you have an opportunity to find out more specifically whether there is interest in your book. When you get a positive response, which could be a simple, “I would look at your proposal,” you have something you can take to an agent. If the editor isn’t there, then record, the publisher, the person who gave you the editor’s name, and the editor’s in your contacts list.

Remember the staff’s primary goal at the booth is to sell books, so plan on spending only a few minutes talking and be respectful if you get the brush-off. Stand aside if a bookseller or other customer leans in to ask a question. If the show is slow, you might get more time for chit-chat. I made friends with someone in shipping for a small publisher, who gave me wonderful insight into the who’s who of the company.

If you run into an agent you’ve submitted a proposal to, first acknowledge that, but do not expect the agent to remember. Do thank the agent for responding and any feedback. Do not try to resell the book; your goal should be to find an agent with the right fit or find out how you can improve the manuscript so it is publishable. Ask, “Is there someone you could recommend that is more appropriate for my book.” If the agent doesn’t, then try to get further feedback on what you need to get book to a publishable quality, whether it’s redefining your market, hiring and book doctor or developmental editor, or finding a unique angle to set your book apart. It might be your timing if there is a glut of books on your topic just released or about to be released. Show editors and agents you talk with you want tough feedback, that you are there to learn, and willing to do what it takes to get published. Just as with publishers, you’re looking for the right fit between you and an agent and to get as much information about how you can make your book successful.

Another great resource at book fairs are librarian and bookseller attendees. They know what readers like in a more intimate way than the salespeople. You can poll the attendees you meet to help you assess whether your book has a market to help you improve your pitch.

To me the secret is approaching the entire situation with the same goal agents and publishers have: to find the right fit for your book and you as an author.

Somewhere I had assimilated the advice, “Those that download an ebook without compensating the author wouldn’t buy it anyway. So you’re not losing sales, but hopefully, you’re gaining free publicity.” Publishers are now taking ebook piracy seriously. And the problem deserves a closer look.

As author Sheri Qualters points out in her article, “Publishers Mount Strategies to Target E-Book Pirates,” (The National Law Journal, March 13, 2012. http://bit.ly/epiracy), the file size for ebooks are significantly smaller than movies and music, making it even easier to store and move ebooks. According to the article, “In 2007, there were 147,000 e-reader sales, compared with an estimated 18.7 million in 2011 and a projected 23 million this year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.” That’s a 22.8 million increase! The market continues to grow.

Qualters cites a case in Germany where, “…two services operated an illegal internet library where more than 400,000 e-books could be downloaded for free… estimates that the defendant operators might have earned about $10.6 million from advertisement revenues and sales of premium accounts for the pirated content during their roughly one year of operations.” This shows the high stakes in the fight against piracy.

Now some publishers are going after the big offenders, sending a signal that there are consequences to piracy. Will they be able to stem the theft as the market for ebooks increases?

Wonder if ebook publishing is for you? If you’d like help developing your publishing strategy, call me for a 15-minute, no obligation, consultation.

Claudia Gere & Co. LLC
Helping smart people become outstanding authors™

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I’ve seen a couple of instances where a publishing company approached an author to write a specific book or asked authors to change the focus of their books. When the book the publisher requested isn’t successful, the author who wrote it falls into that category of unsuccessful published authors.

Now, as reported in the New York Times article (http://bit.ly/ywBRPo), Book is Judged by the Name on Its Cover (Julie Bosman, 2/22/2012), there’s a strategy that works for those authors. When famed literary agent, Esther Newman received rejection after rejection for author Patricia O’Brien’s latest novel, The Dressmaker, they used an old-time practice:

“Ms. O’Brien and Ms. Newberg had cannily circumvented what many authors see as a modern publishing scourge — Nielsen BookScan, the subscription service that tracks book sales and is at the fingertips of every agent, editor and publisher — with a centuries-old trick, the nom de plume. It has been employed by writers from Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) to Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) to Stephen King (Richard Bachman).”

Their strategy worked, for fiction at least. If you’re writing a nonfiction book to promote your business or yourself, using a pen name might not be the smartest strategy, but could be worth trying if it’s your only option, and you have your mind set on traditional publishing.

But also, keep in mind, when a publisher asks you to change your topic, your slant, or your focus, be sure the book you’re writing is true to your goals and your brand. You’ll have still have to market the book so that it sells or risk ever publishing with a traditional publisher again.

Let me know what you think. Is it ethical? Would using a nom de plume work for nonfiction?

Not sure if the book you want to write is the right book to support your goals? Let me know if I can help.

Claudia Gere & Co. LLC
Helping smart people become outstanding authors™

Be an Author Webinar
http://www.claudiagereco.com/speaking/be-an-author-webinar/

Follow me on Twitter: @claudiagere
Join me on LinkedIn
Claudia@ClaudiaGereCo.com
claudiagereco.com
+1 413 259 1741

Let me know how I can help you.

Be an Author Webinar
http://www.claudiagereco.com/speaking/be-an-author-webinar/

Follow me on Twitter: @claudiagere
Join me on LinkedIn
Claudia@ClaudiaGereCo.com
claudiagereco.com
+1 413 259 1741