By David Henry Sterry Today’s lead story looks at some of the lessons learned from Pitchapalooza NYC 2010. Editors and agents are trained to say “no” because they take on so few projects and get pitched so many books. So when you pitch your book and you get back a “no” or two or ten or hundred, what to do? …
Should I Tweet?
• This piece is adapted from Betsy Lerner’s new book The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice for Writers (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century). By Betsy Lerner When I was a young editor at Houghton Mifflin in the mid-Eighties, I was assigned to work on a paperback series of successful books called Guerrilla Marketing. The books were an …
Indie Swiss Pubs Promote Books on Juice Bottle Labels
By Siobhan O’Leary An association of independent Swiss publishers known as Swips is juicing up its marketing activities on behalf of its members. Literally. Founded three years ago, the organization is now teaming up with organic smoothie producer Traktor to launch an unconventional new campaign giving its 22 member publishers the opportunity to feature poems, book excerpts or very short …
Market Crash: How to Publish a Bestseller in 33 Days
• Beaufort Books has rushed several titles to market, including O.J. Simpson’s If I Did It and, more recently, Angelo Codevilla’s The Ruling Class. • Crashing a book is a gamble. But it can also be an effective means of landing a book about a hot topic on the bestseller list. By Margot Atwell, Associate Publisher, Beaufort Books I’ve been told by my authors …
What Can Digital Publishers Learn from Traditional Publishing’s Long Lead Times?
By Edward Nawotka In today’s feature article, Margot Atwell of Beaufort Books discusses what it takes to crash a title. Too often in these digital days, impatience is the norm. Digital publishing enables almost instantaneous publication and has made speed-to-market a priority for many, particularly DIY publishers, who are anxious to get their work in front of readers as soon …
Re-inventing Book Marketing
• Dave Weich, founder of Sheepscot Creative and former director of marketing and development for Powell’s Books, argues that in today’s publishing environment, book marketing remains something of a “crapshoot.” • Weich argues the opportunities go well beyond the general trade consumer. Editorial by Dave Weich In the next ten years, book marketing will radically reinvent itself. Nowhere will the …
How Much Money Have You Spent on Book Marketing?
By Edward Nawotka In today’s lead story, Dave Weich argues that book marketing needs to change with the times. It’s no longer nor has it ever really been a case of “If you publish it, they will come.” Today, as Weich points out, the cost of producing professional level book marketing materials has fallen dramatically, placing them well within the …
On Not Changing With the Times: How Manhattan’s Three Lives & Co. Bookstore Endures
• Three Lives & Co. Booksellers in New York City has managed to survive increasing economic pressure that has forced the closing of numerous other bookstores. Three Lives’ longevity is the result of staying very much the same as when it first opened in 1968. • Owner Toby Cox — formerly of the marketing department of Broadway Books — likes …
Do Publishing Stunts Sell Books?
By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story looks at how Chilean artist collective Casagrande, along with Literaturwerkstatt Berlin, dropped 100,000 poems over Berlin as a protest against war and a statement in favor of forgiveness. This was a case of “literature as protest,” but more often than not, publishing stunts are being used to promote specific titles. Yesterday came the news …
The Ideavirus: Seth Godin as a Microcosm of Publishing’s Flux
• Following Seth Godin’s decision last week to leave traditional publishing behind, several questions have been raised. Is he really making a radical change? Or is this simply another smart marketing play? • Godin’s very public defection is just one more example of how publishing is in flux. He may be the exception to the rule, but his example sets a precedent for others to …