Email marketing is one of the most popular methods for communicating with readers. With all the emails people get these days, it’s a challenge to get folks to sign up. There is one trick to attracting readers to your email list: a stellar reader magnet. What Is a Reader Magnet? A reader magnet is a document you give away for free when people sign up for your email list. It should be related to your book(s) and enticing to people. … Read More »

Traditional publishing is an exciting place with a plethora of talented industry folks. But how do you get one of them to take notice of your book? The answer is to have a killer query letter. A query letter is a one-page document that shares about your book and introduces you as the author. Let’s start with breaking the query into its parts so we can analyze each piece. I’ll be using a real query letter submitted to me that … Read More »

Illustrators have beautiful, creative minds that can enhance your story exponentially. As with any working relationship, you want to have a good, productive one. The better you both work together, the better the book will turn out. If you are looking for an illustrator, check out this blog post: Where Can I Find an Illustrator? Once you’ve narrowed it down to one or more you’d like to reach out to, it’s important to follow the etiquette to get off on … Read More »

Book covers are one of your most important marketing tools. People will judge your book by its cover. Is it fair? No. Is it reality? Yes. So let’s help you get the best cover you can possibly have, whether you are creating it yourself or hiring a designer. Start with Research The great news is that we live in a time when looking at masses of book covers is quick and easy. No more venturing to the library and making … Read More »

Book marketing often seems intimidating to authors, especially when they are not sure where to begin. But what if I told you that you already have an ace in your pocket when it comes to marketing? Whether your book is already out or is in the works, you can use this asset at any time. And it’s free! So, what is this secret marketing trick? Utilizing your personal network. Make Your List Start a new document on your computer, note … Read More »

Sell sheets, also known as one sheets, are often requested by booksellers, award competitions, reviewers, and other industry folks. They are useful tools for people to get quick information about your book and make decisions, such as whether or not to stock your book in their store. It’s important to have all the standard elements on your sell sheet and to make sure they are organized in a structured way. So what exactly do you need to have on a … Read More »